In our family, we have a habit of reading together after dinner. Usually we read and discuss the Bible, but if a parent or kid is absent for work or other activities, we’ll read short fiction. I’m looking for suggestions! Our kids (5) are ages 3 to 12. I don’t want to read “kid” fiction to them because they get enough of that already. It doesn’t have to be completely sanitized but not too explicit, either. I like classics, and the anthologies and collections I have are very American mid century but I wouldn’t mind branching out. Also, due to the timing, they need to be relatively short reads, about 10 pages or 20 minutes, tops.
Here’s what we’ve done recently by way of example:
Harrison Bergeron (Vonnegut)
Various Edgar Allen Poe
Lots of Hemingway
Some Flannery O’Connor
Some Faulkner
I’d appreciate recommendations for other authors or anthologies. Thanks!
by Safe_War6128
6 Comments
CS Lewis wrote a number of short stories, along with essays on Christianity. Might be worth looking into a few of those. (Not sure the essays are quite right for younger children, some might be too heavy). I know there is [this anthology](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/343919.C_S_Lewis_Essay_Collection_Other_Short_Pieces), but you probably can find other compilations too.
A lot of the Sherlock Holmes adventures are short stories as well. Which exist in various editions and collections.
The Problem in Cell 13 by Jacques Futrelle
The Homesick Buick by John D MacDonald
To Build a Fire by Jack London
Both Shirley Jackson and Hector Hugh Munro (Saki) have many stories that are brief and brilliant. Try *The Possibility of Evi*l or *Charles* for Jackson. *Tobermory and Sredni Vashtar* are good places to start with Saki. I’m making my way through John Cheevers’ short stories, which are also wonderful – *Christmas is a Sad Time for the Poo*r, might be a fun one for younger readers.
Your public library or local book store probably have great short story sections. I agree with the Sherlock Holmes recommendation. Perhaps stories from around the world. Or Best Short Stories from specific year… Lots out there. Ask the librarian at your kids’ schools for suggestions, too
Ray Bradbury’s “All Summer in a Day” is good if your older kids haven’t read it yet. Isaac Asimov wrote some stories that would work too, like “The Last Question”. Maybe “The Feeling of Power” or “The Fun They Had” also, or some of the Robot stories.
Some of my favourite short story authors are:
Ryonosuke Akutagawa
Gene Wolfe
Jorge Luis Borges
Haruki Murakami
Paul Bowles
Ted Chiang
Anton Chekhov
Ursula K. LeGuin
You would have to select which works would be appropriate, but all are excellent.