[Tax-chick]

My 10-year-old son listened to “My Antonia” on CD with me. Really. Try some classics you hated in high school :-).

[1rudeboy]

For younger children, I recommend Thidwick, the Big-Hearted Moose, by Dr. Seuss. Any doubt you might have about its conservative bent will be abolished when you try to find it at a store.

[Theresawithanh]

My little nieces and nephews, all grown up now, loved ANY Dr. Seuss book! Not sure if that’s to your kids’ taste, but that wouild be my suggestion.

[Tax-chick]

My little girls (10 and 8) like the “Royal Diaries” series. These generally have excellent historical research and good values.

[NoKoolAidforMe]

I loved the Laura Ingalls Wilder books as a kid. Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys were good too.

They never go out of style.

[444Flyer]

The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame is a MUST read. It’s also a good “read aloud” book in which you can act out all the characters, and the kids will love it. 100-years-old and delightful as ever.

[TexasBeth]

The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell. It’s perfect for both of them. I loved this story as a kid. I need to pull this one out for my daughter.

[mware]

The Hobbit.

Wish I could go back and read it again for the very first time.

[Lizavetta]

"Little Princess" by Frances Hodges Burnett
"Trumpet of the Swan" by E.B. White
"Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White
"Ramona the Pest" by Beverly Cleary
All the Laura Ingalls Wilder books

[Kimmers]

My boys read all the Hardy Boy books....there was a big difference in the books my husband read as a child and the newer versions....they seemed to have dumb them down in the recent versions....

[magritte]

If Redwall was a fave, I would suggest taking a look at “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan... in my bookstore, for young readers, I always suggest the classic “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler” by E.L. Konigsburg...magritte

[444Flyer]

Oh, and Treasure Island...of course, Dad.

[mware]

The Little House series by Laura Ingels Wilder.

BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

[csvset]

My son could go for a steady diet of military stories

The Bounty Trilogy

Comprising the Three Volumes, Mutiny on the Bounty, Men against the Sea and Pitcairn's Island

Excellent stories.

[mollynme]

My brothers and I were so blessed to have parents who read to us when we were growing up. I'm sure that is why we are all voracious readers now.

One book still sticks in my mind from my childhood - "The Silver Sword". That one had us waiting with bated breath for tomorrow's chapter.

[I_like_good_things_too]

I love this thread, I’m getting good ideas.

We’ve read to our (much younger) kids Charlotte’s Web, Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass & we read excerpts from Book of Virtues (Bill Bennett).

[LibFreeOrDie]

My faves as a kid:

Heidi

Treasure Island

Books about horses: My Friend Flicka, Black Beauty, all the books by Marguerite Henry

[retrokitten]

Pinging EmilyGeiger! She always knows the best books for kids that age group!

[Huntress]

The “McDonald Hall” series by Gordon Korman (aka the “Bruno and Boots” series, after the main characters)

Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Call of the Wild by Jack London

The Laura Ingalls Wilder books—my favorite was “Farmer Boy”

Watership Down by Richard Adams (probably a bit too advanced for a 7 and 10 year old, but still a great book)

The “Black Stallion” books by Walter Farley

[TightyRighty]

Thanks for beginning this thread - I’m getting some great ideas!