True adventure.
Call of the Wild
The Phantom Tollbooth
A Wrinkle In Time
Nancy Drew series
All the Albert Payson Terhune dog books.
My Friend Flicka and Thunderhead.
The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart (not a kids’ book, but written about a boy and in such clear language that teens and preteens can read it)
Kidnapped
The Man in the Iron Mask
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
The Count of Monte Cristo (Tom Sawyer’s favorite)
Tom Sawyer his own self
Sherlock Holmes stories (I devoured these as a kid)
C.S Lewis-The Chronicles of Narnia
and Prince Caspian
True adventure.
The Bible.
Robinson Crusoe.
Pilgrim’s Progress.
Where the Red Fern Grows.
The Hobbit.
The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Any biographies of great Americans or accurate histories of the US.
Any list without the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe was written by a liberal.
The Wizard of Oz books are great.
The Hobbit.
And I remember bawling as a 6th grader reading, “Where the Red Fern Grows”. *sniffle*. Charlotte’s Web on the other hand did nothing for me.
But I love dogs, so there you go.
Any/all of the books written by Sam Campbell, in the 40s and 50s. They are about living with and raising animals in the wild, but the vocabulary of children back then was so advanced, you’ll either have to read these to your younger (older elem) children, or older kids read them to themselves. EXCELLENT.
Once your kids experience Campbell’s books, they will be hooked, although I must say, a diet of video games and other electronics can ruin any of our children’s appetites for greater pursuits and entertainment.
many people would disagree but the Harry Potter books are what finally got my son to start reading. he did not like to read until those books grabbed his attention and refused to let go. he now reads a variety of books. until HP he would not touch them.
Harry Potter, we all know who wrote those and what they’re about,
The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede, a series of fun and enjoyable books from and up to strong-willed princesses volunteering to work for dragons to eight-feet-tall blue floating donkeys. (that will be explained in time.) I enjoy them even at my age.
The Knights of the Silver Dragon by various authors. Again, fun books about three unlikely friends, Kellach, Driscoll, two brothers who are the sons of the chief of the police type people there, teaming up with Moira, daughter of the most disreputable but friendly thief in Curston, a bit of a thief herself.
I have some good memories about when I was really young with The Winnie of Pooh, although I don’t read them anymore. They teach basic morals as well as helping you learn reading and some tidbit information. Great for kids just learning to read or who like stories at night.