60 Titles For the Well-Rounded Children’s Bookshelf

There is a great need in our homes for a enriching, exciting children’s bookshelf. If you place a high value on a healthy imagination and inner strength of character, here’s a fabulous list of books for younger children through middle grades. 

Print this booklist before going to the library!

The main reason today that children aren’t finding enjoyment and excitement in reading is the fact that they are not being exposed to truly great books starting when they are young. We don’t live in a culture that is filled with very much excellence. While we may not be able to control the media of our generation, we must take on the responsibility of exposing our children to excellent books that will inspire, encourage, and help them flourish into adults who have a love of literature.

Mediocrity is the natural state of man. There are lots of time-wasters out there. However, as mothers, God has called us to something better – something higher. We must rise above what our culture views as normal activity and cultivate minds and hearts in our children that are full of wonder, hopeful expectation and excellence.

As parents, God has entrusted us with a very important job. We are not here only be mothers, but to be instructors and teachers of all that is good, noble and beautiful in the world.

The content our children’s minds feed upon will in many ways determine what comes out of their mouths and hearts when they are adults and wanting wisdom.

“Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage.” ~C.S. Lewis

Recommended Titles For the Children’s Bookshelf

I don’t want to leave you frustrated by talking about exposing your children to engaging, wholesome reading without sharing what books to implement it. Many are 5-star books for your children’s bookshelf. I encourage you to read the Amazon reviews for more detailed content.

Picture Books

(Source) and (Source)

Fritz and the Beautiful Horses – Jan Brett

Tuesday – David Weisner
Time of Wonder – Robert McCloskey
Song And Dance Man – Karen Ackerman

St. George and the Dragon – Margaret Hodges

The Brambly Hedge Series – Jill Barklem
When the Relatives Came – Cynthia Rylant

Bunny Bungalow – Cynthia Rylant
The Boy Who Held Back the Sea – Thomas Locker
Roxaboxen – Barbara Cooney
Only Opal – Barbara Cooney

The Young Artist – Thomas Locker

The Bear Who Heard Crying – Natalie Kinsey Warnock
All the Places to Love – Patricia MacLachlan
A Song for Lena – Hilary Horder Hippely

Make Way For the Ducklings – Robert McCloskey

When I Was Young In the Mountains – Cynthia Rylant

Miss Rumphius – Barbara Cooney

Children’s Classics For the Bookshelf

(Source) and (Source) and (Source)

Kidnapped – Robert Louis Stevenson

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood – Pyle

Around the World in 80 Days – Jules Verne

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea – Jules Verne

The Treasure Seekers – E. Nesbit

The Velveteen Rabbit – Margery Williams

The Anne Series – L.M. Montgomery

Peter Pan – J.M. Barrie
The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
The Little Princess – Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh  – A.A. Milne
The Tale of Peter Rabbit – Beatrix Potter

Little Women – Louisa May Alcott
Little Men – Louisa May Alcott

Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson
The Water Babies – Charles Kingsley
The Railway Children – E. Nesbit

Heidi – Johanna Spyri

Children’s Fiction and True Stories For the Bookshelf

(Source) and (Source) and (Source)

(Source) and (Source) and (Source)

The Little Britches (Series) – Ralph Moody
All-of-A-Kind Family – Sydney Taylor

Miss Rumphius – Barbara Cooney

Paddle-to-the-Sea – Holling C. Holling

Winnie: The True Story of the Bear Who Inspired Winnie-the-Pooh – Sally M. Walker

The Town that Fooled the British – Lisa Papp

The Scarlet Stockings Spy – Trinka Hakes Noble

Simeon’s Gift – Julie Andrews Edwards

The Reluctant Dragon – Kenneth Grahame

The Raft – Jim LaMarche
Baby Island – Carol Ryrie Brink
Johnny Tremain – Esther Forbes
The Chestry Oak – Kate Seredy

The Tale of Despereaux – Kate DiCamillo

A Home for Virginia – Patricia St. John

The Door In the Wall – Marguerite De Angeli

Carry On Mr. Bowditch – Jean Lee Latham
Ellen – E.M. Almedingen
Across Five Aprils – Irene Hunt
I, Juan de Pareja – Elizabeth Borton de Trevino
The Journeyman – Elizabeth Yates
The Trumpeter of Krakow – Eric Kelly
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase – Joan Aiken
Because of Winn Dixie – Kate DiCamillo

Fairy Tale/Fantasy For the Bookshelf

(Source) and (Source)

The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis
The Hobbit – J.R.R. Tolkien
The Princess and the Goblins – George MacDonald
The Princess and Curdie – George MacDonald
At the Back of the North Wind – George MacDonald
Tales of Hans Christian Andersen – H.C. Anderson
The Redwall Series – Brian Jacques  (so excellent for the child hard to interest)
Dangerous Journey – John Bunyan

Little Pilgrim’s Progress – Helen L. Taylor

Tales of the Resistance – David R. Mains

Tales of the Kingdom – David R. Mains

Some other booklists here at Deep Roots with completely different content.

Print this booklist before going to the library!

(FYI: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

What are your favorite wholesome and engaging books? What books are on your young children’s bookshelf?

I know many of you homeschool moms are avid readers. Please share with us!!