Reading Sage: Read Aloud Books For Children

Top 10 Classic Read Aloud Books For Young Readers

The Tiger Who Came To Tea, by Judith Kerr

A voracious guest makes a surprise visit in this ferociously popular tale, first published more than forty years ago.

ONCE THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL CALLED SOPHIE, AND SHE WAS HAVING TEA WITH HER MUMMY IN THE KITCHEN. SUDDENLY, THERE WAS A RING AT THE DOOR.

When the doorbell rings unexpectedly one afternoon, Sophie and her mummy can’t imagine who might be there. Much to their surprise, a tiger with a very large appetite has come to tea! What will they tell Daddy when he returns home and finds all the cupboards bare? First published in 1968, this classic and whimsical picture book from beloved children’s author and illustrator Judith Kerr is a delightful (and delicious!) story about the best way to entertain an unexpected houseguest, even when that guest just so happens to be a tiger.

About the Author

Judith Kerr was born in Berlin in 1923, but escaped from Hitler’s Germany with her family and eventually settled in England. She worked as an artist and BBC television scriptwriter before becoming a full-time author and illustrator of children’s books, including WHEN WILLY WENT TO THE WEDDING, WHEN HITLER STOLE PINK RABBIT, and the best-selling THE TIGER WHO CAME TO TEA. She lives in England.

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak
Amazon.com Review
Where the Wild Things Are is one of those truly rare books that can be enjoyed equally by a child and a grown-up. If you disagree, then it's been too long since you've attended a wild rumpus. Max dons his wolf suit in pursuit of some mischief and gets sent to bed without supper. Fortuitously, a forest grows in his room, allowing his wild rampage to continue unimpaired. Sendak's color illustrations (perhaps his finest) are beautiful, and each turn of the page brings the discovery of a new wonder. The wild things--with their mismatched parts and giant eyes--manage somehow to be scary-looking without ever really being scary; at times they're downright hilarious. Sendak's defiantly run-on sentences--one of his trademarks--lend the perfect touch of stream of consciousness to the tale, which floats between the land of dreams and a child's imagination.
This Sendak classic is more fun than you've ever had in a wolf suit, and it manages to reaffirm the notion that there's no place like home. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

The Tale of Samuel Whiskers, by Beatrix Potter

Amazon Kid's Review

This is one of my favorite stories when I was younger, and still is today. This story is so funny, and cute, and charming. In it you follow Tom Kitten along his adventure, more like a MISadventure. His mother is Ms. Tabitha Twitchit, a very fussy, over protective mother of her three kittens. Moppet, Mittens, and our hero of the story are silly kittens who are always mischeivious in any situation. They are always running away from their mother in their huge house, sneaking around, trying to cause trouble. Follow Tom Kitten as he goes on an adventure that is more dangerous than fun. When he gets lost and Tabitha tries to find him, her sister Mrs. Ribby, who is very fussy and angry with Tom, doesn't help the situation. See what happens to Tom when he gets trapped with two HUGE HUNGRY rates with no way to escape! This, in my opinion, is one of her best stories and the characters in it are unforgettable.

Yertle the Turtle, by Dr Seuss

In his Retrospective, Cohen tells us that 'when the top-selling children's books of all time were compiled in 2001, Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories had sold more copies than either Curious George or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.' ...I was fascinated to learn that Yertle was 'actually a caricature of Adolf Hitler - 'a little domineering guy who pushes people around.'' Cohen also includes two lost stories - The Ruckus and The Kindly Snather - which both teach a lesson and both made me smile. If you're a Dr. Seuss fan (and who isn't?) then you really should have this anniversary edition...in your collection - to read and chortle over with young children, or simply to enjoy, and think about, on your own. [Rated with 3 books, highest rating] --BookLoons.com, Hilary Williamson (founder), 11/17/2008

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of one of the most popular children’s books ever created, this pop-up edition of The Very Hungry Caterpillar is the perfect new platform for the classic caterpillar, who literally pops off the pages of the book—crawling along branches, munching through food, and in one of the most memorable climaxes ever, emerging vibrantly as a three-dimensional beautiful butterfly.This is a stunning, tour-de-force pop-up that no fan of Mr. Carle’s work will want to miss.

The Cat in the Hat, by Dr Seuss

Amazon.com Review

He may be an old standby, but he never lets us down. When in doubt, turn to the story of the cat that transformed a dull, rainy afternoon into a magical and just-messy-enough adventure. There's another, hidden adventure, too: this book really will help children learn to read. With his simple and often single-vowel vocabulary, the good Doctor knew what he was doing: hear it, learn it, read it--laughing all the way. The Cat in the Hat is a must for any child's library.

Charlotte's Web, by EB White

Amazon.com Review
An affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur befriends a spider named Charlotte, who lives in the rafters above his pen. A prancing, playful bloke, Wilbur is devastated when he learns of the destiny that befalls all those of porcine persuasion. Determined to save her friend, Charlotte spins a web that reads "Some Pig," convincing the farmer and surrounding community that Wilbur is no ordinary animal and should be saved. In this story of friendship, hardship, and the passing on into time, E.B. White reminds us to open our eyes to the wonder and miracle often found in the simplest of things. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

The Story of Babar, by Jean de Brunhoff

Babar is one of the most endearing characters in children's literature. This volume is a classic that belongs on any child's bookshelf. The story of Babar and Celeste's hot air balloon ride and subsequent adventures in interesting locales fascinates kids, while broadening their cultural horizons. Some mature themes that may disturb kids (war, cruel treatment by a circus ringmaster), but provide a change from the pastel bunny and kitty story genre. Thought provoking for kids mature enough to handle it.

Winnie-the-Pooh, by AA Milne, illustrated by EH Shepard

Amazon.com Review

When Christopher Robin asks Pooh what he likes doing best in the world, Pooh says, after much thought, "What I like best in the whole world is Me and Piglet going to see You, and You saying 'What about a little something?' and Me saying, 'Well, I shouldn't mind a little something, should you, Piglet,' and it being a hummy sort of day outside, and birds singing." Happy readers for over 70 years couldn't agree more. Pooh's status as a "Bear of Very Little Brain" belies his profoundly eternal wisdom in the ways of the world. To many, Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and the others are as familiar and important as their own family members. A.A. Milne's classics, Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, are brought together in this beautiful edition, complete and unabridged, with recolored illustrations by Milne's creative counterpart, Ernest H. Shepard. Join Pooh and the gang as they meet a Heffalump, help get Pooh unstuck from Rabbit's doorway, (re)build a house for Eeyore, and try to unbounce Tigger. A childhood is simply not complete without full participation in all of Pooh's adventures. (All ages) --Emilie Coulter

Presents a comprehensive, unabridged collection of Winnie-the-Pooh stories, accompanied by Shepard's original full-color illustrations, as well as headbands and ribbon markers, colorful bookplate, and biographies of the author and illustrator.