{"id":190805,"date":"2025-09-25T10:19:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T15:19:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=190805"},"modified":"2025-09-26T12:05:22","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T17:05:22","slug":"classic-chapter-books-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/leisure\/books\/classic-chapter-books-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Classic Chapter Books to Read Aloud With Your Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Note: We\u2019re excited to welcome back longtime contributor Jeremy Anderberg, who will be writing occasional articles for AoM once again.<\/em><\/p>\n

Reading aloud to your children<\/a> provides a host of benefits for little ones and adults alike. Beyond even the measurable advantages is the simple pleasure of connecting with your kids and engaging in the ancient tradition of sharing stories.<\/p>\n

When kids are ages 4 and under, getting through read-aloud stories can honestly feel like a chore. The same board books repeated again and again and again . . . one can only handle so much Pete the Cat and annoying rhyming ditties.<\/p>\n

Ages 4 to 7 bring some relief. Kids can enjoy longer, more engaging tales, plus they can start to read words and sentences themselves, which adds a special magic to the experience.<\/p>\n

Somewhere between ages 7 and 9, things change yet again. Kids are usually reading on their own and may not \u201cneed\u201d stories read aloud \u2014 heck, they might even ask you to drop the nightly routine. But if you keep the practice going, you\u2019ll find it becomes even richer and more fun than before because they\u2019re ready to listen to more interesting middle-grade chapter books.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s when kids get to this crucial age that they can truly start learning some of life\u2019s most important lessons about love, courage, relationships, and more \u2014 and those lessons don\u2019t change much as you age. It\u2019s no accident that many of the classic novels in this category are among the best-selling titles of all time. Their blend of timeless lessons with compelling adventure has made them favorites in our own household too.<\/p>\n

Below are four we\u2019ve read aloud to our kids that they really enjoyed.<\/p>\n

The Hobbit<\/a><\/em> by J. R. R. Tolkien<\/h3>\n
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Tolkien\u2019s classic children\u2019s book is generally seen as the appetizer to the immense Lord of the Rings<\/em> trilogy. But when read with kids, you\u2019ll (re)discover that it makes for a fantastic story of its own that doesn\u2019t just need to be a stepping stone to its door-stopping follow-up.<\/p>\n

Introducing Middle-earth and all its inhabitants \u2014 hobbits, elves, orcs, dwarves, wizards \u2014 readers are immediately drawn into a world that combines whimsical adventure with rather serious battles between good and evil. (Tolkien knew his age group, though: this story doesn\u2019t get as dark or scary as Lord of the Rings<\/em>.) At its core, The Hobbit <\/em>is a tale of a quiet fellow who discovers a well of courage and resolve to do good and daring deeds.<\/p>\n

While any version of it works well, our family especially enjoys the edition illustrated by Jemima Catlin<\/a>.  <\/p>\n

A Wrinkle in Time<\/a><\/em> by Madeleine L\u2019Engle<\/h3>\n
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If the movie Interstellar<\/em> were a children\u2019s novel with a little more fantasy and a little less sci-fi, it would be L\u2019Engle\u2019s A Wrinkle in Time<\/em>. This book has a bit of everything: time travel (and tesseracts), aliens, sibling conflicts, mitochondrial science, and a darkness vs. light theme running throughout. What makes this story really stand out are its beautiful meditations on love, family, and accepting who you are. A Wrinkle in Time<\/em> is perhaps our household\u2019s most beloved story; I\u2019ve read it aloud at least three times, and I expect I\u2019m not done yet.<\/p>\n

The graphic version<\/a>, adapted by Hope Larson, is fantastic. We started with it before moving onto the full, unabridged novel. And although we\u2019ve tried the sequels (there are five books in the series), none have been enjoyed nearly as much as the original.  <\/p>\n

The<\/em> <\/a>Odyssey<\/a><\/em> by Homer<\/h3>\n
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This ancient Greek epic is not your standard children\u2019s fare. But I know a bunch of kids, mostly boys but not entirely, who love learning about Greek and Roman mythology in school. They eat up all those old stories of heroes battling monsters and fighting next to their brothers in arms. What better book to read, for this group, than one of the oldest and most powerful narratives in the history of world literature.<\/p>\n

Now, don\u2019t jump right into the full text of the Odyssey<\/em>. That\u2019s enough to make an adult\u2019s head spin, let alone a 10-year-old. For this book, I recommend going with an abridged graphic version that hits all the narrative highlights while retaining the classic poetic writing style. There are a few options, but the best of the bunch is Gareth Hinds<\/a>, who has adapted a number of famed novels and plays into accessible graphic editions. If that goes well, consider trying the real thing \u2014 Emily Wilson\u2019s translation<\/a> is great \u2014 but don\u2019t be too discouraged if it doesn\u2019t hit the same.<\/p>\n

By now you\u2019ve seen I often recommend illustrated or graphic editions. Some people worry about this trend in children\u2019s literature, but I see them as a great bridge between picture books and chapter books. If it keeps kids reading I\u2019m all for it, and the visuals usually make the story stick even more.<\/p>\n

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe<\/a><\/em> by C. S. Lewis<\/h3>\n
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C. S. Lewis\u2019s most famous book is also the shortest and most accessible title on this list. Combining mythologies and religious ideas, Lewis gave the world the kind of story that anyone and everyone can enjoy.<\/p>\n

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe<\/em> is a rich, beautiful tale about four kids who find themselves in a hidden world that\u2019s been plunged into an epic conflict. They\u2019re drafted into that battle and are forced to find deeper reserves of bravery and love than they thought possible.<\/p>\n

Our kids love all things Narnia, including the whole seven-book series, along with a few movie adaptations. But the book that started it all<\/a> is still their favorite \u2014 and mine too.<\/p>\n

Here are a few more recommendations from Brett and Kate that the McKay children especially enjoyed:<\/p>\n