MORE 'BEST-BOOKS' POSTS
#53 The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (2008) 39 points The first line is one of the best booktalks ever. I’ve never had a kid turn it away. – Heather Christensen This story has it all- adventure, ghosts, murder, memorable characters, and a hero we can’t help but love! – Gina Detate Another relatively recent […]
#54 Half Magic by Edward Eager (1954) 38 points Edward Eager writes the essential books about four children having a magical adventure. This one has a classic concept and brilliant working out. – Sondra Eklund This is one of my own childhood favorites as well. And I’m happy to report that it remains popular to […]
#55 All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor (1951) 38 points Taylor presents an optimistic but authentic view of Jewish immigrant life in New York City at the turn of the last century. The daily adventures of five school aged girls are shown as they dust the house, go to the library and celebrate the rituals of […]
#56 A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (1905) 37 points At eight, I found nothing as exciting as a poor mistreated orphan. Swoon! – Anna Ruhs I read this again fairly recently and couldn’t capture the sense of wonder that I had as a child, but refreshing the story in my mind was enough […]
#57 The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken (1962) 37 points Long before there was Lemony Snicket! – Amy Sears I left this off my last list and have been kicking myself ever since. This was one of my favorite books as a child. Miss Slighcarp gave me the shivers! You just knew she […]
#58 Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome (1930) 36 points “Nearly everything about this book is perfect. I love the descriptions of the water, the sailing terminology, the faux rivalry between sailors and pirates, the uncle-turned-enemy, Captain Flint, the sense of adventure coupled with the comfort and security of knowing the world is safe enough […]
#59 The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (2006) 36 points poignant, tender, lovely like the Velveteen Rabbit and a great read aloud – Charlotte Burrows This deceptively skinny book is full of big ideas: love lost and gained, changing yourself over time and people coming into and out of your life leaving […]
#60 Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (1999) 35 points When you hear that a book is about an orphan during the Great Depression, you might expect an emotional one-trick-pony – sadness to spare. Give Christopher Paul Curtis credit for bringing this era to life with vibrancy and flashes of surprising humor. Flint, Michigan […]
#61 How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (1957) 30 points Yes, that’s two Dr. Seuss books on my top ten list. In all honesty, I had trouble not including Horton Hears a Who as well. Between the Lorax’s anti-capitalist, pro-environment stance, Horton’s anti-racism, and this book’s anti-consumerism, Dr. Seuss taught me most of […]
#62 Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley (1992) 30 points This book saved my sanity when I was babysitting my two year old nephew for a week, a nephew I really did not know well. The only time, while conscious, that he stopped crying was when I read this book. So I read […]