Classic books

[ZiSunka]

What classic books do you think are "must-reads" for children?

What classic books are perfect for family reading?

[mlqurgw]

The first thing that comes to my mid is Pilgrims Progress.

[ZiSunka]

Good one for family reading!

They don't have to be just Christian books--any good classic books will do.

[Joykins]

_The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe_

[Katieboo]

The Laura Ingalls Wilder books are an absolute must.

[MrJim]

The Henry Huggins books by Beverly Cleary. My oldest if finishing up his second one.

Charlotte's Web

[Flynmonkie]

The Laura Ingalls Wilder books are an absolute must.
:thumbsup: Absolutely.

Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Bobsey Twins all the classics such as Moby Dick, Peter Pan, Little Women, Wizard of Oz, A little princess, Swiss Family Robinson, Sound of Music, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, A little princess, Daddy Long Legs, The Call of the wild, Lassie, Black Beauty, The Rescuers, The secret garden, The Summer of the Swans, White Fang, etc..

‘Course, I am a reading pusher...:)

There are these books I have that deal with character issues in each story.. "Little Visits with God" and "More little visits with God." I still cherish them.

I might have some more ideas, I will be unboxing these pretty soon finally getting more bookcases - I have quite a collection :)

[MrJim]

:thumbsup: Absolutely.

Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Bobsey Twins all the classics such as Moby Dick, Peter Pan, Little Women, Wizard of Oz, A little princess, Swiss Family Robinson, Sound of Music, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, A little princess, Daddy Long Legs, The Call of the wild, Lassie, Black Beauty, The Rescuers, The secret garden, The Summer of the Swans, White Fang, etc..

‘Course, I am a reading pusher...:)

There are these books I have that deal with character issues in each story.. "Little Visits with God" and "More little visits with God." I still cherish them.

I might have some more ideas, I will be unboxing these pretty soon finally getting more bookcases - I have quite a collection :)

Looks like a lot of girl stories in there...I had him read the the first Little House book and there's a lot of cool stuff in there but it's mostly a girlie-girl story.

[PastorJim]

The Laura Ingalls Wilder books are an absolute must.

Did you know that Laura Ingalls Wilder's daughter also became a noted author? Rose Wilder Lane became a political commentator, which was very unusual for women of her day, and Ronald Reagan once said that her writings was one of the reasons he left Communism. (It may be hard to believe now, but it's true. Ronald Reagan flirted with Communism as a young man)

[edb19]

Little Women (actually anything by LM Alcott)
(this was the first book I remember my mom reading out loud to us - rather fitting as I'm the 2nd of 4 daughters. I'm not sure that I would have ever read Pilgrim's Progress as a youth if I hadn't read Little Women first)
Treasure Island and/or Kidnapaped
The Secret Garden
Heidi
Black Beauty
The Wind in the Willows
The Black Stallion
The Jungle Book
Just So Stories (loved these)
Anne of Green Gables
James and the Giant Peach
The BFG
Old Yeller
Where the Red Fern Grows
The Incredible Journey
The Yearling
The Five Little Peppers
Hans Brinker
The Prince and the Pauper
Around the World in 80 Days
Gulliver's Travels

Madeline L'Engle has written some excellent books that my kids loved. Along the same line C.S. Lewis wrote a science fiction trilogy that my son enjoyed. He has also loved Isaac Asimov's science fiction (his favorite genre).

(as they get older)
Emma
Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights
Last of the Mohicans
The House of Seven Gables
A Tale of Two Cities (IMHO Dickens' best)

And while not specifically written for children (or maybe for children of all ages)
All Creatures Great and Small (again, the entire Herriot series is excellent - any book that can make you laugh and cry is worth the read:thumbsup:)

A great big thanks to my mom who was never went a day without reading, who spent many an evening reading out loud to my sisters and myself, who instilled a love of good writing and made sure that I knew that things didn't have to be new to be worthwhile.

[ZiSunka]

Did you know that Laura Ingalls Wilder's daughter also became a noted author? Rose Wilder Lane became a political commentator, which was very unusual for women of her day, and Ronald Reagan once said that her writings was one of the reasons he left Communism. (It may be hard to believe now, but it's true. Ronald Reagan flirted with Communism as a young man)

And then became one of Hollywood's biggest Communist hunters...

That's how he met Nancy. She was a young actress who had been accused of being a communist and she went to Ronald's office to convince him that she had no associations with communism.

[ZiSunka]

Little Women (actually anything by LM Alcott)
Treasure Island and/or Kidnapaped
The Secret Garden
Heidi
Black Beauty
Anne of Green Gables
James and the Giant Peach
The Five Little Peppers
Hans Brinker

Madeline L'Engle has written some excellent books that my kids loved. Along the same line C.S. Lewis wrote a science fiction trilogy that my son enjoyed. He has also loved Isaac Asimov's science fiction (his favorite genre).

(as they get older)
Emma
Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights

and while not specifically written for children (or maybe for children of all ages)
All Creatures Great and Small (again, the entire Herriot series is excellent)

If you could only choose 5 "must-read" books, which ones would they be? :)

[edb19]

If you could only choose 5 "must-read" books, which ones would they be? :)

Actually I edited my list and made it longer after you quoted me;). Books are one of the great loves of my life. I'm generally reading anywhere from 2 - 5 books at any given time (if you saw my side of the bed you'd think that the books were holding up the mattress and box springs)

But 5 must reads for children:
Little Women, Treasure Island, Anne of Green Gables, James and the Giant Peach and (not on my list because so many listed it) but Chronicles of Narnia (ok, its a series but I can't choose just one).

[PastorJim]

And then became one of Hollywood's biggest Communist hunters...

That's how he met Nancy. She was a young actress who had been accused of being a communist and she went to Ronald's office to convince him that she had no associations with communism.

It wasn't to convince him, but to ask him for help convincing others. She had been blacklisted because of a case of mistaken identity and asked him to help her straighten it out.

I forgot to list my books.

1. Johnny Tremain

2. The Light and the Glory...it's a history book for children. I came across it twenty years ago and loved it so much that I bought it just to save for the day that I had kids. My kids love it.

3. Book of Virtues

4. Treasure Island...we live in Maryland so everything here is pirate themed.

5. Call of the Wild

5a. White Fang

5b. The Sea Wolf

5c. Selected Klondike Short Stories...when I was a boy, someone gave me a set of these Jack London books.

[edb19]

It wasn't to convince him, but to ask him for help convincing others. She had been blacklisted because of a case of mistaken identity and asked him to help her straighten it out.

I forgot to list my books.

1. Johnny Tremain

2. The Light and the Glory...it's a history book for children. I came across it twenty years ago and loved it so much that I bought it just to save for the day that I had kids. My kids love it.

3. Book of Virtues

4. Treasure Island...we live in Maryland so everything here is pirate themed.

5. Call of the Wild

5a. White Fang

5b. The Sea Wolf

5c. Selected Klondike Short Stories...when I was a boy, someone gave me a set of these Jack London books.

I totally forgot Jack London's books - they were some of my husband's favorites when he was growing up.:thumbsup:

[ZiSunka]

It wasn't to convince him, but to ask him for help convincing others. She had been blacklisted because of a case of mistaken identity and asked him to help her straighten it out.

That's a different version of history than the one told during the Red Scare days, but that's a topic for another thread.

[Erinwilcox]

What classic books do you think are "must-reads" for children?

What classic books are perfect for family reading?

Now you've found my weakness!

I don't have too much time now, but I'll post a few--I'll start with ones that young children and adults will enjoy:


Anything by Louisa May Allcott--Little Women, Little Men, And Old-Fashioned Girl, Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom, Jack and Jill, Under the Lilacs, etc. I've read all of these over and over and over.

Mark Twain's the Prince and the Pauper--very exellent book.

Mother--which is an absolute must read--and can be found here: http://www.visionforum.com/search/productlist.aspxsearch=34898 (http://www.visionforum.com/search/productlist.aspxsearch=34898)

Elsie Dinsmore/Mildred Keith (for mothers and daughters)

Five Little Peppers, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew (I forget the autheress)

Anything by Jane Austen--Pride and Prejudice (both the six hour movie and the new one are excellent--book is better!), Sense and Sensibility (the movie with Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson is great), Persuasion, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, etc.

Ben-Hur--the book is so much better than the movie, which didn't really even stick to the story line, though the movie is great


Well, I've got to go tinkle the ivories again, maybe I'll post more later! But, these are all books that I've greatly enjoyed.

Oh, though I've not read all (I've read a lot of them), the Lamplighter Series from Vision Forum is EXCELLENT and is perfect for families. Books like A Basket of Flowers, Teddy's Button, etc. I highly recommend.

[Erinwilcox]

Good for you Edie! I forgot LM Montgomery's books, which are all wonderful!!! I love them!!!! Blue Castle is my favorite, I think, but most are absolutly fantastic (albeit the Emily of New Moon books are a little weird, and there is one other book that was a little questionable, to my knowledge)

[ZiSunka]

Now you've found my weakness!

I don't have too much time now, but I'll post a few--I'll start with ones that young children and adults will enjoy:


Anything by Louisa May Allcott--Little Women, Little Men, And Old-Fashioned Girl, Eight Cousins, Rose in Bloom, Jack and Jill, Under the Lilacs, etc. I've read all of these over and over and over.

Mark Twain's the Prince and the Pauper--very exellent book.

Mother--which is an absolute must read--and can be found here: http://www.visionforum.com/search/productlist.aspx (http://www.visionforum.com/search/productlist.aspxsearch=34898)search=34898 (http://www.visionforum.com/search/productlist.aspxsearch=34898)

Elsie Dinsmore/Mildred Keith (for mothers and daughters)

Five Little Peppers, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew (I forget the autheress)

Anything by Jane Austen--Pride and Prejudice (both the six hour movie and the new one are excellent--book is better!), Sense and Sensibility (the movie with Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson is great), Persuasion, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, etc.

Ben-Hur--the book is so much better than the movie, which didn't really even stick to the story line, though the movie is great


Well, I've got to go tinkle the ivories again, maybe I'll post more later! But, these are all books that I've greatly enjoyed.

Oh, though I've not read all (I've read a lot of them), the Lamplighter Series from Vision Forum is EXCELLENT and is perfect for families. Books like A Basket of Flowers, Teddy's Button, etc. I highly recommend.

But what are your top 5?:)

[Dmckay]

I second, and highly endorse Flynmonkie's suggestions especially Swiss Family Robinson which was written by a Christian. I would add Robinson Crusoe. For family reading I would recommend Peace Child and the Bicycle Hills series of books. Bicycle Hills is slightly allegorical series about the Christian life and walk that teaches some deep Christian doctrine in easily understandable terms and illustrations.

[Erinwilcox]

I agree! My mother and brother just read Robinson Crusoe and LOVED it! My mom was astounded by the theology in it! :) The movie, however, was horrible--it just doesn't follow the book and was, in my opinion, a big waste of time. I think it was a newer movie. . .

[Joykins]

My top 5 or 6 or 7...series ... or authors

My Book House. All 12 volumes.

The Chronicles of Narnia

Lloyd Alexander's Prydain Chronicles and Rowling's Harry Potter books for the older fantasy fans...

The Little House Series

The sequence of L.M. Alcott books beginning with Little Women (Little Men, and then Jo's Boys)

The sequence of Mark Twain books beginning with Tom Sawyer and includinmg all the Sawyer books and also Huckleberry Finn.

The Anne of Green Gables books (at least for girls--don't know what the boy's equivalent would be).

Another series of books I really enjoyed as a kid were Noel Streatfield's "shoes" books (Ballet Shoes, Dancing Shoes, etc.). And of course anything by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

[Flynmonkie]

Little Women (actually anything by LM Alcott)
(this was the first book I remember my mom reading out loud to us - rather fitting as I'm the 2nd of 4 daughters. I'm not sure that I would have ever read Pilgrim's Progress as a youth if I hadn't read Little Women first)
Treasure Island and/or Kidnapaped
The Secret Garden
Heidi
Black Beauty
The Wind in the Willows
The Black Stallion
The Jungle Book
Just So Stories (loved these)
Anne of Green Gables
James and the Giant Peach
The BFG
Old Yeller
Where the Red Fern Grows
The Incredible Journey
The Yearling
The Five Little Peppers
Hans Brinker
The Prince and the Pauper
Around the World in 80 Days
Gulliver's Travels

Madeline L'Engle has written some excellent books that my kids loved. Along the same line C.S. Lewis wrote a science fiction trilogy that my son enjoyed. He has also loved Isaac Asimov's science fiction (his favorite genre).

(as they get older)
Emma
Jane Eyre
Wuthering Heights
Last of the Mohicans
The House of Seven Gables
A Tale of Two Cities (IMHO Dickens' best)

And while not specifically written for children (or maybe for children of all ages)
All Creatures Great and Small (again, the entire Herriot series is excellent - any book that can make you laugh and cry is worth the read:thumbsup:)

A great big thanks to my mom who was never went a day without reading, who spent many an evening reading out loud to my sisters and myself, who instilled a love of good writing and made sure that I knew that things didn't have to be new to be worthwhile.

:sigh: :) I just love books! I guess it is my passion too!:thumbsup: I think I learned to love it in the same way, aside from being an only child for many years!

[arunma]

I don't have any specific titles in mind at the moment (probably because as a kid, I drifted more towards non-fiction books). I'm not sure if this is quite on-topic, but I think kids should also get a healthy dose of science books. In public and elementary school libraries, I've found quite a few books on all kinds of scientific fields that are written at a level that children can understand.

[trinityisunity]

I loved reading The Hobbit when I was young(er).I think it was before The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

[Erinwilcox]

I'll second the recommendation of the James Herriot books (I LOVE them and my brother just read "All Creatures Great and Small" at my grandparents, where my grandfather picked it up and loved it too!), the House of the Seven Gables (I enjoyed the Scarlet Letter too), and many of the Madeleine L'Engle books.

Some more that I just thought of are Freckles and A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter (Freckles is the little-known prequal to Girl of the Limberlost)--I just LOVE both of these books!

[TwinCrier]

If you could only choose 5 "must-read" books, which ones would they be? :)

Charlotte's Web
The Giving Tree
Little House on the Prairie
Curious George
The Jungle Book

[ZiSunka]

Charlotte's Web
The Giving Tree
Little House on the Prairie
Curious George
The Jungle Book

Thank you very much for limiting yours to 5!

A hundred blessings to you! :)

[edb19]

Charlotte's Web
The Giving Tree
Little House on the Prairie
Curious George
The Jungle Book

totally forgot The Giving Tree - love that book.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[ZiSunka]

One hundred blessings to anyone who can pare their list down to just five books!

[edb19]

One hundred blessings to anyone who can pare their list down to just five books!

not possible - guess I'll have to do without the blessings:thumbsup:

[Erinwilcox]

Anne of Green Gables
Pride and Prejudice
A Girl of the Limberlost
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew
Mother

[Cynthia85]

1. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. An absolutely amazing the book. The details of the settings and characters are so real and intricate, you would think that Middle Earth is a real place. I will be reading the book to my children on their second day of life, lol.

2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. I could barely put this book down. It was a great story with amazing characters. My (future) daughters and I will bond over this one. :)

3. Although this may not be considered classic, I'm putting here anyway. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. It should be considered classic because it's in a league of it's own. I nearly died laughing when I was reading it.

4. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin. Again, wonderful story with wonderful characters (Colonel Brandon! Le sigh!)

5. Anne of Green Gables. This was one of the first books I ever read. I remember carrying a copy with me to elementary school.

[Joykins]

I got it down to 5 (shame on you lambslove! It was like pulling TEETH I tell you! :P ). This list was designed to be unisex, applicable for both boys and girls.

_The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe_ by C.S. Lewis

_Tom Sawyer_ by Mark Twain

_Huckleberry Finn_ by Mark Twain

_Pippi Longstocking_ by Astrid Lindgren

_A Wrinkle in Time_ by Madeleine L'Engle

[Erinwilcox]

Another great list with some awesome books! This is such a great thread! :)