Children of all ages love hearing stories read out loud (don't we all, in fact?). Some books, though, lend themselves to this much more than others, whether it's down to the fun and silly voices required or the pure joy of word-play, rythym and rhyme. Here are our Top Five, for children from Nursery through to Year 6. Enjoy!
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg: As well as being a visual delight, the wonderful rhythm and rhyme make this an absolute favourite for sharing aloud with young children.
The Smartest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler: All of Julia Donaldson’s books are a real treat for reading out loud but the use of repetition, and the potential for showing off an array of animal voices, put this top of my list.
What Planet are you From, Clarice Bean? By Lauren Child: Although Child is better known for her Charlie and Lola series, the very strong, narrative voice of Clarice Bean is great fun to read out loud. Her slightly careworn dad is also a particularly enjoyable character to give voice to.
Chocolate Cake by Michael Rosen: I’m giggling just thinking about this poem! Great fun to read aloud, particularly if you’re prepared to really throw yourself into all the “oooooommm mmmm nice” bits!
Just William by Richmal Crompton: The rather old-fashioned language of these books could be off-putting for independent readers, and It can be tricky to get your mouth around at first. But once you’ve mastered it and they hear it read aloud, children will be laughing their heads off at the antics of William and his pals in no time…as well as marvelling at how kids entertained themselves in the days before technology!
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