The Best Read Alouds of 2023
At the start of the school year, as I was working to figure out what our dual enrollment schedule would look like, I was faced with a read-aloud scheduling crisis.
As I studied the Erskine Elementary schedule, what made the most sense was to have our 5th grader there in the morning and our 4th grader there in the afternoon. The problem with that was less togetherness (on certain days one could argue that that was a benefit), and the main problem with less togetherness, was less time to read together. As I considered all options and brainstormed possible daily routines, I realized that reading from 8:00 - 8:30 a.m., before the first one went to school, could be the perfect solution and a great way to start the day. Before long, the school year was off and running and it was running well, with each day starting with stories together. And we have read some good ones this year.
In addition to that morning slot with the boys, we’ve also read some good stuff as a whole family in the evening when schedules allow and while road tripping. After perusing the list from 2023, these 8 titles jumped out as worthy of awards. The categories are specific, not the same from year to year, and sometimes fairly out-there, but they get the point across. Here are the winners from 2023.
The Best Historical Fiction
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare
This one was a re-read. I had read it to Palmer and Haddie years ago but knew it was one the whole family needed to hear. A glimpse into daily life of 1st century Galilee, provides a powerful reminder that Jesus was a real man, who lived a real life, and interacted with real people–people with questions, doubts, concerns, loves, trials, and joys that on the surface are different than ours, but at the core, not so different. The story of a young black smith and his journey from a hard-hearted, bent-on-revenge, revolutionary into a young man broken open by love and marked by forgiveness is a story we all need to hear, because it is our story as well.
The Book with the Sweetest Character
The One and Only Ruby by Katherine Applegate
We enjoyed The One and Only Ivan, our first introduction to Katherine Applegate’s wonderful way with words. We were delighted by the humor and heroic antics of Bob in The One and Only Bob. But it is Ruby, the sweetest little elephant, who stole my heart when she got a chance to tell her story in The One and Only Ruby. Hers is a story of resilience. Despite the many heart-breaking events she endured in her young life, her commitment to the herd, her love for her “uncles” Bob and Ivan, and her bright spirit make her story one that is inspiring and heart-warming.
The Best Devotional for Kids
Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Sally Lloyd-Jones, the author of The Jesus Storybook Bible, has a way of weaving just the right words in just such a way that grand, theological ideas and truths become accessible for kids. She clearly believes that kids should develop devotional lives. This book is aimed at guiding kids to a place of reverence and awe, not merely expanding their knowledge and understanding. The goal is to see Jesus in such a way that, well, your heart begins to sing.
The Book That Most Makes You Care
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
I have read this book out loud twice in past years. This year we all listened to it on a road trip. After the third time around, I love it all the more. In the first draft of these awards I called it “The Book That Makes You Care More Than You Thought Possible About A Porcelain Rabbit,” but I decided that 1) that was a big wordy, and 2) it is not quite accurate. I realize that the story makes us care for the people Edward learns to care for as much, or maybe even more than, we care for him. As we journey with him, we learn to care—to love—right along with him. This is one of my all time favorites.
The Best Revisit from My Own Childhood
On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
I not only read all of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s work as a kid but even did an in-depth study of her life and works for a school project. (It involved a log cabin out of pretzel rods that I am proud of to this day!) As I read this one with the boys, I was reminded of why these stories have endured. Though her life in many ways seems simpler than ours, it is in many ways far more exciting. It is full of challenges we can’t even imagine. Reading about things like grasshopper plagues and blizzards that boggle the mind is fascinating and also provides some perspective for some of the trails we face. For example, this past week, Iowa was hit with some blizzard-like weather and my husband was not able to return from his work trip as planned. The kids and I were disappointed, but glad that he was “trapped” in sunny California and not in a snowbank in our front yard. See? Perspective.
The Best Trilogy
The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rodgers
This one was a full family journey throughout the summer months. The story follows Aiden Errolson whose life parallels the life of King David in many ways. We fell in love with the wild, tree-dwelling “Feechie Folk.” Feechie ballads and Feechie stories always made us smile, chuckle, and consider having a good “wrassle.” But besides the Feechie-fun, there were some profound spiritual truths on display as the greater story unfolded, which provided food for thought and sparked good discussion.
The Best Non-fiction
Bridges: From My Side to Yours by Jan Adkins
This is the first time I’ve counted a non-fiction book (other than devotionals or Bibles) as a favorite read aloud. The love the author has for bridges leaps off the page and pulls the reader in, inviting us to be fascinated by the history, purpose, art, and engineering of bridges right alongside him. I suppose I was primed to be pulled in since I do often think about the trust we put in civil engineers whenever we cross a bridge. And we did name one of our children Bridger. I guess I have a thing for bridges and I thank Jan Adkins for drawing me even deeper to the wonderful world of bridges.
The Book We Almost Quit But Are Glad We Didn’t
Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse
The language used by the wealthy of the 1930’s was difficult for my boys to track with at times as was the humor, but it was an interesting look into a time period and life-style very different from our own. Yes, I had to tell my boys, Bertie has no job other than to dress fancy, go to gentlemen’s clubs to play cards, eat rich foods, drink too much alcohol, and meddle in other people’s business. But the meddling was funny and the resolution was satisfying, and in the end we were glad we took this romp through ridiculous misunderstandings, star-crossed romances, and hilarious scenes. And of course we ended up with some nice new phrases to add to our vocabulary—Right, Ho!
So, anything catch you eye? Let me know if you pick any of these up, but whatever you read, may 2024 be full of good books! Happy reading!
Here are links to read aloud lists from the past few years:
