Reading
“The memory of being read to is a solace one carries through adulthood. It can wash over a multitude of parental sins.” Kathleen Rockwell Lawrence
We all love to read, and there are *so* many great books out there . . . here, I just list our favorite books we’ve read as a family. We have a tradition of reading aloud at meal times, on car trips, etc. There are many great books available on tape or CD these days, too.
When learning to read, we like to use Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons (it’s true!). So far, P, J, M, and C have learned to read very fluently using this book, in a very short period of time. They have moved easily into 1st grade readers after this (not to mention reading everything they can get their hands on, too!). Here is a list of our favorite picture books.
Bibliographies containing lists of great books:
Books Children Love
Honey for a Child’s Heart
Honey for a Teen’s Heart
Book Tree
Invitation to the Classics
Here are some cool reading-related links:
101 great books recommended for college-bound readers (From the collegeboard website)
1000 good books — a list of 1000 good books, compiled by a group of homeschooling moms
Book Adventure — comprehensive web site that contains tests for many books, and the children earn points based on how they do on these tests, accumulating points to earn prizes
Chick-fil-A reading program
Cyber Guide — COOL set of literature based studies, all on internet!
Book-It reading program (from Pizza Hut)
Junior Great Books
Puzzle Maker (could be used in learning vocabulary words)
Accelerated Reader search engine — use this to find what reading level a book is on
A local school’s accelerated reader test list (gives point values)
Library of Congress search engine (find *most* books on there)
AddAll book search (find cheapest prices for buying books)
Schonell reading test (determine what reading age your child is reading at–this is different from reading grade level!)
Here’s another reading level assessment.
Dolch sight words
Search database of award-winning children’s literature
Reader’s Digest Vocabulary contest
Based on the Book — database of books, novels, short stories, and plays that have been made into motion pictures
Some of our favorite books to read aloud:
(Note: We often read a book aloud and then watch the movie, if there is one. If the movie is really good, it adds to the enjoyment of the book immensely, as long as you read the book first!)
“Best Christmas Pageant Ever” (Barbara Robinson)
This is a very funny story about not judging others, and accepting people just as they are. Love it! You’ll never think of Christmas manger scenes the same way again 🙂
“Black Stallion”
This will always be one of my favorite books. The deep love between boy and horse, and the attaining of an impossible dream, inspire me to no end! The movie is equally inspiring, and I highly recommend it–the first 20 minutes are unforgettable.
“Book of Three” (Lloyd Alexander)
In fantasy style, with Welsh influences, a very engrossing book. The characters are irresistible–especially Gurgi (“munchings and crunchings”, “smitings and bitings”, “seekings and peekings”, etc.) and Fflewddur (every time he tells a lie, one of his harp strings breaks!) Even though the vast majority of the book went over C’s head, at age 3 she *loved* Gurgi’s rhyming sayings! We look forward to devouring others in the series in the future.
“Captains Courageous”
A brilliant and inspiring story that we all related to in some way. The characterizations are fabulous.
“Carry On, Mr. Bowditch” ()
“Cat of Bubastes” (G. A. Henty)
We all really liked this book, which we read as part of our Egyptian studies.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (Roald Dahl)
Wonderful! Our kids now search (or at least hope!) for golden tickets in candy bars. The movie is fabulous, too.
“Charlotte’s Web” (E.B. White)
I think this will always be a favorite in our family. Who could ever forget Charlotte, Wilbur, Fern, or even Templeton? I remember my mother reading part of this book aloud when I was in primary school (she was my school librarian). I’ve always loved this book. And the movie–the songs really add to it.
“A Child’s Christmas in Wales”
A short book rich with exquisite descriptive language and imagery that is a rare treasure. The short movie follows the book very closely and added to our enjoyment of it.
“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”
“From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler” (E. L. Konigsburg)
A wonderful adventure of a brother and sister who run away from home, live in a museum and discover some interesting secrets!
“A Girl of the Limberlost”
This moved me very deeply. All the children were gripped by the story and descriptions of a girl who overcame severe adversity with no trace of bitterness or resentment.
“Gone-Away Lake” and “Return to Gone-Away” (Elizabeth Enright)
Another pair of books totally enjoyed by the whole family–wonderful stories!
“Great Brain” (John D. Fitzgerald)
This enjoyable series is about the adventures of some brothers (one of whom is especially creatively mischievous) in a small town in Utah over 100 years ago. Totally enjoyed by our boys!
“Harriet the Spy”
“Henry” series (Beverly Cleary)
(Henry Huggins, Henry and Beezus, Henry and Ribsy, Henry and the Clubhouse, Henry and the Paper Route, Ribsy) I read these aloud, mostly on one week of vacation. Fun, realistic stories about a boy and his hopes and dreams and dog. P is starting to tackle the Ramona series by the same author, and really seems to enjoy her writing and sense of humor.
“Homer Price” (Robert McCloskey)
Another great book from another fabulous author!
“James and the Giant Peach” (Roald Dahl)
Another great book from a very zany, creative author! I know what our kids will be looking for when if we ever visit New York City! The movie is great, too.
“Jotham’s Journey” (?)
We traditionally read this book each Advent season. It weaves together what we know of the characters and events leading up to Jesus’ birth with a fictional account of a boy named Jotham.
“Kavik the Wolf Dog” (Walt Morey)
“Little Lord Fauntleroy” (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
“The Little Prince”
“A Little Princess” (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
“Mr. Popper’s Penguins” (Richard & Florence Atwater)
A fun story from an earlier era.
“Mary Jemison: Indian Captive” (Lois Lenski)
What a brave girl!
“My Friend Flicka”
“Narnia” books (C.S. Lewis)
(actually a series of 7 books–The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician’s Nephew, The Last Battle) A classic!
“O’Keefe Family” series (Madeleine L’Engle)
(Arm of the Starfish, Dragons in the Waters, House Like a Lotus, An Acceptable Time) Great reading and plenty of suspense!
“Pinocchio”
“Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm”
A sweet story with a major theme of love and forgiveness. Don’t even bother to watch the Shirley Temple movie version–we all watched with dropped jaws amazed that anyone would have the audacity to call a movie by the same name as a well-known book, when the storyline bears literally no resemblance to the original work (big disappointment).
“The Red Pony” (John Steinbeck)
This is actually a series of short stories. The book is short, yet intense . . . we all enjoyed it, though it was brutally harsh in some places.
“Sarah, Plain and Tall” series ()
A wonderful little book about a family formed over distance and dramatically different origins. Another in the series that we enjoyed was “Skylark.” Both were made into movies, which were very true to the books and captured them very well.
“Secret at Pheasant Cottage” and “Tanglewood’s Secret” (Patricia St. John)
This is one excellent author, enjoyed by our entire family.
“Shrinking of Treehorn” and “Treehorn’s Treasure” (Florence Parry Heide)
Hilarious adventures of a boy called Treehorn (with a name like that, strange and funny things are bound to happen)!
“The Sign of the Beaver”
“Sounder”
“Stuart Little” (E. B. White)
Another classic!
“Swiss Family Robinson” (Johann Wyss)
What a wonderful book! We read this as a family–we love the movie, but the book is even better!!!
“Tom Sawyer”
“Tom’s Midnight Garden” (Philippa Pearce)
A wonderful, imaginative, sweet fantasy that appeals to anyone who’s ever thought about time travel.
“Tripod” series (John Christopher)
(When the Tripods Came, White Mountains, City of Gold and Lead, Pool of Fire) We all loved this sci-fi series. Very well written.
“Trumpet of the Swan”
“The Village by the Sea” (Paula Fox)
This is a good look into dealing with people who have grown bitter, and loving them anyway.
“The Witch of Blackbird Pond” (Elizabeth George Speare)
Favorite picture books:
“1, 2, 3 to the Zoo: A Counting Book” (Eric Carle) His books are simply among the best! The illustrations are incredible.
“Ah-Choo!” (Mercer Mayer) Cute!
“Amelia Bedelia” series (Peggy Parish)
“Anno’s Alphabet” (Mitsumasa Anno) Unique alphabet book where the letters appear to be carved from wood–amazing illustrations (alphabet letters are made from objects beginning with those letters).
“Are We Almost There?” (James Stevenson) The illustrations and dialogue in this book always make the children and I collapse in a heap of laughter. Very funny.
“Are You My Mother?” (P. D. Eastman)
“Big Red Barn” (Margaret Wise Brown)
“Birds” (Brian Wildsmith) This guy’s books are among my favorites, especially the illustrations–wow! If you’ve ever wondered what a group of birds is called, read this–there are so many names for what I would have simply called “flocks”!
“Cat in the Hat” and “Cat in the Hat Comes Back” (Doctor Seuss) These are just so much fun!
“Chalk Box Story” (Don Freeman) This book makes you wish your own pictures would come alive!
“Chanticleer and the Fox” (Barbara Cooney) An adaptation of one of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. Beautiful illustrations.
“Come Away From the Water, Shirley” (John Burningham) This author’s books are among my favorites. This is a fantastic book for anyone with a *lot* of imagination, like certain children of ours (not to mention mummy)!!
“Curious George” series (H. A. Rey) We all love this series!
“Evan’s Corner” (Elizabeth Hill) It is so important for everyone, even in a large family, to have their own special place.
“Frances” series (Russell Hoban) This lovely series features a little girl (badger) named Frances, who loves to sing what she wants to say (reminds me of several around here!).
“Frog and Toad series” (Arnold Lobel) This series is a family favorite, featuring two best friends and their adventures.
“Frog Band and the Onion Seller” (Jim Smith) The children seem to really enjoy this book–whenever we borrow it, they want me to read it to them over and over. A funny story set in England and France with all the essential elements–mystery, treasure, close escapes, a monastery with hidden steps, etc.
“George and Martha” series (James Marshall) Cute books about two friends. The children love the simplicity of the stories and the funny illustrations.
“Go, Dog, Go!” (P. D. Eastman)
“Goodnight Moon” (Margaret Wise Brown)
“Grouchy Ladybug” (Eric Carle) We enjoy many of Eric Carle’s books–the illustrations are too good to miss!
“Henry & Mudge series” (Cynthia Rylant) A fun set of books about a boy and his large dog. M would love a dog like Mudge!
“Here a Plant, There a Plant, Everywhere a Plant Plant! A Story of Luther Burbank” (Robert Quackenbush) If you haven’t read the story of what this guy did, you’ll be amazed! This is a good example of how one person’s life can affect many others.
“Hole is to Dig” (Ruth Krauss) A cute book of “definitions” as seen through the eyes of a little child.
“I am Not Going to Get Up Today” (Doctor Seuss) Another Dr. Seuss tale that gets taller as it goes.
“I Forgot” (Sucie Stevenson) Some people have a hard time remembering things. This is a cute story about one of those (I think all parents experience this, too!)
“Imogene’s Antlers” (David Small)
“James and the Rain” (Karla Kuskin) A beautiful counting book written with very catchy poetry and eye-catching illustrations.
“John Patrick Norman McHennessy–The Boy Who Was Always Late” (John Burningham) This author has a way of letting you see ordinary situations through children’s eyes in a hilarious way. We love all his books, but this is our favorite!
“Leo the Late Bloomer” (Robert Kraus) Very cute story–everyone blossoms in their own good time!
“Little Bear” series (Else Holmelund Minarik) A wonderfully sweet set of books about a little bear and his friends.
“Little Fur Family” (Margaret Wise Brown) Really cute!
“Little House” (Virginia Lee Burton) A favorite story by a favorite author about a little house who almost seems like a friend by the end of the book.
“Little House of Your Own” (Beatrice S. de Regniers) A gorgeous book with the loveliest descriptions–children just soak this up because she writes what they have thought & felt. Everyone loves to have their own space sometimes, no matter how little that space may be. She is one of my favorite authors.
“May I Visit?” (Charlotte Zolotow) Sweet story dealing with a little girl’s insecurity about growing up.
“Morris’s Disappearing Bag” (Rosemary Wells) We love several of her books–cute illustrations, simple themes, really fun!
“Mouse Soup” (Arnold Lobel) He writes such cute books! This one is adorable.
“Now One Foot, Now the Other” (Tomie DePaola) The sweet relationship between a boy and his grandfather, and how their relationship changes over time.
“Now We Are Six” (A. A. Milne) J loved this when he was six!
“Old Henry” (Joan W. Blos) We need to get to know one another!
“On Market Street” (Anita Lobel) Creative alphabet book that has the most interesting illustrations. We liked it so much we bought the puzzle, too.
“On Mother’s Lap” (Ann Herbert Scott) Our kids often quote this book–“there’s always room for one more on mother’s lap!”
“Prayer for a Child” (Rachael Field) Beautiful words & illustrations.
“Silver Pony” (Lynd Ward) A wordless book with beautiful illustrations–children can tell their own story about what they see in the pictures–lovely idea, and very imaginative.
“Something is Going to Happen” (Charlotte Zolotow) A sweet book for younger children who love to dream about what might happen next.
“Sorely Trying Day” (Russell Hoban) Our attitudes, good and bad, tend to rub off on others. How we handle those attitudes is very important! Cute story.
“Spot” series (Eric Hill) Well-loved books that our younger children simply adore.
“Storm Book” (Charlotte Zolotow) Builds up a storm from the humid, quiet beginning, to the thunder and lightning, and back again to the quiet aftermath. Funnily enough, when I read it to M & C at ages 6 & 4, we were in our van, and during the 15 minutes it took me to read the book aloud to them, a real storm began, passed quickly, and ended, as it happened, at the same time as the story in the book–they were awed!
“Tale of Three Trees” (Angela Elwell Hunt) A wonderful story. Sometimes God grants the desires of our hearts in ways we don’t expect. After all, he gives us the desires in the first place if we are his!
“Very Hungry Caterpillar” (Eric Carle) Adorable counting book.
“What Do You Do, Dear?” and “What Do You Say, Dear?” (Sesyle Joslin) Hilarious and improbable examples that teach manners!
“Where’s Wallace?” (Hilary Knight) A predecessor to the well-known Waldo books, this is a lovely story about an orangutan who wanted to see the world. Cute illustrations.
“Why the Chicken Crossed the Road” (David Macaulay) A hilarious, creative “circular” (repeating) tale that makes you go “huh?” at the end!
“Wings: A Tale of Two Chickens” (James Marshall) I don’t know why, but I really like this book. The children do, too. It’s pretty silly, really, but fun to read.
“Yellow and Pink” (William Steig) A great book about the folly of thinking we are wiser than the One who made us!
“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” (Judith Viorst) We all love this book, and especially laugh at the sentiment that going to Australia is a last resort!!
“Bears on Hemlock Mountain” (Alice Dalgliesh) This is the first chapter book C read (to me) all by herself, when she was 5 years and 4 months old.
“Biggest Bear” (Lynd Ward) Wonderful illustrations. A boy gets his wish, and then his wish turns out to be quite a bit more than he bargained for!
“Brave Irene” (William Steig) A family favorite about courage! I love this book 🙂
“Clown of God” (Tomie DePaola) A favorite author. This is a beautiful sweet book that always makes me cry.
“Corduroy” series (Don Freeman) Endearing!
“Cowardly Clyde” (Bill Peet) A funny book about courage. Includes a dragon!
“Crow Boy” (Taro Yashima) Everyone has a special gift, and this is a sweet story about one little boy whose gifts were unnoticed for a long time.
“Eli” (Bill Peet) A cute story about true friendship.
“Five Chinese Brothers” (Claire H. Bishop) I remember this book from my childhood–our kids love it just as much! One of M’s favorites when he was 6!
“Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists” and “Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Composers” series (Mike Venezia) A wonderful series of books enhanced by little known childhood facts about famous artists and composers, along with entertaining cartoons depicting them in various situations in their lives. J’s favorites when he was 6 and 7, and M & C adored them (at ages 6 and 4 respectively)! They remain family favorites for all ages.
“Horton Hatches the Egg” and “Horton Hears a Who” (Doctor Seuss) Stories about a good-hearted elephant who isn’t afraid to do what is right.
“Jumanji” (Chris Van Allsburg) Incredible illustrations and a thrilling story-line for imaginations to grow on!
“Little Engine That Could” (Watty Piper) Never give up!
“Madeline” series (Ludwig Bemelmans) Our girls just love these.
“Make Way for Ducklings” (Robert McCloskey) Great parenting models 🙂
“Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel” (Virginia Lee Burton) We love her books. This is a perpetual favorite in our family.
“Millions of Cats” (Wanda Gag) A sweet book about humility.
“Mitten” (Jan Brett) A Ukrainian folktale about sharing what little we have with others. Amazing illustrations!
“Once When I Was Scared” (Helena Clare Pittman) Beautiful illustrations–a story about a boy who used his very vivid imagination to get him through a scary situation.
“Owl Moon” (Jane Yolen) Beautifully illustrated book about a child’s first experience doing something only big kids got to do in their family.
“Relatives Came” (Cynthia Rylant) An amusing look at family reunions.
“Simple Pictures are Best” (Nancy Willard) A hilarious tale showing that more isn’t necessarily better!
“Song and Dance Man” (Karen Ackerman) A grandfather reminisces with his grandchildren about his younger days.
“Story About Ping” (Marjorie Flack & Kurt Wiese) It’s always a good idea to follow instructions 🙂
“Story of Ferdinand” (Munro Leaf) A sweet story showing us that you can’t tell from the outside what someone is really like on the inside.
“Sylvester and the Magic Pebble” (William Steig) This makes you appreciate what you have, especially the people in your life!
“Tale of Peter Rabbit” (Beatrix Potter) Enduring, endearing characters.
“Toad for Tuesday” (Russell E. Erickson) A heartwarming story of how patience and loving-kindness can soften the hardest heart, and cause the most unlikely friendship to begin.
“Two Bad Ants” (Chris Van Allsburg) The adventures of two ants who didn’t follow the leader! Brilliant illustrations.
“Wreck of the Zephyr” (Chris Van Allsburg) This guy has written a lot of good books, though some are weird. He has a way of capturing your imagination.
“Buford, the Little Bighorn” (Bill Peet) We have enjoyed several of his books. This one is about someone who didn’t quite fit in, but in the end, his unusual giftings (!) saved his skin!
“Capyboppy” (Bill Peet) A pet that got *slightly* out of hand. Seems to be based on a true story!
“Land of Barely There” series (Stephen Cosgrove) (Darby Downs, Fiddler, Gossamer, Hannah & Hickory, Ira Wordworthy, Persimmony, Shadow Chaser, T.J. Flopp) The illustrations in these books are simply beautiful. I spend a lot of time just staring at the pictures, they’re so amazing. The stories are sweet, the characters memorable, and the text is rhythmic.
“Norman the Doorman” (Don Freeman) A cute story about a mouse who didn’t let his diminutive size stop his dreams coming true!
