How long does it take to read aloud?

Bedtime has a deadline. Here is how long each book on our list takes, shortest first.

These are estimates, for a calm bedtime pace with no voices and no interruptions. So, in practice, add a few minutes. The same figures are available as open data.

BookRead-aloud timeAgeFormat
Dear Zoo≈ 2 min aloud0–3Board book
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?≈ 3 min aloud0–4Board book
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!≈ 3 min aloud2–6Picture book
Each Peach Pear Plum≈ 3 min aloud1–4Picture book
Goodnight Moon≈ 3 min aloud0–3Board book
I Want My Hat Back≈ 3 min aloud3–8Picture book
Owl Babies≈ 4 min aloud1–4Picture book
Press Here≈ 4 min aloud2–6Picture book
The Rabbit Listened≈ 4 min aloud2–7Picture book
The Very Hungry Caterpillar≈ 4 min aloud0–5Board book
Giraffes Can't Dance≈ 5 min aloud2–7Picture book
The Book With No Pictures≈ 5 min aloud3–8Picture book
We're Going on a Bear Hunt≈ 5 min aloud1–6Picture book
Where the Wild Things Are≈ 5 min aloud3–7Picture book
The Gruffalo≈ 6 min aloud2–6Picture book
The Invisible String≈ 6 min aloud3–8Picture book
The Paper Bag Princess≈ 6 min aloud3–8Picture book
Room on the Broom≈ 7 min aloud2–6Picture book
The Day the Crayons Quit≈ 7 min aloud3–8Picture book
The Tiger Who Came to Tea≈ 7 min aloud2–6Picture book
Frog and Toad Are Friends≈ 8 min aloud4–8Early reader
Last Stop on Market Street≈ 8 min aloud3–8Picture book
Pippi Longstocking≈ 15 min a sitting · 3 h total5–10Chapter book
The Wild Robot≈ 15 min a sitting · 4 h total6–11Chapter book
Moominland Midwinter≈ 20 min a sitting · 3 h total6–12Chapter book
Charlotte's Web≈ 20 min a sitting · 4 h total5–11Chapter book
Matilda≈ 20 min a sitting · 5 h total6–12Chapter book