The best 25 kids' books to gift this holiday season (or to read aloud as a family over Christmas break):
The Four Story Mistake by Elizabeth Enright
A timeless classic from the 1940s about four children and their father, who move from NYC to a strange old house in the NY countryside.
Works as a stand-alone story, but is also book 2 in a quartet.
Age range: 8+
A timeless classic from the 1940s about four children and their father, who move from NYC to a strange old house in the NY countryside.
Works as a stand-alone story, but is also book 2 in a quartet.
Age range: 8+
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
The prelude to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and one of the most famous kids' books of the 20th century.
The story is an epic fantasy, and its brilliant language and writing will challenge your kids' vocabulary and comprehension.
Age range: 12+
The prelude to Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and one of the most famous kids' books of the 20th century.
The story is an epic fantasy, and its brilliant language and writing will challenge your kids' vocabulary and comprehension.
Age range: 12+
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit
A beautiful novel about a young girl who meets a family - the Tucks - who found the fountain of youth and are doomed to live forever, and the unexpected consequences that come with it.
A particularly good read-aloud book.
Age range: 10+
A beautiful novel about a young girl who meets a family - the Tucks - who found the fountain of youth and are doomed to live forever, and the unexpected consequences that come with it.
A particularly good read-aloud book.
Age range: 10+
The Children of Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren
Lindgren is better known for "Pippi Longstocking," but Noisy Village may be her sweetest book.
It follows the lives, customs, and adventures of six Swedish neighbor children over the course of a year.
Age range: 5-10
Lindgren is better known for "Pippi Longstocking," but Noisy Village may be her sweetest book.
It follows the lives, customs, and adventures of six Swedish neighbor children over the course of a year.
Age range: 5-10
The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
A novel about an 11-year-old girl at the turn of the century who becomes fascinated by the natural world.
Great for kids who love history, science, and animals.
Age range: 9-12 years
A novel about an 11-year-old girl at the turn of the century who becomes fascinated by the natural world.
Great for kids who love history, science, and animals.
Age range: 9-12 years
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
The first book in a trilogy about an Inuit girl who runs away from home and lives with a wolf pack.
A highly scientific novel full of observations and scientific facts about wolves.
Age range: 9-12 years
The first book in a trilogy about an Inuit girl who runs away from home and lives with a wolf pack.
A highly scientific novel full of observations and scientific facts about wolves.
Age range: 9-12 years
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
A survival story about a 13-year-old boy who runs away from home to live in the Catskill Mountains, and who has to learn bushcraft skills (shelter building, hunting) and trains a peregrine falcon.
Age range: 8-12
A survival story about a 13-year-old boy who runs away from home to live in the Catskill Mountains, and who has to learn bushcraft skills (shelter building, hunting) and trains a peregrine falcon.
Age range: 8-12
Eragon by Christopher Paolini
The first book in a series about a teenage boy and his dragon in a fantasy land, where they fight to overthrow an evil king.
Age range: YA
Fun fact: Paolini was 15 when he started writing this series (which may inspire your own young writers!).
The first book in a series about a teenage boy and his dragon in a fantasy land, where they fight to overthrow an evil king.
Age range: YA
Fun fact: Paolini was 15 when he started writing this series (which may inspire your own young writers!).
The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
One of the most classic children's series of all time.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the first installment - or if you're feeling ambitious, you can read them all.
Age range:
• reading level: 10+
• reading aloud: 7+
One of the most classic children's series of all time.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the first installment - or if you're feeling ambitious, you can read them all.
Age range:
• reading level: 10+
• reading aloud: 7+
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
At birth, Ella was given a "gift" that turned out to be a curse - the requirement of obedience. To everyone.
This Newberry medal winner is a retelling of Cinderella, and is great for kids who love fantastical adventures.
Age range: 9-12
At birth, Ella was given a "gift" that turned out to be a curse - the requirement of obedience. To everyone.
This Newberry medal winner is a retelling of Cinderella, and is great for kids who love fantastical adventures.
Age range: 9-12
Rascal by Stirling North
An autobiographical novel about the summer Stirling North rescued a baby raccoon (named Rascal).
Great for kids who love animals and science (since the book is full of observations about raccoons and other wild animals).
Age range: 6-11
An autobiographical novel about the summer Stirling North rescued a baby raccoon (named Rascal).
Great for kids who love animals and science (since the book is full of observations about raccoons and other wild animals).
Age range: 6-11
Redwall by Brian Jacques
The titular book in a series (20+!) about the woodland animals who live in medieval-style Redwall Abbey, the evil rat who's come to attack it, and the mouse warrior who will save them.
An epic heroic adventure for kids who love animals.
Age range: 8+
The titular book in a series (20+!) about the woodland animals who live in medieval-style Redwall Abbey, the evil rat who's come to attack it, and the mouse warrior who will save them.
An epic heroic adventure for kids who love animals.
Age range: 8+
Hatchet by Gary Paulson
13-year-old Brian is stranded alone in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash, and has to learn bushcraft skills to survive until he's rescued.
A great book for kids who are fascinated by the outdoors or love survival stories.
Age range: 9+
13-year-old Brian is stranded alone in the Canadian wilderness after a plane crash, and has to learn bushcraft skills to survive until he's rescued.
A great book for kids who are fascinated by the outdoors or love survival stories.
Age range: 9+
The Underneath by Kathi Appelt
A hauntingly beautiful book about a cat, her kittens, and her unlikely protector - a captive hound - trying to survive the brutality of a Louisiana swamp, with a touch of mythology woven throughout.
Age range: 8+ (but just as enjoyable for adults)
A hauntingly beautiful book about a cat, her kittens, and her unlikely protector - a captive hound - trying to survive the brutality of a Louisiana swamp, with a touch of mythology woven throughout.
Age range: 8+ (but just as enjoyable for adults)
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
A stunningly poetic novel set in WWII Germany, about a foster girl who steals books, and her band of "family:" her adoptive parents, the Jewish man hiding in the basement, and the boy she loves.
Age range: 11+
A stunningly poetic novel set in WWII Germany, about a foster girl who steals books, and her band of "family:" her adoptive parents, the Jewish man hiding in the basement, and the boy she loves.
Age range: 11+
Onion John by Joseph Krumgold
The story of the friendship between a 12-year-old boy and an immigrant handyman, who the townspeople write off as "strange" but who the boy comes to understand.
A Newberry Trophy winner, and a great read-aloud story.
Age range: 8-12
The story of the friendship between a 12-year-old boy and an immigrant handyman, who the townspeople write off as "strange" but who the boy comes to understand.
A Newberry Trophy winner, and a great read-aloud story.
Age range: 8-12
Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
The story of a slave girl living in ancient Egypt under the rule of Queen Hatshepsut, who falls in love with one of her masters, and becomes involved in treason.
Captivating for slightly older readers.
Age range: 10+
The story of a slave girl living in ancient Egypt under the rule of Queen Hatshepsut, who falls in love with one of her masters, and becomes involved in treason.
Captivating for slightly older readers.
Age range: 10+
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
A delightful story about two families of children playing on boats on a lake, and their wild misadventures.
It's been a classic for decades for a reason. It's fantastic.
Age range: 9-14
A delightful story about two families of children playing on boats on a lake, and their wild misadventures.
It's been a classic for decades for a reason. It's fantastic.
Age range: 9-14
Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson
This turn-of-the-century historical fiction novel follows the adventures of an orphan and her governess as they travel through the Amazon wilderness of Brazil to find the girl's new family.
Age range: 8-12
This turn-of-the-century historical fiction novel follows the adventures of an orphan and her governess as they travel through the Amazon wilderness of Brazil to find the girl's new family.
Age range: 8-12
The Wind Boy by Ethel Cook Eliot
An absolutely enchanting story about two children and their magical nanny, who takes them to the Clear Land, where they befriend the Wind Boy.
A great read-aloud, and very imagination inducing for your kids.
Age range: 8+
An absolutely enchanting story about two children and their magical nanny, who takes them to the Clear Land, where they befriend the Wind Boy.
A great read-aloud, and very imagination inducing for your kids.
Age range: 8+
What else would you add to this list?
If you found this thread helpful:
• retweet the first tweet so others can find it
• follow @rebelEducator for more ideas on creating a beautiful education for your kids
If you found this thread helpful:
• retweet the first tweet so others can find it
• follow @rebelEducator for more ideas on creating a beautiful education for your kids
Loading suggestions...