I have always been a reader, in fact, I was able to get into kindergarten a year early because of my love of books. But part of the reason I have always been a reader was the love of reading was passed down to me. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of me and my grandma sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn between us as we read books. But most importantly, my family shared stories together. This is one of the best ways to create a family of book lovers, but also a great way to bond as a family. So no matter the age, these are the best books to share as a family - whether it be through nightly read-alouds or a family book club - people of all ages will love these books.
1. Frindle by Andrew Clements
One of my favorite family memories happened on a road trip - which little Ash never would have believed judging by how much she hated them. However, on this particular road trip, we borrowed the Frindle audiobook from the library, and we could not stop laughing. The story is engaging, and even though it came out in 1996, it is still relevant today with its informative yet hilarious way of showing how the English language can still change today. And with The Frindle Files being Clement's last book, I am looking forward to listening to it on our next family road trip - even though my brothers and I are all grown up.
Frindle is available through Simon & Schuster
2. The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
Want a book series to enjoy as a family? This one should be at the absolute top of your list. Not only is it a great way to read about Greek mythology, but this is a series families can share for years. Not only do we have the original five books, there's also the sequel series, a sequel trilogy, and various other spin-off series that will let you live in this world together for years. It's a fantastic way to bond, and with the amazing adaption on Disney+, you can then compare the way it was adapted together, which is both educational and bonding.
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is available through Disney Books
3. The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton
There is an unfortunate trend I have seen in my time as a teacher, where schools and parents refuse to recommend books with girl main characters to boys. They say it's because boys won't read them, while they will have girls read books with boy main characters. It's honestly sad this is still being reinforced, as it's a way to help kids, tweens, and teens build empathy. And The Marvellers is a perfect book to read as a family for that reason. It has all of the magic and mystery of Harry Potter while focusing on different cultures and races. It also specifically teaches about overcoming prejudices, which is something I feel is needed in today's world.
The Marvellers is available through Macmillan Publishers