Are you looking for some very first read-aloud chapter books for your young children? Usually around the age of four, our kids have begun to show an interest in sitting for longer periods of time and listening to chapter books. I usually pull out some cars, legos, or blocks for the to keep busy with, and then we begin to read.
With four kids under nine at the time of this writing, I will very freely admit that these read aloud times can get chaotic. Kids will fight over toys, the littlest one will inevitably start crying, and often I’ll be interrupted many, many times with questions, comments, or “But she…!” However, it is so important to read aloud anyway! It may not be a scene from a Normal Rockwell painting, but it will get easier when it becomes routine.
What should your first read-aloud chapter books be? Here are several of our absolute favorites:
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain
Simple, short, and endearing, this is a wonderful first chapter book that could even be read in one sitting with a patient child. The repetition of the famous, “There are no bears on Hemlock mountain, no bears, no bears at all…” is reminiscent of picture books like Going on a Bear Hunt and others that use repetitive phrases to draw in the listener. All of my kids have loved this one, but it is particularly fitting for little boys since the protagonist is young Jonathan.
James Herriot Treasury for Children
Okay, maybe I am cheating with this one. This one is technically not a “chapter book,” but it is full of numerous different autobiographical stories from the life of the author himself. James Herriot was a rural veterinarian in Yorkshire, and his stories bring to life the numerous animals he interacted with as he traveled throughout the countryside. My favorite part of this treasury is the amazing, full-page illustrations. If you are not sure if your little one is ready to sit and listen to longer books, start with this one; the illustrations make it seem like a more elongated picture book.
The Courage of Sarah Noble
If The Bears on Hemlock Mountain is a perfect first chapter book for boys, this one is the corresponding fit for little girls (and by the same author, too!) Young Sarah goes with her father to help him as he prepares their new home in the wilderness in 18th century America. It’s a sweet chronicle that touches on some early American history and also encourages the virtues of courage and gratitude. (Side note: If you like the story line of this one, be sure to also check out The Sign of the Beaver in a few years).
26 Fairmount Avenue
Does the name Tomie DePaola ring a bell? He is the prolific children’s author and illustrator of such picture book classics as Strega Nona and The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, and this is his autobiographical account of his life as a 5-year-old. It’s endearing, funny, and charming, and the audio book is particularly fun (Tomie DePaola reads it!) Like the rest on this list, it is short and entertaining enough to capture the attention of 4- and 5-year olds.
My Father’s Dragon Trilogy
Young Elmer journeys to a not-so-deserted island to rescue an abused baby dragon, and his adventures with the dragon continue in the next two books. The chapters are short and have lots of adventure, and both my boys and girls have loved these books. We’ve also tried the audio books for this trilogy and enjoyed them.
If you’d like more suggestions for first chapter books to read aloud, here are some more posts to peruse:
Magic Tree House Series #1-35
We LOVE this series and also particularly recommend the audio books, read by Mary Pope Osborne herself (since there are so many of them!). Jack and Annie travel back in time and learn about all sorts of scientific and historical topics while solving mysteries or completing missions. The first 35 books in the series are geared toward young listeners, while the next set are written for slightly older kids. It only takes 30-40 minutes to listen to the early books, so these can be great for rest time and car trips.
Mercy Watson series
Written by Newbery-winning author Kate DiCamillo, these six books are a delight for young listeners. Mercy Watson is a pet pig who finds herself getting into all kinds of innocent trouble, and the illustrations are fantastic. The chapters are quite short, and oftentimes we’ll get through the whole book in one sitting.
I hope you find some favorites with this list of first read-aloud chapter books! I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments below!