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Finding the right book to read your children can be a challenge. In the digital realm, screening the content ahead of time is nigh impossible. With that in mind, we’ve
gathered together all the best kid-appropriate books, ranging from important life lessons to fantasy epics. Together, they form a library of must-read stories that children of various ages will enjoy. So what books should you be targeting to give your kids a well-rounded literary education? Let’s jump right in. Where the Wild Things Are is one of those truly rare books that can be enjoyed equally by a child and a grown-up. If you disagree, then it’s been too long since you’ve attended a wild rumpus. Max dons his wolf suit in
pursuit of some mischief and gets sent to bed without supper. Fortuitously, a forest grows in his room, allowing his wild rampage to continue unimpaired. Sendak’s color illustrations (perhaps his finest) are beautiful, and each turn of the page brings the discovery of a new wonder. Amazon’s official
editorial review gives us a thorough look at what it is that makes this book so special. Coming up on 45 years since it was first published, Where the Wild Things Are transcends generations, and continues to be a mainstay of any child’s library. Incredible artwork and a heartfelt story give kids plenty of reason to remain engaged, while encouraging them to dream in their own, unique way. Young people who have trouble finding their place in the world will connect with the ‘misfit’ characters in this provocative story. This
is no superhero tale, nor is it science fiction, although it shares elements of both. The travelers must rely on their individual and collective strengths, delving deep into their characters to find answers. Amazon’s review of A Wrinkle in Time cited above, says it best: This isn’t your run-of-the-mill sci-fi story. If you’re looking for a children’s book that teaches generosity or unselfishness, most people will point you right to
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein’s lovely story of a tree that will do anything for the boy it loves—and for good reason. This classic is always a good place to start. Nurturing a giving spirit within your kids is an important part of their emotional development, as the reviewer
Brightly tells us in their summary of The Giving Tree. This collection of four of Dr. Seuss’s most winning stories begins with that
unforgettable tale of the unfortunate Sneetches, bamboozled by one Sylvester McMonkey McBean (‘the Fix-it-up Chappie’), who teaches them that pointless prejudice can be costly Reviewer Paul Hughes highlights it well when he talks about the lesson of “pointless prejudice.” Never has Dr.
Seuss’ Sneetches narrative been more culturally relevant, teaching children about how outward appearance shouldn’t dictate the way we treat each other. This is the book that made me want to be a writer. [Harriet] was the first fictional female character I ever came across who privileged her own truth above the expectations put on her as a little girl. Bookish’s Anna Holmes talks in-depth
about how Harriet the Spy inspired her to write. Suffice it to say, it’s a solid read for any young woman looking to find her voice. Obviously, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone should make any modern 11-year-old a
very happy reader. The novel moves quickly, packs in everything from a boa constrictor that winks to a melancholy Zen-spouting centaur to an owl postal system, and ends with a scary surprise. What is there to say about the Harry Potter saga that hasn’t already been said? The
Washington Post sums it up succinctly above. Jon Scieszka’s The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (1989) turned the favorite
porkers’ story upside-down by allowing the grossly misjudged wolf to tell his side of the story. Wiesner’s latest is a post-modern fantasy for young readers that takes Scieszka’s fragmentation a step further: it not only breaks apart and deliciously reinvents the pigs’ tale, it invites readers to step beyond the boundaries of story and picture book altogether. Booklist
gives us an awesome summary of what it is that makes The True Story of the Three Little Pigs such a critical read for any child, as a book that teaches kids that every story has two sides. Crockett Johnson’s understated tribute to the imagination was first published in 1955, and has been
inspiring readers of all ages ever since. Harold’s quiet but magical journey reminds us of the marvels the mind can create, and also gives us the wondrous sense that anything is possible. Amazon’s review of Harold and the Purple Crayon gives you all the reasons you could possibly need to add it to your child’s bookshelf. 9. The Giver, by Lois LowryThe Giver | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publishers Weekly recommends The Giver for kids in the 12–14-year-old range, but it’s also a book that plays well if read to a younger audience. 10. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, by Jon ScieszkaThe Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales | Viking Press
Amazon outlines the hilarious slant behind The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, brought to us by the writer and illustrator of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. 11. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, by Laura Joffe NumeroffIf You Give a Mouse a Cookie | Harper
As Amazon points out, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie isn’t just a fun story for kids; it’s a parable that teaches them about cause and effect in a simple, easy-to-digest format. 12. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. TolkienThe Hobbit | Allen & Unwin
Amazon’s Alex Wilbur recommends The Hobbit for older audiences. That said, it’s also a great gateway for kids into the realm of fantasy novels. 13. Who Was? book seriesWho Was? book series | Penguin Random House
Youth Muse lays out the wonderful educational value of the Who Was? series, giving kids an easy way to learn about a collection of historical figures. 14. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and The Wardrobe, by C.S. LewisThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe | Disney
Reviewed in full by The Guardian, here we have a classic novel that works for children of all ages, introducing them to C.S. Lewis’ fantastic world of Narnia. 15. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald DahlCharlie and the Chocolate Factory | Scholastic
Fantasy Book Review perfectly encapsulates what it is that makes Charlie and the Chocolate Factory such a timeless classic. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickNorthwest Check out Entertainment Cheat Sheet on Facebook! What is the most famous story for kids?10 Best Children's Books of All Time. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Brown (1947) ... . The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (1969) ... . Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (1963) ... . The Cat in the Hat by Dr. ... . Charlotte's Web by E. B. White (1952) ... . Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (1955). What is the most popular children's book now?Best Sellers: Children's Books. The Stern Chase. John Flanagan.. Unstoppable Us, Volume 1: How Humans Took Over the World. Yuval Noah Harari.. Busy Betty. Reese Witherspoon.. The Last Kids on Earth and the Forbidden Fortress. ... . The Crayons Trick or Treat. ... . Thirst. ... . Hattie Harmony: Worry Detective. ... . The World Needs More Purple Schools.. What is the most famous story?Here they explain why.. The Odyssey (Homer, 8th Century BC) ... . Uncle Tom's Cabin (Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1852) ... . Frankenstein (Mary Shelley, 1818) ... . Nineteen Eighty-Four (George Orwell, 1949) ... . Things Fall Apart (Chinua Achebe, 1958) ... . One Thousand and One Nights (various authors, 8th-18th Centuries). What is the best story of all time?The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe.. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.. Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin.. The Dead by James Joyce.. The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka.. Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway.. Cathedral by Raymond Carver.. |