Some Classic Books to Read Aloud to Your School-Age Girls

Any professional who works with children will tell you how beneficial it is for adults to read out loud to children. It gives children an interest and love for reading, which will help them through their academic careers and basically the rest of their lives.
We all know that being a good reader enhances the learning experience, and not being able to read well is a detriment to most skills needed for every day life. As a parent or caregiver of children, we also know that reading to them can and should be an experience that nurtures and helps foster emotional security.
Most parents would like their children to be well-rounded and educated in the finer things of life too, so we might want to select a few "classics" to read to them. But this is not always so easily done; books that are labeled "classics" as such may be difficult to read or may not interest the children; we might go to a bookstore and come away discouraged as to what to choose.

One great series to start with for girls is Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House Series.

It begins with Little House in the Big Woods, which enthralls little girls; telling about life as a pioneer girl in the Big Woods of Wisconsin in the 1860's.

It draws from the author's own life experience and is told from the point of view of a young girl about 5 years old.

As the series goes on, we hear about Laura's life from her early childhood, through her school years, and on into her teaching career until her marriage.

There are nine books in the series, and they are pretty sure to captivate parents as well as kids.
By the time you get through this series (you'll be sad when you do), your daughter will be ready for more advanced themes and literary structure. Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery, is another favorite girls love.

It's about an orphan girl in the early part of the 20th century, and how she is adopted by an elderly brother and sister.
Anne is an endearing character who is constantly getting into innocent types of trouble.

Young girls will probably not be able to read this alone, but it will enjoy listening to an adult reading it. Interest level is probably fourth grade and up for this book.
Another great book is Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell.
Most girls love horses, and this story is told from the point of view of a horse in 19th century England.
It's the quintessential horse story.

Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott, is another all-time girls' favorite.
It's a coming-of-age story of four sisters in Massachusets during the Civil War.

Both of these books work well being read out loud (although there is a really sad chapter in Little Women that you may not be able to get through without tissues). If you read these, and your daughter likes them, it's time to try one of the most popular books ever written: Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin.

It's a hilarious comedy of manners that has withstood the test of time.

Pride and Prejudice is a delightful read for adults, and older children can understand it.
The humor is biting and subtle at the same time.

All of the above-mentioned books have movies or TV shows made from them.
So, as a special treat, you can have a movie night after you read each one. Reading aloud to kids does foster love of books, as well as supply needed snuggle-time.

Books that the adults enjoy as well as the children can really enhance the experience.