Picture books are wonderful, but there comes a point, usually somewhere between four and six, when a child is ready for something bigger: a story that carries on from one night to the next. A bedtime chapter book gives them a reason to look forward to bedtime, and gives you ten or fifteen minutes together at the end of every day.
Here is how to choose a good read-aloud chapter book, how to read it so your child is hooked, and where to start.
What makes a good read-aloud chapter book?
- Short chapters. Five to ten minutes each is ideal: long enough to feel like a real story, short enough to finish before eyelids droop.
- A cliffhanger (but a gentle one). Each chapter should end with a reason to come back tomorrow, without anything so scary that nobody sleeps.
- Voices to do. Grumpy giants, sneaky wolves, pompous mayors. Children love it when grown-ups do the voices, and it keeps you awake too.
- Something to talk about. Fairness, kindness, bravery, honesty. The best stories leave a question in the air.
- Words a little above their level. When you read aloud, children can enjoy stories they couldn’t read alone yet, which builds their vocabulary.
How to read aloud so they’re hooked
Do the voices
You don’t need to be an actor. A deep voice for the giant, a squeaky one for the mouse, and a pause before the big moment is plenty.
Stop at the cliffhanger
Always finish on the chapter ending, not halfway through. “Shall we find out tomorrow?” is the best way to make bedtime something children look forward to.
Ask one question
At the end, ask just one thing: “What would you have done?” or “Was that fair?” Keep it light. It’s a chat, not a test.
Let them hold the book
Following the words as you read helps early readers connect spoken and written words. Some children like to read a line or two themselves. Let them, if they want to.
Why fairytales work so well
Fairytales have been told at bedtime for hundreds of years for good reason. They’re simple, they’re memorable, they have clear heroes and villains, and they always end happily ever after. Retellings set in a world children recognise, with scooters and tower blocks and school discos, give them something familiar to hold on to while the magic happens.
That’s the idea behind our Modern Day Fairytales: five classic stories, each retold as a funny, warm chapter book in ten bedtime-sized chapters, for ages 4 to 8.
- The Piper of Puddingham: a modern Pied Piper about keeping your promises.
- Hansel and Gretel and the Gingerbread Café: brothers and sisters sticking together.
- Ella and the Midnight Disco: a Cinderella who fixes things and saves the disco.
- Jack and the Sky-High Beanstalk: honesty, kindness and a very grumpy giant.
- Little Red and the Very Hungry Wolf: stranger safety, done gently and funnily.
When should you move on from picture books?
There’s no rush, and you don’t have to choose. Many families read a picture book and a chapter at bedtime for years. A good sign your child is ready for chapter books is that they ask “what happens next?” or remember yesterday’s story without being reminded.
Frequently asked questions
What age are read-aloud chapter books for?
Most children enjoy listening to chapter books from about four, and keep enjoying being read to well after they can read alone, often until nine or ten.
How long should a bedtime story take?
Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty. One short chapter a night works better than a long session that runs past bedtime.
My child keeps asking for one more chapter. Should I keep going?
Sometimes! But stopping on a cliffhanger is part of the magic. It gives them something to look forward to tomorrow.
Are books without pictures too hard for young children?
Not when you read them aloud. Listening to a story without pictures helps children build the pictures in their heads, which is a big part of becoming a reader.
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