In an earlier post, I mentioned that I would let you know what some of the books were that I found for my son to read as he was growing up. This list is not meant to be in any way comprehensive; these are just some random thoughts and suggestions based on what we found and liked.

I used to pore over catalogs from various publishers looking for book suggestions; then I would find as many books from the library as I could and buy our favorites. I encourage you to do the same, as a number of Christian and/or classical companies have wonderful books listed in their catalogs.

If you like, you can follow the links to Amazon for some of these books, or you may want to order from companies that sell classical or homeschool curriculum.

Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through any of my amazon links. 

Younger Ages

Nursery Rhymes (Mother Goose/traditional nursery rhymes) Children love the rhythm of nursery rhymes and love to hear them over and over.

Bible stories (We used different ones over the years for different ages.)

A Child’s Garden of Verses, by Robert Louis Stevenson

Make Way for Ducklings, by Robert McCloskey

Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey

These two books by Robert McCloskey are charming, nostalgic, and engaging.

Henry and Mudge books, by Cynthia Rylant (Delightful and wholesome easy readers)

Frog and Toad books, by Arnold Lobel (More delightful and wholesome easy readers)

There are many other delightful classic stories for younger children; these are just a few that stand out in my mind for their charm.

Older Ages (3^rd, 4^th, 5^th Grades and up)

Tales from Far and Near and Tales of Long Ago, ed. by Arthur Guy Terry (Classic stories from history and legends)

Famous Legends, by Emeline Crommelin (Includes legends such as King Arthur, William Tell, Robin Hood, Roland, etc.)

Mighty Men, by Eleanor Farjeon (Stories of ancient heroes. Out of print, but you may find it used.)

Please note that as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through any of my amazon links. 

Saint George and the Dragon, by Margaret Hodges (My son loved this!)

The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow, by Allen French (Set in the early days of Christianity in Iceland.) My son renamed this book “Rolf and the Lawsuits.” Apparently, the Vikings had quite a detailed and comprehensive system of legal regulations, which resulted in multiple lawsuits being filed during the course of the story!

King Arthur and His Knights, compiled and arranged by Elizabeth Lodor Merchant, based on Sir Thomas Malory’s Morte d’Arthur

         We loved this version of King Arthur; it has been beautifully rewritten for children. My son first encountered the code of chivalry as he was reading this book. This particular version of King Arthur is out of print, so be sure the version you find is appropriate for children. 

Tales from Shakespeare, by Charles and Mary Lamb

I was first introduced to Shakespeare while reading the copy of this book that my parents had on their bookshelf. Someone had given them a set of books compiled especially for children, and this was one of them. They were beautiful gold books with gold leaf pages, and after I read the Shakespeare plays that were retold in this book, I couldn’t wait to read the real Shakespeare plays for myself. I remember reading Othello and King Lear over and over. And when I encountered Shakespeare later, I loved it as much as I thought I would. 

Favorite Greek Myths, by Mary Pope Osborne

I love this particular children’s version of the Greek myths. They are written like fairy tales, and the illustrations are enchanting. We used this book in 3^rd grade.

Theras and his Town, by Carolyn Snedeker

Your child will meet a boy from ancient Greece and begin to understand what life was like in Athens and Sparta.

Detectives in Togas  (A fast-moving detective story set in ancient Rome)

The Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis (These 7 books are classics, ever-engaging and timeless.)

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain (My son loved Tom Sawyer; what boy wouldn’t?)

The Childhood of Famous Americans series 

First printed in the 1930s, now back in print. A great way to introduce children, especially boys, to famous Americans! I loved these myself when I was a child. They can be found online on various websites. I have included one Amazon link:   Benjamin Franklin, Young Printer

Johnny Tremain, by Esther Forbes (A story set in the Boston colonies.)

The Magna Charta, by James Daugherty (Fascinating story of the forerunner of America’s Bill of Rights)

And last, but not least, The Trumpet of the Swan, by E. B. White, pictured above. I thought this book was delightful.

Fill your bookshelf with children’s classics and encourage your children to read. Thanks to the books my parents had on their bookshelf when I was a child, I read some wonderful children’s classics which gave me a taste for beautiful literature and a longing for more. 

Note on book lists: If you find a book in a 1^st grade book list, don’t worry that your child is behind if he isn’t ready to read the book until 2^nd or even 3^rd grade. Children mature at different rates; the important thing is that your child learn to read and learn to enjoy books. And some book lists are pretty advanced. Take your time and let your child enjoy easy books while developing a love for reading.