Reading aloud to someone is one of life's pleasures that brings blessings to both the reader and the recipient. And reading when you are alone is a treasured blessing like no other. Books can take you to places you may never visit except in your mind -- you can travel back in history or into the future; visit desert islands, medieval castles or lush forests in the Amazon valley or into hidden vallies in the Swiss Alps. Go wherever the skillful author takes you as you broaden your vocabulary, hone your writing skills and find opportunities to grow spiritually, socially and mentally as the Lord works noble thoughts and spiritual truths into your heart and mind through your reading.
My husband likes to say, "Those who read lead." And this is true. If you want to be a leader, you must be a reader. We are called as Christians, not only to follow our great Leader, the Lord Jesus, but to imitate Him in all our choices and even our preferences. Work on making wise choices in your reading preferences. Here are some lists of books I like and some that I love. They are far from complete, so check back occasionally for other recommendations.
First, I'd advise your purchasing two books that have done much of the work for us in sorting and choosing worthy books. Honey for a Child's Heart
I'll list a few books from my longer list in several blog posts. If your favorites aren't here, feel free to comment and ask me or inform me about them. I may not have gotten to your favorites yet, or I just may not know about them. Here goes:
Pre-school: (age 5 and under)
Winnie the Pooh
Goodnight Moon
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Blueberries for Sal
The Child’s Story Bible
Guess How Much I Love You
Make Way for Ducklings
All the Places to Love
Little Bear
Owl Moon
The Little Engine That Could
Peter and the Wolf
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
Curious George
A Child’s Garden of Verses
The Lord is My Shepherd
Elementary Fiction: (ages 6-12)
Aesop’s Fables
Treasury of Fairy Tales
The Mitten
Caddie Woodlawn
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Riding the Pony Express
The Secret Garden
The Incredible Journey
The Courage of Sarah Noble
Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates (DVD),
William Tell
The Matchlock Gun
Old Yeller
Tanglewood Tales
Saint George and the Dragon
Huguenot Garden
The Jungle Book
Frog and Toad
Hiawatha
The Lost Princess
Iron Scouts of the Confederacy
Sarah, Plain and Tall
Anne of Green Gables
The Railway Children
Annie Henry and the Redcoats
Two Little Confederates
Treasures in the Snow
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew
The Bronze Bow
Heidi
Little House in the Big Wood
Middle School Fiction: (ages 12 +)
Little Women
Coral Island, http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=51704 and other titles by R. M. Ballentyne
The Pilgrim’s Progress,http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=51704 http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=29870
by John Bunyan
Canterbury Tales, adapted by Barbara Cohen
The Moonstone
The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe
Any book by Charles Dickens except Great Expectations
The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
The Count of Monte-Cristo
Johnny Tremain
Lieutenant Hornblower
The Gift of the Magi
The Dragon and the Raven, http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=24297 and other titles by G. A. Henty
All Things Bright and Beautiful
Hind’s Feet on High Places
Tales From Shakespeare
Brothers of the Sled
The Scarlet Pimpernel
The Girl of the Limberlost
A Lantern in Her Hand
Men of Iron
Light in the Forest
Beowulf, the Warrior
Kidnapped
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
The Princess Adelina, by Julie Sutter http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=24297http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=47832
Around the World in Eighty Days
Augustine Comes to Kent,
The Horn of Roland
The Swiss Family Robinson
Elementary and Middle School Biography: (ages 12 +)
Augustine: The Farmer’s Boy of Tagaste
The Talking Wire: The Story of Alexander Graham Bell,
Daniel Boone
Carry on, Mr. Bowditch, by Jean Lee Latham http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=65830
Alone, Yet Not Alone, by Tracy Leininger http://www.visionforum.com/1137.html&url=http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=65830http://www.visionforum.com/browse/product/?productid=65987
John Bunyan, Author of Pilgrim’s Progress
The Columbus Story
A Confederate Trilogy, by Mary L. Williamson
Robert Fulton, Boy Craftsman
George Fredric Handel: Composer of Messiah, by Charles Ludwig
Stonewall
Johannes Kepler: Giant of Faith and Science
Robert E. Lee: Christian General and Gentleman,
Eric Liddell,
Queen of the Reformation, (Katherine Luther)
Most of the books above are for high school age and above as well. I love some children's books as much as those targeted for adults. The simplicity of style is often refreshing and adult-aimed humor in children's books usually makes me smile. One such book, targeted perhaps for a children's audience but with a deep and abiding message is Matthew Wheelock's Wall - 1992 publication
We'll stop there for now...this should give you plenty of reading materials to get you started for your long winter's reading by the fireside or under a cozy quilt. I pray that finding and reading good books will be an adventure for you that will never end!
Happy Reading!!
14 comments:
I really enjoy your lists but I am 30 years old do you have a list for us?
Thank you so much for the list of books dear Mrs. Morecraft!
I just wanted to stop by and say thank you SO much for doing these online classes, as I watched the last one today draw to a close a tear crept to my eye, for you have blessed me greatly!
I can not wait to attend your next sessions in January, and am looking forward to them VERY much! Meanwhile, I plan to get a few of the books you have recommended, especially 'The Roar on the Other Side' it looks VERY good!
Blessings,
~Johanna~
Why The Secret Garden? Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote it with a Hindu worldview.
Lauren,wow, you have taught the teacher! I was not aware of what exactly bothered me about this book -- now I know! While it's important to know what the world-view of an author is, it doesn't automatically exclude reading the book. Thanks for pointing out the flaw in this one -- we'll certainly be on our guard while we read it or perhpas decide not to read it at all.
Johanna, I'm so thankful you've enjoyed the classes -- so have I! Yes, the Roar From the Other Side is truly wonderful, applicable not only to poetry writing but very helpful with writing better prose. I'll look forward to 'seeing' you in January, Lord blessing.
'Dreameagle,' I just ran out of steam before I got to the 'older' book recommendations. Of course, many of the 18+ ones are still great for us older ladies, but I also love book such as St. Elmo, by Augusta Jane Evans, written during the Civil War (or War of Northern Aggression depending on your perspective ;-) and anything else she wrote. I like most all Christian biographies, especially those about missionaries or historical ones such as Fair Sunshine by Jock Purvus, on the Scottish Covenanters. I like some modern authors but read them with my 'guard up,' both theologically and in other important ways. Usually, I don't recommend everything an author has written but only books I have either read myself or that have been read by someone I trust. I'll try to get a more complete list out as soon as I catch my breath.
Blessings,
Mrs. Morecraft
Could you please provide links to your other posts containing book lists?
Thank you for taking the time to provide such a wonderful list.
Shanna
Just out of curiosity: Why not "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens?
Hi, Shanna,
This site is the only one I have with lists of recommended books -- I will continue to add others as time goes on. My next list will be for adults in various categories. You would enjoy the two books of lists I recommended in the blog above -- click on the links and check them out.
Mrs. M.
Mrs. Morecraft,
I know you said that in the fourth edition of Honey for a Child's Heart we will find it spiritually uplifting as well as informative but I was just curious if it is true that there are recommendations for Harry Potter. I have once read that to be true but never did check it out for myself.
Tami
Dear Mrs. Morecraft,
There's nothing I like better on a rainy day than a good book! Thanks for all the book recommandations, I'll be sure to check out some of them!
Writing for His glory,
Esther Liao
Hi, Tami,
I'm so sorry that I don't have an answer for you on this question -- thanks for alerting me to this. We'll check it out and try to let you know as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I know I can highly recommend the first edition which was invaluable to me as a young mother. I know the author is a precious Christian lady, so I doubt that she would recommend HP, but don't know for sure.
Thanks for the question.
Mrs. Morecraft
Mrs. Morecraft,
I am wondering why you like all the Charles Dickens books except "Great Expectations". What do you have against it?
Thank you for these lists-some of our favourites are here and some to explore.
Do you know the Milly Molly Mandy series by Joyce Lankester Brisley? These are suitable for elementary age and are set in England in about the 1920s. Short stories about a little girl living in the white thatched cottage with her mother, father, grandparents and aunt and uncle.
Another English author that we enjoy is Shirley Hughes whose books are mainly for the under fives. Probably her most famous series is the "Alfie" series but there is also a book of poetry about the seasons, for little ones, called "Out and about." There is one reference to halloween which is easy to alter or miss out but otherwise we love this book with its beautiful pictures.
Thanks for the question -- it was a 'slip of the lip,' or in this case, the fingers. This was from a list used for an English literature class and I forgot to scratch the comment -- the entire class read and studied "Great Expectations" together so it wasn't to be read as a 'bonus' book. I'm glad you asked! It's a great piece of literature and I hope you'll read and enjoy it.
Mrs. Morecraft,
Thank you so much for this wonderful list of books. Reading is such a gift, and I cherish books that are pure and exciting, and deepen my love for Christ. This list was so helpful, and I am sure that I will go back to it many times!
Many Blessings In Christ,
~Shannon~
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