Most adults are well aware of the benefits that come with reading with children. Storytime with kids can and .
Research also children love being read to even up until young adulthood.
Beyond well-known classics such as Harry Potter, it can be challenging to find stories that everyone in the family wants to read together.
Parents might default to books they loved when they were younger. But this means families may be missing out on some great stories published more recently.
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Why you should keep reading with older children
Some parents might feel there’s not much benefit in reading aloud with older children once they have learnt to read for themselves.
However, children gain confidence and reading skills when their parents continue to read with them during older childhood. Adults can also help shape a positive attitude towards reading in their children.
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Parents reading aloud with older children can also help . Regular storytime sessions create opportunities for families to bond too.
Choosing books for family reading
When selecting books, it’s great to choose a range of diverse-voice titles. Research when children read about characters different to themselves they develop greater awareness of other ways of living and being. This, in turn, helps as well as their understanding of others.
Book series are also a terrific choice for families. This is because characters and themes tend to grow and evolve over several books as children grow and experience new life stages themselves.
With all this in mind, here are some recommendations that can work for the whole family.
1. Black Cockatoo – Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler
This follows Mia – a young Aboriginal girl, then woman – from the Kimberley as she navigates adolescence, family and community through connecting with her totem, the dirran black cockatoo.
In the first book, Mia is 13 years-old and by the final book, she is 25 years-old. It’s a strong and deep series that can be read over the course of a few years as teens grow older.
The trilogy has also won multiple awards.
2. The Wolf Girl series – Anh Do
A girl named Gwen is separated from her family in the wild. She bonds with a pack of lost animals and together they embark on an adventure in search for Gwen’s family.
This is a thrilling and that has strong universal themes such as loyalty, teamwork and resilience. The books are great for sparking discussions about what it means to be a family. There are currently 15 books in the series.
3. The Nevermoor series – Jessica Townsend
This – full of adventure, humour and magic – is great for older primary school children and young teens. The books centre on the character, Morrigan Crow, who is born cursed and must navigate her misfortune. But her fate changes when she is introduced to the enchanting city of Nevermoor.
The first book of the series after it was published in 2017. There are now four books in the series with another five planned for release.
4. Ubby’s Underdogs series – Brenton E McKenna
Set in the 1940s, this focuses on a rag-tag group of adventurers living in Broome who take on exciting and fantastical adventures together.
Graphic novels can but they often provide a great interplay of visuals and text that offer rich storylines.
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5. Being Jimmy Baxter – Fiona Lloyd
This focuses on protagonist Jimmy as he navigates a family breakdown. He finds solace in the music of Elvis Presley and discovers unexpected friendships on his journey.
Books such as this one can provide an with children about some of the tougher parts of growing up.
For more recommendations, check out the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s or the searchable databases of the .
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