4 Must-Have Books to Inspire Children to Read

by Reggie Moore Professional writer and proto entrepreneur

Teaching kids to read can feel like a monumental task at times. Some children start reading at an early age, such as age 4. Some, however, will start reading much later around age 7 or 8. Parents and teachers can instill in children a love of reading by reading out loud to them and exposing them to various types of books in the home and in the classroom. For children who struggle to read, consistently exposing them to great children’s literature is a great first step. Then when they are ready, giving them the tools to read with a phonics program is the next best thing. There are many online phonics programs available as well as school and community literacy programs and Orton Gillingham training methods.

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

One of the classic books that young children love to listen to is Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina. The book can be found in regular format, audio format, or even big book size for larger classrooms. This story tells of a peddler who carries his wares on his head, calling “Caps for sale! 50 cents a cap!” Children love the repetition and predictability found in the story. There is a problem at the end of the story when the peddler goes to sleep under a tree wearing all his caps, but then he wakes up and finds only his own checked cap on his head. The peddler looks all around and finally sees that the monkeys in the tree had taken his caps. The story is amusing because as the peddler gets upset at the monkeys and tries to get back his caps, all the monkeys do is imitate the actions of the peddler. The common phrase “monkey see, monkey do” comes to life in this story, and the peddler finally gets all his caps back after throwing his own cap down on the ground in disgust at the monkeys. They do the same and throw the caps they stole down on the ground next to the peddler. He picks them up and goes his way. Kids enjoy listening to this story over and over!

Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne

Another great story is Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne, with the House at Pooh Corner as a companion book. The story’s main characters are Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin. The Pooh bear comes to life along with his friend's Rabbit, Owl, Eeyore, small Piglet, and kind-hearted Kanga. Christopher Robin and the animals go on many adventures together in the Hundred Acre Wood. A. A. Milne has a way of writing that describes childlike simplicity so well. Adults and children alike will enjoy the stories and poems in Winnie the Pooh.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Another chapter book that children love is Charlotte’s Web, written by E.B. White. This book also has animals as characters that talk and come to life, with Fern as the girl who is friends with all these animals. Fern takes care of a baby pig named Wilbur from the beginning. In the end, a spider named Charlotte saves the pig’s life by writing messages on her web that describe how spectacular he is. It is a story of true friendship and love.

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Listening to books on CD is a great way for children to understand story structure and form even if they are struggling to read on their own. Boys especially love action and adventure, and what better place to find this than the Lord of the Rings series by Tolkien. These books can be found in dramatic audio versions or in paper book form. As children get into middle school and high school age, they will be able to step into reading Lord of the Rings with great excitement if they have listened to the audiobook several times as a youngster first.

Children can find great books at their local schools and libraries. Audiobooks are easily accessible online or from a library. Having books available for children to listen, read, and explore is so important in giving them an early love for reading!