Name: Spreading the Feast Gathering
Start: 2025-07-11T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-07-12T23:59:59-05:00
Location: LaGrange, KY

Tagged: bedtime read aloud, boy books, Kindle books

This topic has 18 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 9 months ago by keechivalley.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 19 total)

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January 16, 2016 at 9:24 pm
Wings2fly
Participant
I have only one boy. He is my oldest, turning 12 this spring. I am looking for a chapter book to read to him at bedtime a few nights each week. I prefer a kindle book. I will pay for one, but prefer free. I looked at the AO list for year 6, but I am not sure of the titles. And I am not sure Treasure Island is ideal to read at bedtime. At Christmas, I read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. We both loved it, but it was too short.
Thanks.
January 16, 2016 at 9:31 pm
Karen
Participant
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH?
Adam of the Road?
Poppy? (or books in that series by Avi)
Moffats?
The Saturdays?

January 17, 2016 at 6:48 am
nerakr
Participant
I’m not sure if these are available on Kindle, but here’s what I’ve read to my 11yo ds at bedtime this year:
My Side of the Mountain and its sequel On the Far Side of the Mountain
Old Yeller
Rascal
His daytime lit selections have been:
Rabbit Hill and the Tough Winter
Where the Red Fern Grows
Summer of the Monkeys
We have Gentle Ben and Because of Winn Dixie on our list.
I agree with Mrs. Frisby and Adam of the Road
Considering for later:
Crispin series (Avi)
Trumpeter of Krakow
Hans Brinker
The Wheel on the School
January 17, 2016 at 3:00 pm
alphabetika
Participant
I second the recommendation for Rascal. I don’t have any sons, but I think everyone should either read or listen to this book at least once in a lifetime.
Another one I feel that way about is Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl, but you’d have to gauge whether it would feel too “young” for your son. It’s on the same reading/listening level as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but doesn’t have the same kind of darkness in it that Charlie does. Still quirky, but not (IMHO, anyway) as…disturbing. (I still like Charlie, but there are some aspects of Dahl’s storytelling that have always disturbed me. That’s just me, though – my husband and daughters love everything they’ve read by him.) Also, Dahl’s autobiography, Boy, might be an interesting listen, depending on whether your son enjoys non-fiction.
I can recommend others that I read to my daughters, but I’m not sure if all of them would have the same appeal to a boy as a girl. Can you give us an idea of his general taste in stories, or what you’re trying to introduce him to?
January 17, 2016 at 4:20 pm
Monica
Participant
Some books my kids have enjoyed as read-alouds:
-the Narnia books
-the Wizard of Oz series
-Lemony Snickets (very dark, but my DH and the kids loved this series)
-the Little Britches series
-Black Beauty
-A Secret Garden
-Charlotte’s Web (a little young, maybe, but even my 13YO enjoyed that this year)
-Journey to the Center of the Earth
My son also read the My Side of the Mountain series at that age and enjoyed it. Also, some kids enjoy the Little House series, although I think the Little Britches series appeals to boys more.
January 17, 2016 at 5:21 pm
Wings2fly
Participant
Thanks for the great ideas. We have read or heard the audio of some of these books. We got the first two in the Saturdays series on audio book from the library and he liked them, so I might read aloud the other two. They are all four available for kindle.
Since he is my oldest, I would like to read him books that may be challenging for him to read himself, so at or above his reading level. But really I am more interested that it has good morals and can inspire him to greatness and be in awe of our Creator. Maybe something to spur on a discussion and can be a special bonding time at the end of the day for the two of us to enjoy together. I prefer the kindle because I am reading in the dark.
Old Yeller is $1.99 on kindle. We saw the Disney movie 3 or 4 years ago. But I thunk the book will be good too.
We have not yet read Little Lord Fauntleroy on the SCM literature guide. It is free for kindle and seems like it may be a good fit. I might read Swiss Family Robinson later too.
We are in Middle Ages for school and reading Adam of the Road later this year as a family. But those three Avi books (Crispin, etc.) are only about $5 each on kindle. I will start with the first one and go from there. The other Avi books (Poppy) are not yet on kindle.
I remember having to read Mrs Frisby in school and I did not care for it. It is not on kindle yet.
I have looked into the Little Britches series. It seems like it is better suited to an older child. So I thought maybe in a year or two. Or I may have the wrong impression. I have never read any of them.
Thanks.
January 17, 2016 at 10:21 pm
greenebalts
Participant
By the Great Horn Spoon
Gentle Ben
Swallows and Amazons
The Hobbit
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
January 20, 2016 at 10:10 pm
Kristen
Participant
Little Britches is wonderful imo. I am reading it aloud now to all of my kids. It can be used as character study as well.
October 8, 2016 at 5:02 pm
Wings2fly
Participant
We just finished The Black Star of Kingston, $2.99 on kindle. My son enjoyed it more than I did. We plan to read The Green Ember, too. Both of us enjoyed Just David, free on kindle. Next, we are going to try a GA Henty book, St. George of England. His books are free on the kindle. There are so many…any specific Henty titles you recommend?
We plan to read Tom Sawyer soon. This winter, I think we will read Jo’s Boys by Alcott. As a family, we have enjoyed Adam of the Road.
For now, I really need books that are free or inexpensive in kindle format. Many great titles mentioned above do not fit this criteria.
October 8, 2016 at 8:22 pm
Monica
Participant
We’re all enjoying Mary Poppins right now – boys and girls ages 14-7.
October 9, 2016 at 12:49 pm
Angelina
Participant
I would have said Little Britches, but seeing as he has not read Little Lord Fauntleroy yet, I would go with that one for sure! It is an all-time favorite around here – you could read it every year or two and learn something new each time or be inspired each time to be a better person (courage and peace in times of adversity, grow in generosity, see the poor differently, see how simple it is to solve something with a positive attitude…. I even put it at the top of my list for inspiration in mothering)
October 11, 2016 at 3:10 pm
petitemom
Participant
My boys enjoyed a lot of the books listed here. Narnia is definitely a must read.
We have been reading Kate Seredy’s books lately, love all of them so far.
My boys also enjoyed The Hatchet and a few other books from Gary Paulsen.

October 13, 2016 at 4:51 pm
missceegee
Participant
My family has loved many of these, but the Little Britches series is a favorite for all my kids loved it from age 5 and up.
March 18, 2018 at 1:43 am
Wings2fly
Participant
As an update, my son is 14 this spring. We did read the GA Henty book, St George of England. While my son enjoyed it, I did not. There was way too much fighting in wars, and it was so descriptive of it. I even skipped over some of it as I read aloud. Since it was a kindle book, I am not sure of the number of pages, but it was very long.
We LOVED Little Lord Fauntleroy! And maybe we will read it again sometime. I highly recommend it.
We read Mountain Born and its sequel A Place for Peter. We both enjoyed these, and they had great character lessons and descriptions of working in nature with sheep, dogs/puppies, maple syrup, farm life, clearing a path (including rattlesnakes) and more. The main character is a boy growing up and trying to gain his father’s trust and approval. He is thirteen years old in the sequel and begins taking on more responsibilities and working alone.
Cinnabar by Marguerite Henry was a fun, quick read about a fox and his family.
We plan to read Little Britches this summer. I have seen this recommended here a lot.
I have found out that the books we read need to appeal to us both. If I don’t like the book (Henty), I tend to dread it. This bedtime reading should be something we both look forward to.
Here is a blog post I found to be helpful too. There are links to other blog posts at the bottom, including Ann Voskamp’s.
https://wheremytreasureis.wordpress.com/2016/06/01/stories-for-summer-jonathans-top-picks-for-boys/
Thank you all for your help. The only problem now is deciding which book to read next. So many books, so little time!

March 19, 2018 at 9:40 pm
mamaterry
Participant
Highly recommend The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers (connected to Story Warren folks) it parallels the life of King David in the most fun and Truth resonating ways! We could not put them down.