Looking for good books to read aloud to 7-year-olds? At this age, children still love picture books, but they’re also ready to sit down and listen to chapter books. 7-year-olds enjoy long picture books, and while they may listen to novels well above their reading level, they may not be ready for many middle-grade books aimed at older readers. I’ve selected some of my favorite read-alouds for 7-year-olds, both novels that are perfect and some picture books that are likely to spark debate and spark the imagination of 7-year-olds.
(note: this post contains affiliate links that may generate commissions)
novels to read aloud to 7 year olds
Choose these perfect novels to read aloud. I have chosen funny stories that are sure to engage your listeners. If your 7-year-old isn’t ready to sit still but loves to listen, let him move while he reads. Here are some great ideas for what kids can do during read-aloud time.
You are reading: Books to read to 7 year olds
the far, far north
by dan bar-el
amazon | independent
This is my new favorite read aloud, and I don’t say that lightly! Duane the polar bear has a curiosity and sense of adventure that first leads him to a shipwreck where he meets C.C. the owl. then he meets more new friends like the handsome musk ox, the magical arctic fox and the elder puffin. together, they explore the wonders of the northern landscape. the cast of animals is as diverse in personalities as it is in species, and the common thread of the story centers on learning to appreciate friends. An absolutely essential book indeed!
the hotzenplotz thief
by otfried preussler
See Also: How to Share Your Kindle Books in 2 Different Ways
amazon | independent
My son laughed out loud as I read this classic German children’s book to him! Thief Hotzenplotz steals a musical coffee grinder from Kasper’s grandmother, but the police are completely inept and it’s up to Kasper and Seppel to salvage the goods! The two friends go on a mission to retrieve the coffee grinder, but Hotzenplotz enlists the help of a wizard who loves potato chips. everything goes crazy! We’ve enjoyed several of Preussler’s books, including The Marvelous, The Little Witch and the Water Pixie which are on our 2nd grade reading aloud list and our spring reading aloud list.
bernardo pepperlin
by cara hoffman
See Also: How to Share Your Kindle Books in 2 Different Ways
amazon | independent
I was immediately drawn to the concept of this story. The mad hatter’s tea party door mouse in Alice in Wonderland dreams of a different life. Then one afternoon he is sucked into the kettle and finds himself in present-day Manhattan. Now freed from sleepless and perpetual boredom, Bernard makes new friends and teams up to save the city from a gang of nasty weasels.
the toys come out
See Also: The 9 Best Books About Blogging | Clever Girl Finance
by emily jenkins
buy it: amazon | independent
I’ve often recommended this series as a read-aloud for kids even under 7, but if you haven’t enjoyed it with your kids yet, 7-year-olds will especially appreciate its playful sense of humor. the three main toys are lumphy, the buffalo, the ray, and the plastic, a bouncing ball. Super-talented author Emily Jenkins has a knack for transferring the emotions, anxieties, and joys of childhood experiences and discoveries into anthropomorphized toys. There’s also a lot of humor in the book, as the toys engage in subtle nonsense, like when Lumpy intentionally dips himself in peanut butter so he can visit his friend the washing machine in the basement, or when Plastic tries to figure out exactly what she is.
the touch of chocolate
by patrick skene catling
See Also: How to Share Your Kindle Books in 2 Different Ways
amazon | independent
Once upon a time my son was obsessed with this book. he was so worried about the reality of the “chocolate touch”. Would he get it too? after all, he loves chocolate as much as anyone, if not more. Honestly, I wouldn’t have complained if this book had steered him away from chocolate a bit, but it didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for sweet things one iota. As you can guess from the title, this is a twist on the legend of King Midas, only everything that touches John’s lips turns to chocolate. Turns out it’s possible to have too much of a good thing, even chocolate.
Illustrated books to read aloud to 7-year-olds
I’ve chosen a selection of picture books that are more complicated in subject matter and/or language than the average preschool picture book, so you and your 7-year-old will have plenty to talk about!
fox on a swing
by evelina daciutè
See Also: How to Share Your Kindle Books in 2 Different Ways
amazon | independent
Translated from the Lithuanian, this is a wonderfully whimsical story of hope, friendship, and happiness. Paul and his family live in a tree in a park and one day when Paul walks home from the bakery, he meets a fox on a swing. Thus begins a rather interesting series of encounters with the Philosopher Fox that creates the right conditions for Paul to consider the nature of happiness and friendship. I love this book because it encourages emotional intelligence because the complex nature of the dialogue really challenges kids to consider the themes being touched on in the story.
chapter two is missing
by josh lieb
See Also: How to Share Your Kindle Books in 2 Different Ways
amazon | independent
7-year-olds will enjoy the metafictional narrative of this clever mystery. a boy narrates the story and asks readers to help him on his quest for chapter two. Fun puns, missing words, backwards punctuation, and hilarious illustrations make this a great read aloud and no child will resist giving their opinion on the nature and perpetrator of the crime.
the liar king
by alex barba
See Also: How to Share Your Kindle Books in 2 Different Ways
amazon | independent
This illustrated book about a ruler who lies and lies and lies is a timeless story. when children lie (and they all do, eventually) they must deal with the emotions of guilt and regret, only then can they move on. The story of the lying king is told in witty rhymes and describes how the lies pile up and eventually ensnare his creator in a trap of his own making. The fate of the lying boar will give your children much to think about.
the boring book
by shinsuke yoshitake
See Also: How to Share Your Kindle Books in 2 Different Ways
amazon | independent
The protagonist of this Japanese version weighs in on the nature of boredom, but this book is anything but boring. As he reads this story aloud, his children will wonder what makes something boring, how one reacts to being bored, and if there is a way to avoid being bored. engaging illustrations take readers on a thoughtful journey.
zen shorts
by jon j. muth
See Also: How to Share Your Kindle Books in 2 Different Ways
amazon | independent
stillwater the panda moves into the neighborhood and befriends three brothers. he spends afternoons with each child and tells three buddhist tales to his new friends, imparting wisdom on the nature of good and evil, frustration and materialism. I love this book, as well as its sequels, and reading them out loud always feels very, very relaxing!
more books to read aloud:
See Also: Best Free Kindle Books Of All Time Review 2022
- family essential read aloud chapter books
- must read aloud picture books
- read aloud books for each season