I loved to read when I was a kid, but I can’t say that I read much worthwhile. I would say that my picture Bible was the most worthy investment of my time. I read through that comic Bible seven times in Grade 4. And it was big! I even won a prize for it. But other than that volume, not a lot of substance.
My horizons have expanded, mostly because of homeschooling my kids. I’ve become passionate about children’s books and what makes for a true story, or good literature, and how it forms our children, for better or worse.
As a homeschooling consultant, I’ve had proud parents share with me that their little ones read all day long. I get excited and ask what they are reading. When the answer is cheap and worldly, I cry a little inside. As much as I understand from experience the excitement of having an early reader (usually a first child with an eager parent), I’ve come to understand that almost every child will read eventually. The success is when they are reading something worthy.
People will say, “It doesn’t matter what they read, as long as they’re reading.” I disagree 100 per cent. Would we say that it doesn’t matter what they eat, as long as they are eating? I hope not. Reading for reading’s sake is neither virtuous nor beneficial (unless the child simply needs to practise phonetic skills, and then it isn’t reading for reading’s sake anymore. Even then, simple readers do not need to be “deep and philosophical” to be worthy. There are many simple, whimsical, worthy easy readers).
At a young age it is actually much more important that they are being read to by mom or dad than actually reading themselves. They learn vocabulary, grammar by inflection, pronunciation, and, if done correctly, truth, when read to. It also develops brain paths, converting oral expressions into silent, interior understanding. Maybe most importantly, they also get to snuggle on a couch or under a blanket with someone who loves them, sharing a good story. Humans are designed to share story, by oral word primarily, then written word. Movies can come after that. (Maybe I’ll ask them to give me their summer movie suggestions next!)
So, I’ve asked my kids to create for you, dear reader, this list of summer reading suggestions. The list is varied and so limited, and it includes books they’ve read this year as well as ones they remember from when they were younger. I will not include the Bible, or The Lord of the Rings, as each goes without saying. I also won’t repeat many that are favourites of everyone. I haven’t read many of them myself, and I might have had my own suggestions, but no one asked, so…
Thomas, age 9:
- Narnia series: C.S. Lewis
- Finnian, and Phantom Phoenix comic series (these are published by Voyage books and found at Catholic bookstores. Check them out!)
- The Adventures of Loupio: Jean-Frances Kieffer
- The Green Ember series: S.D. Smith
- The Imagination Station Series: Focus on the Family publishing (kids taken into different times in history)
- Saint Jose: Boy Cristero Martyr (the last chapter choked me up!): Ignatius Press (all the saint books in this series have been much loved by us.)
- King Arthur, an early chapter reader: Benedict Flynn (or Howard Pyle for more depth)
- Davy Crockett: Aileen Parks
- Thomas also mentioned a particular enjoyment of his science text this year, Understanding God’s World.
Isaac, age 12: (he seconded Green Ember, and St. Jose)
- Saint Isaac and the Indians: Milton Lomask
- Tom Playfair series: Father Francis Fynn (actually he loves all his books. Very old fashioned. The language can take a bit to get used to.)
- Eagle of the Ninth: Rosemary Sutcliff
- Island of Adventure: Enid Blyton
Madalen, age 14:
- The Redwall Series, and The Flying Dutchman series: Brian Jacques
- Anything by Jane Austen
- Rifles for Wattie: Harold Keith
- The Song at the Scaffold, by Gertrud von le Fort (true story of martyred nuns during French Revolution)
- Anne of Green Gables: L.M. Montgomery (the boys also loved this book)
- The Silmarillion: Tolkien
- Little Women: Louisa May Alcott
- Little Princess: Frances Burnett
- Freddy, the Detective: Walter R. Brooks
- Jane Eyre: Charlotte Bronte
Elijah, age 16:
- The Endling Series: Katherine Applegate
- Chronicles of Prydain: Lloyd Alexander
- Romanov: Nadine Brandes
- Will Wilder series: Raymond Arroyo (with some reservations by Eli on the usage of relics)
Nicolas, age 18:
- Mr. Blue: Myles Connolly
- Short stories by Flannery O’Connor
- Emma: Jane Austin
- Begone, Satan: Carl Vogl
- Lord of the World: Robert Hugh Benson
- Metamorphosis: Franz Kafka
- As a child he enjoyed Swallows and Amazons, by Arthur Ransome, and, surprisingly to some, Nancy Drew.
Andrew, age 20:
- The Confessions of Saint Augustine
- Dante’s Divine Comedy
- Right Ho, Jeeves: PG Wodehouse (and all the Jeeves books)
- De Anima: Aristotle
- Leaf by Niggle: Tolkien
- Father Elijah: Michael O’Brien
- Ballad of the White Horse: Chesterton (and all Chesterton)
- The Iliad, Odyssey, and Aeneid (these all have abridged versions for children that Andrew started with)
- Murder in the Cathedral: T.S. Eliot
- A Man for All Seasons: Robert Bolt
If there was time, and space, and if anyone asked me, I could list off all the favourite picture books that I read to my not-so-little kids when they were so-little. There are some that have a space in my heart, and even if the kids don’t remember them specifically, I know that they were in the first steps of developing a love for true story. Really, I could write a list just of picture books.
If you are looking for something to help your child learn to read, I suggest Teach Your Child in 100 Easy Lessons. I used this book for all six of our kids. And if you want to read my favourite book about the importance of true stories for children, which also includes a list of suggested books, Landscape With Dragons by Michael O’Brien is my number one choice. If you have children, or grandchildren, or are an educator, get it and read it!
