Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Top Ten Tuesday - Ten Books I Want My Children to Read

This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic from the Broke and the Bookish is Books I Want My Children to Read.   I've always been a reader and I think that's been a valuable gift because it's something you always have with you.  When the outside world doesn't seem to be very nice, when your life isn't going quite the way you want it or when you just want a little entertainment there's always a book.  The biggest gift I think that I can pass on to my children is a love of reading and these are 10 books that I think can help do just that.

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George - I didn't discover this one until I was adult (and it wasn't published until I was an adult so it would have been hard to find when I was a child) but I absolutely loved it and can't even begin to imagine how much it would have pulled me in as a child.

Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery - I discovered this one when I got the box set of Anne books when I was 11 or 12.  I was highly dubious about this one before I started it because who was this Rilla person anyway?  I ended up loving it.  There's not many books that show what life was like on the home front during World War 1 through the eyes of a teenage girl and none with such a realistic feel.  This is my favorite Anne book to reread as an adult as well though I have been known to ugly cry through quite a bit of it.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin - This complicated and fun mystery has a little something for everyone.  Besides the mystery there's all kinds of interesting characters and it a book that's easy to become involved in.

Summer of the Woods by Stephen K. Smith - This is for the younger set - think 2nd to 4th grade - but I think they'd really enjoy it.  There is a bit of history involved but it's mostly about a group of kids solving problems and having adventures.

Matilda by Roald Dahl -  I don't think I need to explain this one!  Somehow I didn't read this one until I was an adult and the bookworm child in me is very sad I didn't read it as a child.

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder - I remember being fascinated with Laura's life in this book.  It's so foreign from everything I know that I couldn't help but be captivated.

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgens Burnett - The secret garden, the rambling empty house, making new friends and creating a world where you fit in.  What's not to love for a young (or adult) reader?

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming - This is just a straight up adventure story with gangsters and a flying car. 

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis - While I didn't love all of this series as a child I adored this book and think it's probably the most child friendly. 

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Fowler - There's a rambling museum which the children have complete access too, a mysterious boy who is hiding from danger, and a very very evil woman hiding behind a beautiful mask.  It's a modern day fairy tale with an almost Gothic feel.

What children's books captured your imagination as a young reader?  What books would you want your children to read?



19 comments:

  1. I've never read Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or the Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe, but I fell in love with them when I saw them on screen. These are some great ones to pass on to my grand daughter! Hugs...RO

    ReplyDelete
  2. So many of those were our house, that brings back memories. My son will be 29 this year (seriously, where did the years go!) but I still have a few of those old books.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've read most of these books and I agree, they're wonderful books that need to be shared so they can be adored by a new generation of readers!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love seeing The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on so many peoples lists :)
    My TTT.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The Little House books are so classic...definitely ones I'd hope my own kids read!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I liked the Narnia books (but only some of them, definitely) and Roald Dahl as a kid. The Little House books and the Tuesdays at the castle books are awesome too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nice list! I loved Roald Dahl as a kid. Matilda was my favorite.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I loved The Secret Garden! I had forgotten that I wanted to read Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy. Gteat list!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh my gosh, I can't believe I forgot about Matilda for my list! I love love love love love Matilda. Definitely one of my all time favorite books. I also love Tuesdays at the Castle.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I concur on Matilda! Really anything by Roald Dahl! Same goes for the Little House series. I still have never read The Chronicles of Narnia books. I need to put it on the list...I need to make the list...

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love your list. While I'm not a huge fan of Roald Dahl - I think a lot of his writing has an edge of cruelty, I do love Matilda and the BFG. As for The Secret Garden, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe - oh yes!

    ReplyDelete
  12. My Jellybean read The Westing Game for class. She liked it.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Matilda was on my list this week too!
    My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/14/top-ten-tuesday-133/

    ReplyDelete
  14. Gangsters and a flying car - now I have to read it when you put it like that!

    Lauren @ Always Me

    ReplyDelete
  15. I adored the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang as a kid - I can't believe I never knew it was a book first!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've saved all my Dahl's to share with my son when he is a little older - great list!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Such a great list, Katherine! I have only read Matilda and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on your list. I do want to read some of the others, and it would be great if I could do it with my daughter.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Great list! I've read some, but not all. I need to check out Tuesdays at the Castle.

    ReplyDelete