Books to Read Aloud

My wife and I have read to each other for years, character voices and all. Since our core interests diverge a little we decided to stick to mystery or YA fantasy. Quite often we read them on long trips, like the drive from Texas to Ohio and back. Here are a few of our favorites over the years.

1. Harry Potter series
2. Sue Grafton's ABC series
3. Twilight
4. Hunger Games
5. Vampire Academy series
6. Julie Garwood's Buchanan crime series
7. Nora Roberts crime romances like Northern Lights and Witness (although we've had to switch to books on iPod for these in front of the kids).

Since our children listen now, too, and both are avid readers (ages 9 and 11), we have included them in the reading. The trick is finding something for both boys and girls. Aside from the obvious repeat of Harry Potter, I recommend:

1. Percy Jackson series 1: is a winner for boys, but
2. Percy Jackson series 2 with Roman gods: is a winner for girls, too.
3. Sisters Grimm books by Michael Buckley are hilarious, as are moments of
4. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins.
5. Fablehaven has a few plot contrivances, but the kids don't care.
6. Lillian Jackson Braun's The Cat Who series (if you have any animals)
7. Shakespeare plays like Midsummer Night's Dream and Much Ado About Nothing.

We only show them the movie after we finish the book. In addition to helping them enjoy reading, they do better in English/Reading classes. Both my children are also lectors at church.