favorite reads

In no special order, or maybe in some random order, I want to share books that I think are worth your while to read. To your kids, to yourself, to yourself again…they are those kinds of books. Don’t take my word for it, go check them out. Or buy them…whatever. I will list them in a “gee, here is another one I am re-reading” sort of order. In North Carolina, I can’t be an Amazon Affiliate and actually provide a link for you to click on and make it easy for you to order my recommendation, so….consider this my just passing on my love of a book to you, as Adam Sandler says in Bedtime Stories, “FOR FREE!”

I will add to this list all the time! So check back often…

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians-We listened to this as a family on our way home from OK this summer and NO KIDDING, the kids said, “Hurry up, we need to get back in the car…that tape is FUNNY, good, exciting.” Even the 5 year old followed the storyline pretty well. Of course, we think she is exceptional!

The Moorchild, by Eloise McGraw    This is one of my favorites. By the way, any of her books are excellent. I love The Golden Goblet, and Mara as well. These are great read-aloud books to give your kids an idea of what Egypt was like. They are full of intrigue, but not too extremely scary. I would say maybe five years and up.

Chinese Cinderella-  this is a true story and good for anyone from about 11 or 12 on up. Sad, but not too sad. Good and Good for the heart.

The Various, and interesting fairie or little people book….bigger book, I would say for 11 or 12 and up, but a good 9 year old reader would probably love it. I would have devoured a book like this when I was about fifth or sixth grade.

I am trying to think of younger reader books that we adore.

and my mind goes blank….

Of course we loved Goodnight Moon so much we have bought multiple copies of it. As far as Children’s Bibles go, we like the Rhyme Bible for early reading…like for 3 and 4 year olds. The sounds and cadence are soothing and sweet. This helped us remember the stories, too.

My all time favorite as a child was Harriet the Spy. Not so much because she was a spy, but because she had a whole different life outside of who her friends thought she was. Don’t we all? Isn’t it nice that Jesus knows us for who we are? and loves us anyway.

I for one am really glad.

To read aloud we love the Lion and Witch and Wardrobe and even though the movie has made it so that so many kids have seen it, it still is a great one to read and let the words roll over them as they fall asleep. It is also a great car book. Not too scary, but exciting enough to hold their attention. And the tension between the siblings and how the kids have to learn to work things out is a bonus for me. I like books that encourage kids to like each other….without being preachy.

Five Children and It.

The Enchanted Castle

The Rangers Apprentice series by John Flanagan is GREAT for older children, and up. I am loving the good vs. evil, the call to being the best you can and living life to the fullest. It has taken me away! (Jan 2011)

We have loved reading the Septimus Heape series lately, by Angie Sage. It is fairly advanced, but a strong 9 or 10 year old could read it and love the good and evil.

Today we were discussing Dicey‘s Song. Far different from the fantasy I have mentioned above, this is more of a coming of age story and my 11-12 year olds have loved the voice and courage of Dicey. I owe these books to the librarian in Panama City. She introduced me to them and they became my friends.

Another coming of age book that I love, truly, even if they do make kids read it in school, is To Kill a Mockingbird. As an adult I have reread this several times and love it again. The same can be said for Summer of My German Soldier. To me, these are great books that paint a picture of a time when our country was struggling with issues that were too big for just a history book to explain. I think that is why books such as these, and Anne Frank, Diary of a Young Girl speak so loudly to me.

I am skipping back to fantasy here, and really enjoyed the 100 Cupboard books. They were decidedly unique and well written, and kept me entertained without being scared witless! (an important consideration for me!)

I must tell you, I LOVE to read. I love for my kids to read. If you saw us at the library, you would know that….and we have been blessed to have encouraging librarians who encourage and delight in our love of books. If you have not forged a relationship with your librarian, please do. Ask them what they like to recommend, and take their suggestion. Go home, read, and go back and tell them what you liked.  They like knowing they make a difference and you may find a new author to love.

Our librarian understands that Ron loves to build and explore. She has something different to point out to him each time. Some of his favorites have been, The Dangerous Book for Boys, The Pocket Guide to Mischief, various science books, the Foxfire series of books,

Molly has been leaving the children’s section and venturing into the teen books. I am enjoying the crossover time. I am also “making” her read some of my favorites…and after some eye rolling, she does. Her standby books are the Fablehaven Series, Harry Potter, all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books (and if you haven’t read those as an adult, do!). She recommends the Children of the Lamp books, all of the Rick Riordan books, and she really likes so many different kinds of books, she cannot choose a favorite.

Kiley (seven) says that right now Origami Yoda is her favorite book. She also likes the Ivy and Bean series. She LOVES Diary of a Wimpy Kid, too. Kiley will read a children’s book every night, so she keeps us hopping. She also loves to read the Bible. Kiley likes the Magic Tree House books, too. (I personally get tired of them, but it is hard to find books for young readers that challenge them, and these books do fit the bill!)

One book that we have loved, and I don’t know if you can get, is Champion Dog, Prince Tom. If you have a dog lover, this is great! It is a story of a little cocker spaniel and his owner….and we have all loved it many times over.

As an adult, I have enjoyed having a nook. I am loving not holding a big old volume trying to read and feed a baby all at the same time. I have mixed feelings about some of the free books I have gotten. Some I feel have not been worth my time to read, others, I am so glad I got. So, I would recommend, READ it FIRST before you just download and hand it to your kids!

What are some books that you love?