He ate and drank the precious words,
His spirit grew robust,
He knew no more that he was poor,
Or that his frame was dust.
He danced along the dingy ways
And this bequest of wings
Was but a book. What liberty
A loosened spirit brings.
– Emily Dickinson,
The Poems of Emily Dickinson
“Children don’t stumble onto good books by themselves; they must be introduced to the wonder of words put together in such a way that they spin out pure joy and magic” (Gladys Hunt, Honey for A Child’s Heart).
Each year for their birthdays, we introduce our children to one really great story through the gift of a new book. When possible, we buy hardcover. We open the front cover, trace their hand inside, and add their name and age. They love that part! I love building the library we will share for years to come, a library which, I hope, they will one day share with their little ones.
Honey for A Child’s Heart: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life. Fourth Edition Annotated book lists (includes a brief description for each book) for children ages 0-14, including, but not limited to first books, readers, novels, poetry, and special occasion books with special mention made for medal and award winners. But, please, do not just read this book for the lists. Gladys Hunt shares so much wisdom on “using books to help children grow.” You will simply be caught up in the delight of sharing books with your family. If your child is older than fourteen, there is another edition just for them: Honey for a Teen’s Heart.
The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education At Home Besides curriculum recommendations, there are suggested audio books, readers, coloring books, biographies, poetry, reference guides, and more. Books found here are primarily educational, if you will, rather than pleasure reading.
1,000 Good Books List was compiled by a group of homeschooling mothers as books that have stood the test of time. You can view the list by subject matter and reading level or author. There are even holiday books and Bible storybooks for early readers listed.
Ambleside Online is a complete, free online curriculum based on Charlotte Mason’s educational ideals. You can read much about it on their site. The site strives to list the highest quality books and enlist free options whenever possible. They often list alternatives to their first choice, which is great for using what you already own or can access at your library.
Well, I have told you mine—now you tell me yours! What are your go-to sources for finding great book titles?
