Many of you have asked for a reading list of great books for young and older children, the kind that contain wholesome adventure and inspire a heart to courageous living. I have been busy and did just as you requested.
What fun I had compiling it!
We are all aware that there is a battle raging in our culture for the minds and hearts of our children, but how do we as parents prepare them to live in the world? How do we teach values and build character at home on a day to day basis to equip them for a lifetime?
One of the best ways is to choose and read books that will champion and uphold what is noble, good, right and true. Most of these will be found at your library, or you can request they get it in for you, but I’ve also included Amazon links so you can see what the book looks like and read reviews, etc.
(Artwork by Steven Christopher Seward)
This image captures the essence of reading – the gentle power and immense soul-stirring delight a great book can offer.
Their attention reflects the newness of deep thought, the hearty joy in discovering new horizons, the heart and soul expanded by beauty. The dappled sunlight hints that the story is opening their minds to the mysteries of the world God gave to mankind and of their own place in it.
“Books can become powerful companions – teachers that will fan the flames of your child’s heart and mind to life! Great stories, first in the Bible and then in classic literature can tune the inner workings of the heart from which, even in adulthood, one will make decisions and form values.” ~S. Clarkson
Books Our Children Will Be Reading To Theirs One Day:
Important Note:
The age designations for this list are only approximate.
A child’s listening level will often be several grades higher than their personal reading level–it is OK to choose books from an older list if you’re planning on reading aloud to your children.
I began reading aloud to our children from chapter books (such as Mr. Popper’s Penguins) before their third birthdays. Often I would take one at a time until they were hooked on wonderful stories and snuggling on the couch!
Don’t underestimate your child’s ability to comprehend, enjoy, or listen to fairly advanced material.
Preschool Thru High School Recommended Books
Books for Preschool (read-aloud)
- The Hat, by Jan Brett (boardbook)
- Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever (our favorite pre-reader ever)
- Good Night Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown
- The Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown
- Aesop’s Fables, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
- Storytime and the Millers, by Mildred A. Martin
- The Complete Tales of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix Potter
Read-aloud/ Grade 1 (beginning reading)
- Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers – Box set by Bobby Lynn Maslen (what we used in part to teach our children to read)
- The Little Engine That Could, by Watty Piper
- The Little House, by Virginia Lee Burton
- Wisdom and the Millers: Proverbs for Children, by Mildred A. Martin – all the Miller Family series are excellent for many ages
- Maybelle the Cable Car, by Virginia Lee Burton
- Blaze and Thunderbolt, a series by C.W. Anderson
- Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, by Virginia Lee Burton
- The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats
- Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina
- Amelia Bedelia, a wonderful series by Peggy Parish
- Curious George, by H.A. Rey
- Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey
- Bread and Jam for Frances (I Can Read Book 2), by Russell Hoban
- Loving One Another, by Neta Jackson
- Frog and Toad All Year, by Arnold Lobel
- Make Way for Ducklings, by Robert McCloskey
- Story of Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf
- Lentil, by Robert McCloskey
_____________________________________________________________
Books 2 (excellent read-alouds as well a early readers)
- Autumn with the Moodys (5 book series is wonderful), by Sarah Maxwell
- Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch
- The Boxcar Children, by Gertrude Chandler Warner
- Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Florence Atwater Richard Atwater
- Sarah, Plain and Tall, by Patricia MacLachlan
- James Herriot’s Treasury For Children, by James Herriot
- The Courage of Sarah Noble, by Alice Dalgliesh
- Missionary Stories and the Millers, by Mildred A. Martin
- Little House on the Prairie boxed set, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- The Velveteen Rabbit, by Marjery Williams
- Town Mouse, Country Mouse, by Jan Brett
- Winnie the Pooh, by A. A. Milne
- Roxaboxen, by Alice McLerran
- Star Man’s Son, a series by C C Archambeault
_____________________________________________________________
Grade 3
Caddie Woodlawn, by Carol Ryrie Brink
Sarah Whitcher’s Story, by Elizabeth Yates
Thee, Hannah!, by Marguerite De Angeli
The Bears on Hemlock Mountain, by Alice Dalgliesh
Paul Bunyan and His Great Blue Ox, by Wallace Wadsworth
Dangerous Journey: The Story of Pilgrim’s Progress, by Oliver Hunkin
Pollyanna, by Eleanor H. Porter
Twig the Collie, by Craig Massey
The Borrowers, by Mary Norton
Mountain Born, by Elizabeth Yates
Stuart Little, by E.B. White
Story Times With Grandma, by M.E. Yoder
More Story Times With Grandma, by M.E. Yoder
____________________________________________________________
Grade 4
Brighty of the Grand Canyon, Marguerite Henry
Treasures of the Snow, by Patricia St. John
Scout: The Secret of the Swamp, by Piet Prins
A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Little Lord Fauntleroy, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Mary Jones and Her Bible (true story), by Mary Ropes
Shepherd of the Highlands, by Lily A. Bear
Mama’s Bank Account, by Kathryn Forbes
Twenty-One Balloons, by William Pene du Bois
The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame
Star Man’s Son, Star Man’s Son: Discovery, and Star Man’s Son: Rescue by CC Archambeault
Tell Me About Heaven, by Randy Alcorn
The Yearling, by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Grade 5
Run For Your Life, by Betty Swinford
The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Swiss Family Robinson, by Johann Wyss
My Side of the Mountain Trilogy (My Side of the Mountain / On the Far Side of the Mountain / Frightful’s Mountain), by Jean Craighead George
The Bronze Bow, Elizabeth George Speare
King Of the Wind, Marguerite Henry
Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery
Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell
Cheaper by the Dozen, by Frank B. Gilbreth, Jr.
Gentle Ben, by Walt Morey
Heidi, by Johanna Spyri
Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes
Freddy The Detective, by Walter R. Brooks
Old Yeller, by Fred Gipson
Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe
Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson
Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls
Legend of the Fairy Cross by CC Archambeault
Grade 6
The Door in the Wall, by Marguerite De Angeli
Robin Hood: Children’s Classic, by Louis Rhead
Around the World in Eighty Days, by Jules Verne
Paul Bunyan and His Great Blue Ox, by Wallace Wadsworth
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
The Chronicles of Narnia (all 7 books in one), by C.S. Lewis
The Sign of the Beaver, by Elizabeth George Speare
Encyclopedia Brown (older books of the series only), by Donald J. Sobol
Ester Ried’s Awakening, by Isabella Alden
Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers, (series of 4) by Douglas Bond
Amos Fortune, Free Man, by Elizabeth Yates
Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
The Yearling, by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Books Grade 7
Safely Home, by Randy Alcorn
I, Juan de Pareja, by Elizabeth Borton De Trevino
In His Steps, by Charles M. Sheldon
The Hawk That Dare Not Hunt by Day, by Scott O’Dell
Dr. Oma: The Healing Wisdom of Countess Juliana von Stolberg, by Ethel Herr
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, by Jean Lee Latham
The Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan
The Prince and the Pauper, by Mark Twain
I Dared to Call Him Father, (true story) by Bilquis Sheikh
The Ocean of Truth (the story of Sir Isaac Newton), by Joyce McPherson
Grade 8
David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens
Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage, by Alfred Lansing
Whatever Happened To Penny Candy, (An Uncle Eric Book- indispensable to give understanding of how to think about money from an early age), by Richard J. Maybury
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank
Hittite Warrior, by Joanne Williamson
The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom
The King’s Shadow, by Elizabeth Alder
A Piece of the Mountain (The Story of Blaise Pascal), by Joyce McPherson
Peace Child (Sharing the Gospel with Cannibals), by Don Richardson
Books Grade 9
The Chosen, by Chaim Potok
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
The Eagle of the Ninth, by Rosemary Sutcliff
The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas
Through Gates of Splendor, by Elisabeth Elliot
Evidence Not Seen -the Jungles of World War II, by Darlene Deibler Rose
Gulliver’s Travels, by Jonathan Swift
Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Books Grade 10 – through adult
A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens
Ben Hur, by Lew Wallace
The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas
Les Miserables, (Focus On the Family Radio Theatre Audio)by Victor Hugo (*the book is extremely difficult, however, worth it! Possibly the best redemption story after the Bible.)
Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens
Hinds’ Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard
The Robe, by Lloyd C. Douglas
The Lords of the Earth: An Incredible but True Story from Papua’s Jungle, by Don Richardson
Nicholas and Alexandra, by Robert K. Massie
The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis (almost better in audio)
Silas Marner, by George Eliot
1984, by George Orwell
What are your favorite wholesome and engaging books? What are your young people’s favorites? I know many of you homeschool moms are avid readers. Please share with us!!
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Leah
Thank you for this list excerpt and giveaway. I sure do miss reading some of those wonderful picture books when my children were young! Now I have two teens and one pre-teen. Where in the world did the time go?!
This may seem silly, but even though I am only almost 42, I will be looking forward to grandchildren (and hopefully lots of them) just so I can read to them and re-capture the beauty and wonder of early childhood:)
Of course there is no rush….since any future spouse must go through the gauntlet before they can even look at our children twice:P! 🙂
Nancy Libby
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Toulaine. EXCELLENT. Read it twice to the kids and cried both times.
Winn Dixie. Another great read aloud.
Jacqueline
Thank you for adding these to the list, Nancy!!! They are both excellent!!
Heather Stover
We loved the Hank the Cowdog books! So funny! Especially the audio books! Also like the Christian Heroes then and now series. All the Miller books are superb! Also, a book called across the Rose Hedge with Aunt Mary! Just wonderful! Besides the Eagle of the Ninth, that trilogy by Rosemary Sutcliffe is very good. All of her books are very good, but be aware that some of them deal with sex in a very “earthy” way as was common in that time period. Christy by Catherine Marshall has always been a great favorite of mine! If you kids like funny poetry as my son did when he was young, Jack Prelutsky is great fun as well as Silverstein. Sooo many good books for younger kids but I do find it more difficult to find good books in the teen/young adult range. Most new books in those genres are worse than garbage!
Jacqueline
Heather, love your comment! SEveral of those books mentioned are in other book lists, but some I have not heard of and will check out! Jotted them down 🙂 You are a blessing <3 J
Jessica
Oh! I am printing this list out! I was just on a search for a reading list; thank you!
Would love to win a copy of this book. I currently have it checked out from the library and it is definitely a resource you want to have on hand for anytime you need to skim look back at it.
Thanks again!
Jessica
Jessica
Forgot to mention, that I don’t have a favorite children’s book, but some of the ones we keep returning to at our house are Goodnight Moon and I’ll Love You Forever. We have several copies of these since they get worn out from so much use!
Jessica
meaganv
Jacqueline,
Thank you so much! What a wonderful resource you’ve provided for our family:)
Meagan
Angela Hall
My favorite children’s book growing up was Peter Rabbit.
Karen F.
What a wonderful list-sharing!
Amber V.
I love your heart for encouraging parents in raising up godly children of character! One of our favorite children’s books is the Little House series!
Angelene McKinney
What a wonderful list! Thank you.
Kimberly R
My favorite is Little House on the Prairie.
Jennie Taber
I didn’t grow up reading books but love them now, and I have shared this love to my kids! Thank you for sharing your list! My favorite books are Amish, I have a lot of favorites. Beth Wiseman is one of themThanks for the giveaway
Elizabeth Carey
Well, I wish that convictions were different as I was growing up. My favorite books I wouldn’t recommend. So, I am very much looking forward to sharing solid, wholesome books with our new little girl.
Virginia H.
The Boxcar Children
Swiss Family Robinson
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Secret Garden
And a whole lot of others, but this is just off the top of my head.
Penny
One of our favorite books that the Clarkson’s put back in print after it had been out of print for years is ‘Just David’. What a wonderful family read!
Jacqueline
It is excellent! We have read it several times…just right for a boy that has a lot of pain in his young life!!
JES
Love your list! We own 76% of what you mentioned…. but since we *love* books, of course we want the other 24% !! 🙂 Enjoy your vacation!
Stephanie H
I think this is such a wonderful giveaway! One of my favorite books would have to be “The Giving Tree” but one of my favorite childrens authors would have to be Tomie dePaola.
Tabitha Burress
Some of our favorites are Aesop’s Fables, Chronicles of Narnia, and The Boxcar Children. We also love to read poetry together.
Sarah Jacobs
Oh my so many.. Little House on the Prairie,Little Women, and anything that involved mystery or horses!:)
Kortney
I loved To Kill a Mocking Bird!
Maia Hinderman
Thank you for the list and a chance to win the book. Just looking over your list I have found some new gems to look for to read to my young family. So glad to find like minded parents to glean information from. Thanks again!!!
Sherri S
I love Little Women, Charlotte’s Web and almost all of the YWAM missionary biographies!
Traci Nygren
My mom read tons to us. I loved the Little House.
Tammy Kindig
Any of the pre 70’s Golden Books are some of my favorites. As well as the original Dick & Jane books. Thank you for putting together this book list…I am sure to read many to my son and have him read to me.
Rhonda
Thanks for all these wonderful suggestions!
caryn
Thanks for this list!
Sue H.
When I was young a book mobile would come to our community every three weeks or so, and I was always eager to find a book about horses. My favorite book when I was young was, if I remember correctly, called “Misty at Chincoteague” or something like that. I don’t remember ever going to a library until I was in college and after I got married I spent tons of time in the library reading as many books as I could. Our three children love to read and we made sure that they had access to quality age-suitable books.
Dale G.
Thank you so much for this list! I saw a post on another site the other day listing the best children books and I was really disappointed with some of the selections since they don’t reflect our family’s values. There are a lot of books on your list that I remember reading and can’t wait to read to my children!
dee
I definitely love books! So, one of my kid favourites is Beatrix Potter series!!!
Amanda G.
I had (have) so many favorites, The Little House Series, Amanda’s First Day of School, Nancy Drew, Babysitter’s Club etc.
Keri Tidwell
Yes, my kids love Winnie the Pooh.
Dolly Madison Designs
Mine? Oh, Beatrix Potter and A.A. Milne are my favorites. 😀
Bonnie Freeman
I like a lot of childrens books from my child hood, unfortunately my children don’t seem to have the same taste. I read them “The Monster at the end of This Book” and was so excited to share it with them and they looked at me like I was really lame afterwards. They are only 6 and 4 am I uncool already?
Katie
“One Morning in Maine” by Robert McCloskey is one of our favorites. Great list!
Dawn Gray
Thank you very much for this list…and giveaway. Our favorite for my daughter and I is The Princess and the Kiss. We are currently reading Mama’s Bank Account!
We also love the Squire and the Scroll for my sons.
Dawn
Mara (@ Super Savings)
This is a wonderful list — thank you!!! I’ve always loved The Little Engine That Could.
~ Mara
Barb S.
Nothing like the “old” good books. We have a lot of these. I feel it is so important to invest in a good family library. I was so disappointed when our city’s public library system stopped having book sales. I always tried to snatch the good stuff that they were throwing out (as they replaced it usually with trash).
Jacqueline
I agree with the library assessment…they did throw out the good old books…we bought many of them! How is Trophy doing these days? I hope you are all well; miss you my friend!
Rhoda
In our library, we are desperately trying to sell the old books!
Amy
I don’t think I could narrow my favorite down to just one! My family was big on reading outloud at night. My parents still read to us even as teenagers and they still read outloud to my children when they are there for a visit! My children range from 6 to 25 and they’d have me read outloud for hours if time permits. I usually read to them3 times a day.
Nicole
Thank you for the awesome list of books, I was just thinking I needed to add to our collection. One of my (many) favorites was the giving tree!
Renata
Our very favourite series to read is by a New Zealand author Rosie Boom ~ Where lions roar/Where Arrows fly/ Where Crickets sing. These are fantastic as read alouds & since she homeschools her family it is so applicable for our own homeschooling family. I’m glad these are hard cover because they have been read & read & read in this house.
We also love the Moody books by Sarah Maxwell, The Sugar Creek Gang, Ann of Green Gables series, Little house on the prairie, the story girl etc. etc.
I love this list & will pin it so I can come back to it!
Blessings
Renata:)
Shaye Strouse
There are so very many excellent books to read! I couldn’t imagine choosing just one as my favorite….. my mind gets flustered just trying! We have enjoyed many of the books on your list and look forward to enjoying many others! 🙂
Rosevine Cottage Girls
If it was a book I loved it. My mom would read to me at least three hours a day.
Jacqueline
What an awesome Mom you have, Rosevine Cottage Girls! Tracy is doing such an excellent job! I know, b/c I have read your writing!
Thankful for God's Grace
I have been looking for a good list of books to read to our children that were wholesome and character-building. I would greatly appreciate your advice on good history living books. I’ve been hesitant to read any because I’m not sure which are true and which are the revised versions we learned in public school. Our current favorite are the Moody books and the Boxcar Children. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity!
Jessica Fox
My favorite book(s) to read to littles is the Winnie the Pooh series. Both of my boys have cried getting caught up in Eeyore’s adventures, and laughed at Pooh’s antics…what a beautiful story.
Libby @ A Noble Calling
Sarah Plain and Tall series, Little House on the Prairie series
Sarah @ My Joy-Filled Life
We love Corduroy!
Dana Z.
All of the old really long Dr. Seuss books!
Rhoda
I suppose I’m a ‘young person’ 🙂 – my favourite picture book is The Beauty Who Would Not Spin by Adele M. Fasick, with beautiful illustrations by Leslie E. Watts.
k m
Great list of books!
Rosevine Cottage Girls
Old Yeller
Rosevine Cottage Girls
Carry on Mr. Bowditch … 🙂
Tracy
Carry on Mr. Bowditch, Rifles for Waite and Across Five Aprils.
Helene
I enjoyed looking through your list but I have to admit to not having read enough of the books! I’ll be coming back here when it is curriculum planning time at our house again.
Deidre Lake
Greetings,
I am truly grateful for this list of worthy books. We are avid readers here as my children have grown up with out cable/dish television and we cannot imagine life without books. My favorite children’s book is “The Lion in the Box” by Marguerite De Angeli.
The opportunity to win these books is most generous…thank you.
Most Sincerely,
Deidre
Jacqueline
Hi, Deidre 🙂
I LOVE anything by M. deAngeli~ I have not heard of “The Lion in the Box”, but must look it up!! Thanks! I wish I could give away all the books, but it is just for ‘Read For the Heart’ this time!
Charlotte Moore
I love the book Love You Forever. I cry when I read it. Little House on the Prairie is another wonderful series. Many more from your list I can remember the teacher’s reading to the students in kindergarten when I worked at school.
Would love to win for my great granddaughter.
BLESSINGS!!!
Cindy Corey
Love reading and I love reading to my granddaughter. Thank you for the lists and the giveaway! Hope to win this for my grandkids!!!
Carla
Thank you so much for sharing this list! I just love having all these books in one place.
I have it in my pintrest board to refer to over and over. You are such a blessing and encouragement to me! Keep up the great work teaching us younger woman.
Much Love,
Carla <
Cathy Lemay
Really need encouragement in this area….hard for me to find time to sit and read w/ the kids! I think having this book would be a great resource to help me get into the habit. Thank you for the list to get started! 🙂
Nichole
May I suggest reading to them while they fold laundry or another un-favorite chore? It can turn chore time into pleasant family time. Also, letting them work with their hands (coloring, building, crocheting, beading, making gifts, etc.) can greatly extend attention span and enjoyment. Children can read aloud for everyone’s pleasure and benefit, too. I have such great memories of evenings spent with my mother and brother, taking turns reading, with chuckles coming from my dad’s office to indicate he was listening sometimes, too!
Heather
This is such amazing information. I haven’t heard of half of the books on the list, but the ones I have heard of, make me know the list is awesome! Thank you for doing this!
Amy W.
Little House on the Prairie and Charlotte’s Web were my favorite books.
BUSY MOM IN AL
Going to the library this weekend and taking this list! Thank you!! Love the Virginia Lee Burton books!
We also enjoy Sarah Maxwell’s Moody Family series and ANYTHING by Douglas Bond!!
We use Rod and Staff curriculum and I can recommend almost all of their fiction storybooks for preschool to age 15. I have never had to censor any of their books which is amazing in itself! Good stories with wonderful moral lessons. My children reread them all the time. When we have a vacation planned they each get to pick a new book and we order them to arrive right before we leave for a quiet happy trip! 🙂
Have a wonderful day, Mrs. Jacqueline!
Jacqueline
Yes, we love R&S material!! Their readers are excellent. It was terribly hard to decide what to put on this list b/c of books like Teddy Button and some of the Bond series, etc. I had to stick to the best mainline classic books this time, but you and others are so right…there are MANY others worthy (even more so) that are in a class all their own!
It is wonderful when peace reigns…when our children’s hearts are being drawn to the Savior when they are home…there is more peace!
Blessings!
BUSY MOM IN AL
So excited to see that our library has a lot of these! It fills my children’s minds with good things and keeps them busy. Yes, peace. . . I never looked at it that way. Quiet = peace. It seems in a big family, quiet is seldom found! 🙂 Peace is a good thing for our hearts!
Thank you again for the wonderful list!
Becky B
I love Caps for Sale, and all Jan Brett’s books. I love pictures books.
Thanks,
Becky
Darla
Almost every book on your list is represented on our bookshelves! Great list! Our little ones delighted in Blueberries for Sal and Make Way for Ducklings. The older ones were intrigued with Run for your Life and The Hiding Place. Thanks for what you do!
Lynn B
My absolute favorite children’s book is Teddy’s Button. I try to give the book as a baby gift to new mothers since our family enjoys it so much.
Jacqueline
Yes, Teddy’s button is so wonderful, especially for little boys!! Also The Hidden Hand by EDEN Southward! We love those book and I need to post on the Lamplighter Books someday!
Julie
I love book lists! Thanks for this one. It helps me to have great titles like these in mind when we go to the library and I am trying to fight the battle against rainbow-fairy-princess-pink-bubble-gum kinds of books.
Jacqueline
Julie…keep fighting! If not, it will go to vampires, and the aberrant. The library shelves are filled with it!
Christel
I love this list. I have 3 preschoolers right now and they absolutely loves reading. Books are on my mind at the moment as the always get books for their birthdays and Christmas… all of which are in the upcoming months. There are some books on it that I haven’t read before and I think I might see what I can pick up from the library. My husband and I actually just started reading Les Miserables together last night (it is LONG!), but it is wonderful so far. Reading isn’t only fun for parents and children. My husband and I have been taking turns reading to each other and we love it!
Christel
Oh, and I forgot to add that MY favorite books as a child were the Frog and Toad series, followed by Little House series, American Girl series, Chronicles of Narnia, “Dear America” and “My Name is America” series’. I loved books in series… haha… As I got older Alexandre Dumas was my favorite! Also loved Cyrano de Bergerac!
Jacqueline
Christel,
That is awesome to hear that you are doing that!! A reading culture in your home~ May God bless it richly 🙂
Rachel
These are wonderful! Thank you for the list… several of them re-jogged my memory about books I had read that I have not read to our children yet! Thank you! It is not a chapter book, but we love “The Squire and the Scroll’ by Jennie Bishop , The Three Weavers (lamplighter illustrated) .
Elizabeth
The entire Little House series.
Jessica
I just love The Hiding Place. I plan to have my daughter read it this year.
Jennifer Penar
Thank-you for covering all ages! There are some books here I’d read as a child but forgotten, and am glad for the reminder. I found you on Pinterest via Proverbial Homemaker. And I’ll be adding some of these books to my children’s reading lists this year for sure!
Narita
What a wonderful give away! I love to read to children, my grandchildren and their classes at school!
L. Hall
I also have noticed that the books in the library are often full of ‘twaddle’. Our library has book sales and sells all the good literature in favor of what is popular. Another book for adults to find good literature is Honey for a Child’s Heart. As children we enjoyed Katy’s Big Snow, Mike Mullegan’s Steam Shovel and Curious George.
Amanda C.
I love all the Lamplighter books. The Lamplighter by Maria Cummins is a favorite, though.
Katie
There are so many. As pp said, The Hiding Place is my favorite, but for my little ones, we enjoy Lyle, Curious George, Berenstain Bears, “I Love You, Stinky Face”, The Beast in the Bathtub, etc,., etc., etc.
Shelia
Thank you so much for sharing your book lists! I’ve already saved you character building lists for boys & girls. Can’t wait to read some of these books to my kids 🙂
Cheryl Kass
Hard to belive I read practically all of these books. My favorites I had growing up and I still have it. It is called: Golden Tresury Of Bible Stories. It is a big red book copyrighted in 1954. It has 203 bible story from Genesis to Revelation. i loved and still love this book. I have used it when I was doing childrens classes at church. I am 51 and I still love classic books. God bless you all. Keep well and be safe.
Cheryl Kass
*Treasury* Sorry about that.
Jacqueline
Cheryl,
We had that book when we were little. I was born in 52, so I think we must have gotten it new when I was 6 or 7 🙂 Thank you!
Cd
Tum Tum and Nutmeg is a favorite series of ours.
Julie C
Thanks for this list. It helps remind me which ones to look for at the library, if we don’t already own them. So many different books come to mind as favorites. Blueberries for Sal, Frog and Toad, The Bears on Hemlock Mountain and The Matchlock Gun are just a few.
justc
I was so excited to hear you were posting this list. Such a blessing! Thank you so much for investing in my family with the gift of your time. Two of my favorites that are not on this list are “Laddie” by Porter and “The Trapp Family Singers”.
Jacqueline
Dear JustC,
Those are excellent books! It was so difficult to choose…thankfully there is a treasure-trove of excellent books to share with children!!
Blessings!
Nickole S
Thank you so very much for making these lists and sharing them with us! I love these books you recommended! My kids have enjoyed quite a few already but there were a few mentioned that I hadn’t heard of that I can’t wait to get from our public library!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Katherine
We love to read, but the Little House on the Prairie were my favorite when I was younger.
Kelli A.
The Velveteen Rabbit
Becky
My favorite was the Little House series!
Anni
The book I remember reading over and over as a child is The Red Clogs, about a Japanese girl who gets new red geta (wooden platform sandals). Years after reading it, I found myself in downtown Tokyo, looking at girls’ geta – in red. I could see every illustration in my mind.
Jacqueline
That is just the best story!! And that’s what a good book will do for you~ Beautiful!
Carissa
I always loved the Little House on the Prairie Series!
Laura Lane
I love the Little House books by Wilder, especially Little House in the Big Woods.
Laura Lane
Harvest Lane Cottage
Sandy
Wonderful lists! Thanks!
Nichole
“A” favorite children’s book? Is it possible to have only one? 🙂 I can’t choose! I love many that are on your list or mentioned by others, but I’ll throw out a series most Americans have never heard of: the three Wambu books by Piet Prins. It’s been years since I’ve read them, but my children are almost old enough to hear them.
Raechel
I would love to win this book. Our family loves to read and I am always looking for more great books for my children to read or me to them.
channon
There are so many great children’s books! I love your list 🙂
Chari Scott
I love the Encyclopedia Brown books as a kid. I also loved the Choose Your Own Adventure books. The newer ones though are not the same. The original ones were more based on helping friends out that needed help and how would you help them, solve the mystery or things like that. And the settings were traditional locations. The newer ones seem much darker and more fantasy based.
Andrea
We loved the Gooney Bird Greene series by Lois Lowry.
Melissa
The Secret Garden and The Chronicles of Narnia
morgan
My favorite children’s book is the yearling.
Deanna
Love the book Duncan and Deloris and Christina and the Cardboard Box.
Amanda
Thank you for your wonderful list! I have been trying so hard to find appropriate books for my 12 year old….this will really help. Thank you for the giveaway as well. I think my favorite book as a child was Narnia or The Little House on the Prairie series. I still have both of those for my children to read.
Thanks again
Amanda
Tamara Wilkins
This post just makes my bookworm heart sooooo happy. 🙂
Tamara Wilkins
Oh, and my favorite children’s book, at least the one I have read to my children the most, is The Big Picture Story Bible.
Amber Ravatsaas
Thank you for this wonderful giveaway! I love reading Good Night Moon to my sweet Anya Mae before bed 🙂 one of our many favorite books to read together <3
danielle
Thank you SO much for putting together such a wonderful list!
…danielle
Erin Markavage
I loved reading books when I was little –and still do! I had so many favorites, but I think my ultimate favorites were the Mandie series.
Tracy
Thanks for the list! I especially enjoy(ed) The Chronicles of Narnia!
Jilly H
Fabulous list!:))
Janice
My mom got our family a subscription to Weekly Reader books as we were miles from the nearest library. We bought a lot of the Whitman classics at our local 5 and dime. I loved mysteries as a kid and read a lot of biographies, and all of Little House books.
Kelly
We loved reading “The Cuckoo Clock” by Mrs. Molesworth It was a lovely story about a girl who learns to control her attitude while having amazing adventures.
angel
This seems like a article you would be interested in 🙂 http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=13246#.UkHB9Q05KAA.facebook
Amanda Winland
Oh, so hard to pick a favorite! I practically lived at the library as a child. 🙂 Some of my favorites from childhood were the “Five Little Peppers” series, “Misty of Chincoteague” and its sequels, and the “Mandie” series. We are using Sonlight for our homeschool curriculum now and I am excited that many of the great classics on your list are also on theirs. I’d rather own them than borrow them anyway.
Ruth Anne
I have way too many favorite children’s books 🙂 Some of my favorites are by Tomie dePaola!
Sue Laidlaw
I was so excited to read about you on face book and then see this offer and the list of books, absolutely fantastic, so encouraging to have this…we home-schooled for 6 years, those were some of the best years of my life and am now preparing for grand-children, what a joy to have this list available…THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Becky Ensinger
I’d love to win!
Stephenie Saloum
What a wonderful list of books! It would be such a blessing to have these books in our homeschool library! Thank you so much for sharing! God bless you! 🙂
Tina at Mommynificent
Wow! What a list and a wonderful resource for Christmas gifts! I will be referring to this often for sure! Thanks for sharing this at Booknificent Thursday!
Tina
~ linda
WOW! This is a wonderful and full list. I tutor the primary-aged child and having good wholesome books to recommend to parents is wonderful. I know most of these but compiling them into this type of list is what I have not done. Thank you.
~ linda
Jacqueline
Thank YOU, Linda, for teaching/tutoring and reading to these young people. I am sure they will thank you a thousand times over in the years to come 🙂 If you ever want to share half the post with a ‘continue reading’ link, I’d be so grateful.
Have a fantastic day!
~ linda
Jacqueline, I linked up the post I did on your 100+ books awhile back with several book link-up sites. I just got an email from Tara who has a site “Embark on the Journey”…homeschool and books and such. Well, your list through my site got the most looks last week and she puts the link on her site announcing that fact so you can got there and see your link under “Ice Cream” books @ http://embarkonthejourney.com/i-scream-you-scream-we-all-like-to-read-about-ice-cream/
Just want you to know. This could be rerun on a regular basis and be a popular site. Being that this is the end of summer for many, I bet it is a great resource for so many folks. Thanks for allowing me to use this. I love it and by changing from Weebly to WordPress, I placed all the posts anew onto WordPress, with yours at the top right now…until I review a new book.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
Heaven Smiling
This list is wonderful. Pinned and following you on Google +. Have a wonderful weekend!
Jacqueline
Thank you so much, Heaven smiling 🙂 Have a great day of rest!!
Adoring Family
I love your book lists! So inspired 🙂
Mr.Popper’s Penguins was a fav of mine growing up!
Jacqueline
Thanks so much! We just love wholesome books and so I love to share them 🙂 lol Loved Mr. Popper’s Penguins!!! If you love penguins, this is adorable for all ages: https://deeprootsathome.com/if-you-give-a-penguin-snow-a-guest-post-by-kristi/
Enjoy~
A Mama's Story
Good morning, dear friend! Just letting you know that your post is among this week’s featured posts and will be shared across social media today and pinned to pinterest. 🙂 Thanks for linking up at Mama Moments Mondays 🙂
Jacqueline
Thank you, sweet friend! You are amazing, and I pray for you regularly!! May the Lord strengthen and encourage you in all that you put your hand to! ((Hugs))
Tamara Wilkins
LOVE to read, LOVE this type of post. So fun! 🙂 Thanks for the post and giveaway!
Jacqueline
Thank you, Tamara 🙂 I think many of us love reading…can’t get much better!
Rachel Schichtl
I love the Chronicles of Narnia books and I think the first one the Magician’s Nephew is my favorite. There is also an author named Dave Sargent that has some outstanding books.
Jacqueline
Thank you, Rachel,
I will check Dave Sargent out!! Always looking!
Blessings, new friend!
Michelle
Thank you for this wonderful list! I believe our family has read almost all of these books! Such fond memories we have of sitting together on the couch as they were young reading to our children.
Audra Silva
I love book lists like this. Thank you for compiling it. I have a feeling we will discover some new favorites. 🙂
Kezia
late responding to this one, amazed how many of these I read growing up. Like books for older readers by Gene Stratton Porter, Old Yeller, Beautiful Joe, books about the missionaries Rosalind and Jonathan Goforth, O Jerusalem ( story of Jerusalem and the 6 day war… amazing to see God’s hand in it)
Joanne Rawson
What a great book list. I found so many of my own personal favorites on it.
Alison
This a great book list, but there are several AMAZING Christian authors missing: G.A. Henty, H. Rider Haggard, Kate Seredy, Martha Finley, Ralph Moody, Gene Stratton-Porter, James Fenimore Cooper, James Daugherty, George MacDonald (C.S. Lewis regarded him as is master!) To name a few. These authors are for the most part even better than a lot of the ones on your list. Also, I would recommend “The Happy Hollisters” series over the Boxcar Children.
Jacqueline
Awesome, Alison!! Thank you for your additional authors! Yes, I wish I could add them all!! 😀
Roberta J Smith
Thank you for sharing this list!!! I am familiar with so many of them, and many I have not yet had the pleasure of reading.
Cathy Heckendorn
WONDERFUL list!!! Thank you, thank you. I had forgotten about some of these books I read with my older children, so I am excited to have my memory jogged for the youngest. I am planning the next year’s reading list next month, so this is perfect timing. There are a few on the high school/adult list we haven’t read, yet, and we were just discussing starting a dinner book club, so now I have the books we can tackle. You are NEVER too old to read, discuss, and learn from each other’s perspective.
Leon
It looks like books by Edward Ardizzone are not known at all. I found one–Tim and Charlotte–by accident in a used book store, and really liked the story of two brothers being by themselves on the beach next to their house during stormy weather and pulling a little girl from the waves. The girl becomes a part of the family, but is eventually found by her aunt. Eventually the girl returns to Tim’s family, because she is really missing being with them. Very nice book about strong friendships children are able to develop, and many things even young children can do without help from adults.
Jacqueline
THANK YOU, Leon! I love a lead on a good book and author! I’ll check Edward Ardizzone out 🙂
Blessings!
j Mikkelsen
North to Freedom, my Father’s Dragon, the Cay, Tiki Tiki Tembo, the Country Bunny and the Golden Shoes (Easter Story), and now Miguel, Ferdinand the Bull, Rechenka’s Eggs, The Golden Impala, Alejandro’s Gift, Mother Stories, Puppy Too Small, Chronicles of Narnia, the Empty Box, …
Jacqueline
Yay!! I recognize many of these titles 🙂 Thank you so much, J. Mikkelson 😀
Maggie
What would be the cut-off year for Encyclopedia Brown books? They seem to have been published pretty consistently over the years without a huge gap at any point, so I am unsure which would be the “earlier” ones. Thanks for any help offered!
Jacqueline
That’s a great question, Maggie. I will have to dig around on Amazon to find an answer, so you may beat me to it.
OOoppps! I just remembered that wikipedia often gives publishing dates…here you go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encyclopedia_Brown
I hope that helps! 🙂
Maggie
I had looked at the Wikipedia page and the dates are so consistent that I can’t tell which would be considered the “older books of the series.” I could go through and read them all eventually when my kids are old enough to enjoy them, but if anyone has a suggestion as to which year they stopped being worth reading, I’d be grateful to save myself some time.
Jacqueline
Maggie, I am sorry, but on this one I don’t have an answer.
Adrienne
I’ve been wanting to keep the list of wholehearted books but can’t keep the page open forever nor can I seem to see anywhere to email it to myself. Please help!
Thanks. Adrienne.
Jacqueline
Hi, Adrienne 🙂 Could you Pin it to your Pinterest board? I just emailed it to you 🙂
Blessings and thank you for supporting DRAH as a free resource by purchasing through my links!
Jenifer
Is there any chance you have printable lists of your book lists? It would make stopping at half price books much easier. :). Thank you so much for putting the time in to make the lists.
Dominic Adams
What a wonderful list! Thank you!
Thought you might be interested in http://www.discoversuccess.info where all books have been previewed for good messages, dress and habits; furthermore, books can be searched by habit, child’s name, age level, type, and author. Many of the books on your list are recommended there as well.
Thanks again!
Jacqueline
THANK YOU, Dominic!! I appreciate that 😀
Sherry
Love your site! Keep up the good work! Ia there a PDF of this list so we can print it out?
I tried to print out this page and it said it will take 56 pages, so a PDF would be helpful.
Thanks,
Jacqueline
I will check if someone can help me do that! I would love to have it be easily available!
Blessings!
Emily
This is a nice list, thank you. I would very much like to see more books that are written by and/or are about children of color. They are not always the “classics” due to many decades of bias, but here’s a good starting point:
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/06/05/318539208/a-diverse-summerreading-list-for-kids
Picture books by Ezra Jack Keats are a great place to start.
Dominic Adams
Emily, If you haven’t read Emmanuel’s Dream, you’d probably love this inspiring true story about a deformed boy from Ghana and how he made a difference in the world.
Dominic Adams
Emily, found another great book, John Blair and the Great Hinckley Fire, and thought of you. John Blair, a man of color heroically and humbly saved many people in the Great Hinckley Fire. He was an inspiration to young and old alike. Happy Reading!
Jacqueline
Thank you for this, Dominic!! I can’t wait to check it out 😀
Maureen
Thanks for the great list! I would add some Shirley Hughes, such as Dogger or Alphie gets in First or Sally’s Secret.
Also, Oscar Wilde’s Selfish Giant illustrated by LisBeth Zwerger is gorgeous. The Happy Prince is wonderful, but beware of abridged versions. For the very young I like Each Peach, Pear, Plum, and Marjorie Flack’s Angus books. The best read aloud books ever are the Golden Books The Large and Growly Bear and also The Bunny Book.
It’s great fun just going through books, thanks again!
Susanne
Thank you so much for compiling this list as well as the other lists of books you done in other posts! It is so helpful to have good recommendations. When my older children were young we enjoyed many of these books but I had forgotten about some of them with my younger ones.
I also just wanted to say that I really appreciate your blog. It’s beautiful, inspiring and glorifies God and I’m always happy to see a new post in my inbox. Thank you!
Hilary
Hi Ms. Jacqueline! It has been a very long time since I have commented, but I still read all your posts and pray for you and your family regularly. You know I always love a great booklist! I’ll send my readers your way on this one and encourage them to “click through” your links as well. I’d love to catch up sometime.
Much love in Christ,
Hilary at Wholesome Reads
Jacqueline
Awww, Hilary! Oh, my how that blesses me, friend! Thank you. You are such an encouragement 😀 God bless you in whatever you put your hands to!
Herbal
We really like the Lake Shore Series by Oliver Optic. Many of the Trailblazer series are good for middle school level children. We also really like most of the Harold Bell Wright books-great read aloud and discuss as family books! The Kingdom Series and the Knight Series by Chuck Black are excellent allegorical stories in a medieval setting, for young adults. One of my favorite series for young ladies is the Corrie Belle Hollister series by Michael Phillips-much about learning to listen to God and let him lead your life.
Jacqueline
OOh! Thank you for those additions! We have several of them, Herbal!
Create With Joy
You have SO many wonderful recommendations on this list Jacqueline – makes me want to take off the month and relive my childhood!
Are you familiar with Hope For The Flowers by Trina Paulus? This remains one of my favorite inspirational books to this day!
Have a lovely weekend and thanks for your wonderful contribution to The Book Nook at Create With Joy! 🙂
Elizabeth Erlandson
Thank you for the wonderful list of books. One of my favorites not on the list is Words by Heart. Good for 6th grade up.
https://www.amazon.com/Words-Heart-Laurel-Leaf-Books-Sebestyen/dp/0440226880
Jacqueline
Elizabeth, I just read the review on Words by Heart! It sounds fantastic! THANK YOU for this recommendation! <3
Julie
For young children my son recommends The Saggy Baggy Elephant, The Poky Little Puppy, The Shy Little Kitten, and The Tawny Scrawny Lion. Stand Back Said the Elephant I’m Going to Sneeze was a childhood favorite of mine and all my children too:) And what about the Bill Peet books? Some of them are very good. As he grew older, my history loving son could not get enough of GA Henty’s books. He has a huge collection and has read many/most of them more than once. They also like Jules Verne. Since we’re on a tight budget I buy most of our books used from Thriftbooks.
Jacqueline
Oh, yes, Julie! I love all of them! Everyone you mentioned! I do have other book lists and some of them get a mention there! SO many good ones I can;t get them all on the lists!
THANK YOU for naming them!
Blessings,
~Jacqueline
Jessica V.
Thank you so much for taking time to make this list! I cannot wait to buy some of these for our two children- Lord willing we will have more children and read it to them as well! I am always on the lookout for wholesome books.
Jacqueline
Hi, Jessica! Thank you!
I loved making this list, and I have quite a few others, as well. Search for “books” or “book lists, and you will find more.”
Your children will be blessed! ~Jacque
Holly
If anyone is interested.. there is a site for busy moms/teachers looking for wholesome reading material. It is a site that consists of 60,000 proofread books. While there is a fee of $2 a month it is easily searchable by phone and more than pays for itself in time saved in the book section at thrift stores or in the library. While everyone passes books at different levels of conscientiousness, and some stamp pages if an explanation is needed or cross out words..if a book has been failed multiple times, you know you may as well leave it behind!
Stephanie
Lists like this can be dangerous. What “culture” exactly are you trying to “fight back” here? Children’s libraries should be diversified not only in content but also in perspective, race, gender roles, etc. Only giving children books that act as mirrors takes away valuable learning experiences and chances to teach and learn about others. As parents we need to consider how we are raising our children to love others, and by others I mean ALL others not just those who look, act, believe like we do. If you want to raise children as Christ would, that is the way. Censoring their learning is not.
Kathy Murphy
I tried to print the book list, but the link came back as an error. How can I get this list, please?
Jacqueline
Hi, Kathy,
Yes, go back to the post and scroll all the way down to the PRINT, PDF, EMAIL section at the very bottom of the post. Right below the Pinterest image.
If you still have trouble try it in an different browser. That may be an issue on your end. It is working for me.
I hope that helps!
Blessings,
Jacque