What is the influence of good books on children?

Best books for children

• I very much want my two sons (ages 6 weeks and 2.5 years) to develop a love for reading and books. While they see me reading a lot, and I read to them, I need to efficiently find the most interesting and intellectually-stimulating books. Also, as they age, I?d like to be able to buy them outstanding books appropriate for their age rather than adopt a hit-or-miss approach (or sit in the store reading dozens of books myself). I am aware of the Caldecott and Newbury Awards, and have considered these lists of winners and nominees, but there are far too many books to sort through (and I know there are other awards too). Thus, my question: What are the best books for children at various age groups up to around early adulthood (i.e., when they can read classic literature and ?non-children?s great books?)? A good answer will provide not only relatively short lists (say 20-40 per age range [every year or couple of years]; and perhaps very short summaries), but also some information regarding the reasons for selection (e.g., what criteria are used for selection, as this may well differ for different ages). I will mention a few other important considerations: (1) books likely to foster an interest in science, engineering, and/or math are especially welcome, (2) religious books and books with a very clear religious focus or message are to be avoided. In terms of our favorite books when my son was between 1-2, I?d include these: Inside Outside Upside Down and Old Hat, New Hat (by the Berensteins); I?ll Teach My Dog a Lot of Things (Frith/Eastman); Good Night, Gorilla (Rathmann), Barnyard Dance and But Not the Hippopotamus (Boynton), Busy Monkeys (Schindel/Marigo), and Sheep in a Jeep (Shaw/Apple). The author should assume that I know the other books by these authors, and at least in the 0-2 year-old range I feel I?ve examined most of the books out there. We also have the Dr. Seuss books already, and Iron Giant (I like the movie a lot better). I realize there is a substantial subjective element to this, and I?d love to get many comments as well, but I?m sure a talented researcher can produce a fantastic answer. Any thoughts on developing young readers would also be nice.

• Answer:

  Hello, Mharoks... I haven't had much time for Google Answers this past year, but I'm going to make a point of responding to your question. Many of my colleagues in the researcher community would be able to give you a fine answer, but children and reading are an absolute passion of mine. I myself learned to read at four, and am a voracious reader to this day. More to the point my two children (now 16 and 11) are avid readers themselves. Even my wife, who grew up in a home with no books at all, is now seldom without two or three in progress. The question you've asked is highly subjective. It is impossible to say with any confidence what are the "best" books in any given age group. This answer, then, will be unapologetically subjective as well. The books and authors I give you will for the most part be those that I've personally enjoyed, either as a child or with my children. Some I will list on the basis of strong recommendations from others whose judgement I trust. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE DISCLOSURE PART I will begin by attempting to clarify my own attitudes and preferences. First, I believe that children become interested in books because they become interested in the sounds of the words. Silly sounds, alliteration, wordplay, rhyming, all hold a place in attracting the attention of a child. Secondly, I believe that the single most important factor in a child becoming a reader is having a parent (or caregiver, or grandmother, or cousin, or whoever) read to them *out loud*. This ties into my first point, as the difference between passable writing and superior writing often does not become clear until it is read out loud. More importantly, though, the presence and participation of the adult is what makes reading a pure pleasure for the child. The value of the spoken word, the warm presence of a loved one, the interaction and shared observations of the book's illustrations and content; all of these things add up to an emotionally powerful experience. This, more than anything, will ensure that your children perceive books as one of life's great pleasures. A third point, a considerable one when reviewing my recommendations, is that I do not believe in bowdlerizing books intended for a child's eyes. This is an unpopular perspective today, but I strongly feel that "sheltering" children from unpleasantness does them a disservice. Old-school fairy tales like Grimm seem shocking to us today in their casual and occasionally gory cruelty. Darkness, however, is necessary to make the light brighter; even children understand in their heart of hearts that there is no laughter without tears. What is "Charlotte's Web" without the threat of Wilbur becoming bacon? Remember Bambi's mom? Old Yeller? A prime example of this would be the excellent "Redwall" series of books by Brian Jacques, the most popular children's series to come out of England between Narnia and Harry Potter. I have spoken to many parents who feel that these books are too violent, and do not want their children reading them (they are pseudo-medieval fantasies, in which the characters are small animals). I feel strongly that these books are potent precisely because of the dangers the characters face. Jacques is perfectly willing to kill sympathetic characters, or even the main character, to suit the needs of the story. In an age of video games with abundant "lives," I think it is salutary for children to recognize that violence means people getting hurt, and sometimes people you care about. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE CRITERIA PART The paragraphs above give you some idea of what I look for in books, but I'm going to amplify a bit on why the books below are on the list. My primary consideration is the quality of the writing. That should go without saying, but all too often does not. I look for writers whose stories hang together well, who handle the language with grace and respect, and who demonstrate a sense of fun. Illustrations are also important, especially with younger readers. Illustrations make or break a Mother Goose, for example, every bit as much as the selection of rhymes. Can you imagine the Pooh stories without Ernest Shepherd's line drawings? How about Garth Williams' illustrations of E B White and the "Little House" books? Pictures are where your children first begin to relate to books, and you may find it rewarding to seek out books by your favourite illustrators, as well as your favourite writers. I look for good stories. That's always paramount, especially as children begin reading for themselves. Some stories are rollicking fun, others are excitement and adventure, others are love and loss (that may not be how you think of Heidi, but that's what drives the plot). Stories are how we learn to interact with others; to find models of behavior for situations we've not yet experienced. At certain times, your boys will need to find admirable characters to inspire them. It doesn't necessarily have to be "The Red Badge of Courage"; Piglet overcoming his timidity to help Pooh hunt a Woozle is richly comic, but it also demonstrates courage and friendship. This is important, when one is a Very Small Person oneself. Major awards like the Caldecott, Newbury, or Carnegie are a bit of a gamble. These juries take their work seriously, and most of the award-winners I've read have been good books, but they're not always what you want. An award-winner which might be suitable for a thoughtful 14-year-old, for example, will probably not hold a rambunctious eight-year-old. Also, children's literature is as subject to trends as any other field, and sometimes winners will reflect that. My reasons for choosing particular books or authors vary, but all of the books listed below are here because they are of lasting quality. You may not enjoy or appreciate all of them, but I think they are as good a cross-section as any. Happy reading! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PRESCHOOL PART The beginning point for any child, any parent, in establishing a lifetime habit of reading, is a good collection of nursery rhymes. Accept my opinion or disparage it, I stand by that. A good Mother Goose is absolutely fundamental, combining all the things that I spoke of above: word play, rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, silliness, and more. Many of my happiest hours have been spent with my children (or others) on my knee, reading and giggling through nursery rhymes. Mother Goose rhymes seem (and are) rather archaic, now, but that's unimportant. What is important is that they're fun. Park a little one on your lap and start reading. Look for opportunities for fun; when you read "rings on her fingers and bells on her toes" don't miss the chance to tickle some toes. Look, really look, at the illustrations. Ask your boys what they see. Ask them to make up stories about the pictures. Ask them what are their favourites. If you're musically gifted, make up tunes and sing the rhymes. If you're not musically gifted, ask your boys to make up tunes for their favourites. Versions of Mother Goose draw on the same pool of rhymes, but are set apart by selection and illustration. Here are a few noteworthy choices: -Book of Nursery and Mother Goose Rhymes, il. Marguerite de Angeli This one contains 376 rhymes, and the illustrations are outstanding. -Mother Goose Treasury, il. Kate Greenaway Also noteworthy Other illustrators who have done excellent Mother Gooses include Tasha Tudor, Tomie dePaola, and Gyo Fujikawa. This is just a few; by all means read and purchase two or three good collections. Try to have at least one solidly-constructed hardcover for reading while sprawled on the floor, and a couple of lighter-weight copies which are easier for little hands to hold. -Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown My kids loved this one, and so now do my little niece and nephew. All of the colour illustrations have a mouse in them. Finding the mouse was a big game for my kids. By the same author: -The Friendly Book -Baby Animals -Big Red Barn -The Sleepy Book, Charlotte Zolotow Perfect for bedtime -The Bundle Book, Ruth Krauss Another bedtime story, a little game between mother and child -Two New Sneakers, Nancy Tafuri Nancy Tafuri is a superior writer. Any of her books is a safe bet. Another good one is: -Have You Seen My Duckling? -The Mouse that Jack Built, Cindy Szekeres Szekeres was always a favourite with my kids. Some adults find her illustrations too "precious," but kids love them. Most of her books are very good. -The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats Lots of fun. His other books are good, too. -Four Frogs in a Box, Mercer Mayer Completely wordless, this is a completely charming little book that even the youngest kids can enjoy "reading" for themselves. Also by Mercer Mayer: -Whinnie the Lovesick Dragon -The "Little Critter" series Warm and funny books, in which the title character experiences the ups and downs of preschool life. Big favourites with my kids. -Murmel Murmel Murmel, Robert Munsch Munsch is one of the most engaging storytellers among contemporary children's authors. This may be because he spends so much of his time telling his stories to audiences of children (if he comes to your town, take your kids; you won't regret it). His stories are full of whimsy, silliness, offbeat characters, and great lines for reading out loud. "Murmel, Murmel" is about a little girl who finds a baby in her sandbox, and sets off to find an adult to take responsibility. Others by Robert Munsch: -The Paper Bag Princess A self-reliant princess turns fairy tales on their heads. -Good Families Don't About a fart. Your boys will laugh so hard their noses will run. -Millicent and the Wind Perhaps the most beautifully illustrated of his books -Wait and See Olivia blows out her birthday candles, and the wishes come true...with surprising results. -I Love You Forever Go on, try to read it without crying. I can't. -The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle An undisputed classic. Carle's other books are very good, too. -Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, Virginia Burton I just loved this book as a kid. -Make Way for Ducklings, Robert McCloskey The second book I ever owned. This is one of the true classics of the last century, with a fun story and McCloskey's signature illustrations. If your kids don't laugh out loud at the frantic policemen stopping traffic for the ducklings, I'll eat my toque. McCloskey's other books are of equally high quality, mixing realism and whimsy with the greatest of aplomb. -A Hole is to Dig, Ruth Krauss il. Maurice Sendak Great illustrations and a simple text, a longtime favourite for almost everyone I know. -Goodnight Little Bear, Richard and Patsy Scarry Although Richard Scarry's books are hugely popular, my kids and I never really took to them. This one is the exception. Little Bear and his father play a little bedtime game. Doesn't sound like much, but my kids really loved it. -Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter Potter wrote 23 books altogether, and if you find a boxed set grab it! Her illustrations and her use of language make her books a no-brainer for any parent. You'll enjoy them as much as your kids. -Winnie the Pooh -The House at Pooh Corner -When We Were Very Young -Now We Are Six, all by A A Milne, il. Ernest Shepherd I cannot emphasize enough that you should get the original books, not the bastardized Disney ones. The charm of the characters never fades, nor that of Shepherd's illustrations. I think it is important, too, to get all four volumes; the verse as well as the stories. Children love poetry, and Milne's was as funny as it was charming. Both of my kids loved these books, and for a while my son's goodnight routine *HAD* to include a few of the poems. -Where the Wild Things Are, Maurice Sendak A favourite from its first publication. Most of Sendak's books have been brilliant, though his later work has been rather darker. My kids also loved -Hector Protector -Chicken Soup with Rice -The "Curious George" series, H. A. and Margaret Rey Really needs no introduction. I always sympathized with the whole notion of getting into trouble because of curiosity, I guess. I read every single one when I was five and six. -Flip, Wesley Dennis There were several of these beatifully illustrated stories about a young colt. "Flip and the Cows" was the third book I ever owned. -The Golden Book of Fun and Nonsense, Louis Untermeyer (ed), il. Alice and Martin Provenson My maternal grandfather gave me this book, a year or two before he died in a car accident. I absolutely loved it, and cannot recommend it highly enough as a starting point for children to discover poetry. The verse within this book encompasses a wide range of authors and styles, but Untermeyer (no slouch as a poet himself) showed a sure hand as editor. Few children can resist the absurdism of Edward Lear's limericks, or the silliness of "Jabberwocky," or the hilariously woeful tale of The Pobble Who Had No Toes. -Frog and Toad are Friends, Arnold Lobel There are several of these books. They are a modest but very real pleasure. -The Story of Ferdinand, Munro Leaf The young bull who'd rather sniff flowers than be in the bullfights. Remember him? -The Biggest Bear, Lynd Ward Good silly fun, and wonderfully illustrated. -Lyle Lyle Crocodile, Bernard Waber There are several Lyle books. They're fun. I would also recommend a few good editions of the classic fairy tales; the Grimms, Hans Christian Anderson, Charles Perrault, and the various "Fairy Books" of Andrew Lang (ie, the Yellow Fairy Book, the Blue Fairy Book, etc). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE SCHOOL-AGE PART: EARLY READERS The dividing line between preschoolers and elementary school-aged children is hard to draw, as far as their reading is concerned. Many children will be reading confidently by four or five, while others will still be struggling at six and seven. Many books in this section could have been in the last, and vice versa. We'll say, for the sake of argument, that these books will appeal to children under eight. -Clifford the Big Red Dog, Norman Bidwell These are longtime favourites for good reason. Lots of fun. -Petunia, Roger Duvoisin The first of several very funny books about a goose. My kids also loved Duvoisin's -Donkey Donkey The story of a donkey who was unhappy and insecure about the appearance of his ears. -Babar, Jean and Laurent de Brunhoff Another series which needs no introduction. Lots of personalities in these books. -Crictor -The Beast of Monsieur Racine -The Hat, all by Tomi Ungerer Tomi Ungerer's wild imagination and hilarious illustrations made him one of my favourite authors, as a child. Crictor is the story of a French schoolmistress with a pet boa constrictor; The Hat tells of a crippled veteran whose life is transformed by a magic top hat. -Our Animal Friends at Maple Hill Farm, Alice and Martin Provenson Fun and very real; the animals have memorably vivid characters. -Crow Boy, Taro Yashima A withdrawn boy from a poor family is ostracized by his classmates, but turns out to have a surprising talent. I still own the copy I got when I was six. -Miss Suzy, Miriam Young il. Arnold Lobel Miss Suzy is a grey squirrel forced from her home by a marauding band of red squirrels. She becomes a sort of foster mom to a group of toy soldiers. A minor classic. -The Dragon's Tears, Hirosuke Hamada His village lives in fear of the dragon, but one small boy decides to become its friend. The edition I see everywhere has cartoony illustrations by Tetsuo Kawamoto, but the one I had as a child had spectacularly gorgeous watercolours. I believe that edition was illustrated by Chihiro Iwasaki, but I haven't been able to find it to make sure. -Never Tease a Weasel, Jean Conder Soule More silly rhyming. Another longtime favourite with my kids. -Miss Twiggley's Tree, Dorothea Warren Fox Miss Twiggley is rather eccentric, what with living in a tree house...and having bears for friends...so the people in town shun her. Until the flood comes. You may notice that several of my recommendations are about people going their own way in the teeth of widespread disapproval. That's a theme that runs through many books I've loved over the years; and it is a factor in my personal life as well. -The Mouse House, Rumer Godden Godden was a best-selling author of adult fiction, but her children's books are perhaps more worthy of notice. These are superlatively well-written, and all of them are worth hunting down. -Mother West Wind's Children, Thornton W Burgess Burgess wrote several series of stories about a large cast of anthropomorphic animal characters. I read them all as a kid, and my two loved them as well. Although he's occasionally preachy, these books are good fun. -Amelia Bedelia, Peggy Parish Amelia is a maid who always gets things wrong, usually in the most unexpected ways. I read them all as a child. -A Bear Called Paddington, Michael Bond I was occasionally befuddled by some of the Anglicisms, but the stories were too much fun to let that bother me. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE SCHOOL-AGE PART: LATER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YEARS As I said above, there will be a great deal of back-and-forth about which books belong to which age group. And that's fine; I still enjoy reading many of these in my forties. These books will mostly fall into the grade 4-6 bracket, so we'll say ages 8-10 or so. It was in this timeframe that my curiosity really began to take off. I devoured anything I could find about dinosaurs, for example, and ancient civilizations. I even tackled Leonard Woolley's landmark "Excavations at Ur," getting perhaps a hundred pages into it before giving up. This is also where I began to take an active interest in biography, reading numerous books about noteworthy figures from the twentieth century and earlier. I also "got into" animal stories during this timeframe. -Charlotte's Web -Stuart Little, E B White White was a master prose stylist, and sly humour permeates these books. They are immediately likeable for children, and adults will find unexpected things too. Charlotte inspired me to learn a whole lot about spiders. -The "Little House" books, Laura Ingalls Wilder. No comment necessary. -Henry Huggins, Beverly Cleary And many, many others. I didn't read those as a youngster, but my kids both loved them. -Miss Pickerell Goes to Mars, Ellen MacGregor The science-oriented Miss Pickerell series were big favourites of mine. There are several others. -The Borrowers, Mary Norton Little people among us, a perennial theme. Good books. -Catwings, Ursula K LeGuin A cat gives birth to winged babies, and sends them away from the city to find a better place to live. LeGuin is, for my money, one of the outstanding American writers of the present day, and this is a good introduction to her work. -Caddie Woodlawn, Carol Ryrie Brink A sort of "Little House" with attitude. Gotta love those redheads. -Pippi Longstocking, Astrid Lindgren Preternaturally strong, not quite "with it" socially. Gotta love those redheads. -Finn Family Moomintroll, Tove Jonsson There are several books in this series, a perennial favourite in Europe but hard to find here. They are worth looking up. The plots meander unhurriedly, but the characters are unforgettable. -Doctor Doolittle, Hugh Lofting -Mary Poppins, P L Travers Another of those books that needs to be rescued from Disnification. Not that the movie isn't fun, but you're missing a lot. -The Secret Garden -A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett Books about persevering, and learning to grow in spite of difficulties. Not flawless, by any means, but still excellent reading. -Little Women, Louisa May Alcott -What Katy Did, Susan Coolidge These last couple may be a bit "girly" for your boys, but I loved them so your boys might, too. My daughter devoured all of the Alcott and Coolidge books over the last couple of years. -Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Kate Douglas Wiggin -Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maude Montgomery I put these together, because the stories are similar. Good fun, with scapegrace children getting in and out of trouble. As an Atlantic Canadian, the Anne stories were part of my childhood by default. -White Fang -Call of the Wild, Jack London I loved these as a kid. -Justin Morgan Had a Horse -King of the Wind -Misty of Chincoteague, Marguerite Henry Henry was perhaps the best ever writer about horses. The whole "Misty" series is excellent. -Just So Stories -The Jungle Books -Captains Courageous, Rudyard Kipling As much fodder for the imagination as any child could ask, with much humour and well-rounded personalities. There are several other well-known "classics" which children at this age can and often will take a shine to. The Oz books, Peter Pan, Heidi, Pinocchio, Black Beauty...I could make a whole list of just books like these, but I won't, since you could do the same yourself. The ones above are or were particular favourites of mine. I found that my interest in scientific subjects was sparked primarily by my interest in the people who pioneered these fields. During this age group I read biographies of people like Albert Einstein, Nikola Tesla, Louis Braille, Thomas Edison, Michael Faraday, Louis Pasteur, Edward Jennings, Alexander Fleming, George Washington Carver, the Curies, and many many more. Unfortunately, for most of these, I cannot recall or recommend a specific individual biography. One which I can recommend, however, is -Touch of Light: the Story of Louis Braille, by Anna Neimark Which in turn led me to: -The Story of My Life, Helen Keller A specifically scientific tale which fascinated me as a child was -The Microbe Hunters, Paul de Kruif The story of how pioneers like Pasteur, Koch, Reed, Erlich and others isolated the organisms responsible for mankind's greatest plagues. Another good one is -Gods Graves and Scholars, C W Ceram A history of archaeology, as readable and exciting as any novel. The stories of Jules Verne inspired me greatly during this age, as well. While the science in his books is now laughably dated, his stories showed great confidence in the human ability to conquer any difficulty. As a boy I remember reading "The Mysterious Island," a sequel to "20,0000 Leagues," and being fascinated at how the lead character (an engineer) could just make things they needed from scratch. This is the age where science fiction and fantasy begin to be significant, as well. You don't need me to tell you that Tolkien is essential reading, of course, but there is a great deal of good writing out there after him. -The "Redwall" series, Brian Jacques Heroic heroes, villainous villains, high adventure, laughter, tears, and feasting; these books are all you could ask in the way of entertainment. The plots all follow a similar direction; peaceful fun-loving animal characters are menaced by evil marauders and are forced to take up arms in their own defence. The books are saved from formulaic sameness by virtue of Jacques' imagination, and his skill at creating memorable characters. My son, at sixteen, is "too old" for these books, but still re-reads them with glee. So do I. -A Wizard of Earthsea -The Tombs of Atuan -The Farthest Shore, all by Ursula LeGuin Beautifully-written stories of an archipelago world, with numerous complex and believable societies. LeGuin's characters are all-too-human at times, and a recurring theme is dealing with the consequences of one's actions. -The White Mountain -The City of Gold and Lead -The Pool of Fire, all by John Christopher Trilogy for younger readers about an alien invasion of earth. -The Foundation Trilogy, Isaac Asimov Better than the usual run of vintage science fiction, this series goes above and beyond the usual "rockets & blasters" style. A good introduction to the genre. Obviously, I've left out much more than I've put in. There are certain to be any number of comments protesting that I shouldn't have left out <===fill in the blank ===>, but as I've said from the start this list is entirely personal, subjective, and idiosyncratic. Besides, it's time to move on. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE ADOLESCENCE PART At this stage, kids will begin to search out their own areas of interest, and become unpredictable in their reading. Between 11 and 15, for example, I was devouring Shakespeare and Tolstoy, but also Burroughs' Tarzan and Mars books. And I was still dipping back into the "series books" like Hardy Boys and Tom Swift. So, where to start? I remember reading numerous books about young people learning how competent they can be, under trying circumstances. A few would be: -Lost in the Barrens, Farley Mowat Two boys surviving in the Arctic -The Island of Blue Dolphins, Scott O'Dell A young native girl getting by alone on her island, after her people are slaughtered by Europeans. -Call it Courage, Armstrong Sperry Polynesian boy faces his fear of the sea. -Flight of the White Wolf, Mel Ellis A boy leads a white wolf away from settled areas into the wilderness where he'll be safe. -My Side of the Mountain, Jean Craighead George A boy decides to take to the woods, living by his wits in the Catskills. Then there are the animals, and a possible interest in biology: -Birds, Beasts, and Relatives, Gerald Durrell A memoir of his childhood and his mania for collecting various creatures wherever he went. Supercilious older brother "Larry" is of course a famous writer himself. -Owls in the House -The Dog Who Wouldn't Be, Farley Mowat Mowat also had a thing for adopting animals, or perhaps vice versa. Very funny. -All Creatures Great and Small, James Herriott This is a great age for the gentle humour of Herriott's stories. We could also look at some more challenging science fiction: -Dune, Frank Herbert There are lots of layers to this one. Religion, sociology, anthropology, political science, ecology...and one heck of a good story. My son read this at fourteen, and literally could not put it down. -The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents -Wee Free Men -A Hat Full of Sky, all by Terry Pratchett Terry Pratchett's hugely popular Discworld series has expanded in recent years to include three titles explicitly aimed at younger readers. Like the rest of the Discworld series, these books are gut-bustingly funny. Unlike most humour writers, though, Pratchett uses the usual trappings of fantasy (elves, witches, trolls, etc) to deconstruct our society and look at it in different ways. These books are entertaining at every level, but will start your kids thinking about the ways people relate; and the sometimes broad gaps between what we expect and what really happens. An example of how satire, at its best, can work to provoke thoughtful evaluation rather than cynicism. Pratchett has written other excellent books for younger readers, including the Bromeliad trilogy (Truckers, Diggers, Wings) and the "Johnny" books (beginning with Only You Can Save Mankind). And then there's the real world: -The Diary of Anne Frank Which, in turn, led me to -The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom Doing what's right, and paying the price. A powerful story at any age. -Eyewitness Books When it comes to stimulating a child's curiosity, I know of no series of books better than the Eyewitness series. These are large-format, heavily-illustrated books with a visually distinctive style. Sports, nature, history, technology, the Eyewitness books cover the whole range. Think of them as an "a la carte encyclopedia." -Any good hardcopy encyclopedia There are any number of them out there, from the venerable Britannica to Compton's to World Book and beyond. These may seem archaic, in this age of CD-ROM reference works, but I maintain that they are more potent vehicles, in some ways, than their high-tech successors. CD-ROM encyclopedias tend to be rather linear; you follow a given track, click through for the illustrations; decide between the slideshow or the video, and so on. Paper encyclopedias, on the other hand, foster serendipity. You never know what you'll come upon while looking for something else, or for that matter while curled up in the windowseat just browsing. I had the full set of Britannica when I was a kid, and while I didn't read every single article I certainly *evaluated* every article to see whether it interested me. A surprising number of them did. I offer a relatively few choices in this last age category. This is partly by design, as your boys will be developing their ow I offer a relatively few choices in this last age category. This is partly by design, as your boys will be developing their own tastes in reading by that time; also partly because I feel I've been on my soapbox for quite long enough. Obviously, I could go on for much longer; I could compile an equally long list consisting just of "recognized classics" in the field. As I said above, though, you could have done that yourself. I will quite happily add more titles in any given age group or category if you feel the need. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE SEARCH STRATEGY PART Frankly, I had very little recourse to the internet while compiling this answer. My problem has been less one of finding material, than of cutting it to fit. The majority of the titles listed here are those which were either favourites of mine, or favourites of my children. A few are her because they were recommended by those whose judgement I trust. I *did* spend some time on Google, in those instances where I remembered either the title or the author but not both. I will not specify the search terms used, given that I just typed in the part I remembered. You would do the same in my shoes. I also owe a debt to some of my fellow researchers. Just last week several of us were trading stories of our childhood favourites, so this topic is fresher in my mind than it might otherwise have been. Finally, I spent time in the back pages of the book "Honey For a Child's Heart" by Gladys Hunt (see Resources, below). Her list is rather longer than mine, and not all of my favourites are on hers, but it made a useful aide-memoire. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE RESOURCES PART There are a great many books out there, by a great many experts, on the subject of encouraging your children to read. I am sorry to report that I have read very little in this line, for the simple and sufficient reason that my children were good readers before I thought of looking for input. I will recommend the "Raising a Reader" website, a good starting point for any parent in your position: http://www.pcf.org/raising_reader/ The Americal Library Association's "Born to Read" program also offers material, advice, and resources: http://www.ala.org/ala/alsc/alscresources/borntoread/bornread.htm The Internet Public Library is a rather remarkable project, and their "Kidspace" section offers much of interest. I would recommend entering the "Reading Zone" and referring to their list of e-texts available online. While this is of little use for contemporary writing, it is a great way to check out those books which are now out of copyright (1920s and earlier, at this point). A little bit of reading, on your part, will allow you to decide quickly enough which books you wish to own in "hardcopy." The list is at this link: http://www.ipl.org/kidspace/browse/rzn0000 One book on the subject of children and reading which I *have* read, often, is "Honey for a Child's Heart" by Gladys Hunt (my copy, 3rd ed. 1989, Zondervan). The discussion of involving books in family life is clear and cogent, and the bibliography (broken out by age) is solid gold. When I was initially given this book I spent many delighted hours reading the bibliography, finding forgotten or half-remembered friends from my childhood. I will mention, given your explicit instructions on the subject, that this book was written by and for Christian parents. This need not be an issue, as long as you understand that up front. After the first chapter, the specifically church-oriented content is sporadic and not especially intrusive. Her main thrust is to explain why it is important for children to read, and she casts that in Christian terms for her target demographic. Her reasons why needn't detain you, as you have your own. The important thing is that the advice is sound, regardless of your motivation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE WRAPPING-UP PART A few final notes: I've said this before and I'll say it again; I left out WAY more than I put in. I'll be happy to amplify any area of this answer that you'd like to see fleshed out a little more. Read every children's book that crosses your path. All of the great authors were unknown once, you'll find some happy surprises. Also, as with anything else, your understanding and critical faculties will improve with practice. Make the reading time fun. When your boys decide they've had enough, don't force the issue; a squirming and squalling youngster isn't going to enjoy being read to. Keep it light, keep it funny. Respect their need for constancy; you'll get tired of their favourites long before they do. Suck it up and keep going. Focus on the goal, not the travelling. If you like to act out the voices, giving the characters a different sound, beware of giving one of them a voice that hurts your throat. You'll be expected to deliver that same voice every time, hundreds of times. I made the mistake of giving Gimli a very gruff voice, when I was reading Lord of the Rings to my kids. Be pragmatic. They'll go through phases of disinterest; don't let it get you bent out of shape. Most kids will get back to it eventually, especially if the people around them are avid readers. Eliminate the competition. Keep TV to a minimum; ideally to specified time slots or programs. I've never had cable, and my kids had to agree on what to watch during their sharply limited television time. We have no video games in the house. We do have broadband internet, but the kids have to armwrestle their parents to get online time. Above all, enjoy your time with them while they're small. My "little girl," at 11, is a substantially-built young woman already, and while she still loves to curl up on my lap she's just not a good fit anymore. <sigh> Thanks for offering up an irresistible question, -Chromedome PS: Apologies in advance for any vagaries in the formatting. We have a very limited ability to format our text, and sometimes it gets out of whack.