25 Best Read Aloud Books for a Road Trip

Who doesn't love the maid Amelia Bedelia and her crazy antics? From literally drawing the drapes to dressing the chicken, Amelia takes all of the instructions to the letter. I loved this story as a child and it really does stand the test of time, because kids these days still love to hear it as a read aloud.

All of my children love the Big Friendly Giant (BFG). When Sophie is carried away from her orphanage bedroom by the BFG, she soon realizes how lucky she is that she wasn't taken by one of the unfriendly child-eating giants.

Those giants are planning to eat all the children in England, and Sophie convinces the BFG it is their job to stop them. Dahl's witty language, charming characters, and clever plot make for a heartwarming and entertaining family read aloud.

Stanley wakes up one morning to find that overnight he has been flattened by a bulletin board that fell off his wall. Thankfully he can still have amazing adventures and that's what kids will love about him. He can fly like a kite, slip under a door, and be mailed in an envelope across the country, the possibilities are endless!

My second grader learned about this book during his pioneer study at school and was really excited about it. He wanted to watch the movie and learn all about the pioneers. I had no idea he would want to know about Laura and her life with Ma, Pa, and her sisters. I guess some family read-aloud books just withstand the test of time.

Mr. Popper is a house painter fascinated by the Arctic. One day he sends a letter to the great Arctic explorer Admiral Drake, who in return sends him a penguin! Mr. Popper's children are thrilled, but his wife is less so. Of course, a penguin cannot live alone, so Mr. Popper gets another penguin friend, and the shenanigans begin in earnest. Kids and parents alike will be laughing throughout the entire book.

When a young boy and his family check into a hotel, the first thing Ralph the Mouse notices is the boy's red toy motorcycle. Ralph is determined to ride the motorcycle, and when he does, things don't go as smoothly as planned. Beverly Cleary has so many good books to read on a road trip, you can't go wrong with any of them.

This Newbery honor book is the story of Elmer Elevator (the narrator's father), who runs away as a young boy to rescue a dragon on a faraway island. Using some creative tools he's brought from home (think lollipops and rubber bands) he can defeat the beast that guards the island. This is a charming, lighthearted story, that children will enjoy over and over again.

I love all of Shel Silverstein's books of poetry, but this is one of my favorite books. It is the first one I remember reading as a child, and my kids enjoy it just as much as I did. We pick a few poems to read to break up a long car ride and giggles always ensue. We also try to create our own Shel Silverstein-esque poems along the way. Plenty of fun to be had with this book!

The main character Opal, adopts an ugly, but lovable dog, Winn Dixie, and everyone in town starts to befriend them. Abandoned at a young age by her mother, the dog helps Opal grow emotionally and replaces some of her sadness with the happiness of new friends and relationships.

This book is what happens when you mix Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with "Night at the Museum". Luigi Lemoncello, the most famous game maker in the world, has built the new town library. He invites twelve kids to spend the night in the building and take part in a game competition. They have to compete to escape the library and the winner will claim the ultimate prize. My kids loved reading this book and were hooked from beginning to end.

It seems any book series that Dan Gutman writes is a hit, and The Genius Files is no exception. Coke and Pepsi McDonald are twins, and part of a secret government program called the Genius Files (unbeknownst to them). They head off on a cross country road trip and immediately realize they're being followed.

Danger ensues and they have to outsmart evil villains as they journey across the country. Gutman throws in interesting geography facts and photos in this adventure series. My kids love these books!

This first book in the Harry Potter series is fun to read aloud to kids of all ages. Whether they have seen the films or not, they will surely enjoy J.K. Rowling's characters, creativity, and charm.

When Omri gets a toy plastic Indian from his friend Patrick for his birthday, he is a bit disappointed. He puts the toy in a cupboard and locks it with a key, but this transforms the Indian into a real live man from a different time and place! 

Will Omri be able to keep this secret? Kids love this story and they all wish this could happen in real life.

This series places twins Alex and Conner in a fairytale land (The Land of Stories), where they encounter characters and places from classic fairytales. I enjoy reading this series with the kids and we love each time a new character is introduced.

The twins meet trolls, fairies, and the various residents of the Land of Stories as they try to get back home and reunite with their family.

I just love the story of the Pevensie siblings who step through the wardrobe door and into the land of Narnia, a land of eternal winter ruled by the White Witch. When almost all hope is lost, the return of the Great Lion, Aslan, signals a great change . . . and a great sacrifice. The Chronicles of Narnia series is a family favorite.

Siblings Claudia and Jamie decide to run away from home and head to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Once settled into the museum they find themselves in the middle of a museum mystery which Claudia is determined to solve. This is the tale of their grand adventure and their time on the run.

Mrs. Frisby is a widowed mouse with a sick child and must move from her house immediately. She turns to the rats of NIMH for assistance who develop a brilliant plan to move her family and she repays them with her kindness. The adventures the rats and mice take throughout the book and the obstacles they have to overcome will have everyone cheering along the way.

This book won the 2013 Newbery Medal and has been #1 on the New York Times best seller list. I'm sure you will agree both are well deserved. The book is written from the perspective of a gorilla named Ivan, who spent 27 years in captivity in a shopping mall. When an elephant named Ruby moves in, he is forced to re-examine life as he knows it and try to find a better life for both of them. Based on a true story, the chapters are short, making it perfect for a read aloud.

This is the first book in the Percy Jackson series, about a young boy (Percy) who is half human, half Greek God, but doesn't realize the extent of his powers until he is sent off to Half Camp Blood where other demigods live.

Once there, he is sent off on his first quest to battle monsters of mythical proportions, helping to prevent a war among the gods of Olympus. Action-packed with clever dialogue, each chapter is a cliffhanger and time will fly by as you read this! This is the first book in the series.

When Pearl Harbor is attacked, young Bird's world is turned upside down. Her father is sent off to fight and she is sent to live with her uncle. When a new student, Kenji, arrives at school, they become friends, and stumble onto evidence of an enemy Japanese submarine in the area.

Unfortunately, no one will believe them. The book has many twists and turns, and some heavier themes, but this is a great book that will get families talking both during and after reading.

When Leslie moves to the farm next door, Jess doesn't realize his life is about to change forever. The two create a magic kingdom in the woods called Terabithia, and crown themselves king and queen, fighting imaginary giants, and real life problems. Suddenly tragedy strikes and changes their lives forever.

I read this book when I was in 5th grade and I still remember it. Kids will probably cry (you might too), so know that before you start the book, but it's definitely worth the read.

Josh Bell and his twin brother, Jordan, are star basketball players. They are thick as thieves both on and off the court guided by a father who was a former professional basketball player.

Without giving too much away, things start to change and the boys have to learn to adapt. The author's writing style is sure to keep everyone engaged and entertained.

Definitely a book for older children as the book opens with a rather gruesome scene, but the story quickly turns to a more friendly tale. A toddler survives an attack on his family and walks to a nearby graveyard where he is adopted by the ghostly residents that live in the cemetery. 

Whenever the boy strays from his usual play among the headstones, he finds new dangers, learns his limitations and strengths, and finds the skills he needs to survive within the confines of the graveyard and in wider world beyond. Older kids will truly enjoy Gaiman's writing style which mixes humor, fantasy, and horror in a terrific award winning tale.

The main character, Melody, has a photographic memory. She's the smartest kid in her whole school, but no one knows it because she can't talk, walk, or write. She has cerebral palsy and is stuck inside her head.

This is driving her mad until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever. At last, Melody has a voice but not everyone around her is ready to hear it. It's definitely worth reading with older kids.

August was born with a facial difference that before now has prevented him from attending a mainstream school. All he wants is to be treated like a "normal" kid, but the other students aren't quite ready to look past his physical features. Not only does August deal with the challenges of middle school, he teaches other students (and readers) life lessons along the way. Kids and adults alike will love this book.