One thing I need to do more of is encouraging our kids to read literature classics, but I'm in the dark on this because I didn't grow up reading them myself. Kent loves to read the classics, but obviously he's at a higher level than where the kids are, so I don't even know where to start them. (Dumb question: What makes a book “a classic” anyway?)
Before you share your advice, keep in mind that, sadly, our 14 year old and 11 year old have never loved reading as much as Kent and I do. (Our 8 year old does, though, thankfully!) And our son in college said the other day that when he reads books, he doesn't see a picture in his head, but if someone is reading TO him he does. Our 14 year old confirmed that it's the same for him. Does that mean we should have him listen only to us read or to books on tape? Or will more reading help him to learn to see pictures in his mind? I've always thought that someone who learns visually vs. being more auditory is just that way, and you have to work with it not try and change it, but I'm not sure about this…? (Not that I'd want to change how they are, because those traits help them in other areas that someone who is super visual like me doesn't benefit from, but when it comes to reading it can be difficult.)
So here are some classics I'm thinking of trying to turn them on to, but I need your advice on which ones will grab an 11 year old girl? Which will be interesting enough for a 14 year old boy who is an auditory learner (and who loves aviation!)? Which are appropriate for our 8 year old son?
Once I hear from all of you, I can't wait to download these. Most, but not all, are free on Kindle, and if you don't have a Kindle, you can click here to get a free reader for your phone, tablet or computer.
- Would any of these books by Louisa May Alcott be good?
- We read The Narnia Series to our oldest, but at what age could they read this on their own, typically?
- What about: The Boy Allies?
- The Bobbsey Twins Series
- Beatrix Potter books
- Submarine Boys
- Tom Swift books
- Campfire Girls
- Tom Slade books
- Any others you suggest???
Thanks everyone!
Jeannine Lavigne says
give them an incentive also let then see you read and it might catch it did for my grandson also find book theyb will like like harry potter seems more fun to read than the movie
Brenda Teague says
I had the best success with books that didn’t necessarily tell a story. My boys loved Calvin and Hobbs books. They enjoyed not having to read about the character’s pasts to understand their actions in the actual part of the story. They also liked being able to skip ahead without missing important information in the story. My youngest son read every Calvin and Hobbs book by first skimming through and reading the comic strips that had a picture of a dinosaur in them because he loved the jokes with the dinosaurs. Then, after that he would skip though again and read what looked to be funny. He read the comic strips with Suzi in them last or not at all because my son didn’t like girls much and Suzi always got the best of Calvin in the comic strips. My oldest son liked “how to” books. At first I didn’t think it was helpful reading material, but when I realized the level of comprehension necessary to understand a book about doing card tricks, I bought any magic trick book he wanted. He also likes books that tell how things are made. Like, how maple syrup is made. And how cars are made on huge assembly lines. They are short, informative writings in a collection, so my son can pick a product or two that interests him that day and read about those things without having to be immersed in a long drawn out story.
MatthewandKatherine Cockerham says
Read aloud an exciting book until they are fully involved in the story and then stop. They will read to finish the story. This worked with my youngest for reading her first ever chapter book.
Maureen A. Terry DeForge says
What does your child LOVE? What makes them ECSTATIC? When our school principal was a boy, he didn’t like to read, but he loved sports. His father read the baseball stats in the newspaper with him. They probably moved on to the articles. He likes to read now. Good luck!
Ten Mitropoulos says
My nanny was just telling me that growing up they read a novel or two by local authors and wherever the novel was set they traveled there as a family once they had finished the book. Maybe a fun idea to keep reading going during the summer months.
Vicki McGraw says
A local homeschool group set up a summer reading program that rewarded readers for numbers of books read. Every ten books read had a reward. They went around to local businesses and got coupons for free things such as a free piece of pizza or a free hamburger or a free ice cream cone, a free swimming pass at a local pool and get ready for this, a free ice skating pass for one day a week at the local rink. They set aside a time during the day that was good for homeschool children. That motivated our guys immensely. The ice skating was rewarded after about 100 books. When we signed up for the program, it cost us about $5 or $10 a child, basically so the organizers didn’t go into debt. All the coupons were included so we could hand them out as the child earned them. That got our guys into fluent reading. They’re all mechanical/engineering types who didn’t relish long novel type books. There were rules about what constitutes a book and extra credit was given for long books. (Every seventy pages was credit for a book, good math practice in the summer.)
William Kubat says
Dr Souse thru to Harry Potter. Kids like Potter so much they can’t wait to read it themselves.
Norma Johnson Hilliard says
I used to read Calvin and Hobbes to my son. It was the highlight of his day when we used to read it. He is now 26 and reads! My other son never reads even tho we did the same thing with him.
Marilyn Maxwell Strout says
I love to read. Mine were read to in the womb, every day at home, at daycare. In school neither one was a reader. Both are in their mid-late 20s & read all the time now. I did borrow books AND audio tapes for them to complement each other.
Lauren Muier says
It’s because you need to accept people, like kids for their choices and let it be….
Alysia Hegg says
send them to bed every night at 7:45 with a book light and no other option
Kathy Hall says
May not be feasible, but could you encourage them to read a non-fiction book about a person/place/thing and then take them to see in person? Sometimes it is fun seeing things you have read about and have prior knowledge. Good luck!
JanetandClint Burkenpas says
let them read books they love. For one of mine, it was comics. Calvin and hobbs. Now the child reads like he breaths. A lot of beginner books and readers are sooooo boring.
Jennifer Pepito says
We keep electronics to a minimum, model reading, and require some reading each day from beginning readers. My children devour books and I’m sure yours will too when given few other choices for entertainment
Kristi Stout German says
Find what they are really interested in and provide lots of books on that. For our son, it was tractors.
Kerri Wartnik says
Several thoughts: Reluctant readers who are just beginning almost always enjoy The Boxcar Children. Hooks them and worth the work. My three daughters’ favorite books were Louisa May Alcott’s Eight Cousins and its sequel Rose in Bloom. All her books were favorites, but those especially. Her books give readers a taste for beautiful language and good character in great stories. The only one they didn’t like was Little Women (read it after enjoying her others, so maybe too high of expectations?). But they really loved the two sequels. Aside from most classics we already know about, Lloyd Alexander’s Prydain series is wonderful. The audio is incredibly well done, and made the girls want to read the series themselves. Also, my youngest ended up needing vision therapy. She could not visualize due to her eye problems (even though she had 20/20 vision), and reading was HARD work, even afterward. But before VT, it was never going to happen. She couldn’t read The Foot Book at age 10. I made sure to choose books worth the work after VT was completed (at age 11), and now she is an avid reader in high school. My oldest did not want to learn to read and is an auditory learner. But she eventually did, and now teaches literature. She fell in love with beautiful language by both listening to us read to her, audio books, and being captured by enticing books (many were ones she already had listened to). Looking back, and by the number of fender benders she has had as a driver, I think she needed vision therapy like her younger sister. Third thought: we had NO video games (if we had I would have restricted use to only one hour a day per research) and no TV (only a dvd player in which every video was considered for its educational or inspirational value). Both those things make reading harder, because they stimulate the same pleasure receptors in the brain that drugs do, without requiring any brain work that reading requires. They provide the imagination, so a child grows used to not using it. Reading was our primary entertainment other than playing outside, friends or art (for two of the three). Now I have a high schooler who loves reading despite dyslexia (which Vision Therapy doesn’t cure), a twenty year old in an honors college (collects books and reads constantly), a twenty three year old who teaches high school literature in the inner city. But everyone has their strengths and purposes, so not trying to sound better than anyone. This was just our path and how a love of reading invaded our family, even despite some obstacles!
Jeannette Cox says
Well this will tell my age but oh well! Plus I am not sure what the ages of the children are you are trying to get to read. I got hooked reading the Bobbsey Twins. I still have the books that were given to me when I was 6. I also really liked Nancy Drew & the Hardy Boys mysteries. I love a book store, can spend hours there. James Patterson has a series out aimed at early teenagers about some mutant children that have wings and are trying to save the world. I enjoyed them even though they are supposed to be for kids. You might want to read them first to see if they are age appropriate. They could get a little intense. Good luck. So you know who I am I am Debbie’s sister-in-law but sisters of the heart.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I loved those books too @Jeannette Cox!!
Debbie Warner says
(Warning…..this is a looong comment!)
Our kids are now adults and both love reading, but it didn’t happen overnight. I’ll share several things that they remember loving as kids…which all involve reading. I’ll also preface this with the fact that I had less competition with the lure of electronic devices back then. At that time the only handheld electronic piece of equipment we had was the first Gameboy. Plus there were no games and videos on cell phones to babysit or distract the kids. Oh, such easier times they were!
All of that being said, there were several things that did remain consistent as our kids grew up. No idea what may have played a fundamental part in forming their love of reading, but here’s what we did.
* We had family reading time together most every evening before bed. The stories changed, of course, as the kids grew and we would let them have their turn to read a paragraph or a page out loud to the family, but they mostly just enjoyed the story being read to them by a parent. One favorite box set that I recall reading to them more than once, at several different ages, was The Chronicles of Narnia series.
* On car trips we would have books on tape. One of their favorites was the Hank the Cowdog series.
* Another item that lived in the car were the Brain Quest for the Car decks. There are a bunch of these for all different age levels and they were a hit for many years. It didn’t matter if it was just our kids or some of the scouts riding in our van or even the swim team kids heading to practice, all of the kids knew where these were and would pull them out to read the questions and see who could guess the answers. Sure, it’s not a book, but it’s still reading!
* Our kids loved spending ‘family time’ at our favorite bookstore. We were fortunate that we had a small bookstore that was a lot of fun to explore. The kids grew to love it when we would just go and spend several hours there and window shop. They grew to learn the layout of the bookstore and how to find what they were looking for. Though the little bookstore has since been taken over by the big box stores, the kids still enjoy going over and spending time wrapped in the comforts and smells of any bookstore. One of my kids worked at a bookstore for a while after college and the other kiddo worked at the university library during college, so the bookstore activity had a lasting impression on both of them.
* I was never a fan of computer games, but that doesn’t mean my kids weren’t! As a teacher I just couldn’t see them wasting countless hours on mindless games, so when they were young, the only computer games we owned were educational games. Our very favorites were the Super Solvers games with Morty Maxwell. These involved a lot of math and reading to progress forward in the game. I’m sure this series has since been replaced with much better games over the years, but there certainly must be others out now with fun ‘game’ concepts, while still requiring math and reading to move on to the next level, etc.
So, there’s my 2 cents worth…..well, I guess I’ve shared more than my 2 cents worth! Best of luck trying to mold lifelong readers from your little balls of clay!
Kathryn Hicks says
Audio books – many libraries have them available for blind or otherwise visually challenged members.
Denice Lindsey says
My grandson learned to read doing hidden picture puzzles at the age of 4. He loved them and was always buggimg me to read the words so he could find the pictures. I put my foot down and told him that he needed to read the words. By the time he was 9 he was reading at a 7th grade level.
Liz Austin Steltzner says
Definitely audiobooks!! We do them in the car especially, because we are in the car a LOT, and they are a captive audience with not many other opportunities for amusement.
Chris Stephens says
I have a reluctant reader due to his mild dyslexia; I also have it and was a reluctant reader. For me, my mom gave me $1 per book over 150 pages (this was back in the early 1980s) when I was around 11-12 years old. After about two years she had to stop because I read all the time.
For my son, I am giving him audio books, 39 clues series. During homeschooling he has to read his books though, current one is Black Beauty, and give me a verbal summary of each chapter. Not only does this help with his reading, but also his ability to summarize a story.
Whitney Gallman Fitzpatrick says
Our daughter went to public school through 2nd grade before we started homeschooling and she was not a big fan of reading (which like you, drove me and my husband crazy as we love to read). We deschooled for a year and completely backed off reading. She started reading under the covers after bedtime to prolong going to sleep and instead of discouraging it, we let her. My husband had been reading Harry Potter to her aloud and when all the books were finished, she loved them so much she started reading them herself and it just went from there. She’s 10 now and has read thru the series twice. Maybe find stuff they’re interested in? She’s into horses right now so she reads horse books, loves to play dungeons and dragons so reads the players guides, etc. She’s also an only child and will get bored if we’re not entertaining her (and we limit electronics), so that probably helps too :p
Puente Diane says
These children may be live wires…very active…very happy, and get bored easier with reading and calmer type activities. This may be a personality thing. I think its great for parents to try, but if they are bored …..
Maureen A. Terry DeForge says
…put them of a stationary bike while they read. ?
Ruth J. Leamy says
No one at our house liked the read alouds, but they do like audio books.
Deb Westover Leonard says
We used audio books along with the print book to encourage our reluctant readers. I think it helped at the time, however neither is a reader now. In retrospect I would have made reading a priority rather than an end of the day thing.
Anne Corazzi says
Read to them
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Yep, Anne Corazzi, we do that a LOT. 🙂
Natalie Ann says
What’s your end goal? Is it exposure to great literature or reading skills or both? Audio books are fantastic for exposure to good literature for those who dread reading or who want something more stimulating. Even my son who hates reading loves a good audio book. Then you can feel better about reading skills being developed using whatever interests them. For us right now, it’s Wonder Woman and Calvin and Hobbes!
Jennifer Winton Edmunson says
Audio book good books that hook them…. Harry Potter or Great Brain or Peter and the Starcatchers. Also, my youngest wanted information and so he wasn’t interested in novels. Once we figured that out, he went gangbusters and moved to novels.
Sharon Wright Bohannon says
I read aloud to my kids until they 10 or older. They can listen to books above their reading level. It helps keep them interested. I read all of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Wind in the Willows, What Katy Did, Treasure Island. The Hobbit, etc. This was 20 years ago, before the movies. We ordered books from Scholastic. It is great to get a box of book s in the mail. Yard sales, thrift stores are great sources
Monica Serratos says
My daughter has an auditory processing disorder. I pulled her out of public school to homeschool mid 3rd grade. She hated to read. She started with graphic novels and comic books. We had a no screen time rule, so if she got “bored” she defaulted to the books! Now, she’s got a book in her hands everywhere she goes!
Emily Streich says
This is a great question and one I have had myself. My 8 year old will never read unless its homeschool time and I force her to sit and do it. So we gave her an iPod and headphones with tons of audiobooks under the “Audible” app. We change them every so often. She really enjoys them. I do still hope she will love reading books one day but this is a positive step for us (the books on tape.)
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I’d be very happy with audible books, and am excited to try this more!
Tami Fox says
Some kids will just never be readers. Mine loved to be read to when she was younger. She will read some graphic novels but that’s about it. And both my husband and I are huge readers. I don’t force it. You don’t want them to resent reading either. Edited to add: She’s now 13 and still zero desire to read. But she’s an amazing artist who creates her own stories.
Paige Robertson Leger says
Have you had the child screened for Irlen Syndrome? Reading may be challenging. Overlays can help! It made a world of difference for my child. She went from not wanting to read ever, to reading nonstop once she got an overlay.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
No but I think he’s just stubborn… And video games are too alluring…
Paige Robertson Leger says
Kelly the Kitchen Kop , in my area (Louisiana), the screening is $60. I had similar feelings regarding my child and then mother’s guilt afterwards when she needed the overlay. I am now a private teacher. If a child is still struggling by the end of first grade, I refer them to get screened. Everyone I’ve sent so far has needed overlays.
Gail Begin says
Whatever the outcome, try not to feel guilty like you did something wrong or resort to nagging. My husband wasn’t a reader as a student or even through his 30s, but is now a voracious reader.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
That gives me hope Gail Begin!
Rebecca Bee says
Respect who they are as people and leave them be. You can’t force someone to be a book lover, and nor should you try.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Hadn’t thought of it like that @Rebecca Bee
Rebecca Bee says
The way I see it you’re already taking steps to ensure they can and do read, so kudos for that, but a love and passion for reading is an almost an intangible thing. It will come naturally if it is part of their true self.
Jill-David Boman says
We used to require an hour of reading per day. 30 minutes: A book of their choice, and 30 minutes: a book of our choice (which usually was also their choice, but chosen from a large list of age/reading level appropriate Great Books or personal/spiritual growth books we provided). The book of their choice could be anything within reason that they’d find at the library or borrowed from a friend–Captain Underpants to science/exploration books, comic books, Hunger Games series, etc… Here are some ideas: https://time.com/100-best-young-adult-books/
Marcee Moore says
https://amongstlovelythings.com/podcast-series/ This is a VERY good podcast dedicated to cultivating a life of reading. She’s a homeschool mom, but all this advice is for every mom. HIGHLY recommended!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I’ve got it in my “to listen” folder!
Cherise Harper says
Both my children (22 & 24 now) were visual learners meaning that they learned best through pictures and illustrations rather than words. My daughter ended up being dyslexic so that figures but my son, while he doesn’t read books, will devour youtube videos and pages upon pages of tech magazine articles to learn what he needs to at the time. Both LOVE movies and story-telling that way. I can’t fault them for it. Both my husband and myself are artists so they get it honestly. I only hope that at some point one of them will pick up a book that propels them into a love of reading although it might be an iPad at this point.
April Bender Collins says
Have you used audio books to get them interested (since you have auditory learners) and then let them
A. Follow along with the print version
Or
B. Start with a trilogy and give book 1 audio, books 2 and 3 in print?
WhiteFeather Hunter says
My Side of the Mountain got my son hooked.
Sharon Clark says
Audiobooks! Jim Weiss has some of our favorites.
Julee Davis says
I made reading a focus in the curriculum. There were questions based on the books and he HAD to read the books in order to complete the question sheets.
It brought his reading comprehension up as well.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Julee Davis Do you use certain books and question sheets or just make the questions up yourself?
Julee Davis says
Kelly, I unschool a little bit as well as teaching the basics – history, geology, math, reading, vocabulary etc.
At the time, he was very interested in pirates. We’d made an impressive costume for Halloween and he’d decided to wear it everywhere for months. He was 8. I picked a pirate story to start. I thumbed through the book to get details to make up question sheets. I made up a question sheet per section or chapter. We started small – I had him read a few pages. He struggled and complained. I gave him a few questions based on those pages. I let him look at the book to answer the questions for the first entire book.
By the end of that book, he didn’t need to look at the book much to answer the questions.
As he matured over the year, he wasn’t exclusively in to pirates. Books that were historically accurate or educational in other ways could be used.
Son Light has literature based curriculae, but they’re expensive. I used their book list and either checked books out at the library or bought them used – we have great used bookstores here. If no one local had them, I bought used on Amazon or eBay. I’d go through each book and create questions – I was usually one book ahead, but there were times I grabbed the book at night after he went to bed and worked on questions.
There were also times I quizzed him in person. He read, I then looked at the book and went through the chapter he’d just read, asking questions. 🙂
Sheryl Senkiw says
Going to bookstores, and “strewing” books around the house. Picking books about a subject the child is passionate about. Also, letting them play family friendly online games with chat, like Skrafty Homeschool Minecraft. (under close supervision of course.) https://whenyouriseup.com/about/
Pamela Thompson Buettner says
With your read aloud, read to them and then stop at a really good part and make up an excuse that you cannot finish. My friend said this is what her mom did with them. They couldn’t wait for her to come back so they would finish on their own:)
Danielle Marie Ross says
My grandparents got my uncle his own magazine subscription to something he loved and he started reading.
Noreen Tamlin says
My kids love our summer reading program this year as the reward was a chipotle gift card! Let them read what they like no matter how silly, have older kids read to younger siblings or maybe no electronics until they read a couple of chapters.
Cindy Gober Brewer says
Start with books about things they like.
If they are still balking…ask questions..use 2 different texts…then ask…Are these letters easier to see than these? Are the letters moving on you? Children with eye or dyslexia
problems can relate to those questions.
Mona Serensen says
Kids love computer games. Find one that requires reading.
Patty Jess Conover says
I had a reluctant reader who switched to a lover of reading when a friend he really looked up to gave him a copy of the first Percy Jackson book and ordered him to read it. Sometimes peers just have more influence than parents.
Melissa Utte says
Hey Kelly! Your free and amazing local library uses an app called “Overdrive” on any device you may have – Android, desktop, Apple, etc. They have thousands of audiobooks that stay on your child’s device for 2-3 weeks then are returned automatically (no fines!). With my reluctant reader, I ask that she follow along in the paper book while listening. For my students, I ask that they read the last page of the chapter, then the last two pages, then listen to a chapter, read a chapter, alternately. It may not be the silver bullet, but it might help
Cindy Morrow Cpm says
I had one out of four; turns out she had visual integrations issues-she grew and her eyes/brain matured and Boom!
Jennifer says
I know this thread is really old but I second “Honey for a Child’s Heart” by Gladys Hunt and “The New Read-Aloud Handbook” by Jim Trelease. If you ever want validation on how important it is to read aloud to your children, and how it increases all areas of their reading development, Trelease is it. I want to buy that book for all new parents. Also it contains great age-appropriate book suggestions, as does Hunt’s book.
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I’m requesting those from the library now, thanks!
Kelly
Michelle says
We are using Ambleside Online to homeschool our oldest. They have a literature/living books curriculum, and listed with each year’s curriculum is a list of “free reads” that they feel are not to be missed books. All the ones we have read are absolutely fabulous. You can look a couple of years ahead or behind to find additional suggestions for voracious reders as well.
Jeanmarie says
I grew up on Laura Ingalls Wilder books and also the Narnia series. I also really, really loved the Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander. (The Black Cauldron is the first of five amazing books.) I read Little Women but not much else by Louisa May Alcott.
Rella says
So, I am not a homeschooling parent, but I am an auditory learner. It took me YEARS (as in most of the way through high school) before I learned HOW to learn by reading. It’s not that I didn’t like reading, because I loved to read books as long as they interested me, but I couldn’t tell you the next day what I had been reading was about. And it wasn’t reading fluency – I never struggled with “sounding out” as the last commenter was talking about – that is a separate issue from being an auditory learner. I always have been a very good reader – I read fast and well, and never had a problem when called to ready out loud in class (except for being 3 pages ahead of everyone else). But that doesn’t mean the information I was reading was making it into my long-term memory, and I have never been able to picture something in my head from reading it or looking at it. Memorize any song in 10 minutes on the other hand – DONE. I hear it once or twice, and I am good to go (ok, foreign language songs take 3 or 4 hearings, then I am fine).
Having been the kid in the same boat, here’s what I can tell you:
1) If the book is something they have to retain information from, they should read it out loud to themselves. This way they are still processing the information auditorily, but they are learning to do it for themselves. You will not always be available to read to your kids, and textbooks are not available in audio format typically. They have to learn how to read from books to be successful in college, and even in many jobs. Reading out loud to myself helped me a lot. Even today at age 33, if I am having trouble processing something I am reading, I will read it out loud to myself and then I get it immediately.
2) Teach them to engage in active reading. If they have textbooks, often the textbook will have questions at the end of a section regarding what was just read. I would read the questions out loud to myself so I’d remember them, and then I would look for the answers to the questions as I read and write the answers. I also tended to speak aloud what I was writing , which also helped me remember the information. It made me think about what I was reading more, process the information both through thinking about it and hearing it, and ultimately is what led me to be able to learn from reading. You can even write questions (or find some online, I am sure) about what happens in literature books in different chapters/sections.
3) If it’s just a book to have them exposed to the classics, go with the auditory books. Save your voice. They will enjoy it more, and maybe even learn to enjoy the books.
My last parting thought, with which you may or may not agree:
Your primary job as teacher is not to teach them facts, or books, or any other piece of curriculum. They can get that information at any point in their lives through college, self-teaching, the internet, or some other means. Your primary job is to teach them how to learn and how to think. They have to learn how to use auditory learning to their advantage, even when the learning vehicle is not inherently to their advantage (such as visual learning from books).
Mindy M says
Fluency in reading helps with enjoyment and picturing. If a child is struggling with ‘sounding out’, then they won’t be enjoying the content or picturing the story. It happens in a different part of the brain. I let my kids read below their level for enjoyment. And then read aloud to them above their level to pull them forward. I had the older kids help the younger ones with their reading assignments for review and practice. Pounding the pegs of phonics really helps. Of my five children, I have 2 avid book readers, 2 who would rather be playing basketball, and one who prefers reading on an electronic device.
KitchenKop says
OK, very interesting, thank you for sharing!
Kel
Ginger says
I loved the Nancy Drew books when I was around your daughter’s age!
Vivienne says
I’d like to suggest parents or caregivers read The Read Aloud Handbook.
It offers so much more than the idea that reading aloud is beneficial for kids. It’s one of the most important non-parenting parenting books (if that makes sense) that a parent or child-minder can read. Plus, it lists which books are good for reading aloud and gives age recommendations. Pretty much all libraries have this book in their catalogue.
Please read! It is so good!
Abby Pires says
I do not have any knowledgeable title or author suggestions as I am still learning what the “classics” are, but I do have some insight into the different learning styles.
Even if your children are auditory learners, they can still enhance and expand their vocabulary, improve their reading comprehension, and learn life lessons from an audiobook or by being read to. After all, they are processing the EXACT same information that the visual learner would be just in a different manner. Food for thought…
Angela says
Also, here is a link to the 6th-12 grade textbook lists for the classical academy, so you can see what they are reading in each grade. This is a charter prep school that prides itself on it’s classical education.
https://chandlerprep.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117&Itemid=150
Angela says
This is the 2nd-5th grade reading list from my daughter’s classical academy:
Robin Hood (Core Classic)
A Wrinkle in Time
Alice in Wonderland
Charlotte’s Web
Little House in the Big Woods
Little House on the Prairie
Phantom Tollbooth
Polyanna (Core Classic)
Sara Plain & Tall
Shiloh
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Core Classic)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Magician’s Nephew
The Secret Garden
The Wise Woman and Other Stories
Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon
Where the Red Fern Grows
Samantha Jacokes says
So many books out there! 🙂
Some I fondly remember from my upper elementary/middle school years:
Where the Red Fern Grows
Bridge to Terabithia
Narnia
Charlie & the Chocolate Factory
Little House series
The Westing Game
The Hobbit
White Fang
Black Beauty
Encyclopedia Brown
The Great Brain
I found a bunch of “beginner” classics that I’ve been reading aloud to the kids. Such as Moby Dick, Wind in the Willows, Oliver Twist, etc. They are pared down a bit for the younger kids. (Mine are 7 & 9 and have really enjoyed them.)
I’m enjoying reading the comments!
Renae says
Pippi Longstockings was a childhood favorite of mine. I also enjoyed books where the kids in them were making decisions and a bit independent, like The Boxcar Children. I had a teacher in school who would read Encyclopedia Brown books to us after recess and it was always fun to try and solve the case before she read the answer. I loved reading as a child and still do, but often get upset that classics weren’t taught much when I went to school. I feel like I missed out on learning a true appreciation for them and don’t know where to start now…so these ideas are great!
Beverly says
I found with my girls that the level of the book in terms of difficulty made far less difference in getting them to read it than interest level. My suggestion would be to find the classics shelf at your local bookstore or library and let them choose something that looks interesting. Also your librarians and booksellers are valuable resources, let the kids talk to them and ask questions, enthusiasm for a book from a third party (really, what kid believes his parents know good entertainment) can go a long way in getting a kid interested.
I read the Narnia books in about third grade I think. And in fourth. And fifth, you know they really never get old. Is Jim Kjellgaard considered a classic yet? Because his Big Red books really drew me in as a kid. Wizard of Oz series may appeal if they already know the movie and want more. Those appear to be public domain actually an can be gotten here https://www.openculture.com/free_ebooks along with a number of others.
Margaret says
Hi Kelly,
We homeschooled 4 kids and one is a strong auditory learner. We used both auditory books and read aloud. We also took turns reading a paragraph or page or chapter and then, for difficult classics, we would stop as necessary and have them narrate as we went.
I second using AmblesideOnline.org. They have wonderful resources and a great forum for asking questions, sharing schedules, etc. My boys loved the Ralph Moody books, and Robinson Crusoe which we took very slowly at first. Also, biographies were loved along with history and geography stories. My daughter loved Ann of Green Gables and other L M Montgomery books as well as Louisa May Alcott. We did a book together when she was around eleven or twelve, called, Beautiful Girlhood– not a novel, but a lovely book for Mom and daughter and some journal time. We also listened to audio books in the car a lot and if you do a language, great time for songs in the car or skip counting cd’s etc.
We just finished our homeschooling years and I would be happy to share our highs and lows any time. Best decision ever! With auditory learners, you might also check into Speech and Debate with your local NCFCA group.
Many blessings!
Leanne says
I use Veritas Press curriculum which is a classical approach to learning. You would not need to use their curriculum, but if you go to their site
https://resource2.veritaspress.com/Online_Catalog_2013/Flip_Catalog.swf
you can see what books they have suggested for each grade level and could find those books on kindle or in a library. Some of the books my children have read are the Narnia series as well as some of C.S. Lewis’s other writings, Lord of the Rings, Tom Sawyer, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, 1984, Pride and Prejudice. They also use the Bible as a resource as well, if you what to have a Christian worldview as part of their schooling.
Ami Beshay says
I don’t know if this might help, but I just started reading The Well Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise. She has a lot of ways to actually undertake a classical education and suggestions for reading.
Anna says
Shane by Jack Schaefer is one of my favorite classics, so good and really shows what a hero is and is great for all ages. It’s also very engaging and suspenseful.
Ellen Puetz says
Oh Kelly, you’ve hit my weak spot. I love talking about books and can (and do!) go on for hours. I was considered the go-to person when someone needed recommendations when I was in a homeschooling group. Of my 5 kids, I had one with an eidetic memory, one visual learner with eye-muscle problems, and three with dyslexia ranging from mild to very severe, one of whom is a very strong auditory learner. I know it is hard with all you have to do and with kids such differing ages, but I recommend LOTS of reading out loud and audio books. The new Kindle deal (whispersync?) where you can read a book and listen to it at the same time on your Kindle, getting the 2nd version very cheaply or free, can be great for kids who are not strong readers. I also recommend “Honey for a Child’s Heart” by Gladys Hunt and “The Read Aloud Handbook” by Jim Trelease for ideas on age and interest appropriate books. We also switched to Sonlight at some point and loved most of their book selections. And most of all, find a way to make it fun so that your kids don’t join the ranks of people who never read another book after they finish schooling. I didn’t “make” my kids read beyond their reading lesson, but I did “allow” them to stay up a half hour later if they were reading! A fun and interesting book/audio book for any age is “The Great Turkey Walk” by Kathleen Karr. All 5 of my kids love good books as adults and can’t imagine living without them. I consider that a great accomplishment considering the severity of the dyslexia two of them have. One of them consumes almost all of his books in audio form, but he is still more well-read than many. I would love to talk more and if you are interested can give you my phone #. P.S. Have you noticed the huge variety of audio books available from your library? We are also in the greater GR area and it is wonderful.
Vonnie says
Swallows and Amazons series by Authur Ransome
I had a reluctant reader who, when given these books, read them again and again, and I’m sure lived the adventures in his head, and sometimes in play.
He always loved boats and water, so maybe that connected him to these books … maybe your boys have a similar passion … or whatever their passion, books that connect may heighten their interest.
Colleen says
I highly recommend A Wrinkle in Time and the sequels. A classic and opens up a lot of avenues of other learning and questions. I also second where the red fern grows mentioned above
Jill says
We used the lists in The Well Trained Mind as a guide. Here is their high school Great Books lists, according to grade, but the book (which is easy to find at most libraries) has lists for grade school and middle school as well. https://www.welltrainedmind.com/great-books/ My rule when they were younger was that they had to read 1 hour per day: 30 minutes = book of their choice from the library, 30 minutes = a book from that year’s list. The younger grades have much less daunting and more fun books, in case this list is a little intimidating. Actually, come to think of it, by high school we’d switched to Sonlight, which came with literature. Hey, there’s an idea. Order a free Sonlight catalog from their website and get ideas from there. Also, the Rainbow Resource catalog (can also order free on their website) has an enormous selection of literature with great descriptions and reviews included.
DS says
Charles Dickens is a classic author. Louisa May Alcott is pretty boring. I like Brianne’s choices.
For younger kids, don’t miss George Selden’s Cricket in Times Square trilogy. I read them out loud and laughed till I cried. Beverly Cleary is delightful, except for her prize winner. My sons loved Tom Sawyer read out loud. The whole family will enjoy that. If you want a child to read, start a chapter book and let them finish.
Lynn Cupp above has good choices.
DuLaire’s book of Greek Myths is great for any age.
In England, Arnold Bennett is found on the Classics shelf. Go to a good used book store and browse.
The Human Comedy by William Saroyan was one I loved in junior high and I still love it. Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson is wonderful. I read that concurrently with An Autobiography by Agatha Christie and My Father’s Glory and My Mother’s Castle by Marcel Pagnol. Those three books are autobiographical accounts (although Thompson’s is fictionalized) of people growing up in the late 1800s/early 1900s. VERY different classes of people and lots to learn about what life was like. In general, Christie’s autobiography is my favorite book, and she mentions all sorts of books from her home-schooling as a child. It’s like a visit with my grandmother, or perhaps with her mother, whom I hardly knew.
mereditih says
kudos to you Kelly for moving forward with Classics. This is rewarding and fruitful.
I followed Laura Berquist and loved every minute of it.
https://www.ignatius.com/Products/DYO-P/designing-your-own-classical-curriculum.aspx
https://www.motherofdivinegrace.org/curriculum
I used her book to guide me then did what made sense for our family.
Regarding read alouds: yes continue to read aloud and they can read aloud to each other and they can read aloud to themselves!
Books on tape are useful here too.
Blessings!
Meredith
KitchenKop says
Duh, I have that book and we’re doing that curriculum, I forgot that her booklists are in there! I do love hearing everyone’s suggestions, though, keep ’em coming and thanks for always being there for me reader friends!
Kel
Amy says
Check out a literature based curriculum, like Sonlight or My Father’s World,and check out the booklist for your kids’ grades. (And maybe one up or down.) My dad used to read to us as entertainment. (We didn’t have a TV when i was young. ) i remember Pollyanna and Hans Brinker, but there were many more. They could even take turns reading to each other.
Karen says
My daughter and I have really enjoyed some of the free book swaps online, such as PaperbackSwap dot com. She has found many books for my two grandchildren, 12 and 15, that she home schools.
We had a “Jane Austen summer” this year with my 15-year-old granddaughter, using the Annotated books, then watched one or more movies for each one (I have collected all of them). The annotated books are great for the older or more difficult classics – even I learned a lot about Pride and Prejudice I didn’t know before.
Terri says
For those venturing on a study of the classics, Dr. Art Robinson has a fantastic list of books. https://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/ If you are not familiar with him and his family, their story is a must read. In addition, he recently ran for House in Oregon against Peter de Fozio.
In addition, Excellence in Writing has a list of books, specifically for boys (and other children) who would prefer to build forts! https://iew.com/search/site/forts
Since you are new to homeschooling, I will assume that your children were taught to read incorrectly. Unless they were taught by a strict, systematic phonics method with no sight words, they were taught incorrectly; hence the chore of reading, your son not seeing the picture of what he reads.
I have been tutoring reading since 1978 and have recently completed my book to help others teach reading correctly – Reading for Success: The Phonics Program that Works. It takes someone of any age from pre-reading to advanced vocab, complete with spelling. I would suggest that you do some remedial work with the kids so that they can read correctly and with enjoyment, probably with spelling so that they get all the rules. That may not seem too “babyish” for them. If you would like to contact me for more specific info, please do so.
Maryjane says
I totally agree about doing some remedial work with your kids because they may not have been taught to read correctly. They may not be comprehending what they read (which would explain why they can listen to reading and get it, but not when they read to themselves).
When I began homeschooling my son in third grade, I made him go through the same phonics program that my preschooler was doing. It greatly improved both his reading AND his spelling.
momawake says
http://www.amblesideonline.org Click on Ambleside Online Curriculum. That will take you to booklists by year. You’ll find all sorts of classics!
Brianne says
Here is an excellent list of classics for children: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/childrens-classic
My personal suggestions: The Giver, Little House on the Prairie and The Little Prince
Since your son is interested in aviation, perhaps he’s find classics about war interesting? I remember loving All Quiet on the Western Front and probably reach that around age 15. Catch-22 is also good but probably a bit overwhelming for him as it’s a bit book.
As for getting them interested in classics: I always find value in knowing the reason something is a classic. Often there is history of how revolutionary this story was at the time for various reasons. Maybe this book pioneered a new style of writing. Older novels were often written with each chapter appearing in a monthly magazine which makes them interesting to read from that perspective. Perhaps the book spawned some sort of backlash to the author.
Some facts and ideas to make classics interesting:
-The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was consider scandalous for portraying a hedonistic main character who was never punished for his sin of vanity, caused a huge uproar in England at the time, some felt that Oscar Wilde should even have been punished for writing such a novel.
-The Scarlet Letter was inspired by an old document Nathanial Hawthorne found one day.
-You can buy Little House on the Prairie cookbooks and make some of the recipes from the book
-There is must symbolism around the color yellow in All Quite on the Western Front, with that in mind, the book can feel a bit more like a treasure hunt trying to notice when the color is mentioned and what the symbolism might be
-Mary Shelly started Frankenstein when she was 19 years old when she and some friends made a bet to see who could come up with the best horror story. It was published when she was 21.
Brianne says
In reply to my own suggestions: Dorian Gray is not recommend for their age. That book is just tough to get through and would not be interesting enough for a 14 year old. But it was the top of mind example I have of a book with a interesting story around it!
Cindy says
I like most of the lists already provided. We really enjoy Narnia, as well as Tolkein’s triologies. As for auditory vs. visual learners. I am definitely an auditory learner and I love to read – always have. I rarely see a picture in my head but I hear the words in my head. Help your boys to not only see the words with their eyes but to hear them in their heads.
ashley says
My mom read out loud to us almost every night and we listened to audio books in the car ALL THE TIME. Some of my favorite classics were Where the Red Fern Grows, All Creatures Great and Small (series), David Copperfield, Black Beauty, Old Yeller, Captains Courageous, Pride & Prejudice, ummmmm…. lots. Lots and LOTS! Have you checked your local library? Many libraries now have digital lending libraries for Kindle!!!
Lynn Cupp says
I’d like to add my 2 cents in as well. I do have boys that really didn’t like to read much as well. One thing I encouraged, was even to catch up on some of the younger classics, as they all have a good moral for anyone, that’s why they are classics.
How about:
Old Yeller (my 17 year old ds loved it)
Laddie
Little Britches
The Giver
Alas Babalon
The Once and Future King
To Kill a Mockingbird
Charlotte’s Web
Frog and Toad(the real thing)
These are a few to get you started. There are so many great booklists out there to pick and choose what would interest all of you.
Janet Bradley says
Ralph Moody books get my vote. They are incredible. Also Boxcar children. When I was homeschooling someone once told me anything for children published in the 50’s or 60’s would be good reading material. I found it to be true. They are simple and usually teach a lesson or show great courage, work ethic, etc.
Becky says
I loved little house on the prairie. I think your son would enjoy Ralph Moody’s books. I listened to them as audio books and loved them so much I have read them several times since.
Beth says
I sent you a great, detailed reply and the computer ate it – wah! Here’s what I remember.
We read Treasure Island aloud and they liked it.
Swiss Family Robinson was more tedious but okay.
Mine really liked Little Women and Little Men (Alcott)
Anne of Green Gables
Robin Hood
Mark Twain (Short stories and sketches)
Boys Book of Great Detective Stories
Narnia
Sherlock Holmes
Marguerite Henry books
The Black Stallion
Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys (earlier versions)
Not classics but we liked:
Robert Elmer-Astro Kids and others
Accidental Detectives
TCDC (Three cousins detective club)
Cul-de-Sac Kids
Puppy Place
Animal Ark
My olders are reading quite different ‘classics’ for Literature: Beowulf, Greek Lit, Roman Lit, El Cid, Don Quixote, Dante’s Divine Comedy, T.S.Eliot, Shakespeare, and others.
Peggy says
There’s a really good book called “Read for the Heart”. It’s got suggestions for every age level. I don’t think getting a picture in your head while you’re reading is something that an auditory learner will do as much as a visual learner does. Maybe your auditory learner would be happier with recorded books.
Jennifer says
I heartily second getting Read For The Heart. I like it so much, I purchased an extra copy to share with all my friends (so I could “loan” mine without having to go without it!)
KitchenKop says
@Peggy & @Jennifer,
What does that book have besides suggestions for every age level? Or is it that you just really like their suggestions? Thanks!
Kelly
Bria says
You can’t go wrong with Narnia books, for either of them. And Lewis was such a good writer, his kids books are profitable even for adults. We have found Alcott to be challenging, especially for a reluctant reader, but they’re great read-alouds. My daughter mentions “Eight Cousins” and “Rose in Bloom” as particular favorites. My girls have enjoyed Bobbsey Twins, Five Little Peppers, and Boxcar books at around 11. Boys are hard! But, if you can find them free (?) my son likes the Ballantyne books. Ballantyne’s father was Sir Walter Scott’s publisher, so he grew up in literary society, and apparently also spins a good yarn. As with anything, change can be slow. But require them to read small bits of Real Books consistently, and most likely they’ll develop as taste for it. Just like Real Food.