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Reading has always been a big part of our family. My husband and I both always have a book going, and we’ve worked hard to encourage a love of reading in our sons.
While we all read together, my husband has often had a special book or series that he reads to the boys. Those father-son reading sessions have created some of our favorite family memories. Now that Father’s Day has just passed, I’ve been reflecting on the books they’ve enjoyed together over the years and wanted to share a few of their favorites.
Dog Man
The Dog Man series was one of the first collections my husband read aloud to our boys. They could read the books independently, but they enjoyed them even more when Dad read them.
I would often be making dinner in the kitchen and hear bursts of laughter coming from the living room. The humor, illustrations, and silly adventures made this series an instant favorite.
Read more about how Dog Man helped our son go from reluctant reader to avid reader here.
The Dangerous Book for Boys
Any book with the word “dangerous” in the title immediately grabs a boy’s attention.
This wasn’t simply a sit-and-read book. It inspired action. One chapter taught how to build paper airplanes, and after reading it, the boys spent the evening building different designs and competing to see whose plane could fly the farthest.
This book is full of hands-on activities, facts and adventures that make it perfect for dads and sons to explore together.
Harry Potter
My husband spent over a year reading the Harry Potter series aloud to our boys during their elementary school years.
They constantly begged him to read “just one more chapter.” After finishing each book, they celebrated by watching the corresponding movie together (so far they’ve seen movies 1-5). It became a special tradition that made the stories even more memorable.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
My husband first attempted this series when the boys were a little too young. They frequently stopped him to ask about unfamiliar words and concepts, so he decided to set the books aside for awhile.
A few years later, he tried again. This time, their comprehension was much stronger, and they became completely immersed in Middle Earth. After finishing the trilogy, they watched the movies together and were captivated by seeing the story come to life on screen.
The Chronicles of Narnia Series
Before starting The Chronicles of Narnia, the boys had already watched The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, so they were familiar with the world and characters.
They enjoyed nearly every book in the series. For some reason, The Horse and His Boy wasn’t their favorite, but the rest quickly became beloved family read-alouds.
The Iceberg Hermit
A friend recommended this book, so we knew very little about it before diving in.
Our boys love ships, winter, animals and adventure, so this book was a perfect fit. Sometimes the best family read-alouds are the unexpected discoveries.
Project Hail Mary
After researching the content carefully, my husband took our boys to see the movie adaptation during Spring Break. They came home raving about it and insisted that I needed to watch it too.
Since they loved the movie so much, my husband decided to read the book with them. While the book contains some adult language or content, he simply skips those sections or substitutes a few words during read-aloud time.
Their favorite character is Rocky, and before they even finished the book, they were already asking if the author had written anything else.
Why Father-Son Reading Matters
One day, my boys will be grown, but I hope they’ll always remember those evenings spent reading with their dad.
They usually curl up beside him, lean against his shoulder, or sprawl out on the couch while he reads. The stories are wonderful, but the time spent together is what makes these books truly special.
Reading aloud isn’t just for young children. Sharing a story creates opportunities for connection, conversation, and memories that can last a lifetime.
If you’re looking for a meaningful way to spend time together, consider starting a read-aloud book with your child. The memories may last far longer than any gift.
Looking for a bookish gift for Dad? Check out my Father’s Day gift guide for readers.
What are your favorite read-aloud books to share with your kids? I’d love to add a few new titles to our family’s list!
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