There are lots of books in the world... but we have listed some of our very favorites below. What made these books really stand out for us was the great use of language. Reading many books with rich word choice is bound to assist your linguistic development!

The list below is still being updated, as I'm not quite through with all the Amazon links yet. All of the Amazon listings already here link to the hardcovers for sale.

The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Especially for girls, but Farmer Boy is excellent for boys.

 

 

Little House in the Highlands (and subsequent books) by Melissa Wiley

About Laura Ingalls Wilder's great-grandmother in Scotland. Author is a homeschool mom. Family and faith friendly. Make sure you get the originals (with drawings on covers), not the recently published abridgements (with photos on the covers).

 

 

 

Little House in Boston Bay (and subsequent books) by Melissa Wiley About Laura Ingalls Wilder's grandmother. Again, make sure you don't get the abridgements!

 

 

The House at Pooh Corner, Now We Are Six, When We Were Very Young, Winnie-the-Pooh by  A. A. Milne

Well written, hilarious stories. Better than the Disney movies! Ernest Shepard's adorable illustrations make these copies appropriate for even very young children.

 

 

The Moffats (and several subsequent ones in series) by Eleanor Estes

Good for boys and girls. Very funny, with odd and hilarious accidental adventures.

 

 

The Narnia Chronicles (The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, etc.) by C.S. Lewis

 

 

 

Note: These books are listed in paperback form, as we do not see that it is as crucial as you have them in hardcover.

 

If you would prefer hardcovers of these books, they are also available from Amazon. Please click on the cover of the book you are interested in and chose the option of "hardcover."

 

 

 

  

The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

Early settlers in Maine- boy survives with help of Indian friend.

 

 

Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher

Such a sweet book.

 

 

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray

About a boy in the Middle Ages. Excellent.

 

 

Runaway by Patricia St. John

Boy in Palestine hears about Jesus, wonders if He can heal his demon-possessed sister. Very good. Book never portrays Jesus directly, just people talking about seeing him. Good story and good immersion in Holy Land geography.

 

 

^ paperback ^

(no hardcovers available)

The Secret at Pheasant Cottage by Patricia St. John

Excellent. Girl being raised by grandparents discovers her father has just been released from prison and loves her. Sweet book.

 

^ paperback ^

(no hardcovers available)

 

Three Go Searching by Patricia St. John

Son of a missionary doctor in Africa learns to be a witness for God. Gospel gives hope to a sinful friend and a handicapped servant girl. Good.

 

^ hardcover ^      ^ paperback ^

Treasures of the Snow by Patricia St. John

Excellent. Girl learns about forgiveness. Exciting and excellent gospel presentation, and representation of God's power in sanctification.

 

^ hardcover ^      ^ paperback ^

Rainbow Garden by Patricia St. John

Self-centered girl goes to live a year with a Christian family, becomes a Christian and learnes that "fulness of joy" is found in being close to Christ and follwoing his path. Good story of conversion and of being content with where God places you. Excellent.

 

^ paperback ^      ^ hardcover ^

  

The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

 

 

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Be sure you get this great classic in its original form!

 

At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald

 

 

The River of Grace: A Story of John Calvin by Joyce McPherson

Excellently written. Just came back into print. Written by a homeschool mom.

 

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite d'Angeli

 

Moccasin Trail by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

A boy torn between two worlds finds himself. early 1800s. Excellent writing. Oregon Trail. Boy finds himself caught between world of white men and the Indians who raised him.

 

By the Great Horn Spoon! by Sid Fleischman

Funny historical fiction about California Gold Rush.

 

Guns for General Washington by Seymour Reit

Exciting story of how giant cannon were dragged across the wilderness, against all odds, to allow the patriots defeat the British in a crucial early Revolutionary War battle.

 

Brady by Jean Fritz

Well-written account of boy struggling with right and wrong and the abolitionist movement pre-Civil War.

 

Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt

On the Civil War; shows both perspectives on the war.

 

 

Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

Touching story.

 

The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

A mystery/fantasy - very well written.

 

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

Wonderful writing, and funny. Four animal friends and their adventures.

 

Men of Iron by Howard Pyle

Knights and battles, a boy growing to maturity. Great use of language.

 

(This is the classic edition illustrated by the author)

 

Magic for Marigold by L.M. Montgomery

About a young, imaginative girl and her adventures. Very sweet. Somewhat similar to Anne of Green Gables.

 

^ hardcover ^      ^ paperback ^

 

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

About a boy named Pip who has great expectations and yet learns to be content.

 

To Have and To Hold by Mary Johnston, edited by Josh and Sarah Wean

A colonial Jamestown tale of a man who marries a woman from a shipload of wives-to-be and goes through many trials to protect and provide for his wife. Very well written.

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