Favorite Read Alouds from 2015

Our family culture was wrapped in books this year. We made memories. We forged space and time together. We held fast to our core values. 

We read a lot of great ones this year. It's hard to narrow our favorites down to a simple list of ten. But, after some not-so-easy family deliberation, a vote, and a couple of re-votes, we've put together a list of our top 10 favorite (chapter book) read alouds.

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10-The Long Winter

By Laura Ingalls Wilder

This middle grade classic was a perfect example of life-imitating-art for us. We read this during a very long stretch of below zero temps. We could completely empathize with Laura and her family as they suffered through one blizzard after another. And like all good literature, The Long Winter made us step outside of our "troubles." It gave us perspective and gratitude. While reading about the cold, harsh winters of the 19th century prairie, we found ourselves complaining less about OUR cold conditions. Instead, we acknowledged with gratefulness all of the many modern conveniences that make winters in the 21st century much more livable...like insulated walls and well-stocked pantries.

9-Star of Light

By Patricia M. St. John

There were a few tears shed while reading this one. OK...ok...they were from me. But, there's just something heartbreaking about staring down injustice even if it's only within the pages of fiction. This book inspired many soul-searching conversations in our home...we talked of the marginalized...we talked of other cultures...we talked of the hope we have in Christ.

8-My Side of the Mountain

By Jean Craighead George

To be honest, this was not one of MY favorites of the year, and my daughter would rank it a bit lower than the TOP 10, BUT my boys really loved the adventurous, me-agaisnt-the-woods theme of this book. What the story lacks in finesse, it certainly makes up for in bravery and boldness. 

7-The Sign of the Beaver

By Elizabeth George Speare

I love it when a book opens your world to an unfamiliar-to-you people group or culture. That enlightening is, of course, the very essence of living literature.

6-Henry Reed, Inc.

By Keith Robertson

A few years ago, we read Robert McCloskey's classic Homer Price and its sequel, Centerburg Tales and loved them! So, it's not surprising that we would enjoy this McCloskey-esque story about an equally as whimsical and enterprising boy name Henry Reed. 

5-Understood Betsy

By Dorothy Canfield Fisher

I was slightly nervous about how this rather dull-looking book would be received...especially in a home full of rambunctious boys. But, the witty banter and understated humor of the story had all my kids clamoring for just one more chapter nearly every day. 

4-The Bark of the Bog Owl

By Jonathan Rogers

I'm not a huge fan of the fantasy genre, but this adventurous allegory of the early life of King David had EVEN ME anticipating the next chapter. It is the first in a series of three and while we did not go on to read the second and third installments, we plan to revisit the rest of the series SOMEDAY.

3-The Green Ember

By S.D. Smith

S.D. Smith has somehow figured out how to write a new book with an old soul. In a fantastical Narnia-esque way, he has woven big bold truth into the kind of innocent and virtuous story that is usually only found in books from yesteryear. My daughter loved this book so much, that as soon as we turned the final page, she immediately read its prequel, The Black Star of Kingston.

2-The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

By Barbara Robinson

In a completely spontaneous decision, I picked this book up from the library last December hoping to give my kids a quick synopsis of the story before seeing the live stage production together shortly before Christmas. Who knew this "accidental" read aloud would become an instant family favorite?! I'd like to say that there's a lot of literary merit to the story. But, there's not. In fact, the story can be a bit brash and requires a bit of editing (Some of the characters use God's name in vain because they don't know the truth of who God is). So, why did we all love it so much? Well, perhaps after reading several weightier titles for most of the year, we just needed a bit of comic relief. 

1-The Penderwicks

By Jeanne Birdsall

Admittedly, there was a sizable amount of on-the-fly editing that had to be done as I read this out loud. There were a handful of sassy/snarky dialogue portions that had to be tweaked and an entire chapter of boy-meets-girl-crush that was chopped. But, apart from those minor adjustments, this was hands-down the best book we read all year. To be honest, the story line was very simple. It was just a light-hearted retelling of the summer misadventures of four sisters. But it was funny. Oh.so.funny. and had my kids begging for just one more chapter every single day.

And now it's your turn. I'm dying to know what your favorite read alouds were in 2015!