In the winter months when most people crave staying warm at home over the icy cold winds, it is the perfect time to make family connections.  On a cold Saturday afternoon in January why not cuddle up together on the couch or on mom and dad’s bed and spend an hour connecting and reading?

Make the most of your time with your kids and make it a life lesson’s learning experience at the same time.  Leave a little time for discussion at the end and you’ll have one {or more} easy to put together, but very enriching experience.

Family Time Reads for younger kids

Younger children need pictures and have less attention span.  If you have all young children these reads are a great way to go:

Flat Stanley by Tomi Ungerer

Rikki Tikki Tavi by Rudyard Kipling

Mathematicians are People Too

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth

The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss    

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

Books by artists:

Ehlert, Lois (artist)

Kellogg, Steven (artist)

When you have a Mixture of Ages

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle delights all ages.  From my youngest to my husband we always have a good laugh and they beg me to “keep reading” as each chapter ends.

The Littles Series by John Peterson

Phantom Tollbooth- Norton Juster

The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull

Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes

Pinky Pye by Eleanor Estes

A Little Princess by Francis Hodges Burnett

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Older Kids & Teens, or couples

Even teens and older kids appreciate listening to good books and enjoy the connection time with their parents.  As your children grow, the conversations that ensue from these book reading times are stimulating, life changing, and important for their growth and development.

Any of the books from librariesofhope.org

Biographies of people you’d like to learn about

Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank & Ernestine Gilbreth (Cute, cute book!)

The Chosen by Chaim Potok

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

The Virginian by Owen Wister

The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank

Emma by Jane Austen

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

The Robe by Lloyd C. Douglas

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

If you decide that this is something you’d like to do every Saturday, here is a suggested list of read aloud series books:

Series Books:

Nurse Matilda Series (The movies about Nanny McPhee are based on these books)

The Happy Hollisters by Jerry West

Ramona Quimby by Beverly Clearly

The Wizard of Oz series by Baum

Dr. Dolittle Series by Hugh Lofting

Paddington by Michael Bond

Percy Jackson: Lightning Thief Series by Rick Riordan

Betsy Tacy by Maud Halt (10 in series)

The Borrowers Series by Mary Norton

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

I recommend parents read Jim Trelease’s Read Aloud Handbook for ideas on what to read, why to read to your kids, and inspiration.  He also has a great website: http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/

These are simply suggested books. You can use them as a starting point, or read each one. Find what your family would like.  Go over book lists, visit the library, or ask what topics the family would like to learn more about.  

Enrich your children’s lives, their development, and establish healthy, strong connections with your children by reading together on Saturdays.