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Our first list of best read-alouds for kids was such a hit, we decided to add a few more great books! Take a look at these picks, refreshed with a few more titles to enjoy together with your kid.

There's plenty of research showing that reading to children and encouraging them to practice out loud helps build vocab and comprehension than independent reading alone. But reading books together is also a great way to carve out bonding time with the kiddos, and introduce them to new books and your own childhood faves.

So grab your iPad (or other preferred device) and take a look at these high-quality books from our digital library that you can enjoy with kids of all reading levels, from preschool through elementary school.
Check out our list of best read-alouds for kids!
Best Read-Alouds for Kids on Epic

By: Laurie Keller

Ages: 5-8

By: Virginia Lee Burton

Ages: 4-7

By: Maurice Sendak

Ages: 4-8

Fortunately, the wild things don't eat Max, and instead make him their king. In the end Max realizes that king or not, he still needs the love of his parents. The story teaches kids about love, family and that it's okay to have strong feelings and still treat others with love and respect.

Written by: Robert Munsch

Illustrated by: Sheila McGraw

Ages: 4-8

Written by: Raj Haldar, Chris Carpenter

Illustrated by: Bryce Gladfelter

Ages: 4-8

In this book, Ptolemy the pterodactyl is back to teach kids about language and grammar, with homophones, homonyms and tricky punctuation. "No Reading Allowed" will give your kid the silliest English lesson ever, and have you laughing out loud every time you read it.

Written by: Alli Brydon

Illustrated by: EG Keller

Ages: 4-8

Written by: Kate DiCamillo

Illustrated by: Chris Van Dusen

Ages: 5-7

By: Daisy Meadows

Ages: 6-9

Written by: Rebecca Hickox

Illustrated by: Will Hillenbrand

Written by: Ruth Stiles Gannett

Illustrated by: Ruth Chrisman Gannett

Ages: 7-9

Written by: Gertrude Chandler Warner

Ages: 7-10

By: Ranjani Larocco

Ages: 8-12

Written by: Cece Bell

Illustrated by: David Lasky

Ages: 8-12

Other Recommendations

Looking for more of the best read-alouds for kids? Use Epic! Check out our huge selection of audiobooks, Read-To-Me books and animated picture books available on our platform. And while you're here, check out a few more of the best read-alouds for kids available off of our platform. Most can be found on Amazon, and several as free audiobooks.

The Cat in the Hat

By: Dr. Seuss

Ages: 3-7

The Cat in the Hat is a timeless classic that appeals to both kids and adults. Kids will love the zany rhymes and nonsensical word play while adults will feel nostalgic over the familiar characters. If you aren't familiar with the story, The Cat in the Hat is about a life-sized cat that can't seem to help waltzing into seemingly mundane situations and turning them upside down. The cat wildly misbehaves as main characters Dick and Sally try to keep things under control. Through the cat's erratic behavior, parents can use the book as a tool to help illustrate to their kids the importance of order and rules.

Wonder (Audiobook)

By: R.J. Palacio

Ages: 8-12

Meet Auggie. He's a typical kid who likes the same things other kids his age like: friends, ice cream and playing video games. But typical kids don't get stared at wherever they go, and because of a facial abnormality, Auggie does. Homeschooled all his life, he now must go to an actual school for the first time, and all he wants is to be accepted. Will his new peers see past what makes him different and get to know and appreciate him for who he is?

This N ew York Times bestseller is really as good as everyone says it is. Also adapted into a popular motion picture, this touching book teaches kids about kindness, courage and resilience.

The Book with No Pictures

By: B.J. Novak

Ages: 4-8

A picture book with no pictures?! That's right! This unconventional "picture book" is perfect for the kid who isn't wow'ed by traditional illustrations. It's full of brightly colored pages with outlandish phrases, made-up songs about nothing, and whimsical sounds that make it another of the best read-alouds for kids. It's clever, it's ridiculous, and don't be surprised if you want to read it over and over again.

Elephant & Piggie: There is a Bird on Your Head

By: Mo Willems

Ages: 5-8

In this funny kids' book series chock full of easy-to-grasp life lessons, Elephant and Piggie are the best of friends. They always find themselves in the silliest situations, but end up coming out stronger together. With Mo Willems's witty writing style and fun illustrations this entire series is super entertaining for young readers.

The Monster at the End of This Book

By: Jon Stone

Ages: 3-5

This book has a big furry blue monster waiting for you-oh no! Don't worry. This adorable picture book from Sesame Street isn't scary. Narrated by the lovable, furry monster Grover, he warns little ones that he's learned there's a monster at the end of the book and begs them not to turn the pages. But of course they can't resist and are delighted by what actually awaits at the end.

Charlotte's Web

By: E.B. White

Ages: 8-12

Many will remember the titular web of the spider Charlotte, and the remarkable expressions she spins above the barn describing her best friend, Wilbur the pig. Saved as a runt by a little girl named Fern, Wilbur continues to face the danger of slaughter. But when word spreads of the "miracle," visitors come from all over the county to witness "Zuckerman's famous pig." What follows is a touching, bittersweet ending to an enduring classic tale of friendship, life, death and love.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

By: J.K. Rowling

Ages: 8-12

In this first book in the famed "Harry Potter" series, Harry discovers that he's a wizard and finds his place in a world of witchcraft and wizardry. The audio versions of these books narrated by Jim Dale and Stephen Fry are amazingly fun to listen to and really bring the stories to life. Note that while the first few books are perfectly fine for younger listeners, the series does get darker as it progresses. Later books in the series may be more appropriate for 12-year olds.

James and the Giant Peach

By: Roald Dahl

Ages: 8-12

From the famed author of "Matilda," comes this imaginative gem. After a young boy named James Henry Trotter tragically loses his parents, he's forced to live with two horrible aunts, Spiker and Sponge. Life takes a fun turn when James drops magic crystals by an old peach tree. The peach at the top grows, and soon it's as big as a house! With a snip of the stem, the peach starts rolling away, and that's when the real adventure begins.

Pippi Longstocking

By: Astrid Lindgren

Ages: 8-12

Many grownups remember the red pig-tailed, freckle-faced young girl Pippi Longstocking, and how she turned little Tommy and Annika's world upside down. When Pippi moves in next door, she has no parents, upside-down braids and takes the two kids on adventures with horses, monkeys, the circus and more.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

By: C.S. Lewis

Ages: 8-12

If your child loved fairy tales when they were younger, fantasy series like "The Chronicles of Narnia" might be a perfect fit for their listening ears. Although it's the second book in the series, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" is a great starting point. It can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story, but we recommend the other audiobooks in the series as well.

That's our list of best read-alouds for kids on and off Epic! Want to find more fun, educational children's books that kids of all ages can listen to? Check out our posts: " Best Audiobooks for Toddlers," " Best Audiobooks for 5-Year Olds" and "Best Audiobooks for 10-Year Olds" on getepic.com/learn.

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Best Read-Alouds for Kids | Books for Kids of All Ages | Epic

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Our first list of best read-alouds for kids was such a hit, we decided to add a few more great books! Take a look at these picks, refreshed with a few more titles to enjoy together with your kid.

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16 Read-Alouds That Will Make You Look Hilarious to Your Kids | Brightly

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Add in some wacky voices as you read these spectacularly giggle-worthy picture books, and your little one will think you’re the funniest person around.

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Reading out loud to kids is an important way to build a love of books that lasts a lifetime. Read-alouds also demonstrate reading fluency and book skills, like turning pages and reading from left to right. That's why it's important to choose quality book videos for kids, so the online experience mimics in-person reading as much as possible. Fortunately, we've done the legwork for you and found the best read-alouds on YouTube to share with the kids in your life.

How we chose the best read-alouds on YouTube

YouTube has an enormous selection of read-aloud videos. Some are amazing-and some are not. Though any time kids spend with books has merit, we feel that quality videos should provide the same educational experience that in-person reading does. A good read-aloud:

Has clear sound with an emphasis on the reading (we don't need music or any extra sounds).

Shows the cover of each book.

Mentions the title, author, and illustrator of the book (with correct pronunciation).

Demonstrates proper concepts of print (the pages turn right to left).

Shows the text of the book while the person is reading.

Demonstrates fluent reading.

With that in mind, here are the read-aloud channels we love. We hope you do too! As always, please preview any video to ensure the content is appropriate for your audience. ( Get tips for using read-aloud videos at home here.)

Stories for kids-read by a kid! This channel features tons of favorite books, read beautifully by a child who knows how to make the story engaging and fun. Kids will find it easy to connect with a voice that sounds more like their own, encouraging them to try reading aloud on their own more often.

Ready for some titles you haven't seen before? The Story Time Family has a big virtual bookshelf with playlists for animals, social-emotional learning, and more. No commercial characters here, just good-quality selections kids haven't already heard dozens of times.

Ms. Becky has such a comfortable presence onscreen, and she asks viewers questions before and after reading in an incredibly natural way. She has several hundred videos to choose from, with favorite standbys and newer titles too.

This channel includes a giant selection of books, with titles to interest any child. Page flips are animated, but in general these are good videos with books read in an engaging voice.

Mrs. K often includes interesting facts during the introduction, then gets to the book itself. Her playlists include funny books, informational books, holiday books, and more.

Looking for read-alouds with some personality? Check out Ryan and Craig! They're comedians who read children's books and comment (in kid-appropriate ways) as they go. They're fun and entertaining, but the reading is good quality and so are the book choices.

The puppet voices might seem a bit much for parents, but kids love the high energy of these read-alouds on YouTube. The variety here is exceptional, with whole sections of Hispanic Heritage books, seasonal books, and STEM books.

Looking for a selection of books that embraces multiple cultures and identities? This channel has a terrific selection of inclusive books to expand kids' horizons. We do wish the videos featured the text on each page a little more instead of zooming and panning, but the diverse library of titles makes up for it.

Read Right Now uses e-books instead of paper books, so the page flipping is a little different. But the reader uses a clear and engaging voice, and their selection of titles is top-notch.

https://youtu.be/f41od1y5MN4

If your kids are always begging "Do the voices!" when they listen to read-alouds, they'll like Awnie. Although these videos don't show the pages of the book being flipped, they do ensure the text is featured as Awnie reads. We especially like the playlists for School Days and Kindness and Acceptance.

Brightly Storytime is another channel that doesn't show physical books with flipping pages, but they do have one unique feature: The words are highlighted as they're read, making it easier for kids to follow the text. The playlist where authors read their own books has some of the best read-alouds on YouTube.

If you're looking for well-read classics, check out this channel. There are two dozen books to watch, all read in a way that's perfect for little ones to follow along.

The basic read-alouds here check all the boxes: clear reading, engaging voices, and a wide selection, including many that older readers will like. This is a super channel for struggling readers to plug into during center time, as there are many high-interest Pete the Cat books and other popular characters from mainstream movies and programs.

There are lots of commercial-character books here, but the Reading Unicorn does them well. Parents might appreciate these read-alouds on YouTube most; let the playlist run while you catch up on some laundry or check your email.

Dolly Parton is a huge champion of children's literacy. During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, she put out a series of 10 "bedtime story" videos. Her charm and sweetness shine through on every page of these gems, and though there are only a handful of read-alouds, you'll want to watch them again and again.

What are your favorite read-alouds on YouTube? Join the conversation and exchange recommendations on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

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The Best Read-Alouds on YouTube for the Classroom or Home

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Reading out loud to kids is an important way to build a love of books that lasts a lifetime.

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Scholastic is counting down the 100 Best Read-Aloud Books

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The SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Daytime Emmy-nominated, Storyline Online, features celebrated actors reading children's books to inspire a love of reading in millions of children worldwide.

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Reading aloud is one of the most important things parents and teachers can do with children. Reading aloud builds many important foundational skills, introduces vocabulary, provides a model of fluent, expressive reading, and helps children recognize what reading for pleasure is all about. Featured partner: Reading Is Fundamental