Read Alouds for 5 year olds

“…the voice that tells us a story aloud is always more than a carrier wave bringing us the meaning; it’s a companion through the events of the story, ensuring that the feelings it stirs in us are held within the circle of attachment connecting the adult reading, and the child listening. To hear a story is a social act.” — Francis Spufford, The Child that Books Built

I love Francis Spufford’s reminder that “to hear a story is a social act.” So as term gets underway for our young ones, let’s keep reading to them, drawing them onto our knee, holding them close and bringing the stories alive as we immerse ourselves in yet another imaginary world.

My youngest is 5 1/2 years old now and learning to read for herself. This of course takes practice, which we aim for daily, but I still make sure I’m reading to her too each day. We’re working our way through Enid Blyton’s Noddy Series at the moment, which brings back such fond memories of my own childhood.

This same emphasis is true in many classrooms – my daughter reads aloud to her teacher each day and they close each day with a story. Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach is currently being read to the girls.

Scroll down for more ideas to read aloud to your 5 year olds: