You’ve got a long New Year’s weekend before school starts again. Several groups have issued lists of recommended classic children’s books, from picture books for the youngest readers to tween books for middle grades. And these classics are available for free at most libraries.
Here one list of “27 books parents should read to their kids before they grow up.” Leading the list are The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. “As a parent, it reminds you of the eternal love you have for your child and the willingness to sacrifice your happiness for theirs,” the list says in describing The Giving Tree.
Common Sense Media has its own list of “50 books all kids should read before they’re 12.” Silverstein makes the list again with Where the Sidewalk Ends, but there are newer books, too, such as I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick.
The London Telegraph has a list of “50 books that every child should read by 16.” The list comes from a survey of 2,000 readers. Six in 10 parents chose books their own parents had read to them. Topping the list were titles by Roald Dahl, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Book Riot has a different kind of list: The best feminist books for young readers. There’s The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, with a ninja-princess heroine. Also recommended is Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson, a memoir that has won awards from the National Book Award to a Newberry Honor Award. That’s real girl power — with a book!
Finally, the website A Mighty Girl has a list of books it describes as “books to inspire your mighty girl in 2016.” You can read those suggestions here.
So head over to the library and pick up a few new titles.
