Reading aloud to my children continues to be one of the best parts of motherhood for me. There’s just something so peaceful, so connected, so all-is-right-with-the-world about snuggling up together — everyone freshly pajama-ed, all quarrels postponed, lamplight low — to read another chapter. In the midst of a full life, I have found that the very best way to make time for reading together is to choose books that we can’t wait to return to each night — books that make us start dinner prep on time, work together to clear the table, bathe efficiently, and eagerly bounce onto whatever bed we’re gathering on. To help with this, I put in some effort each year to plan out of titles for the months ahead. (Just like with my own reading list!) We’ll almost certainly deviate from this plan, but it’s a good place to start. In case it inspires your own year of reading… Quarter 1 | January, February, and March The first three months of the year tend to be some of our best for readalouds: our schedule is quieter, and we’re (I’m) fired up from yearly planning. Knowing that June would want to start the fourth Harry Potter as soon as she received it for her early-January birthday, I wedged in a shorter-but-beloved favorite from my childhood right at the beginning. (Both kids loved it.) I’m currently deep into the fourth HP while John reads Prince Caspian to Shep (he hadn’t joined readaloud when John and June read it the first time). From there, John will read the final Narnia book and then I’ll crack open the first in the Wingfeather Saga, which June has been desperate to read. (All her friends have read it, apparently, which delights me no end.) From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs