This past week I was asked by two separate people for read aloud ideas for groups that encompass a broad age range. One was for bedtime read aloud ideas for a family with four kids that span a range from pre-K to upper elementary, the other was someone asking for picture book read alouds that even teens would find fun. Since the lists are a bit long when combined I’m going to split this into two Brainstorms.
This week we’ll look at read aloud ideas for bedtime. I picked books that don’t have a ton of illustrations (or the illustrations are not integral to following the story) so that kids can listen with their eyes closed. The books had to avoid anything too scary (for example, the mother of the kids who asked for the list said the youngest isn’t quite ready for Narnia books yet). They had to be plot lines that would engage preschoolers through middle graders and not lose or bore anyone. While I did include some humorous and adventure books, I tried to pick things that would make kids chuckle but then be able to quickly fall asleep with a smile on their faces and tried to avoid anything that would get kids too wired for slumberland. So without further ado, here are my recommendations for bedtime read alouds for families with multiple ages. (These would also work for classroom read alouds in Elementary or Middle School, or any group of kids that encompasses a range of ages.)
Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker series by Shelley Johannes
Beatrice Zinker likes to think upside down. Literally. As in hanging from her knees in trees, inverted in chairs, etc. She also thinks upside down figuratively. Meaning she has a different perspective on the world from most, she likes activities many others don't even consider, and she thinks outside the box. Her best friend Lenny totally gets her upside down thinking, as did her 2nd grade teacher who gave her an award for being an Upside Down Thinker. But now she's entering 3rd grade. Mrs Tamarack is not a fan of upside down positions or thinking. She lays down the law for Beatrice right at the start on day one. Beatrice gets 3 warnings and then she can say bye-bye to recess. That may be tough, but what's even more disturbing is that Lenny forgot to wear her ninja outfit for the first day of school. Not only that, but she's hanging out with the new girl Chloe and acting different. Will they ever complete the secret project they planned at the end of 2nd grade? Beatrice’s misadventures continue in book 2, & 3 (which just came out).
Target Readers:
- Upside Down Thinkers, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Light Humor Fans, Relatable Character Fans, Lower Grade/Middle Grade Readers
Beverly Cleary's Middle Grade Books
Beverly Cleary’s books may be pushing 50, but they still resonate with kids. I’d probably start with
Socks,
The Mouse and the Motorcycle,
Beezus and Ramona, or
Henry Huggins. Families with lots of animal lovers will probably want to pick one of the first two, while families with kids who want stories of what kids were like when their grandparents were little will want to pick the Ramona or Henry books. Most parents will have a Beverly Cleary book they loved as a child, so it is also nice to share a book you loved with your kids.
Target Readers:
- Animal Lovers, Historical Fiction Fans, Award Winner Readers, Real-Feeling People Story Fans, Parents Wanting to Share Old Favorites, Middle Grade Readers
Castle Glower series by Jessica Day George
Castle Glower has personality, strong opinions about who is king of the land, and the ability to do something about it. The rooms, hallways, and decorations of the castle are likely to change whenever the castle feels like it. (Which can be confusing and a little bit of a headache if you’re a resident.) But Princess Celie loves the castle and its ways. Her father was chosen by the castle to be king when he was a young man, so she’s grown up there and everyone says she has a special connection to the strange building. When Celie’s parents and eldest brother are ambushed during a trip and pronounced dead, it is up to her, her brother Rolf, her sister Lilah, and the magical castle to defend the kingdom (and themselves) from devious plans of the Council and the sinister Prince Khelsh of a neighboring kingdom. Celie and her family go on to solve more mysteries related to the castle and the secrets it holds in future books. This series is now complete at 5 books.
Target Readers:
- Magical & Unusual Castle Fans, Mythical Creature Fans, Fantasy Fans, Mystery Fans, Sibling Story Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Catwings series by Ursula K. Le Guin, ill. by S.D. Schindler
A group of kittens born with wings are sent off by their mother to find a better place to live as their city neighborhood gets worse. At first they have trouble finding a place where they are welcome, but then they meet two friendly children who promise to take care of them and keep them a secret.
Target Readers:
- Cat Lovers, Parents Wanting to Share Childhood Favorites, Fantasy Fans, Adventure Fans, Quick Read Fans, Lower Grade/Middle Grade Readers
A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban
A cute and humorous misfit tale about a 6th grade girl who dreams of being a concert pianist but gets saddled with an electric organ and has to settle for playing theme songs from 60s TV shows. Oh, and she's been informed that she is now Emma's former best friend. Zoe isn't the only misfit in the book. Her dad is an agoraphobic who stays home and earns online degrees in things he'll never use; a boy in her class follows her home just about every day and wheedles his way in to cook with her dad because his dad is never home; and her mom is a state controller trying to hold together their household and the entire state of Michigan, but Zoe feels she's so busy maybe Michigan is more important than she is. Through prepping for and participating in an organ competition (and all the ways that that could go wrong), Zoe learns that nobody is perfect, but you just gotta keep playing through and have fun.
Target Readers:
- Contemporary Fiction Fans, Kids Who Think Their Family is Wacky, Music Lovers, Relatable Character Fans, Feel-Good Story Fans, Perfectionists, Middle Grade Readers
The Emperor’s Ostrich by Julie Berry
The Emperor is about to come of age and really take control of the empire. But some are worried. Because the Emperor is a spoiled brat and isn't fit to have tea with, let alone rule a kingdom. One of his dearly departed ancestors decides to do something instead of just watch his old kingdom go to rot. Not trusting his manipulation, another ancestor sets in motion her own plans to help. And so in one night the Emperor disappears under highly unusual circumstances, an ostrich disappears from the royal aviary, and far away Begonia finishes milking to discover that Alfalfa, one of the family cows has wandered off again. And on the road the two will find adventures, people, and lessons beyond their wildest dreams.
Target Readers:
- Fantasy Quest Fans, Asian Fantasy Fans, Adventure Fans, Moral Reform Story Fans, Inspirational Story Fans, Animal Lovers, Slightly Zany Humor Fans, Middle Grade Readers
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede
If you like unconventional princesses, fantasy quests, light mysteries, humorous characters, unpredictable magical forests, and splendid writing you need to venture into the Enchanted Forest. This is my go to re-read fantasy series and contains my favorite princess and dragon characters of all time. If I’m reading something dark and heavy, I’ll sneak in chapters of these books to lighten my day. The first book starts with Cimorene, a princess who’d rather learn swordcraft and negotiation tactics than etiquette and dancing. She runs away and volunteers to be Kazul the dragon’s princess. (It’s very vogue for princesses to be captured by dragons. Not so vogue to volunteer, though.) Cimorene cooks and organizes Kazul’s library (and turns away would-be-rescuer princes), while Kazul provides good friendship and a little mystery involving the unfriendly but mostly inept wizards for Cimorene to solve.
Target Readers:
- Cozy Fantasy Fans, Humor Fans, Strong Princess Fans, Dragon Lovers, Middle Grade Readers
Galaxy Zack series by Ray O’Ryan, ill. by Jack Colin & Jason Kraft
Zack is not excited about moving to Nebulon. He is afraid it'll be a horrible place and he won't have any friends. Will Nebulon live up to Zack's worst fears or does is it about to surprise him?
Zack’s series has him deal with moving, making new friends and keeping old ones, understanding new cultures, and adventuring in new places. I love this series for the way it blends fun scifi adventures with third culture kid experiences like negotiating a new culture and enjoying a new home while not feeling like a traitor to your old home. There are currently 17 books in this series. There are a lot of illustrations in these books but you don’t have to share them to get the story.
Target Readers:
- Scifi Fans, Third Culture Kids, Adventure Fans, Relatable Reads, Lower Grade Readers
Hamster Princess series by Ursula Vernon
Harriet Hamsterbone's parents forgot to invite the evil fairy to her christening, and so, as expected, she's been cursed to prick her hand on a hamster wheel on her 12th birthday. When her parents finally tell Harriet about the curse when she's ten it backfires as Harriet realizes that if she can't thwart the curse, she's also invincible till she turns twelve. So off Harriet goes to fight ogres and join jousting tournaments and go cliff diving, while her parents start searching for a prince to break the curse. Harriet returns home for her 12th birthday and manages to foil the evil fairy, but manages to still put everyone else in the castle to sleep until she can find a prince to help her break the curse. Harriet finds it's a little hard to find a prince willing to help out a princess who isn't typically princessy, but eventually she finds the right guy. She just has to rescue him first. Her adventures continue from here with 5 other fractured fairytales in which Princess Harriet comes to the rescue (or tries to) with the help of her faithful quail and best friend.
Target Readers:
- Fractured Fairytale Fans, Humor Fans, Strong Princess Fans, Adventure Fans, Reluctant Readers, Middle Grade Readers
How to Tame a Triceratops by Will Dare
Josh desperately wants to win the Founders Day Race, but the only racing dino he has is the family’s herder for their iguanadons, Plodder. And Plodder is anything but fast in his old age. When his parents send him to town to get a new herder, Josh decides to get a dino worthy of racing in the Founders Day Race, a triceratops. But Josh was tricked. Charger is the most untrainable triceratops in the West. Will he ever get to become a famous dino racer? If kids like this one, there are 5 other books in this series.
Target Readers:
- Dinosaur Lovers, Scifi Fans, Western Fans, Adventure Fans, Lower Grade Readers
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
Aven was born without arms, but she doesn't let that stop her (with the loving but firm encouragement from her adopted parents). She can get dressed by herself, eat meals, do her own hair, and even play the guitar. She's had a great group of friends at her school in Kansas who love her for her and see her as Aven, not the girl without arms. However, her family is moving to Arizona so her dad can be the manager for a Western theme park and Aven isn't thrilled with the idea of starting over at a new school in middle school. In her quest for a non-awkward lunch period, Aven meets fellow misfits Connor and Zion. Connor has Tourette syndrome and one of his tics is that he barks which can get really misunderstood. Zion struggles with his weight. The three of them form a bond, forged by the ability to see each other and not their quirks. It is still hard, though, even with friends. While each of them figures out how to do this thing called life and survive the other inhabitants of the planet, Aven pulls the guys into figuring out the mystery of why the owners of the Stagecoach Pass never show up in person and all photos of them have disappeared. Does the locked up building with seven no trespassing signs have any answers? A sequel to this book just came out this year and I can’t wait for the copy I ordered for our library to arrive!
Target Readers:
- Fans of Books That Build Empathy, Inspirational Book Fans, Feel-Good Story Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Mystery Fans, Friendship Story Fans, Adopted Family Story Fans, Middle Grade Fiction
The Life of Zarf series by Rob Harrell
Zarf is a troll. Trolls aren't exactly the most popular of creatures, but Zarf manages to have some friends. There's Chester the human training to be a jester...except he really isn't that funny. And Kevin Littlepig, who is a pig, and a bit of an extreme worry wart. So the King of the country manages to get himself captured by Snuffweasels and his son takes over as king, which is really bad news because Zarf just tackled the prince in a moment of lost cool. Anyway, Zarf ends up in the dungeon, but he realizes the Prince is totally incompetent and somebody has to rescue the King. So, thanks to the help of the school lunch lady, he breaks out, gathers his friends (and a guy he found in the dungeon), and is off to save the kingdom. Or just try to survive the woods. Whichever seems most important. In the 2nd book Zarf and friends must handle a wolf invasion, and in the 3rd book Zarf has to rescue his Gramps and the Prince from and ill-conceived boating trip. All three are quite humorous fractured fairytale adventures with a relatable and unexpected hero.
Target Readers:
- Fractured Fairytale Fans, Humor Fans, Reluctant Readers, Adventure Fans, Fantasy Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Missy Piggle-Wiggle series based on the characters created by Betty MacDonald, written by Ann M. Martin with Annie Parnell, ill. by Ben Hatke
Missy Piggle-Wiggle gets a letter from her great-aunt Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle asking her to come and fill in at the upside-down house while Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle goes out hunting for her pirate husband. Missy is quite familiar with the house, the animals, and the Piggle-Wiggle magic having spent her summers there developing her own magic. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle asked Missy to start with the Freeforall family. In her indomitable way, Missy manages to win the children's trust and then work on changing their bad habits. Of course, the Freeforalls are not the only family in the neighborhood that could use some help, and Missy finds her days quite fulfilling and full. Just as good as the original Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books, but a little easier for modern children to grasp. There are currently three books in the Missy Piggle-Wiggle series.
Target Readers:
- Inspirational Story Fans, Light Fantasy Fans, Relatable Kids Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Mr. Lemoncello’s Library series by Chris Grabenstein
Alexandriaville, OH is getting a new public library, thanks to the generous funding of hometown game designing legend, Luigi Lemoncello. Twelve twelve year olds who win an essay contest will be the lucky people to get to enter the new library first, and they don't just get to visit, they get to spend the night. The evening proves to be everything the children could have hoped for with fun games galore, but in the morning when they go to leave they find the library's front door locked. It turns out, Mr. Lemoncello has one more, rather elaborate game in store for the children who are game, with a grand prize of lots of money and becoming the future star in Mr. Lemoncello's commercials. Some of the children are in it for the fun of Mr. Lemoncello's games, some are in it as a matter of pride, and some are just plain desperate for the fame and fortune. The game is to figure out how to get out of the library without using the front door and without setting off any alarms. There are clues all over the place for the observant to find, but figuring the way out will be tricky. There are currently four books in this series with a promised 5th book, Mr. Lemoncello and the Titanium Ticket, coming out in 2020. All of them involve contests that require puzzle solving, research, and negotiating interpersonal relationships.
Target Readers:
- Puzzle Fans, Mystery Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Very Light Fantasy Fans (some of the tech in Mr. Lemoncello’s library is not realistic), Middle Grade Readers
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard & Florence Atwater, ill. by Robert Lawson
The classic children's story about a family who welcome a group of penguins into their home. Parents and grandparents who loved this book as a child can share the penguin love with the next generation. The antics of Mr. Popper to make his penguins welcome and the accommodations his family must make never fail to entertain.
Target Readers:
- Penguin Lovers, Humor Fans, Award Winner Readers, Parents Wanting to Share Their Childhood Favorites, Middle Grade Readers
My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett, ill. by Ruth Chrisman Gannett
Elmer and a cat set off to rescue a baby dragon with only the items in Elmer’s pack. Another one that will give many parents a chance to share a book they read as a child. If kids enjoy this one, there are two more books in the series.
Target Readers:
- Kids Practicing Their Reading Prediction Skills, Fantasy Quest Fans, Award Winner Readers, Dragon Lovers, Lower Grade Readers
The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall
This series about a family of sisters and their everyday adventures as they grow up feels like an old classic but the series was just written in the past 15 years. There are now five books in the series and the author says it is now complete.
Target Readers:
- Nostalgic Book Fans, Sibling Story Fans, Contemporary Fiction Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Recipe for Adventure series by Giada de Laurentiis, ill. by Francesca Gambatesa
Alfie and Emilia are tasting their Aunt Zia's zeppole when they suddenly find themselves in Naples, Italy, the city their parents were originally from. They get involved in a pizza contest and helping their new friend Marco and his family prepare while trying to avoid spies who would steal their recipe. The other 6 books see the siblings visit all sorts of other locations around the world after tasting their Aunt Zia’s cooking.
Target Readers:
Foodies, Adventure Fans, Virtual Travelers, Sibling Story Fans, Light Fantasy Fans, Lower Grade Readers
A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd
Felicity Pickle is not like most other kids. For one thing, she collects words. They appear all over the place for her, hovering over people, in the falling rain, and she snatches them up to be savored. She shares the words with her little sister in poems sometimes, but whenever she tries to share them with bigger crowds her tongue shuts down. Felicity also is different because she's never lived anywhere longer than a year. Her Mama is a wandering soul, and the Pickles regularly relocate. Seeing the world is wonderful and all, but Felicity kinda sorta hopes that just maybe Midnight Gulch could be home for a while. Especially since Midnight Gulch is supposed to have remnants of magic in it. If the Pickles are to set down roots somewhere, it might as well be a place with magic. And it might as well be a place with family, history, and best friends. But is the magic of Midnight Gulch enough to overcome Felicity's tongue-tiedness or settle Mama's wandering soul? Mixed in with Felicity's story, is the mysterious town Beedle, an unknown person who has been doing random acts of kindness for the past 50 years. There's also the locally-made ice cream. And the legend of the brothers Threadbare, whose famous duel was the end of the magic in Midnight Gulch.
Target Readers:
- Inspirational Story Fans, Feel-Good Story Fans, Light Fantasy Fans, Ice Cream Lovers, Beautiful Language Savorers (Lloyd’s writing is quite lyrical), Middle Grade Readers
The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp by Kathi Appelt
J'Miah and Bingo are raccoon Scouts of the Sugar Man Swamp. Their mission is to keep an ear tuned to any messages from the Voice and wake up the Sugar Man (cousin of Big Foot and the Yeti) if the swamp is in danger. Soon enough there are some strange rumblings in the swamp and once the Scouts find out the cause they know they have to wake up the Sugar Man. The thing is, the Sugar Man has to be approached and woken just right or he can be a bit testy (and so can his pet gigantic rattle snake, Gertrude).
Meanwhile, Chap Brayburn is having a rough week. His Grandpa Audie just died, and Chap and his mama don't know if they can keep Audie's pie shop open. Sony Beaucamp, who pretty much owns the entire swamp, is about to close down the Brayburn shop and most of the rest of the swamp to open up an Alligator wrestling show and amusement park. Sony has said that Chap needs a boatload of cash to save the pie shop, which is about as likely as the legendary Sugar Man showing up or pigs flying. Chap is wracking his brains trying to figure out a way to save the shop and the swamp that Audie loved.
Target Readers:
- Fans of Atmospheric Reads, Animal Lovers, Folklore/Fantasy Fans, Adventure Fans, Middle Grade Readers
The Vanderbeekers series by Karina Yan Glaser
With just days till Christmas, the Vanderbeekers' reclusive and grumpy landlord Mr. Beiderman has given them notice in the first book that he's not renewing their lease next year and they need to find a new home by January 1. The five Vanderbeeker children are heartbroken. They love their home, they know everyone in the neighborhood, and some of the other residents in their brownstone are more like family than just friends. How can they leave the place they've grown up in the past six years? Something must be done. So the kids start brainstorming how they can convince a man they really don't know and have practically never seen to let them stay. If your family enjoys this book, there are now 2 more books in this series featuring further adventures of the Vanderbeeker kids. I can't wait to read #3 which just came out.
Target Readers:
- Contemporary Fiction Fans, Sibling Story Fans, Feel-Good Story Fans, Christmas Story Fans, New York City Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Minli is a girl in a drab, muddy town of poor rice farmers who can barely scrape by an existence under the shadow of the Fruitless Mountain. The only bright spot in Minli's days are the stories that her father tells her. Hoping to change her family's fortune, and with the encouragement and advice of a grateful goldfish, Minli sets out to go ask the Old Man of the Moon how that can be done. Along the way, Minli meets a lonely dragon who decides to travel with her and ask the Old Man of the Moon why he cannot fly. Minli and Dragon meet some challenges and some friends along their journey, and through the folk stories told to them by various people (which more often than not turn out to be more than just stories) they discover some important lessons about thankfulness, unselfishness and the dangers of greed and discontent.
Target Readers:
- Fantasy Quest Fans, Inspirational Story Fans, Feel-Good Story Fans, Asian Folklore Fans, Adventure Fans, Award Winner Readers, Middle Grade Readers
The Wild Robot series by Peter Brown
One day, a hurricane sinks a cargo ship carrying robots fresh from the factory. One robot's crate is washed onto an island and some playful otters accidentally turn her on. Roz meanders the island figuring out how to survive and where she is. Most of the creatures fear her as a monster. Over time, Roz's careful observations allow her to catch on to the language of the animals and she starts to communicate. They still fear her. When an accident happens while Roz is climbing, an entire family of geese is accidentally killed except for one egg. Roz takes care of the egg since she was responsible for the accident, and soon finds herself the mother to a little goose dubbed Brightbill. Roz's care of Brightbill helps other animals realize that Roz isn't so bad, and soon Roz finds herself with a whole island of friends. She helps them as best she can, and they in turn help her. The island is a better place for the arrival of Roz, until one day other robots come to the island to retrieve Roz and take her back to the factory. In the second book Roz finds herself in a new place and must figure out how to get back to the island. Roz is definitely the sweetest, kindest robot you’ll come across.
Target Readers:
- Feel-Good Story Fans, Robot Fans, Light Scifi Fans, Survival Story Fans, Animal Lovers, Reluctant Readers, Middle Grade Readers
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate, ill. by Charles Stanoso
Red is an old oak tree. She's been in her spot hundreds of years, and witnessed many things both amazing and heartbreaking. Every year around May for many, many years locals have hung their wishes on her. Wishes both silly and 100% serious. Red can talk, but it is a solemn secret, known only by other trees and animals. But when she thinks her time is drawing short, and a little girl living under her shade, who visits her and the animals who live in her branches nightly, makes a heartbreaking wish Red thinks she can make come true, she breaks her solemn silence.
Applegate’s
The One and Only Ivan is also a fantastic read aloud.
Target Readers:
- Light Fantasy Fans, Tree Lovers, Animal Lovers, Inspirational Story Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Wonder by R.J. Palacio
The story about a deformed 10 year old and how a year in 5th grade changes him, his family, and his entire class.
Target Readers:
- Contemporary Fiction Fans, Fans of Books That Build Empathy, Inspirational Story Fans, Feel-Good Story Fans, Middle Grade Readers
Zorgamazoo by Robert Paul Weston
Morty, a reporter zorgle who ends up chosen to go on a quest to find the missing zorgles of Zorgamazoo. Sounds great, right? But Morty feels a bit in over his head. That adventuring stuff is something his Dad did, it’s not really his thing. Katrina Katrell is all for adventure, which is a good thing because she is forced into running away from her guardian when Mrs. Krabone decides Katrina’s imaginative brain must be stopped with some good ol’ brain surgery by the lobotomy doc. Katrina gets away from Mrs. Krabone only to fall into the clutches of an unfriendly street gang. It’s looking quite bad for her until Morty stumbles in and saves the day. It’s only right that Katrina should then help Morty on his quest. So the two of them set off for Zorgamazoo and find plenty of adventures awaiting them. This entire chapter book is written in rhyme!
Target Readers:
- Mystery Fans, Rhyming Fans, Epic Poem Fans, Fantasy Fans, Adventure Fans, Middle Grade Readers
