School after breakfast: Books we've read aloud

When we began reading chapter books aloud to our kids, I decided to get smart and write down every book we read aloud. I figure that way we can re-read the same good books a few years from now when everyone is a little older.

At some point I'd love to add a short excerpt of what each book was about (because although I remember now what each of these books was about, I know I'll forget), but for now I've just made note of our favorites using this little system:

* the kids' favorites
From time to time I'll ask the kids what their favorite read-alouds have been, and I've noted (*) which ones they've remembered and enjoyed.
**a favorite of daddy and mommy
I've selected our favorites (**) based on the story and content. Although all the books on this list are good books, some are better suited for reading independently, or just didn't have that "couldn't put it down" quality. These, for us, were the exceptional books; ones I know we'll want to return to.
*** then, is a favorite for ALL of us

{A (D) indicates that Daddy read that one, in the evenings before bedtime. All the others I've read.}


Here was our read-aloud list for this past year, 2009:

Mountain Born**
The Family Under the Bridge
Pollyanna***
Incident at Hawk's Hill*** (D)
The Door in the Wall (D)
Winnie the Pooh*** (D)
Rascal (D)
The King's Daughters
The Wind and the Willows (D)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory*** (D)
Twenty and Ten**
A Lion to Guard Us
Davy Crockett: From the Backwoods of Tennessee to the Alamo (D) this one was pretty dry
A Little Princess***
James and the Giant Peach* (D)
Return to Hawk's Hill*** (D)
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe*** (D)
Prince Caspian*** (D)
The Boxcar Children (audio)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader*** (D)
The Borrowers*
The Silver Sword*** (D)
Treasures of the Snow***
The Sign of the Beaver***
The Silver Chair*** (D)
The Horse and His Boy*** (D)
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH***
Jotham's Journey (for advent)

For those who are interested, I also have book lists from 2007 and 2008. I've also kept a list of all the books Ella read on her own in 2008 and 2009. Let me know if you'd like me to post any of those.



Next up: Narrations