I want my children to become enraptured with the written word and the pictures that only an exceptional story can paint. In my opinion, creating a love for a good book is the primary catalyst for developing a love for learning.
Since Sweetie Pea was three-years-old and we embarked upon our first paperback journey together courtesy of E.B. White's classic, Charlotte's Web, our family has enjoyed numerous colorful adventures within the black and white pages of the following books...
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A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
All Alone by Claire Huchet Bishop
American Girl Felicity Series by Valerie Tripp
American Girl Addy Series by Connie Porter
American Girl Kirstin Series by Janet Shaw
Ben and Me by Robert Lawson
Betsy-Tacy Books by Maud Hart Lovelace
Bright April by Marguerite De Angeli
By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman
Centerburg Tales by Robert McCloskey
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfeld
Dolphin Adventures by Wayne Grover
Five True Dog Stories by Margaret Davidson
Follow My Leader by James Garfield
Freddy the Detective by Walter R. Brooks
Henry and the Paper Route by Beverly Cleary
Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary
Henry Reed, Inc. by Keith Robertson
Homer Price by Robert McCloskey
In Grandma’s Attic by Arleta Richardson
Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Margerite Henry
Kildee House by Rutherford G. Montgomery
Light at Tern Rock by Julia L. Sauer
Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Mary on Horseback by Rosemary Wells
Mary Poppins series by P.L. Traverse
McBroom’s Wonderful One-Acre Farm by Sid Flieschman
Mice of the Herring Bone by Tim Davis
Misty of Chincoteague by Margueritte Henry
Moccasin Trail by Eloise McGraw
Mountain Born by Elizabeth Yates
Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
Mrs. Piggle Wiggle series by Betty McDonald
My Father’s Dragon series by Ruth Stiles Gannet
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIHM by Robert C. O'Brien
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Phoebe the Spy by Judith Griffin
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson
Ribsy by Beverly Cleary
Riding the Pony Express by Clyde Robert Bulla
Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary
Sarah, Plain and Tall series by Patricia MacClaughlin
Sox by Beverly Cleary
Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla
Star of Light by Patricia St. John
Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
Stuart Little by E.B. White
The Adventures of Peter Cottontail by Thorton Burgess
The Apple and the Arrow by Mary & Conrad Buff
The Bears of Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner
The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
The Green Ember by S.D. Smith
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Grahame
The Secret Garden by Frances Burnett
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
The Sword in the Tree by Clyde Robert Bulla
The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
The Story of Ben Franklin by Eve Merriam
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
The Twenty-one Balloons by William Pene du Bois
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
The Wilderking Tilogy by Jonathan Rogers
The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill
Tolliver's Secret by Esther Wood Brady
Tornado by Betsy Byars
Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John
Twenty and Ten by Claire Huchet Bishop
Treasury for Children by James Herriot
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield
Walter the Lazy Mouse by Marjorie Flack
Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne
Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the Read Alouds we have cracked open together. It is merely a listing of some of our favorites.
If you are looking for more potential titles, the following is a list of a few great resources for quality literary lists:
- Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt-an exceptional book for parents/teachers with an extensive age-leveled book list in the back
- Sonlight Curriculum read aloud list-curriculum catalog with suggested read alouds (Occasionally, the book lists contain a secular book that would need more discretion and/or parental guidance.)
- Simply Charlotte Mason-a Charlotte Mason style online learning site with a literary database cross-referenced by subject/grade level/topic
- 1000 Good Book Lists- this is a mega list of books listed by age category from a classical education approach
- Books...Books...and more Books! Pinterest Board
In an upcoming post, I will share a few thoughts about what I look for in choosing a QUALITY read aloud vs. a "junk" book. In the meantime, what has your family been reading these days? Got any good titles to share?
For more great book suggestions, be sure to head to iHomeschool Network and check out the Massive Guide to Homeschool Reading Lists!
One of my favorites that was read to me as a second or third grader was "Sideways Stories from Wayside School." I haven't read it in a long time so I do not quite remember the appropriateness of it but I do remember it being extremely funny.
ReplyDeleteWe love the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you on "junk" books. We are entering High School this next fall, and even some of those are "junk." Since you mentioned Charlotte Mason you might liek this site: http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks for this. i have and enjoy -Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt- i'm going to share this on my fb page so i can find it later! here from the HHH
ReplyDeleteGreat, great list! I'm a book snob as well! Thanks for sharing your list--it has a few I haven't read with my children yet.
ReplyDeleteWhat a FAB list! I love books too! :) My Three 1/2 year old and I read ALLLLLL the time! twice a day SET .. and sometimes more random times throughout the day!
ReplyDeleteI guess I am a book snob too. :)
ReplyDeleteWe have several of those on our shelves, or waiting on our wishlist! Many of them were childhood favorites, and I can't wait to share them with my children.
In addition to the Simply Charlotte Mason website, I use Ambleside Online, and the Five in a Row booklists for picture books.
This list is a treasure. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteReading is so important. My third grade age daughter still loves to have read aloud time. We are able to on many adventures together when we open a book.
ReplyDeleteMy 8th grade daughter still loves to be read to.
DeleteIs it possible to get these lists updated? When I click on the links it redirects to different sites that have nothing to do with books.
ReplyDeleteThis is what I have been looking for, thank you so much!
ReplyDelete