Good Reads

I'm a sucker for a good book. I especially love books I can read my kids at nighttime. It's our tradition. Tuck them into bed, warm in foot pajamas, the baby asleep in the next room. They don't all share a room but we all convene for a half hour to listen to the spellbinding tale of The Hobbit or the unruly humour of Roald Dahl. Here are ten of our favorite authors or books, in no particular order. There are more but little squirts are getting hungry for lunch!

1. As previously mentioned....The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Our copy  has the front cover taped on and the back cover missing. Each chapter is it's own adventure as Bilbo Baggins enters a world of bravery, wit, and common sense. A great read before the movie comes out (which I'm sure will be fabulous) and all the characters have time to form in their imagination before one day they see it and the actors take those places.

2. Roald Dahl. We have not read all of his books and actually have not enjoyed all we have read. Those we love however we love to the point of obsession.
    ~ Matilda - in a house full of girls this is a winner. A little girl with a superpowered brain? Love it!
    ~Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - My personal favorite. There are points in the movies I like but nothing replaces the book.
   ~BFG - This is the first book my oldest daughter read entirely by herself. The cover is now also     missing, the pages worn and marked. It just might always be her first love.
   ~The Twits and Fantastic Mr. Fox - Short fun reads that make you giggle.
   ~James and the Giant Peach - This one my children enjoyed but didn't get into as much as the ones above. Still worth the read though!
   ~Boy, Tales of Childhood - Another personal favorite. My children were shocked at life before seat belts, good doctors, and FDA restrictions. It's also fun to see where the ideas of his books came from.

3. The Sign of the Beaver, by Elizabeth George Speare - A Newberry Honor book and for good reason. The story flows, is historically accurate, and my children were amazed that a twelve year old boy would be left alone to fend for himself in a cabin in the woods. I loved the theme of strong family ties that ran through it and the ideas of two cultures living side by side and yet being so different. Interesting without being preachy and thoughtful without being dull.

4. The Secret Garden by Fances Hodgson Burnett - Growing up A Little Princess by the same author was my all time favorite book with A Secret Garden being one I enjoyed the one time I read it. The flip side is true with my daughters showing that everyone has their own tastes and personalities. The language is a little old fashioned but more than worth it!

5. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, by Patricia C. Wrede - There are four books altogether (I do not recommend the fifth one of short stories, it's for a much older crowd and unrelated) and every character is a hoot! A bored princess, a practical witch, a prince who does not want to get married. They are fun, action packed, and gets you craving cherries jubilee!

6. The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame - Honestly, did you grow up not knowing  rat, mole, badger and the famous Mr. Toad? A bit daunting with little type and lots of old fashioned words? Read it anyway. Your kids will love it!

7. Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White - My kids spent weeks trying to talk to animals the first time they read it. This one has also been handled so many time that the spine is falling off.

8. Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, by Betty MacDonald - An upside down house? Crazy treatments for the most unruly of children? This one is great for bedtime since each chapter is in itself a different story. There are others (Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggles Farm) but this is my favorite.

9. Rick Riordon - My husband picked the first one up after hearing about it from a coworker....or maybe it was given as a gift? I can't remember now but he started reading these to the girls and I didn't see any of them after 7 pm for a good 2 months. They have read The Olympians books with all the corresponding literature, break offs, and what have you. Last week I picked up The Red Pyramid on audio CD (Kane Chronicles) from the library and the voices are hysterical. It's always crazy to me when a generation of little kids can go around spouting off Greek mythology and names.

10. Brandon Mull started when my brother started dating the author's sister. The Fablehaven books are perfect for homeschooling since my oldest can't get enough of them and they happen to have handy and easy thougth provoking questions at the end of every book. She reads and then gets to answer all the questions at the end. They aren't washed down either, some of them really make her think. Since she just finished the last book in the Fablehaven Series we are planning on checking out the other works by Brandon Mull. We hear the Beyonders books are even better, although the source might be a bit biased ;)