Can you help me find some good book lists?

[Kelli in TN]

After yet another argument in the library yesterday, I am convinced that I am going to have to direct the kids' free reading a bit until they get better at picky literature.

I mean really, how many times can one reread the American Girl books?:tongue_smilie:

Please give me your very favorite picks for a 4th grader and a 7th grader.

[Mrs. H.]

Get thee to the library and pick up Honey for a Child's Heart. It has wonderful book recommendations for babies up to teens, then there is Honey for a Teen's Heart, oh, and there's Honey for a Woman's Heart as well, just thought I'd throw that in there.

[Karenciavo]

I loved Nancy Drew, the older version.

[readwithem]

http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html

[Kareni]

A resource to look for with some great book suggestions:

Reading for the Love of It by Michele Landsberg; it's out of print but perhaps your library has it (or can get it through inter library loan). Or, Amazon has copies for a penny and up.

Also look for books by Jim Trelease, Kathleen Odean, Erica Bauermeister, and Alison Cooper-Mullin -- they all have books about children's books.

Regards,
Kareni

[Crissy]

http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html

This is my favorite book list for youngsters.

[Anne]

I always liked the Greenleaf Press catalog and the Sonlight catalog - they usually had all the books listed that I would have listed if I'd been able to remember them!!

A series that your 4th grader might like, and possibly your 7th grader, is the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome.

Anne

[Plaid Dad]

Here's my favorite (http://www.greatbooksacademy.org/html/the_good_books_list.html). Enjoy!

[Kelli in TN]

Thanks for all the great list suggestions, I was already familiar with the Classical Christian Homeschool list already. I like that one as well.

But what I really want is literature for fun. I want to help guide them in finding things to read that will make them happy and make them want to go back for more.

I managed to pry American Girl out of my daughter's hands and replace it with Anne of Green Gables. She pouted, but when she got bored enough she read it. Then she was hooked and she read all of them.

It is especially hard to find things for my seventh grader. He is fairly, shall we say, shallow in his literary tastes. I want to stretch his mind slooooowly so that he still loves reading but starts to prepare his mind for high school.

This is just so foreign to me. I did not have these problems with my older kids. I suspect it is because they grew up without video games and for a good size chunk of their childhood, without cable. But whatever the difference, they had bigger imaginations and even in our not so fabulous library system they could find treasures.

[mellifera]

http://www.classical-homeschooling.org/celoop/1000.html

I second this. A very good list.

[Dot]

It has titles according to age and gender. http://www.nicksenger.com/blog/recommended-reading-list-for-junior-high-by-nancie-atwell

[Jean in Newcastle]

For the 7th grader:"All Creatures Great and Small" (by a vet whose name I've totally blanked out on), books by Jack London, "Silver Chief" series, books by Paulson ("Hatchet" was one).

For the 4th grader: the Paddington books, books by C. Bulla, books by E. Nesbit, Trixie Beldon mysteries.

[Patty Joanna]

Hi, Kelli,

I really liked the Classical Academic Press Book List; it gives you clues as to difficulty and a general ranking as re: which are the better books to read.

For junior/senior high, I will use this in tandem with Invitation to the Classics, edited by Os Guinness and Louise Cowan. TWEM would be good, as well, but I wanted something distinctly Christian.

Kind regards,

[Heidi @ Mt Hope]

Kelli, are you looking for an online list or a book? I scanned the replies and didn't see Honey for a Teen's Heart (http://www.amazon.com/Honey-Teens-Heart-Mrs-Gladys/dp/0310242606/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207020202&sr=8-1)listed. I haven't read that particular book, but I have both her children's version and women's version and think they're incredible. My mom had one of her earlier editions when I was growing up and used it extensively. It is written from a Christian perspective (though not overly conservative).