Wednesday, October 6, 2010

100 Books Every Child Should Read

There are all kinds of articles out there touting which 100 books the expert/compiler feels every child should read.

This delightful list gives a nice introduction about fostering a love and enjoyment of reading and then proceeds to list 100 books with a short, fun synopsis of each book. The list is broken down into 3 parts -- early years, middle years, early teen years.

This list is compiled by teachers. I think there are some great selections on there, but some of the sections are sorely lacking (good thing they link over to additional suggestions by grade)!

There are books that move you, stay with you, haunt you, infuse you with a feeling so strong you swear the book has magical powers, and forever cause you to smile with melancholy fondness at the very thought of them.

Some of mine include:

Little Women
Little Men
The Secret Garden
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
The Nancy Drew Series
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
The Diary of Anne Frank
The Trumpet of the Swan
(my first "big" book I read by myself)
Harriet Tubman: Conductor of the Underground Railroad (my first biography)

Books I'd add to that list, but have discovered as an adult include:

Harry Potter
(all of them)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (I have literally fallen in love with it)
Jane Eyre
To Kill A Mockingbird
(the only book --besides Harry Potter and possibly Little Women --that I've ever read three times . . . I read it as a teenager, but have had a growing love affair with it with every subsequent reading)

Books that I'm excited to read and am not sure how I didn't read as a kid include:

The Phantom Tollbooth
The View From Saturday
Tuck Everlasting

I know there are more in each of those lists, but those are what come to mind for now.

So, here's my question, what books would you put on your "must have" list? What books from your childhood stand out in your mind? What books hold a glorious, nostalgic spell on you that follows you wherever you go?

13 comments:

Emily said...

A Little Princess. My sister Alice sent it to me for my 7th birthday from the BYU bookstore along with the Hobbit. I never could get through the Hobbit, but I've read A Little Princess probably 15 times. I LOVE that book, even still. I liked the movie, but the ending sort of ruined it for me--that is not how the book ends--but I loved that book. I also loved the Trumpet of the Swan and Charlotte's Web, and a Secret Garden.

Melanie said...

All things Shannon Hale: The Goose Girl & subsequent fairytales, Princess Academy. All things Harry P, of course, and we all loved the Hunger Games series... too old for Carlie, but Miranda devoured it, and it was on fire over here through Jeff's siblings. We like Rick Riordan now, too. Any book the kids will read in school, I'm going to buy and read with them so we can discuss. Sorry this is so clipped, but I have to hurry, like always. =) Love ya!

katie said...

Where The Red Fern Grows. Cry every time I read it. And hopefully some day you will all add my husbands book 'The Hunter Chronicles" to that list!

Peg said...

To Kill a Mockingbird
Freckles
Where the Red Fern Grows
Jane Eyre
Gone with the Wind
Time out For Texas
A couple of these I think are out of print but if you can find them they are so good!

Anonymous said...

A Day No Pigs Would Die
Blubber

Lindsay said...

Oh my gosh! I just finished reading Heidi and I LOVED it. I loved how she lived her life and how she was so innocent. My grandparents gave me the book when I was a little girl and I now just got around to reading it and fell in love with it.

Britta said...

I adore A.A. Milne. I've read the Winnie the Pooh set countless times, and am currently loving that I can share the poems from When We Were Very Young with Ella. Plus, you get to read both with a faint British accent. :)

Anonymous said...

Mad at myself for fogetting to list Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

kara said...

Must read list: Ender's Game. Not necessarily the whole series, but the first book is a must. Sentimental: A Separate Peace, and Ramona Quimby Age 8. I refuse to watch the movie because the trailers do not match the very real Ramona in my mind. I don't want to spoil my imagination of her. I love her too much. I know there are more, but that will have to do for now. Yes, To Kill A Mockingbird is epic in so many ways.

Boquinha said...

These are great -- thanks, everyone!

(And Katie, I hope so, too!).

Boquinha said...

Oh, how did we forget Nancy Drew??

Also, I recently found this list of books guaranteed to make you laugh. Having those books on a list like this would be helpful, too. :)

Boquinha said...

Found this, too:

List of Books Every Child / Kid Should Read

K-6
http://www.best-childrens-books.com/childrens-literature.html#K-6%20children%27s%20literature

7-8

http://www.best-childrens-books.com/childrens-literature.html#Grades%207-8%20children%27s%20literature

High School

http://www.best-childrens-books.com/childrens-literature.html#High%20school%20children%27s%20literature

Boquinha said...

And a list of the top 100 nonfiction books!

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2088856,00.html?hpt=hp_c2