Five books to read with your family this season

Reading aloud is the least complicated family tradition there is. No screens, no scheduling, no equipment beyond a lamp. These are the titles from our own list that families come back to.

Start with Oilies if your children are old enough for a story with grit and a sense of place. A Mouse in the Sugar Bowl and A Mouse Escapes to the City work beautifully for younger readers who like a character they can follow from one book to the next.

If I Made a Bug is the one to reach for when you want laughter at bedtime. No Cussing Club opens a conversation about the words we choose without ever sounding like a lecture.

Round the season out with It's True. It rewards the questions children ask when the lights are low and nobody is in a hurry.