Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ)
Most adults are well aware of the benefits that come with reading with children. Storytime with kids can improve their literacy and develop their communication skills.
Research also shows children love being read to even up until young adulthood.
Beyond well-known classics such as Harry Potter, it can be challenging to find stories that everyone in the family wants to read together.
Parents might default to books they loved when they were younger. But this means families may be missing out on some great stories published more recently.
Read more:
Book Week is not just for big kids. How to engage babies and toddlers at storytime
Why you should keep reading with older children
Some parents might feel there’s not much benefit in reading aloud with older children once they have learnt to read for themselves.
However, research suggests children gain confidence and reading skills when their parents continue to read with them during older childhood. Adults can also help shape a positive attitude towards reading in their children.
Read more:
Research shows the importance of parents reading with children – even after children can read
Parents reading aloud with older children can also help improve their pronunciation of words. Regular storytime sessions create opportunities for families to bond too.
Choosing books for family reading
When selecting books, it’s great to choose a range of diverse-voice titles. Research shows when children read about characters different to themselves they develop greater awareness of other ways of living and being. This, in turn, helps develop their empathy skills as well as their understanding of others.
Book series are also a terrific choice for families. This is because characters and themes tend to grow and evolve over several books as children grow and experience new life stages themselves.
With all this in mind, here are some recommendations that can work for the whole family.
1. Black Cockatoo – Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler
Magabala Books.
This trilogy follows Mia – a young Aboriginal girl, then woman – from the Kimberley as she navigates adolescence, family and community through connecting with her totem, the dirran black cockatoo.
In the first book, Mia is 13 years-old and by the final book, she is 25 years-old. It’s a strong and deep series that can be read over the course of a few years as teens grow older.
The trilogy has also won multiple awards.
2. The Wolf Girl series – Anh Do
Allen & Unwin.
A girl named Gwen is separated from her family in the wild. She bonds with a pack of lost animals and together they embark on an adventure in search for Gwen’s family.
This is a thrilling and fast-paced series that has strong universal themes such as loyalty, teamwork and resilience. The books are great for sparking discussions about what it means to be a family. There are currently 15 books in the series.
3. The Nevermoor series – Jessica Townsend
Hachette Australia.
This fantasy series – full of adventure, humour and magic – is great for older primary school children and young teens. The books centre on the character, Morrigan Crow, who is born cursed and must navigate her misfortune. But her fate changes when she is introduced to the enchanting city of Nevermoor.
The first book of the series won numerous awards after it was published in 2017. There are now four books in the series with another five planned for release.
4. Ubby’s Underdogs series – Brenton E McKenna
Magabala Books.
Set in the 1940s, this trilogy of graphic novels focuses on a rag-tag group of adventurers living in Broome who take on exciting and fantastical adventures together.
Graphic novels can sometimes be overlooked by adults but they often provide a great interplay of visuals and text that offer rich storylines.
Read more:
Does your child only read graphic novels? That’s OK – it’s helping them build literacy skills
5. Being Jimmy Baxter – Fiona Lloyd
Penguin Random House.
This standlone novel focuses on protagonist Jimmy as he navigates a family breakdown. He finds solace in the music of Elvis Presley and discovers unexpected friendships on his journey.
Books such as this one can provide an entry point into gentle discussions with children about some of the tougher parts of growing up.
For more recommendations, check out the Children’s Book Council of Australia’s Book of the Year Awards or the searchable databases of the National Centre for Australia Children’s Literature.
Helen Joanne Adam has received funding from Edith Cowan University, the Winston Churchill Trust, and the Herbert and Valmae Freilich Project for the Study of Bigotry. She is the President of the board of directors for the Primary English Teaching Association of Australia.
Original source: https://analysis1.mil-osi.com/2026/08/26/beyond-harry-potter-five-books-you-can-enjoy-together-as-a-whole-family/