10 Chapter Books for Bedtime Reading

I love chapter books for bedtime reading. I actually get excited about picking out books and sitting down to read to my kids. You already know why you should read chapter books aloud to your preschoolers. Now I want to share with you 10 family read-alouds! We have read some and plan to read the others in the near future in our homeschool preschool! Some of these books are classics you can get on your Kindle for free. (I love my Kindle for free books!) Others you will have to purchase or borrow from your library. Some of these books are even on my preschool book list!

10 Chapter Books for Bedtime Reading

1. My Father’s Dragon
“When Elmer Elevator hears about the plight of an overworked and underappreciated baby flying dragon, he stows away on a ship and travels to Wild Island to rescue the dragon.”

This book is short and sweet and full of adventure! I read this as our first chapter read-aloud and my kids really enjoyed it!

2. Little House in the Big Woods
“Laura Ingalls’ story begins in 1871 in a little log cabin on the edge of the Big Woods in Wisconsin. Four-year-old Laura lives in the little house with her Pa, her Ma, her sisters Mary and Carrie, and their trusty dog Jack. Pioneer life is sometimes hard, since the family must grow or catch all their own food as they get ready for the cold winter. But it is also exciting as Laura and her folks celebrate Christmas with homemade toys and treats, do the spring planting, bring in the harvest, and make their first trip into town. And every night they are safe and warm in their little house, with the happy sound of Pa’s fiddle sending Laura and her sisters off to sleep.”

I love all of The Little House on the Prairie books. We are starting with this one and reading through it right now. It’s even captivating my three year old!

3. Charlotte’s Web

“Charlotte’s Web is the story of a little girl named Fern who loved a little pig named Wilbur—and of Wilbur’s dear friend Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful large grey spider who lived with Wilbur in the barn.

With the help of Templeton, the rat who never did anything for anybody unless there was something in it for him, and by a wonderfully clever plan of her own, Charlotte saved the life of Wilbur, who by this time had grown up to quite a pig.”

This is a classic and one of the most memorable books from my childhood .

4. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

“What happens when the five luckiest children in the entire world walk through the doors of Willy Wonka’s famous, mysterious chocolate factory? What happens when, one by one, the children disobey Mr. Wonka’s orders? In Dahl’s most popular story, the nasty are punished and the good are deliciously, sumptuously rewarded.”
Another classic. I hope my sons enjoy it!

5. The Indian in the Cupboard

“For his birthday, Omri receives a cupboard from his brother. But this is no ordinary cupboard; using his grandmother’s magical key, he brings a plastic Native American figurine to life–an Iroquois from the 18th century. However, when Omri’s best friend Patrick finds out about the cupboard, he starts off a chain reaction of events by bringing his own toy–a cowboy named Boone-to life.”
I remember reading this in school and really loved it!

6. The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

“Narnia … the land beyond the wardrobe, the secret country known only to Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy … the place where adventure begins.

Lucy is the first to find the secret wardrobe in the professor’s mysterious old house. At first, no one believes her when she tells of her adventures in the land of Narnia. But soon Edmund and then Peter and Susan discover the Magic and meet Aslan, the Great Lion, for themselves. In blink of an eye, their lives are changed forever.”
I plan to buy this entire series for our personal library. Another great series to be enjoyed by generations.

7. A Wrinkle in Time

“Fifty years ago, Madeleine L’Engle introduced the world to A Wrinkle in Time and the wonderful and unforgettable characters Meg and Charles Wallace Murry, and their friend Calvin O’Keefe. When the children learn that Mr. Murry has been captured by the Dark Thing, they time travel to Camazotz, where they must face the leader IT in the ultimate battle between good and evil—a journey that threatens their lives and our universe.”
While I read this for the first time when I was 11, I think my preschoolers will enjoy hearing it while they play!

8. Peter Pan
“Since making his debut on the stage in 1904, this eternal youth has carried boys and girls off to magical, marvelous Neverland. It’s a trip that all kids want to make, and with this easy-to-read version of the classic, everyone can fly “second to the right, and straight on till morning” with Peter. Along with Wendy, John, and Michael Darling, they’ll meet the fairy Tinkerbell, the Lost Boys, and the menacing Captain Hook.”

Who doesn’t love Peter Pan? My kids have seen the movie a couple of times. I’m sure the book will be much better!

9. Stuart Little

“Stuart Little, the hero, is a mouse in the family of Frederick C. Little and is a pleasantly debonair little character, with a shy, engaging manner and a somewhat philosophical turn in mind. He is a great help around the house, and everybody except Snowbell the cat likes him a great deal.”
Another classic book to read together as a family!

10. The Jungle Book

“Among the most popular children’s books ever written, The Jungle Book comprises a series of stories about Mowgli, a boy raised in the jungle by a family of wolves after a tiger has attacked and driven off his parents. Threatened throughout much of his young life by the dreaded tiger Shere Khan, Mowgli is protected by his adoptive family and leans the lore of the jungle from Baloo, a sleepy brown bear, and Bagheera, the black panther.”

I enjoyed this story as a child and hope my children will enjoy it as well!

What are some of your favorite family read-alouds and what is on your list to read in the near future?