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Good Books for Good Readers
LAST UPDATED: 6/28/00
Note: I'm updating ! Sorry if there are any problems in the next couple of days
You know the problem. "My first grader is reading at a sixth grade level. I can’t find any appropriate books. I don’t want him reading about kids in middle school." Or "my kid has read all of the Narnia books what should we read now?" Or "my kid will only read Boxcar Children books, Animorphs, Goosebumps (pick one) is there anyway to broaden their tastes?" "I can’t find any good books for girls!" or "I can’t find any good books for boys!"
Over the last couple of years online I have spent hundreds of hours on line giving books suggestions. Here at last is my own list of favorites. Most I have read myself, a few only my son has read. Some are old and hard to find - others are hot off the presses. They are organized into various groups, but keep in mind that almost every book could probably have been put into at least two of these categories! If I have left out any of your favorites please let me know. Maybe I just forgot them, maybe I didn’t like them, or maybe I have a real treat in store!
I haven't given as much indication of ages as some people might like, when I have given age indications they are geared more towards likely interest or emotional levels rather than reading levels.
My philosophy on children’s books is that there is no such thing as children’s books. There are good books and bad books. I still read children’s books because they are worth reading.
Here are the names of some good books with still more suggestions:
Mother Daughter Book Club Shirley Dodson
This book has great ideas for how to go about setting up a book club with your middle school age daughters. It has lots of good book suggestions in the back. It is especially strong on books about people of color.
Great Books for Girls, Great Books for Boys Kathleen Odean
These books have good suggestions and cover just about every age group and category.
Finally anyone who is interested in Children’s books should call 1-800-776-2242 and ask to be sent the Chinaberry Catalogue. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Her selection is - well - select and her descriptions of the books are wonderful. I don’t buy as many books from her as she deserves, but I use it all the time for book suggestions. It is rare that she recommends a book I don’t like.
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Books with gifted kids as major characters
Swallows and Amazons Arthur Ransome
The first two Swallows and Amazon books don’t portray obviously gifted kids, but Dick and Dorothea, who first make their appearance in Winter Holiday (the third book of the series) provide great role models. Dick is the absentminded scientist type, but he is respected by the other children and his ideas and intelligence are often crucial to the stories. I used to think Dorothea was a bit of a pain (she always seems to be working on a novel without getting anywhere), but she has come to grow on me. Her observations are crucial to solving some of the Coot Club mysteries and the way she looks after her brother Dick is admirable without being overdone.
Below the Root, And All Between, Until the Celebration Zilpha Keatley Snyder
It reads like fantasy though it turns out to have a science fiction explanation in the end. This is a story that my son read several times in 2nd grade. It is about having special gifts and about the importance of sharing.
A question of Harmony, White in the Moon Gretchen Sprague
I have always been drawn to books about gifted musicians, though my talents were always visual not musical. In this pair of books we follow the fortunes of a cello player who discovers her musical vocation as she plays first with friends in a trio and then at music camp. The books were written in 1965 and 1968 and there is a civil rights story line that is tagged on that sometimes seems a trifle forced.
From the Mixed up Files, The View from Saturday EL Konigsburg
Both of these books won the Newbery medal. The first is a story about two kids who run away from home and hide out in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The second is about a group of gifted kids and their teacher who together form a team that wins the Academic Bowl for their state while discovering important truths about themselves.
The Mozart Season Virginia Euwer Wolff
Another musician book about a 12 year old who spends a summer practicing for a music competition while also coming to terms with her place in the world.
One is One Barbara Leonie Picard
This book is set in 14th century England. Stephen is a gentle contemplative boy who is treated with contempt by the rest of his family. He is sent to a monastery and is bitterly hurt as he has always dreamed of being a knight. When the opportunity arises he pursues his dream only to realize late in life (but not too late!) that his true gift lay in the illuminated manuscripts he had worked on at the monastery.
The Silver Pencil Alice Dalgeish
A fictionalized autobiography of the future writer. It combines interesting details from her Caribbean and British childhood with the story of a writer coming of age. The sequel Along Janet’s Road is also very good.
The Dark is Rising series (starts with Over Sea, Under Stone) Susan Cooper
One of the attractions of many fantasy series for gifted kids is that there is often one child who is chosen. They are a little different and apart from the rest with responsibilities to match their unique gifts. This series is based on the Merlin legends and has that deep mythic feeling and is set in the Welsh and British landscape. As the series goes on the books become more poetic and harder to follow. (For older kids – 10 and up.)
The Forgotten Door Alexander Key
This is an excitement packed adventure story with very little violence about a boy from another planet who falls into our world. His ESP abilities threaten to get him in trouble in the new world in which he finds himself.
Wise Child and Juniper Monica Furlong
The first is a fantasy about a child growing up in a Scottish village who is adopted by the local wise woman. She has to choose between the hard work provided by Juniper or the seemingly easier witchcraft of her mother. Juniper fills in the story of the wise woman of the first book.
Belle Prater’s Boy Ruth White
This is a book set in Appalachia is about compassion and understanding and about learning to live with the painful events that life sometimes delivers. A gifted boy who also suffers from crossed eyes and the notoriety of a mother who has abandoned him helps his cousin come to terms with the pain of her past. Despite the pain of the outer story the book is full of humor.
Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, Dragon Drums Anne McCaffrey
These books about Menolly a gifted harpist and composer are a wonderful read. Menolly grows up in a Sea Hold where no one appreciates her gifts. After running away and befriending dragonlizards she finds herself in Harper Hall unable to believe that her talents are unique. The only down side to recommending these books is that the other Dragon books by Anne McCaffrey may have more adult content than you would care for your child to read. Anne McCaffrey is really not a great writer, but I have to admit I read most of her books anyway.
Pennington’s Last Term, The Beethoven Medal, and Pennington’s Heir K. M. Peyton
These are definitely YA books, be aware that in the last one Ruth almost has an out-of-wedlock baby. The plight of a young musician from the wrong side of the tracks and his struggles to stay on track are well portrayed. Peyton’s books about the world of children and horses are excellent too (and are okay for the younger set). Fly-by-Night and The Team really portray Ruth’s driving need to have a horse, and are among the best horse books ever written. Peyton is excellent at portraying driven personalities. I loved the Flambard books too (set in turn of the century England and featuring horses and early flying) except for the last one where she changed her mind about the fairy tale ending she wrote for the original trilogy. (7 or 8 for early books, 11 or 12 for later ones)
The Sandy Bottom Orchestra Garrison Keillor and Jenny Lind Nillson
Like the tales of Lake Woebegone this story doesn't necessarily seem to get much of anywhere, but the trip is fun. 14-year-old Rachel is having a difficult year. Her best friend has found other interests, she knows no one at her school that share her interest in the violin, and she is embarrassed by her smart Mom who espouses causes and writes snappy, witty letters to the local paper. A summer experience playing with a professional orchestra (conducted by her very unprofessional Dad), leads her to make a very different decision about her future than she might have at the beginning of the summer.
A Wrinkle in Time and the many sequels Madeleine L’Engle
A wonderful story about a gifted five year old, Charles Wallace, Meg who turns out to be mathematically gifted, and her red headed friend Calvin, a gifted kid in a family that isn’t like him. Together they must rescue CW’s and Meg’s father who is in the clutches of an evil civilization on another planet. The fact that it won the Newbery Award (and has remained popular ever since) after being rejected by over 30 publishers who didn’t get it probably says it all. My son's best friend says, "This is a great book! But I think parents should read it to kids." Interestingly enough my son heard it on tape first, and I also heard a piece of it read aloud in a cousin’s classroom years before I finally found the book that had mesmerized me, but I didn’t know what it was! The sequels aren’t as strong, but are fun to read. Her realistic set of novels that begin with Meet the Austins eventually merge with the Wrinkle in Time books and many of the characters appear in her adult books as well.
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of N.I.M.H. Robert O’Brien
Admittedly the genetically enhanced rats aren’t really the central characters here, but they are definitely the misunderstood gifted. Great story!
Einstein Anderson books Seymour Simon
Personally I prefer these books to Encyclopedia Brown. The answers to the mysteries turn on some bit of scientific fact. My son's best friend says, " I think he is funny kind of Encyclopedia Brown hero but take it from me Encyclopedia RULES!"
Welcome to the Ark, Plague Year and others Stephanie Tolan
Stephanie Tolan the writer also wrote the famous "Is it a Cheetah" speech. Welcome to the Ark is inspired by her work with gifted kids and includes some amazing poetry from a child she knows. It is the futuristic story of children who are institutionalized for not fitting into the world and what happens when they are befriended by one of the counselors working there. The Plague year doesn’t really have any gifted kids. It is the horrific story of what happens when an outsider is bullied by his schoolmates and how even a good kid can eventually be pushed into an evil deed.
The Bridge to Terebithia Katharine Patterson
Patterson is a wonderful writer. This book about coping with tragedy is one of her best.
Harriet the Spy Louise Fitzhugh
I loved this book when I was Harriet’s age. I still have the notebook a friend and I were inspired to write after finishing this book.
Sideways Stories from the Wayside School Louis Sachar.
My son's best friend says, "Wayside school is the hilarious kind of book only kids like." Isn’t this the truth! I couldn’t get through more than a few more than a couple of the stories.
Time Warp Trio books, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, Math Curse Scieska and Lane
Scieska and Lane put together books that really capture kid humor. The True Story is in the best tradition of fractured fairy tales. Although it is a picture book, it is really too old for the pre-school crowd who probably aren’t familiar enough with the correct version yet. Similarly Math Curse isn’t really funny until you’ve had a few years of school under your belt. My son didn’t really get it in 1st grade, but thought it was hysterical in 3rd. My son has enjoyed all the Time Warp Trio books, but they are so short it is a bit like reading cotton candy. At school bookfairs they tend to get snapped up by the "sophisticated" 5th graders.
The Phantom Tollbooth Norton Juster
It is too bad that no one reads Pilgrim’s Progress anymore and doesn’t appreciated the humor of rewriting that tale. Nevertheless you child will probably love the very punny adventures.
Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Roald Dahl
Children tend to go more for Dahl than their parents, but he tells a good tale even if they sometimes seem unnecessarily violent. And all those awful parents! We aren’t really like that are we? Lots to read. You can even read his adult stories if you have fond memories of Dahl from your childhood.
Bunnicula James Howe
This book about a rabbit that sucks the juices out of vegetables is pretty funny. Howe’s other books are popular too though I haven’t read them.
Black and White David Macaulay
This is one of those picture books that isn’t meant for the usual picture book age child. Each double page spread tells four stories in which black and white cows and black and white newspaper feature prominently. Gradually the stories begin to merge until they are one story and then they separate again. Clever.
Long Books and Long Books with Sequels for Kids who read too fast
Swallows and Amazons and its many sequels Arthur Ransome
These are my absolute favorite books to recommend especially to good readers who are going through books too fast for their parents to keep up with them. They come into print periodically only to disappear again – grab them if they are available! They are the stories of the summer holidays of the Swallows who pretend to be explorers and the Amazons who prefer piracy. Eventually they become friends and share adventures, exploration, sailing, and bird watching through many books. Good solid books about nice kids doing all sorts of enterprising things in 1930s England. At 300+ pages each these will last a while. (6 and up – the youngest character is 7 and the older kids are probably 12 or 13 in the first book.)
The Prydain Chronicles (starts with The Book of Three) Lloyd Alexander
These books start off funny and fast-paced like much of Alexander’s work. As the series draws to its close the books become darker and more serious. By far my favorite is Taran Wanderer where Taran, the assistant Pig-Keeper, goes out into the world trying to figure out what profession is right for him. There are five books in the series in all. (6 and up)
The Railway Children, Five Children and It and many more E. Nesbit
I am a fan of all of her books, but good ones to start with are The Railway Children (if you like realistic fiction) or The Enchanted Castle or Five Children and It (if your tastes run to fantasy.) Her children squabble, get into scrapes, and tend to have absent fathers and busy mothers. My favorites as a child were The House of Arden and Harding’s Luck, which are two separate stories with overlapping characters. You see the same scenes from two different points of view if you read both books. I thought it was way cool. Now I like the Enchanted Castle best. I love the sly grown-up jokes in her writing too. (Can be enjoyed from 5 to adult.)
A Girl of the Limberlost Gene Stratton-Porter
I don’t know how I missed reading this as a child. It is just the sort of classic I ate up. Poor girl does well collecting butterflies.
Dear Mr. Henshaw, Strider Beverly Cleary
Beverly Cleary’s books aren’t long, but if your child decides that they like Cleary there are lots and lots to read. Dear Mr. Henshaw is about a series of letters that begins when Leigh Botts is forced to write a letter to his favorite author. Strider continues his story with dog. My son also enjoyed the Mouse and the Motorcycle books. (There are at least three of them.) And many enjoy Henry Huggins, Ramona and that crowd.
Half Magic and many more Edward Eager
Eager led me to E. Nesbit. His characters were reading her books. He has similar storylines, but with American characters. Half Magic is my favorite. Four children find a charm that makes their wishes come only half true. Even after they figure out the problem they keep accidentally making wishes that backfire.
The Dark is Rising quintet (starts with Over Sea, Under Stone) Susan Cooper
This is the ultimate in Wales inspired fantasy. Is Uncle Merry Merlin or isn’t he? The story line tends to get a bit poetic in the later books. For older more sophisticated readers. (10 and up?)
The Redwall books Brian Jacques
I thought these were pretty dull when I tried them, but there is no denying that my 9-year-old and his best friend are eating them up. (And laughing as they go.) The stories revolve around a community of mice in an abbey and their enemies the rats, foxes, stoats, weasels and more. Somewhat gory. At 300 to 400+ pages they make a nice long read.
Homecoming, Dicey’s Song (and other Tillerman family novels) Cynthia Voigt
Voigt is a terrific writer who writes about contemporary kids with contemporary problems. She is prolific so you are in for a treat if you like her books. The Tillerman kids are left alone in Cape Cod and travel down the East Coast to their grandmother on the Eastern Shore in Maryland. The adjustment to their new life, the need not to be a burden, the varied problems of the kids (one - actually two - is gifted, one is musical but LD in reading) form a heartwarming series. The themes tend to be a bit mature for the younger set especially as the series goes on and the kids get older. (10 and up?) I like many of her non-Tillerman books too. Jackeroo is a terrific story about a Robin Hood type character. Building Bocks is a pleasant visit-the-past fantasy. Izzy-Willy-Nilly is a pretty good example of the genre of what we used to call dead sib books. (Izzy loses her leg and learns to cope.)
The Tripod Trilogy John Christopher
John Christopher is one of the best writers of science fiction for children. The Tripod books are very enjoyable and come to a satisfying, but realistic conclusion. (The aliens are thrown out, but it is clear that the humans are going to have to work at putting together a government.) Other books by Christopher may be more suited for older children. At six, my son was shocked by the naughtiness of the children in The Lotus Caves and it also comes to a thought-provoking end. (The boys discover an alien creature on the moon, but decide not to tell the adults for fear that they will mistreat it.) The books in the City of Gold and Lead series come to a very heartbreaking conclusion. My then 10-year-old brother cried when he read them – though he also said they were "the best books he had ever read." The Tripod Trilogy and The Lotus Caves are fine for 7 and up. I might wait a little longer for Christopher’s other books.
The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett
I have always loved this story. It’s a classic. Need I say more? Burnett’s other books are a fine read too.
Ballet Shoes, Skating Shoes (original title White Boots) and more Noel Streatfield
I love all of Noel Streatfield’s "shoe" books. They tend to be about working kids often in the theater, ballet or music. They deal with the stresses of being very good at what you do and having to work hard to maintain your position. These are old books and may be hard to find if your library doesn’t carry them. She was very prolific so there are lots of books to keep your child happy if you do find a good source for them. A particularly good one is The Painted Garden (I think the American title was Movie Shoes) about a girl who goes to Hollywood to star in The Secret Garden. As a bonus you get to see many of the characters from Ballet Shoes all grown up.
Kim Rudyard Kipling
Kipling wrote far more than the two Jungle Books and the Just So Stories. (All of which are worth reading especially if you are only familiar with the Disney versions.) Kim is the story of an Indian (or is he half-Indian?) boy who is trained to be a spy. It is exciting and lots of fun.
Watership Down Richard Addams
This is the story of a group of rabbits that realize they must leave their beloved warren when one of the rabbits has a prophetic dream about the fate of their warren. My favorite parts of the book are the stories of the rabbit myths. This book is not for the squeamish as rabbits die and sometimes rather horribly. It’s a gripping story and nice and LONG. (The animated movie was pretty good too.)
Treasure Island Robert Lewis Stevenson
When you are dealing with children who read to fast some of those nineteenth century classics are just the ticket. My 9-year-old nephew had no trouble with the old fashioned language in this book. If your child likes this they may want to go on to Kidnapped (which I am told is a little more intense) or for more sea stories they could try Robinson Crusoe (Daniel Defoe) or Swiss Family Robinson (J. R. Wyss).
The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame
I have to confess I have never liked this book! However it was the book that inspired my brother to learn to read at last. It is nice and long and a classic. I do think they are a part of cultural literacy - everyone ought to know about Toad and Mole even if they don’t like them!
Dr. Doolittle Hugh Lofting
There are lots of Dr. Doolittle books and they are nothing like the new movie or the old cartoon! I am told that Lofting’s son sanitized the texts so that in the new editions some things that would now seem racist to us have been removed.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone J. K. Rowling
Harry loses his parents as a baby and is sent to live with awful aunt and uncle and their even more awful son. He doesn't even realize that he is a wizard until his acceptance to Hoggarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrives. Then he discovers, that not only is he a wizard, but he is also famous for not having been killed by the evil wizard who killed his parents. The book is delightful, funny with moments of slapstick, Diana Wynne Jones meets Roald Dahl. It had a satisfying ending with a twist that caught me by surprise, and best of all there is plenty of room for a promising sequel.
Ella Enchanted Gail Levine
The best new fantasy I have read this year. Part of the fun is trying to guess just how Ella is going to turn into Cinderella. Cinderella has spunk, but is cursed (by the bad fairy) to obey all direct orders. She does her best to get around the curse, but it causes endless problems. It is told in a breezy, amusing style that reminded me a lot of Patricia Wrede's Dealing with Dragons.
The Ogre Downstairs, Christopher Chant series, Dogsbody, Archer’s Goon Diana Wynne Jones
Jones is one of the best contemporary fantasy writers going. She is smart and witty and highly original. The Ogre Downstairs is one of my favorites. The ogre is Dad and both sides of a recently blended family find him trying. Things really get interesting when one of the boys is given a magical chemistry set. After many squabbles and laugh out loud funny adventures the families learn to get along with each other and even with the ogre. The Christopher Chant books are a rough series (order is not crucial) about an alternate universe where magic works. Dogsbody is a book about the Dogstar, Sirius. You wouldn’t think it would work, but it does. Archer’s Goon is… Well you’ll just have to read it and see!
Dalemark Quintet Diana Wynne Jones
I like this series so much that I am listing separately from her other books. It starts with Cart and Cwidder and follows a family from prehistory to modern times in an alternate universe that has many similarities to ours but includes magic of a very mythical elemental sort. (Feels like Scotland.) She wrote the first four books ages ago and seemed to have abandoned the series, then a few years ago a final book appeared. The final book is rather a surprise in its differences, but it works.
Interstellar Pig William Sleator
Sleator can be a little too creepy for my taste, but he can spin a good yarn. In this story a boy starts playing the game Interstellar Pig with his odd neighbors and discovers the stakes are much greater than he realizes.
A Stitch in Time, The Ghost of Thomas Kempe, The House in Norham Garden Penelope Lively
Lively writes intelligent fantasy with many of the same themes that appear in her adult novels reappearing, (her interest in fossils and the passage of time and memory among others.) She is one of my favorite adult authors.
The Indian in the Cupboard and its sequels Lynne Reid Banks
This is great fantasy to read especially if you have enjoyed the movie. Banks lived in Israel on a kibbutz and her books influenced by that experience are also worth reading. (The copyright page says it has a 6th grade reading level using the Fry readability scale, but much younger kids can certainly enjoy it. Do be aware that the hero has to deal with older bullies at school.)
A String in the Harp Nancy Bond
This is a beautifully done version of the story of a child who finds himself periodically in the past. In this case a family is taking a sabbatical in Wales and trying to recover from the sudden death of their mother. The boy finds a key to an ancient harp and through a series of visions discovers what he needs to do with it. His sister worries about him and whether his visions are real, but ultimately helps him accomplish his task. (Emotionally probably for older kids 11 +.)
The Castle in the Attic Elizabeth Winthrop
Like The Indian in the Cupboard this story involves toys coming to life and shrinking humans, but with a medieval twist. The hero has outgrown his need for his nanny, but before she leaves, she gives him a castle she had as a little girl to remember her by. In his effort to keep her from abandoning him he makes a terrible mistake, but all's well in the end. I didn't like the sequel called The Battle for the Castle nearly as well.
Elidor, The Wierdstone of Brisigaman, Owl Service Alan Garner
Alan Garner is one of those talented writers who became too weird for their own good. Elidor is a fairly straightforward tale of good vs. evil and the four children who need to help good win in a magical country. The Wierdstone of Brisigaman is another nicely done story of four children and a magic object they need to safeguard. It has a sequel The Moon of Gomrath, which I found totally unsatisfactory. (The story never gets to where it should have gone.) In Owl Service things get a little stranger. The story of Rhiannon is echoed in a modern tale of a boy and a girl. I liked it very much, but I am not sure it is a children’s book. (I read it in high school.) His more recent books are even more difficult to follow.
Charlotte Sometimes Penelope Farmer
Sometimes Charlotte wakes up at boarding school and discovers that she is in the body of Clare who lived at the school 40 years earlier. The story of how she and Clare cope as they swap bodies back and forth is well written and conceived.
The Borrowers Mary Norton
What is there not to love about this tale of little people who live under the floorboards of the house? I know they live in my house! I don’t think the sequels are as good, but they do address the issue that at least some of the "borrowing" was really stealing. For younger kids or ones who want similar stories try The Littles.
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase Joan Aiken
This is the first in a series of books that take place in a slightly different 18th century England. (James II was not thrown out.) Lots of exciting adventures.
The Mennyms Sylvia Waugh
A weird little book about a family of life-size dolls who manage to survive without anyone realizing what they are. It took me a while to get into it, but in the end I was captivated by the way their life of pretends clashed with some of their real necessities (paying the rent.)
The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings J.R.R. Tolkein
Tolkein is of course the Granddaddy of fantasy and probably the main reason there is so much good fantasy to read today. The Hobbit is a fine read aloud to 5 and ups. My son read it himself in third grade. The Lord of the Rings can probably wait till 5th or 6th grade. I read it for the first time in 6th grade and at least once a year for the next 10 years or so. (I still read it from time to time though not quite as often.) The world that Tolkein creates is so complete you may find your child writing notes in elvish runes. (You should see my yearbook page!) It is a grand tale of the fight of good versus evil, but also of the passing of the age of elves into the age of Man.
The Narnia Books (start with The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) C. S. Lewis
The Narnia books were the main fantasy of my childhood. I believed in Aslan. (I am not sure how long it took me to realize that Aslan was God, and how much longer before I recognized the allegorical elements of sacrifice in atonement for sin that take place in the books.) They can be read by 6 and ups, but an older child will appreciate the symbolic nature of the story better. There were some pretty good videos made of the first few books.
Red Moon, Black Mountain Joy Chant
Like the Narnia books several children end up in a different world and learn that they have a mission to save it and perhaps their own world as well. The fantasy world is totally believable and the contrast of the adventures of the boy who ends up as a warrior on the plains versus his brother and sister who end up in the palace is nicely done.
Necklace of Fallen Stars, Colors in the Dreamweaver’s Loom, Feast of the Trickster Beth Hilgartner
I have a special fondness for the first book because the author read it to me chapter by chapter my junior year in college. It is the story of a princess who’d rather not be a princess thank-you very much, she’s happier out with the people telling stories. When her father tries to force her into an unwanted marriage she runs away, accompanied by a minstrel she meets on the way, and tells stories on the road. When her father dies and she is forced to make some decisions about her life. (For an unbiased opinion my mother says that her 5th grade class in Uganda loved the book!)
The latter two books together tell one story. Alexandra’s (Zan) father has just died. She stops her car by the roadside and finds herself in another world and becomes involved in a fight to protect her new friends from enemy invaders. Through it all the Dreamweaver struggles to make the pattern come out right. In the sequel five companions from the other world come and visit our world to try to get Alexandra to finish the task she was unable to finish in the first book. Fast paced, at times funny and a fantasy world that is altogether believable, but very different from ours. (10 and up)
Tuck Everlasting Natalie Babbit
Would you want to be immortal? In this book you meet a family that has accidentally drunk from a spring that gave them immortality. All of Babbit’s books are wonderful, but this is my favorite.
The Boggart, The Boggart and the Monster Susan Cooper
The Boggart is a Scottish sprite that lives in your house and makes mischief. What happens when the Boggart wakes up and discovers electricity and computers? The story is laugh-aloud funny. The sequel works too.
The Changes books (The Devil’s Children, Heartsease, The Weathermonger) Peter Dickinson
Merlin is inadvertently woken up and Britain forgets how to use tools. Can civilization be restored? Two children must figure out how.
The Wizard of Earthsea and its sequels Ursula LeGuin
Ursula LeGuin is one of the best writers around. I have enjoyed her books in all genres from her children’s fantasy, to her adult science fiction, to her thoughtful essays. The Wizard of Earthsea is the classic story of hubris and the efforts a young wizard needs to make to fix a dreadful mistake. (10 and up)
The Blue Sword, The Hero and the Crown Robin McKinley
McKinley is one of the greatest stylists among fantasy writers. Her writing is clear and direct, but can evoke place and mood better than anyone I know. When I first read The Blue Sword it was like nothing else I had ever read before. Here was a fantasy that wasn’t modeled on Tolkein or C. S. Lewis. Instead she seemed to be looking to India and the Raj for inspiration. (Though for me the descriptions captured the flavor on post-colonial Somalia perfectly.) This is a wonderful subtle book. The prequel is good, but in my opinion it is The Blue Sword that deserved the Newbery.
Beauty Robin McKinley
I think this is the perfect retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story. In fact it is so perfect I still can't figure out why she retold it again 20 years later as Rose Daughter which has some good moments, but is not nearly as tightly and beautifully crafted as the first book. As a friend of mine said, if she wanted to write about roses why didn’t she do it with a different story?
The Princess and the Goblin George MacDonald
This was one of my favorite childhood books. I loved Irene’s romantic grandmother up in the tower combing her silver hair and the brave miner boy Curdie stamping on goblin feet. I loved the old woodblock illustrations in pre-Raphaelite style. The sequel, The Princess and Curdie is not nearly as good and has a real dog-in-the-manger last chapter.
Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass Lewis Carroll
I was never a fan of Alice, but they are such classics I can’t imagine leaving them off the list. I am not a big fan of nonsense and plots that don’t seem to follow logical threads, but there are many wonderful nuggets in both these books as I was reminded recently when we listened to this book on tape recently (nicely read by Flo Gibson.) "I always try to believe at least five impossible things before breakfast."
A Stranger Came Ashore, The Standing Stones Mollie Hunter
Mollie Hunter writes wonderful stories set in Scotland. In the first book a boy must deal with the suspicion that the stranger of the title is a Selkie or seal who has come ashore to steal a human wife. In the second a boy and his grandfather must save the standing stones from the threat of industrial development. Mollie Hunter’s two autobiographical novels, A Sound of Chariots and Hold on to Love, are also well worth reading.
Sabriel Garth Nix
Nix has invented a wonderfully convincing world. A girl tries to save her father who seems to have disappeared over the wall dividing her country from what lies beyond. (10 and up)
The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife Phillip Pullman
This book has gotten rave reviews from lovers of fantasy. It is hard to put my finger on what bothered me about it. I can only say that somehow I never really believed in the world that Pullman creates and never really cared about the characters. On the other hand, I did get the sequel out of the library, so I can’t say I hated it either. One advantage is that it good and long. (For the 10 and up crowd.)
Memory Margaret Mahy
Margaret Mahy is a wonderful writer from New Zealand who writes a wide variety of books most in the fantasy mode. (Though I very much enjoyed her realistic novel Underrunners.) Most of her books are meant for older YA kids.
The Machine Gunners Robert Westall
Robert Westall has written some wonderful fantasy. This is one of his best though it has been a long time since I have read it because it was so wrenching. A bunch of boys find a machinegun and find themselves reliving World War II. Other books are a little easier to take.
The Persuading Stick, The Intruder John Rowe Townsend
Townsend is a British author who, like William Sleator, is master of the slightly creepy what-if story on the fuzzy line between fantasy and science fiction. The persuading stick allows the girl who finds it to persuade others to do what she wishes, but it also seems to have a power over her. Ultimately she has to decide whether change is better if it comes from within or from outside sources. The intruder looks exactly like the boy’s father, only the boy seems to see the difference… (10 and up)
The Diamond in the Window, The Swing in the Summer House, The Amazing Stereoscope, The Fledgling Jane Langton
These books, all about the same family, are humorous and make good use of their Concord locale. I was thrilled when I visited Concord and discovered that the house is really there. My favorite was the first, but it was The Fledgling that won the Newbery! If you haven’t read Langton’s adult mysteries you are in for a treat.
The Court of the Stone Children Eleanor Cameron
Stone statues come to life. I really liked it, but it has been a long time since I read it!
The Rescuers Margery Sharp
Don’t be fooled by the Disney movie - these are great books and beautifully illustrated by Garth Williams to boot. The premise is that intelligent mice rescue unfairly imprisoned victims all over the world.
Ravensgill, Earthfasts William Mayne
Mayne, a British author, writes powerful books where past and present intersect.
The Thirteen Clocks, The Wonderful O, Many Moons James Thurber
These classic stories deserve to be read by every child. Dog fans may also enjoy trying his dog stories they are laugh aloud funny.
Tom's Midnight Garden Phillipa Pearce
Every evening when the clock strikes thirteen Tom's garden is transformed into a garden in the past. Time fantasy at its best. Pearce is a talented writer whose other books are also well worth reading.
Dealing with Dragon and its sequels Patricia Wrede
The princess doesn't want to marry the prince so she runs away to be a housekeeper for the dragons. This doesn't stop the princes from trying to rescue her though! These books are very funny and they provide good role models of strong girls. (age 8 and up)
My Father's Dragon, Elmer and the Dragon, The Dragons of Blueland Ruth Stiles Gannett
There aren't very many easy to read fantasy books. These are a good choice if you are looking for short books for a child who is beginning to read chapter books. There is plenty of action and pictures almost every other page. They tell the story of the advntures of Elmer who befriends a baby dragon. These books have been recently bundled together and retitled Three Tales of my Father's Dragon.
Charlotte's Web, Trumpet of the Swan, Stuart Little E. B. White
The story of Charlotte the spider and her friendship with Wilbur the pig is a deserved classic. This is my favorite E. B. White, but I have heard at least one vote for Trumpet of the Swan. Frankly I think Stuart Little the story of the mouse that was born to a human family is just a little too strange and as a child I really hated the ending which has him abandoning his human family to look for his friend the bird.
Shades of Grey Carolyn Reeder
We listened to this book on tape. While the story of a boy who has been orphaned by the Civil War and is sent to live with his mother's sister and her husband who refused to fight in the war follows holds no great surprises (at least for the adults listening to the taped version of the story), it is sensitively told, with lessons presented gently. As Will has to deal with local bullies and his conflicted feelings about his Uncle he learns some lessons about the true importance of honor and courage.
Highland Rebel Sally Watson
Watson’s books are fast-paced. In this book a hotheaded redhead leaves Scotland when her intemperance makes trouble with the British. She ends up with American cousins in the days just before the revolution will begin.
One is One (see description under books with gifted characters.)
The Perilous Guard Elizabeth Marie Pope
A girl, in the time of Bloody Mary, is imprisoned in a remote castle and encounters the last practitioners of druidic magic. Based on the Tam Lin story.
The Cay (see survival stories)
Eagle of the Ninth and many more Rosemary Sutcliffe
All of Rosemary Sutcliffe’s books are excellent. Most take place during the Roman occupation of Britain. (8 and up)
The Writing on the Hearth Cynthia Harnett
The story of a schoolboy in one of the first free public schools in England who gets caught up in 15th century politics of the years just before the War of the Roses.
Murder for her Majesty Beth Hilgartner
A girl overhears a murder plot on Queen Elizabeth and goes into hiding in a boy’s choir. Good fun and nice talk about music. (6 and up)
Sarah, Plain and Tall Sarah Maclachlan
This is a beautifully written novella about a mail-order bride, the prairie and the family that coalesces around her. The movie with Glenn Close and Christopher Walkin was nicely done as well. (8 and up)
A Bone from a Dry Sea Peter Dickinson
Hard to claim this as historical fiction, but where else to put it? It is the story of a young girl on an archeological dig and, alternating with it, the story of another young girl who lived in pre-historical times. The story is based on the (not very widely credited) theory that some human physiology might be explained by supposing we live in close contact with the sea for a time. (ages 10 and up)
The Midwife’s Apprentice, Catherine Called Birdy Karen Cushman
Catherine is a little too flip to be believably medieval, but she is so charming she takes me in anyway. The Midwife’s Apprentice is a lovely book about a girl who discovers her true calling when it is almost too late. (8 and up)
The Ramsay Scallop Frances Temple
In the 13th century a young man and woman who are facing an arranged marriage. Neither is feeling especially enthusiastic about the prospect. Then the village priest decides that the two of them should go on a crusade to France to atone for the village's sins. In the course of the journey the two get to know each other better and the idea of marriage seems much less distasteful. (10 and up)
The Little House Books Laura Ingalls Wilder
As an adult rereading these books, I have been impressed with what a balanced picture Laura gives of the whole question of manifest destiny and our treatment of Native Americans. And who can resist a book that tells you how to put a door together without any nails? The earlier books when Laura is still young are probably of more interest to small fry than the later books, which take her up through the first years of her marriage. (5 and up)
Caddie Woodlawn Carol Ryrie Brink
A girl in frontier Wisconsin has amusing and exciting adventures. Based on a true story. Even though it takes place at much the same time as the Little House books, it has a very different flavor. (6 and up)
Number the Stars Lois Lowrey
Jews are smuggled out of Denmark. One girl is hidden by pretending that she is the sister of another. Like any Holocaust story this has its share of dark moments. (8 and up)
The Devil’s Arithmetic Jane Yolen
This is one of the most powerful holocaust books I have read. It is about a girl in suburban New York, who finds herself fed up with the Jewish rituals of her family. Then suddenly she finds herself in Nazi Europe being swept into a concentration camp. The story is extremely intense. You may want to preview it. (8 and up)
A Flight of Angels Geoffrey Trease
Trease is an extremely prolific British author who writes many historical novels. This one is not strictly a historical novel as it is set in comtemporary Nottingham. As a class project a group of children explore some caves connected to the wine cellars of a local shop and solve a 400-year-old mystery.
The Sherwood Ring Elizabeth Marie Pope
A girl encounters a pre-Revolutionary ghost when she goes to live with her uncle after being orphaned. Although it tends to suggest that the best solution to her problems is marriage to a nice young man, this is a delightful and romantic book.
Snow Treasure Mary Swigen???
Children get gold ingots out of Norway under the noses of the Nazis.
(series about a country house - I forget the titles - sorry!) Barbara Willard
This series is about successive generations of a family living in the same house. It is hard to say exactly what it was that bothered me about these books, except that I had the feeling that the author had an axe to grind and deliberately gave many of the stories less than happy endings. Good period flavor though and I couldn't stop reading them, there were five or six books in the series.
The Saturdays and its sequels Elizabeth Enright
The Saturdays is so old now it seems like historical fiction! New York City isn’t like this any more! The Melendy children don’t have enough allowance to do anything, so they agree to pool allowances and take turns having adventures with it. My favorite book in the series is Spiderweb for Two where the two youngest children are left an elaborate game that involves solving clues that their older siblings have left behind.
Smuggler’s Island Avi
A boy rids an island community of smugglers during prohibition.
Ben and Me Lawson
A mouse’s version of Benjamin Franklin’s story.
Another Shore Nancy Bond
A girl working in a historic village (like Williamsburg) suddenly finds herself back in the year 1744 in Nova Scotia when the French inhabitants are at war with the British. Warning: this book’s ending came as a complete shock to me and may upset your child. Read it first. It is excellent though and gives a good unromanticized sense what it would REALLY have been like to live a few hundred years ago.
Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom Louisa May Alcott
Everyone has read Little Women and Little Men, but these are my favorites. I like the insight they give in to the philanthropy and settlement house movement.
Cheaper by the Dozen, Belles on their Toes Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
You could put this book in lots of places. Were those kids gifted or just pushed by their Dad? How about Dad himself? Any way it has good period flavor for the early 20th century as well as being funny.
Letters from Rifka Karen Hesse
A Jewish girl and her family flee Russia’s pogroms. On the way Rifka is infected with ringworm and has to stay behind until she is cured. This is a fascinating story based on the actual adventures of a relative of the author.
Smith Leon Garfield
Garfield has written a number of good novels mostly set in 18th and 19th century England usually involving various shady underworld characters of a Dickensian sort. They are a good introduction to the period for kids who are not yet ready for Oliver Twist or David Copperfield.
The Bronze Bow Elizabeth George Speare
I love this book about a Jewish boy , living in Galillee at the time of the New Testament, who is won over by the teachings of Jesus.
Johnny Tremain Esther Forbes
This is a classic story of a boy growing up in the days of the Revolutionary War. (10 and up)
Anne of Green Gables Anne Montgomery
The classic tale of a girl who is taken in by a farm family on Prince Edward’s Island.
George Washington’s World, Abraham Lincoln’s World etc. Genevieve Foster
These books were written some 40 or 50 years ago and sometimes their age shows, (at one point GW’s slaves are referred to as darkies), but they are unique for giving a sense of world history with real stories and not the slick snippets of the Dorling Kingsley/Usborne brand of books. (The DK books have their own charms, but seem to me to be excessively designed for the TV generation.)
The Forgotten Door Alexander Key
I think my son read this book five or six times in first grade and he still has a tendency to reread it still if I don’t have another suggestion ready. It is the story of a boy who falls from another world into our world through a forgotten door. He is in danger of being found out before his family can rescue him because of his special abilities.
Eva Peter Dickinson
This is the story of Eva who is so badly damaged in a car accident that her family opts to try the experiment of having her brain placed in a chimpanzee body. She struggles to maintain both her humanness and accept her new chimpanzee nature. It is a fascinating book that works on many levels. Despite some gorilla sex scenes I let my 8-year-old read it, but you should probably preview it yourself.
Norby the Robot books Isaac Asimov
The Norby books are fun fast paced books about a robot and a boy and all of the mishaps they get into. Many (all?) of the books involve time-travel. Middle school age children may be ready for some of Asimov’s adult books like the Robot stories and The Foundation Trilogy.
Space Cadet, The Red Planet and others Robert A. Heinlein
I haven't read any Heinlein but Stranger in a Strange Land (which I didn't like much), but I am told that he wrote quite a few good books for kids. You might like to start with these. My son (almost 10) found Space Cadet exciting. The following comments by an online friend. The Red Planet -"I wanted to own my own Martian after reading this one!", Double Star - "Still fascinates me, but for younger kids the politics may not be very interesting - earth's president is in critical condition and his staff finds an actor to take his place - fabulous!" Rolling Stones - "This is a fun book", Starman Jones - "After this one I wished for a photographic memory."
Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed, Four Ways to Forgiveness Ursula LeGuin
LeGuin writes terrific science fiction of ideas. Her books are probably most appropriate for teens.
The Magician’s Apprentice and sequels Tom McGowen
A series of three books set in a post-nuclear holocaust world where the remnants of technology that remain are studied by "magicians" who try to work out their purpose.
John Christopher (see long books)
The Eye the Ear and the Arm Nancy Farmer
In Zimbabwe in the future three children are kidnapped and end up in a toxic dump occupied by the homeless underclass. They manage to escape on their own while the mutants of the title remain one step behind.
The Rains of Eridan H.M. Hoover
In this book a young assistant makes an important discovery about the nature of the ecology of a planet she is helping to study.
Trillions Nicholas Fisk
On the off chance your library carries this British book. Strange crystals fall from the sky. Is it a friend or is it an enemy? No one can figure out its purpose until finally a young boy discovers their secret. This was one of my son’s favorites in 2nd grade. As he said as the time: "Kids will like this book because a few kids are smarter than the grown-ups."
Children of Morrow, Treasures of Morrow H.M. Hoover
Nuclear holocaust has left the world in shambles. A small civilized remnant remains. Two children from the damaged world teach the civilized group some lessons.
Enchantress from the Stars, The Far Side of Evil Sylvia Louise Engdahl
A young anthropologist from an advanced civilization is stuck in situations where she must protect youngling worlds from contamination.
Star Hatchling Margaret Bechard
A human child is stranded on an alien world and must make friends and find his crewmates while teaching the natives of the planet an important lesson about getting along.
Calling B for Butterfly Louise Lawrence
This is a haunting story of two children who are stranded on a lifeboat of a spaceship with much younger children that they must take care of. Then they discover that there seems to be an extra life form aboard. The sacrificial act of the alien that is the culmination of the story may be too difficult for some children to deal with.
Star Lord Louise Lawrence
A stranded alien is rescued by a family in a remote Welsh village and hide him so that the authorities can’t catch him.
The Green Futures of Tycho William Sleator
11-year-old Tycho finds a mysterious object that allows him to travel back and forth in time, allowing him to grapple with several terrible futures for himself and his family. Like many of Sleator’s books this is creepy, but gripping.
The Giver Lois Lowry
This Newbery award winning story tells of a repressed society where all memories are stored in one person designated the Giver so that the rest of society can remain happy and ignorant. One boy selected to be a Giver rebels against the system.
Danny Dunn books Jay Williams
No one could say that these are serious good-for-you science fiction. (And I do think that the attraction of science fiction is that is often a literature of ideas, provoking thought about the world we live in.) Rather they are pleasant romps made all the more amusing by the old-fashionedness of their predictions about the future.
Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus Orson Scott Card
Card doesn’t write for children though he often writes about children, especially gifted children whose talents are exploited by the adults around them. (Songmaster, Ender’s Game) This book is a wonderful what-if book as scientists discover that they are not only able to observe history through a machine that they have invented, but can also change it. One scientist tries to prevent slavery from occurring by nudging Christopher Columbus in new directions. Each time she seems to succeed the results seem to be even worse that before until finally… It would be a great book for a history buff in junior high or high school.
Survival stories seem to be especially popular. Here are some good ones:
My Side of the Mountain Jeanne Craighead George
Boy runs away from New York City and manages to survive a winter in the Catskills. The author manages to make it almost plausible that a boy could live off the land. The sequel is not nearly as good. (6 and up)
Julie of the Wolves Jeanne Craighead George
I felt this was aimed at an older crowd than My Side of the Mountain, but it is an excellent book about a young girl who runs away from a forced marriage and lives with a wolf pack. (10 and up)
The Cay Theodore Taylor
A boy’s ship is torpedoed and he is forced to survive on a tiny Caribbean island with Timothy an old black sailor. He is forced to come to terms with his racism as well as learning how to survive despite the fact that he has lost his sight in the accident. (Levar Burton of Reading Rainbow, Roots and Star Trek reads the taped version.)
Sarah Bishop Scott O’Dell
We read Sarah Bishop just after reading My Side of the Mountain and I kept getting this sense of déjà vu. Nevertheless it is a terrific story about a girl forced to survive in the wilderness when her father is killed by Tories during the Revolutionary War. She eventually finds a new home with the Quakers. Good history. Good survival story.
Hatchet Gary Paulsen
A boy is forced to survive in the Alaskan wilderness with nothing but a hatchet. Brian’s Winter is an alternate ending to Hatchet written when Paulsen’s fans asked him to write the story that would have happened if Brian hadn’t been rescued.
How to Count Like a Martian Glory St. John
This book teaches you about different counting systems that have been used historically while imagining how you might interpret an incoming signal from Mars. (It turns out Martians count in Base 4.)
Math Wizardry for Kids ed. by Margaret Kenda et al.
This book introduces you to a number of fun mathematical concepts like Pascal’s Pyramid, Nim games and the Golden Section. I think it could be meatier, but it’s not bad. And it comes packaged with a compass, ruler, triangle, protractor and other goodies.
Math for Smarty Pants Marilyn Burns
My son likes this book better than I do. It has lots of silly puzzles and stories as well as some fairly pointless (in my not so humble opinion) exercises like finding one-dollar words.
Mathematics, A Human Endeavor Algebra
Harold Jacobs
Harold Jacob's math books have been hailed by homeschoolers, pick one up and you will see why. His explanations are clear and based on concrete examples. Lively cartoons and illustrations make math seem less intimidating. MAHE presents much intriguing mathematical thought from Pascal's triangle to the geometry of billiards. Children who have read and enjoyed Marilyn Burn's books Math for Smarty Pants and The I Hate Mathematics books will find Jacobs a worthy successor.
Anno’s Math Games Anno
There are a number of math concept books by Anno. They are all good. He has a real knack for making sophisticated concepts understandable through fantastic illustrations.
Sideways Arithmetic from the Wayside School and More …. Louis Sachar
These are clever and really difficult puzzles. There are many logic puzzles of the sort that have long lists. (Mary said she would play tag if John would. John said he would do what the majority would. Peter said he only liked basketball. So what did they end up playing?) The answer to this puzzle had me in stitches. The sideways arithmetic problems go like this: ELF+ ELF = FOOL. You deduce that F must = 1 because two three digit numbers added together can’t be greater than 1xxx. If F=1 than L=2 because F+F=L. O=4 because L+L=O. And E must = 7 in order to get the answer 1442. The problems come with both hints and explanations. You can learn a lot from these books and have fun too.
Everyone’s allowed some junk reading
You read junk books and it's okay for your kids to read some too! As a kid I read all the Nancy Drew, Sue Bartons, Trixie Beldens and the British mistress of junk fiction Enid Blyton. Just remember your diet should be balanced!
Animorphs K. A. Applegate
There is no denying these books are popular with all the kids I know. Our library hides them up with the YAs, but they are popular with 3rd graders on up at our school and I don’t think there is anything particularly objectionable in them. Personally I prefer them to the Goosebumps books whose popularity seems to have faded fast.
Encyclopedia Brown Donald I. Sobol
Good solid mysteries.
American Girl series
The writing is nothing special, but the history is reasonably solid.
The Box Car Children books Gertrude Chandler Warner
The writing style seems unnecessarily wooden to me, (I won’t read them out loud), but these are basically harmless mysteries.
Herculeah Jones mysteries Betsy Byars
Byars is a better than average writer and writes better than average mysteries. I like her spunky girl detective and her parents who are always trying (gently) to squash her.
Comic books provide a special sub-genre either of the junk or humor categories. Sometimes just the thing when your child seems to be temporarily off reading.
Asterix Rene Goscinny
The puns are what make these books. Amazingly some are better in the English translation than the original French. (The dog goes from Idee Fixe to Dogmatix.) I wince at the portrayal of women, but the good outweighs the bad – I think – it’s your call.
TinTin Herge
I loved these stories about an intrepid newspaper reporter and his tiresome sidekicks as he travels through the world having amazing adventures. My brother liked them even better. Women tend not to be portrayed badly in these books as in Asterix. They are just almost invisible. Also translated from the French.
Calvin and Hobbes Sam Watterson
Though many of the jokes seem to me to be written for adults I know a lot of kids who really enjoy reading these. I am told that the calvinandhobbes.com is a great site.
The Far Side Gary Larson
Great comics. I really enjoyed the most recent book, The Prehistory of The Far Side, where Larson explains some of the history of the cartoons and shows some of the rejects.
Mutts Patrick McDonnell
We don’t get this comic in our local paper, but my son has been enjoying the collection of cat and dog stories.
You Be Good and I’ll Be Night Eve Merriam
This is my favorite book of children’s poetry. Merriam plays with words in a wonderful way and I like the illustrations too. This is real poetry and not just light verse though she has a light and humorous touch.
Father Foxes Pennyrhymes, Catch Me and Kiss Me and Say it Again Clyde and Wendy Watson
More fine collections of poetry for kids.
The Light in the Attic, Falling Up Shel Silverstein
Silverstein’s light verse can really be very funny. Who can resist Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who would not take the garbage out? I’m probably one of the few people who doesn’t like Silverstein’s parable The Giving Tree, but his verse is fine.
Jack Prelutsky
He is a master of light verse for children
A Space Child’s Mother Goose Frederick Winsor
I have to put in a plug for my Grandfather’s book even though it is not in print at the moment. "Flappity floppity flip/ The mouse on the Moebius Strip/ the strip revolved/ The mouse dissolved / Flappity floppity flip."
From Sea to Shining Sea illustrated by Caldecott authors
This is my favorite general anthology of children’s poetry. Each illustrator gets a different genre of poetry to deal with.
Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes didn’t write specifically for children, but because his style is usually simple and direct many of his poems are especially appropriate for children. In my opinion he wrote the most beautiful Christmas poem that has been written.
Now We are Six, When we were very Young A. A. Milne
Milne can get a little cute for my taste, but he has written some classic children’s poetry. Don’t miss: The End, King John’s Christmas, Sneezles (from NWAS) and Disobedience, The King’s Breakfast (from WWWVY).
17 Kings and 42 Elephants Margaret Mahy
A wonderful romp of a poem with gorgeous silk screen illustrations. My only quibble is that baboons don’t have prehensile tails!
I don’t have too many actual titles to recommend, but here are some people whose biographies my children or I have read and enjoyed with titles sprinkled in when I know them.
Scientists/Inventors
The Librarian who Measured the Earth – a very nice picture book about Eratoshenes who made the first relatively accurate measurement of the earth
Thomas Alva Edison
Luther Burbank
Marie Curie
James Banneker
Albert Einstein
Gallileo (The picture book Starry Messenger by Peter Sis is beautiful.)
People of Color
Harriet Tubman (lots of great picture books compare version of the same story – I especially like Jerry Pinkney’s scratchboard illustrations for the picture book Minty – A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder.
James Banneker
Toussaint L’Ouverture – The Fight for Haiti’s Freedom by Walter Dean Myers and illustrated with Jacob Lawrence’s famous painting cycle.
Alan Say’s autobiography
Sports
The Luckiest Man, Lou Gehrig.
Babe Didrickson
Babe Ruth
Wilma Rudolf – try Wilma Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph became the World’s Fastest Woman by Kathleen Krull.
Historical Figures
Benjamin Franklin
Women
Jane Addams
Clara Barton
Marie Curie
Eleanor Roosevelt
Artists
Leonardo DaVinci – Diane Stanley
Any book by Mike Venezia who did a series called Getting to know the World’s Greatest Artists. Cartoonlike illustrations of the life of the artist featured alternate with good reproductions of the artist’s works. At the back is a listing of the locations of the paintings.
Medical Mysteries - Six Deadly Cases by Dian Dincin Buchman
Non-fiction tends to get short shrift on book lists and that's too bad, because in many ways weeding the good non-fiction from the bad is even harder than finding the fiction. This is an excellent, simple presentation of the work epidemiologists did to discover the causes of Lyme disease, a poisoning epidemic (caused by jeans soaked in plant spray), Love Canal, an epidemic of hepatitis (caused by poor hygiene and bad food handling practices), Legionnaire's disease and pellagra (a disease caused by the lack of niacin in the diet.) It's written on a fourth grade reading level.
The Reader’s Digest Series How _____ Work’s
These are uniformly terrific books covering math and science topics on about a fourth grade level and up. Full of great enrichment activities.
The Problem Solvers, The Unsung Heroes, The Rejects, The Fortunate Fortunes Nathan Aaseng
These books (collectively called the Inside Business Series) have short chapters covering the development of various famous machines or inventions. Among topics covered are Bingo, the Hoover vacuum cleaner, Coca-Cola, and the game Monopoly.
Catastrophes, Great Engineering Failures Fred Bortz
I haven’t read this one, but the title sound so promising I am recommending it anyway!
How Things Work, Pyramid, Cathedral David Macaulay
Macaulay is wonderful at showing the insides of things to show how they work whether it is a building, an appliance or a tool.
The New How Things Work David Macauley
The Mammoth now also explains the inner workings of compact discs, computers and web pages as well as the things that were in the original like screws, wheels and other simple and not so simple machines. Clever and informative.
Owls in the Family Farley Mowatt
Mowatt’s delightful autobiography of his growing up years. Older reader’s might want to try Never Cry Wolf or at least see the video. (My children loved it at ages 7 or 8.)
Silent Spring Rachel Carson
This book was read to me by my fifth grade teacher (who also read Winnie the Pooh). There is something to be said for reading the original of this environmental classic rather than just biographies of the author.
The Incredible Journey Sheila Burnford
The incredible story of how a cat and a dog find their old masters. (9 and up)
How to dig a hole to the other side of the Earth Faith McNulty
A great introduction to what’s inside the earth for younger kids. (4 and up)
There are so many gorgeous picture books out there, I am sure to be leaving out many of my own favorites, but here at least is the beginnings of a list.
Ten Flashing Fireflies Philomen Sturges, illustrated by Anna Vojtech
This repetitive story is perfect for beginning readers. Two children fill up a jar firefly by firefly to a verse that repeats with just enough variations to keep the reader on their toes - from its beginning "What do we see in the summer night? Ten flashing fireflies burning bright! Catch the one twinkling there. Like a star. (Turn the page) One flashing firefly in our jar," to its end "Open the jar, for it's much more fun, Watching them fly away, one by one. Fly out the window and flash good-bye. Fly away, fly away, fly, firefly. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one (Turn the page) Dash away, flash away. Now there are none." Dark mysterious pastels complement the text nicely.
Go Away Big Green Monster Ed Embersley
When my son was three this was his favorite book. The concept is clever. The book begins "Big Green Monster has two big yellow eyes," and all you see on the page is two big yellow eyes. The next page says, "a long bluish-greenish nose," and a little more of the Monster is revealed. At the middle of the book you see the entire Monster and then the text, "…YOU DON’T SCARE ME! So GO AWAY scraggly purple hair!" and page by page the Monster disappears. It is very empowering and loads of fun to read aloud.
Grandfather Twilight Barbara Berger
If I could only have one bedtime book this would be the one. Grandfather Twilight walks through the woods with a pearl that grows larger and more luminous with each step. When he reaches the ocean he tosses it and it becomes the moon. Then he goes home to sleep. The simple poetic text and luminescent pictures couldn’t be improved in any way.
Freight Train Donald Crews
This was the first book my oldest child read so I have a special fondness for it. Nice way to learn your colors and the pictures are originals.
"More, more, more," said the baby Vera Williams
Vera Williams is one of those authors that grows on you. At first I wasn’t sure I liked her somewhat bright painting style, but my babies loved this book and so will you. This book is three very short love stories each of which end with the baby asking for more from their caregivers. Her picture books for older kids are nice too. I especially like A chair for Grandma and its sequel Music, music everywhere.
The Donkey’s Dream Barbara Berger
A beautiful Christmas story. A donkey carries different symbols (a pearl, a rose, a city…) for as he carries the pregnant Mary to Bethlehem.
Where does the Brown Bear Go? Nicki Weiss
A lovely repetitive bedtime poem. It starts off "When the lights go down/ On the city street, Where does the white cat go, honey? Where does the white cat go?" Each animal heads home and the book finishes with a boys and his stuffed animal collection. The pictures pastels on black paper are lovely and simple.
I went Walking Sue Williams
"I went walking. What did you see? I saw a yellow dog coming after me." Soon the child is followed by a whole menagerie of animals. Lovely slightly looney watercolors by Julie Vivas one of my favorite children’s book illustrators.
Let's go visiting - Sue Williams, Julie Vivas
Not just colors but also the numbers one through six are featured in this sequel to I went Walking. As usual Julie Vivas's illustrations are a delight.
Emma’s Rug, Grandfather’s Journey, How my Parents Learned to Eat Alan Say
I love all his books, but especially Grandfather’s Journey and Emma’s Rug. His watercolors are stunning (I love the one of Emma’s mother at the washing machine) and the stories are thoughtful.
You Can't take a balloon into the Metropolitan Museum
Jacqueline Preiss Weitzman and Robin Preiss Glasser
A clever wordless book in which a little girl (surely a cousin of Eloise) visits the Met while her yellow balloon, which was tied up outside, visits the rest of New York. Reproductions of famous art from the museum are juxtaposed with the adventures of the balloon.
Leo the Late Bloomer Robert Krauss
A book that is sure to appeal to younger siblings everywhere especially if they happen to an extra successful brother or sister
Van Allsburg
Not all of his books work for me, but I love The Z was Zapped, Jumanji and The Polar Express. His illustrations are always gorgeous even when I don’t think the stories quite live up to them.
Tana Hoban’s What is It? Tana Hoban
Some of Tana Hoban’s books are really clever. I especially like this one where you see a small view of an object through a peephole and then turn the page to find out what it was.
Frederick, Little Blue and Little Yellow, Fish is Fish Leo Leonni
I love all of his books, but especially Frederick (maybe it should be up in the section about gifted characters? "But Frederick, you are a poet!" "I know.") and also Little Blue and Little Yellow a very clever book about mixing colors and friendship.
Mouse Paint Ellen Stoll Walsh
As an artist, I am a sucker for books about color. Mouse Paint is one of the best of the recent crop.
Jan Brett
All of her books are really cool to look at. I love the way she puts secondary stories in the borders. Favorites? The Mitten and Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
The Story of Little Babaji Helen Bannerman
Little Black Sambo has been reillustrated and retitled thereby saving what was always a wonderful story. The new illustrations are gorgeous watercolors depicting a very Indian family. The tigers are wonderfully ridiculous dressed up in little Babaji’s clothes. My 2-year-old niece could not get enough of this story.
Going to Sleep on the Farm Wendy Cheyette Lewison
There seem to be a million bedtime books, but this is one of the best. A boy asks his father how different farmyard animals sleep. The pictures alternate between views of him and his father and a set of toy animals and depictions of real animals sleeping on a farm.
Tuesday David Wiesner
Maybe I should have realized that my child was different when he was the only three-year-old in his class who understood why this book was funny. It has glorious illustrations of frogs floating through the air. Almost wordless.
Dogger, All about Alfie Shirley Hughes
Shirley Hughes is one of the best writers for kids going. She tells real stories about real kids. Dogger is about a boy who loses his beloved stuffed animals. All About Alfie collects four books: The day Alfie locked himself in the house by mistake, the day he put his shoes on the wrong feet, the day he helped a shy kid at a birthday party and the day the waterpipe burst while he was with a teenage babysitter.
Harold and the Purple Crayon Crockett Johnson
Anyone who is unfamiliar with the adventures of Harold and his Purple Crayon needs to run to the bookstore or library and get this classic book. Harold draws himself into and out of scrapes in this book and its sequels. This book would definitely be on my top ten list of favorite picture books. A very nice animation of the story is available on video.
Owl Moon Jane Yolen
A boy and his father go out in the winter woods and see an owl. It sounds simple, but it is beautifully told and illustrated.
Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner A.A. Milne
I find Milne a little too precious, but he can be wonderful when read aloud by a talented grown-up. My fifth grade teacher read these books with a different voice for each character and made them come alive. Stay away from the Disney version if you can.
Each Peach Pear Plum Janet and Allan Ahlberg
This is my personal favorite of the Ahlberg books. (The Jolly Postman is probably their most famous book.) It begins "Each peach pear plum, I spy Tom Thumb." When you look carefully you discover Tom Thumb hidden in the picture. Then you turn the page. "Tom Thumb in the cupboard, I spy Mother Hubbard." This time Tom Thumb is obvious, but Mother Hubbard is hard to find. The book continues to its amusing conclusion where all is revealed.
The Salamander Room Anne Mazer
A boy describes plans to redesign his bedroom so that it will be a perfect habitat for a salamander. In each picture the room becomes more and more like a forest. Beautiful soft illustrations by Steve Johnson.
The Year at Maple Hill Farm Alice and Martin Provenson
The Provensons have written my favorite farm animal books. Not only do they introduce you to animals in general, but also to their animals in particular. There is a wonderful before and after picture of a sheepdog feeling embarrassed about getting a haircut. I also love a wonderful sequence of various animals’ reactions to being given medicine.
San Souci / Jerry Pinkney
I don’t have a specific title to recommend, but this talented storyteller and illustrator have teamed together to present many gorgeous tales from the African American tradition.
Caps for Sale Esphyr Slobodkina
This is one of those perfect picture books where words and pictures seem to be made for each other. I have read it so many times I probably know it by heart!
The Missing Tarts B.G. Hennessy
The Queen of Hears tarts are missing and all of the Mother Goose character come out with suggestions as to where to look.
Make Way for Ducklings Robert McCloskey
This book has been a bestseller for 50 years. If you get to Boston be sure to look for the sculpture of the ducklings in the Public Garden.
McDuff Moves in, McDuff Comes Home, McDuff and the Baby Rosemary Wells
Rosemary Well’s story and Susan Jeffers’ illustrations of this adorable Westie will capture you unless you are a confirmed dog hater. If you like these - try Margery Flack’s classic books about Angus too.
Angus books Margery Flack
Classic dog stories about Angus a black Scottie who gets in trouble with ducks, gets lost, and (almost) makes friends with the cat. If you like these - try Rosemary Well’s McDuff stories.
Max books Rosemary Wells
Max and his sister Rose are the perfect sibling pair. Rose tries vainly to teach Max to speak. Rose tries to get Max to eat an egg. Max nearly always gets the better of his big sister. These were among the first board books ever written that actually told a story. They have recently been reissued with slightly more elaborate illustrations. There are also some longer books about the pair and some that are versions of the Greek myths.
Many good readers seem to go from reading nothing to reading anything, but for those of you whose young readers need easy books here are a few suggestions. (My older son read very few of this sort of book, but I may need more suggestions for my younger son.)
The Bob Books Bobbie Lynn Maslen
These are the ultimate beginner books. They are totally phonetic with almost no sight words at all. They are tiny little booklets with cute black and white drawings. They have more plots than you would think for books with so few letter choices.
The Word Bird Books Jane Beld Monclure
The word bird makes words with "at" or "og". They are cute introductions to word families.
Hop on Pop, One Fish, Two Fish Dr. Seuss
Everyone knows Dr. Seuss, but most of his books aren’t that easy to read. These are the two to start with.
Sam’s Wagon, Sam’s Ball, Sam’s Bath, Sam’s Cookie etc. Barbro Lindgren
These little books consist of about 12 double page spreads each with one or two simple sentences about a toddler named Sam. Gentle humor, good endings. Good as read alouds, but an early reader might enjoy reading these themselves.
Nate the Great mysteries Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Easy mysteries.
Little Bear Else Minerak (illustrated by Maurice Sendak)
Little bear is the classic easy to read book, easy to read, but with enough story to be worth reading and rereading.
Cam Jansen David A. Adler
Slightly less easy mysteries for when your child has graduated from Nate the Great. Cam has a photographic memory, "Click".
Henry and Mudge books Cynthia Rylant
Sweet books about a boy and his dog.
Frog and Toad books Arnold Lobel
Nice books about a nice pair of friends. Lovely soft illustrations for gently humorous stories.
The Cuckoo Sister Vivian Alcock
Kate had an older sister who was snatched from a baby carriage. When Emma appears with a letter claiming she is the long lost sister Kate discovers that finding Emma will not solve her family's problems the way she had always hoped. There is some British slang that takes getting used to, but this is an intriguing story that stays with one.
Running out of Time Margaret Peterson Haddix
Jessie lives in a pioneer village in the 1840s - or so she thinks until an epidemic starts killing children in her village. Then she learns from her mother that she is living in a historical reproduction of a village and that her life has been on candid camera. Something seems to have gone horribly wrong for the epidemic to have been allowed to occur and Jessie needs to escape to the real world and let people know what is happening. This is an exciting adventure story that poses some interesting moral questions.
The Pushcart War Jean Merrill
We do a lot of driving to visit family and listen to books on tape. At first I thought I was going to hate this book with its pseudo history beginning, but soon the whole family was captivated by the story of the war between the pushcart vendors and the big trucks on New York City streets. The little guys win, of course, but not without recognizing that the big bad guys have rights too.
Shiloh Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
A boys rescues a dog from a cruel master and then has to figure out how to pay for him. A heartwarming story.
The Pony Problem Barbara Holland
Not as many girls seem pony crazy as when I was young, but this is one of the better books of the genre. The story focuses on a girl who wins a pony in a contest, but her suburban home and single mother's income are inadequate to care for it properly. Despite pressure from her neighbors to get rid of the pony and from her friends to be more like them, the heroine manages to stay true to herself. Her smart chess playing mathematical brother is refreshingly not presented as typical nerd type, and his interest in gardening and willingness to support his sister in her grandiose projects help bring about the happy ending. My only quibble is that this book feels to me like a book that was cut too much by a well-meaning editor. Both the site and the characters fail to come to life as much as I would like. (For much of the book I was convinced it took place in England until references to studying American history convinced me otherwise.)
Maniac Magee Jerry Spinelli
In this Newbery awarding winning novel. A homeless boy provides the catalyst for changing a community.
The Great Gilly Hopkins Katherine Patterson
A foster child is determined not to stay with her new family any longer than she has stayed anywhere else, but this time things turn out a little differently…
Judy Blume
I was born a little too soon to really appreciate Judy Blume, but she deserves a place for being an author who really touched the feelings and concerns of adolescent girls. The Fudge books are especially popular at our school’s bookfairs.