Top Books for Children
This list breaks the books into age levels, which is handy for those of you that are looking for good books for your children. This list is developed by Teachersfirst
Books for All Ages
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Where the Sidewalk Ends: the Poems and Drawing of Shel Silverstein by Shel Silverstein
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
Books for Preschoolers
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise
Brown Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin, Jr.
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Corduroy by Don Freeman
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Books for Children Ages 4-8
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss
Strega Nona by Tomie De Paola
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by John Archambault
The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
Math Curse by Jon Scieszka A
Are You My Mother? by Philip D. Eastman
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss
Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
Curious George by Hans Augusto Rey
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox
Arthur series by Marc Tolon Brown
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
The Art Lesson by Tomie De Paola
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Clifford, the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch
Books for Children Ages 9-12
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Little House on the Prarie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
The BFG by Roald Dahl
The Giver by Lois Lowry
James and the Giant Peach: A Children's Story by Roald Dahl
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Stuart Little by E. B. White
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis
Books for Young Adults
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls
The Cay by Theodore Taylor
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Harry Potter (series) by J.K. Rowling
posted by Mesmur @ 9/16/2005
9 comments
9 Comments:
A wonderful list.
I think you meant that the list was "composed" and not "comprised."
A pretty decent list. But your young adult section is rather slim. Besides--i read those books when I was much younger. For teens, I would suggest Speak, the Perks of Being a Wallflower, Sloppy Firsts, Please Dont Kill the Freshmen, Gingerbread, Brave New Girl, Number 6 Fumbles....don't get me started!
All the Oz Chronicles are good for all ages. And The secret Life Of Bees for Teens.
While I commend the lists, my personal opinion is that children should be allowed to read what they want - restricting their choices based on subject matter is a bit silly.
As long as the parent stops them reading wholly innapropriate material, I don't see a problem with letting the child advance at their own rate.
Yes, some good comments here. The point of the lists is to acknowledge and recognize good literature. There is enough out there that is mediocre. These are recognized as being excellent.
I didn't comprise the list though crissa. It was done by Teachersfirst. I could add many too the young adult section. Oddly, I haven't read any of the ones you've listed.
Ruby, thanks for commenting. Those are also good books.
Kris, I commend you for reading to your child. Thank you!
welly- I agree... Have you ever went to a library and haven't a clue what to read? Where do you look? Have you ever looked in the popular section, bestseller section, or looked at a list? I have many, many times. The lists are a source for good books. I allow my students to read whatever they like to read, pretty much.
Advancing at their own rate is good, except when their rate is at the 3rd grade level when they're in 6th grade. Then problems arise.
Thanks for the comments though.
I agree with them reading at their own pace and at their own discretion (with parents monitoring for outright pornography or violence or religious matter, whatever is important to your family). I read Gone With the Wind when I was eight - didn't really understand much, but I took it off of my mother's shelf and started reading it and I always remember that as being my first "grown up" book that contributed to my love of books - my parents never really restricted me to only the kids section at the library but did look over my books until they understood that I could make good choices. I am trying to pass this love on to my daughter and it seems to be working. I always give her books that are just a little older than she is ready for because I believe it encourages her to learn.
Thanks for the memories.
My son is now 23, but I remember that look in his eyes when he insisted I read "The Lorax" as his bedtime story.
I had to read the whole thing.
"Pigs in Hiding" was much better. No words.
Might I suggest The Wuggie Norple Story, by Daniel Pinkwater. Best book ever. Ever, I tell you!
The Giving Tree is fantastic, I'll agree!
I'll have to check that out suzi, haven't read it... thanks.
I just finished The Half-Blood Prince myself.
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