The 10 Best Family Books to Read Together (For All Ages!)

Reading together as a family not only improves children’s literacy skills but it also inspires family bonding. Everyone, children and parents alike, will love these fun, inspiring, and memorable stories. There’s something for everyone – magic, fairy tales, humor, friendship, fantasy, science, mystery, etc. But also, encourage your family members to branch out and try something new! Enjoy the 10 Best Family Books to Read Together, and let me know which books your family loves the most!

If you’re looking for even more ideas, check out our Part 2 post: 10 More Best Family Books to Read Together!

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Chapter Books for the Whole Family

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Leisl Shurtliff

This book turns all of our preconceived notions of Rumplestiltskin on their heads! Rump (as he’s known in his village), is a twelve-year-old boy trying to live up to his name in a place where names mean everything. He feels empty until he discovers that he has a gift of turning straw into gold! But wait…it’s not a gift – it’s a curse! Journey with Rump as he goes on a quest to undo the magical spell that may ruin his life forever

Not your typical fairytale book, and everyone in the family will laugh at least once!

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

One of my favorite books EVER! You’ll fall in love with spunky Miss Moses LeBeau, a sixth grader who has found an unlikely home with the mysterious Colonel and the excellent cafe owner, Miss Lana. Together with her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, Mo will make you laugh, make you cry, and make you hope that she will be able to save her precious (but admittedly strange) family.

It’s funny. It’s heart-warming. And boys and girls alike will fall in love with it. (Good news, it’s part of a trilogy!) *Please note that there is a murder in the book.

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein

Have you ever wanted to sleep overnight in the library? Well, even if you haven’t, you’d want to stay overnight in Mr. Lemoncello’s amazing game-focused library, and Kyle Keely and eleven other kids get that chance! (Trust me, this is the coolest, best, most wonderful library ever.) But when the doors don’t open at the end of the night, will Kyle and his friends be able to make it out of the library?

You’ll inadvertently learn an extreme amount about how libraries work, and the whole family will join in the games and sit at the end of their seats in suspense. (Another trilogy!)

Missy Piggle-Wiggle and the Whatever Cure by Ann M. Martin

If you grew up with Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, you’ll be thrilled with this amazing companion series about Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle’s niece, Missy. If you have never heard of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, don’t worry – you and your family will still love this series! Made up of a series of short stories that compile together to create a hilarious, heart-warming novel, this book will have your kids wishing they had an upside down house in your town. (Yes, an upside down house. And this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to peculiar Missy Piggle-Wiggle.)

Missy Piggle-Wiggle will capture your hearts, and she just might give you some ideas for conquering those bad habits you see in your own kids! (There are more of these books too!)

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Ready for some realistic fantasy? Introduce your kids to a whole new world – well, almost. The Underland is technically part of our world; it’s simply beneath the world as we know it. Gregor is an ordinary boy who finds himself an extraordinary part of the Underworld, a kingdom he had no idea even existed.

Get ready for giant bats, a treacherous adventure, and a quest to bring a family together. This book will captivate every member of your family. (Yes, even Dad!) (And guess what, there are more books in the series!!)

**If you know Suzanne Collins as the author of The Hunger Games series, the Underland Chronicles are intended for a younger audience and do not contain the violence present in The Hunger Games.**

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

I had to include this classic on the list. If any adults in your family read this book as a child in school, read it again! You’ll catch stuff you definitely missed as a fourth grader. If nobody in your family has read it before – you are in for a treat! During World War II, four siblings are sent to an old house in the country, where they stumble across a wardrobe. Who cares, right? Wrong! That wardrobe is the doorway to an entire world, Narnia. Will Narnia ever be returned to its former glory? Or will the ice queen rule forever?

Start looking for the wardrobe that will take you to the land of Narnia – a kingdom of fauns, ice castles, prophecies, and a lion who can change even the greediest heart.

Nightmares! by Jason Segel

You may know Jason Segel as Gary in The Muppets or even as Marshall in How I Met Your Mother. This book (written for kids, I promise) dives into the land of nightmares like no other book ever has. Charlie and his friends have to [literally] face their worst nightmares to try to save their town. Can they do it? Or will Charlie fail the people he loves the most?

It’s a story of family and a story of bravery that will stay with you long after you finish the last chapter. (Another series, woohoo!)

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

When the lights are becoming insufficient, food is diminishing, and crime is rising, Lina and Doon realize that their community needs a new beginning. But can the two kids find a way out of the city of Ember? And if they do, can they convince everyone that there may be more to the world than their underground town?

It’s a concept that will fascinate adults and captivate kids. You’ll love this adventure about science, politics, and friendship! (Hmm…another series? You bet!)

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall

The Penderwicks is a light-hearted, realistic book that explores the life of four sisters whose personalities will capture even the coldest heart. It’s a breezy read about a family’s summer adventures – new friendships, silly mishaps, and unforgettable memories.

This a more laidback, less intense option. You will love the easy flow of the Penderwicks adventures, but don’t worry – you won’t be bored. Jeanne Birdsall creates captivating characters who your whole family will fall in love with. (Good news….this is the first book of, you guessed it! A series!)

Last in a Long Line of Rebels by Lisa Lewis Tyre

Twelve-year-old Lou takes it upon herself to save her Civil War-era house. Between searching for rumored gold and trying to establish her home as a historical landmark, Lou learns about the prejudices of the past and of the present.

Lou and her adventures will inspire you to explore your roots and hug your family. And everyone listening will laugh out loud at least once!

Looking for more great book lists? Try these art books (with crafts) for kids or these unconventional picture books about food (with recipes).

10 Best Family Books to Read Together

Chapter Books for the Whole Family