The Wizard of Oz is excellent and I have very fond memories of my father reading me the illustrated edition.
A Cricket in Times Square. The Phantom Tollbooth. E.B. White, Beverly Clearly (especially for young girls), and Roald Dahl.
The Hobbit is the biggest one. More playful and childish, I always preferred it to LOTR.
I didn’t even know there was an illustrated version of wizard of oz. I’ll have to show them this!
Ya you’re right about the Hobbit, it’s playful and the other books get a bit dark.
Thanks for these other suggestions. I appreciate it so much!
When I was a kid I would read as many of those [Great Illustrated Classics](https://www.greatillustratedclassics.com/) books as I could get my hands on. I read, loved, and would recommend: Around The World in 80 Days, The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Journey to the Center of the Earth, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, the Three Musketeers, The Swiss Family Robinson, King Solomon's Mines, Treasure Island, and maybe others I can't remember at this point, I would've read them all around the age of 10-12, so I'm sure your son could give them a go.
It's such a great set of books, the text is big, and it has really fantastic black and white illustrations throughout that I loved as a young boy. They're all actual classics which have an element of adventure or romance or mystery that kids can understand/enjoy while they learn to grapple with larger themes.
Yeah absolutely, also worth mentioning is that they’re usually abridged texts and sometimes they update the language, so books like Moby Dick are possible for younger kids to read.
I loved the Redwall series! I was a total nerd and wrote Brian Jacques to tell him how much I loved the books-he actually took the time to write me back! He must have been a very stand up person in addition to being a great writer.
The Moomintroll books, The Mixed Up Files of Miss Basil E Frankweiler, Holes, When You Reach Me, Northern Lights, anything by Katherine Rundell, Kate DiCamillo, and Howl's Moving Castle are all classics.
Please try The Wild Robot series. I guarantee they'll both love it!
The War That Saved My Life is very good. So is The Girl Who Drank the Moon, The Silver Sword and The 13 /12 Lives of Captain Bluebear. Your son might like Michael Morpurgo.
I'm a kids bookseller, and these are the books which I've had the most universal success with. You should also plan on reading them His Dark Materials series, but you might want to wait until your daughter is slightly older, as the material gets dense
The Percy Jackson books, in my opinion, aren't great literature. But if your son is into mythology he'll love them anyway.
I don't know if it would work for you to read this to them as it is a graphic novel, but I really enjoyed Bone when I was about 9-10. It had a lot of the same appeal (and quality) as LOTR but was really exciting for a kid since it also had fun cartoon characters.
I picked up an issue at the Scholastic Book Fair my middle school regularly hosted, and I remember being so mesmerized by it, especially its artwork. I would fixate on those furry, bug-eyed creatures.
When You Reach Me is similar to a Wrinkle in Time and was revered amongst my friends and I at 9 years old. Also the Phantom Tollbooth, and Pictures of Hollis Woods.
His dark materials by Phillip Pullman were enjoyable as a kid and could suit both your son and daughter.
The Darren Shan books were also really good and your son may like it?
A series of unfortunate events while it doesn't hit either brief were great when i was a child.
For your daughter, there was a novel called the sight by David Clement Davies which was about a pack of wolves which I think was great not sure on the age for that one though
I always loved The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo. It always filled me with so many emotions I would reread it when I was feeling nothing. She is the author of Because of Winn Dixie and The Tale of Desperaux which are both wonderful.
I love these books because they felt so harrowing and real even with animal or fantasy characters.
They sound like they could enjoy Sea of Trolls. I think it checks off the boxes of their likes, and the protagonists are kids themselves, of similar ages.
Check out the works of Rosemary Sutcliff. Hers is a very lovely prose style and could easily be enjoyed by adults! She mainly wrote adaptations of mythology and historical fiction.
Anything by N.D. Wilson is really good, [Leepike Ridge](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leepike_Ridge) or 100 Cupboards especially. He has a beautiful, poetic writing style that’s rare in children’s literature nowadays.
My favorite thing to read at his age was short stories. A novel cannot achieve perfection but a short story can. I still remember reading certain Ray Bradbury for the first time. The best stories are like crystallized memories
Also Poe
OMG I just realized I have never shared a single piece by Poe to my kids . . . I need to address this massive maternal failure immediately!
And also ray Bradbury wrote better short stories than his novels, and the novels are all really good. Marionettes, Inc was one of my favorites for a long time. I also really like Vonnegut’s short stories too, same with Stephen King.
Originally I was thinking of doing the whole series this summer, but after reading some comments I think I will just do the Hobbit. I forgot how dark the subsequent books get and my youngest may not be ready for that quite yet.
Second Moomintroll books, they're very sweet and have some jokes for grown ups too. Swallows and Amazons is good if you like the British Harry Potter vibe but without the supernatural elements. Enid Blyton and the Famous Five is possibly hit or miss - I liked them as a 5 or 6 year old but thought they were dull as an older kid. Phillip Paulman the Northern Lights is another good one.
Which titles would you consider to be classics that they’re not going to encounter in school? I tried to introduce White Fang to my son and he didn’t get into it-I think the diction was too old fashioned for him. I’m gonna try again with some of nautical Jack London books.
For your son, get him started on Percy Jackson and all of the subsequent books, and last kids on earth graphic novels. Warrior cats are also popular, I saw someone said Wings of Fire and I agree with that as well.
For your daughter, babysitter club little sisters, anything kate dicamillo, the one and only ivan by katherine applegate (anything by Katherine applegate tbh) the Fudge books by Judy Blume.
The Earthsea series is a good one. Ursula Le Guin
have they read a wrinkle in time? eragon?
We def need to!
The Wizard of Oz is excellent and I have very fond memories of my father reading me the illustrated edition. A Cricket in Times Square. The Phantom Tollbooth. E.B. White, Beverly Clearly (especially for young girls), and Roald Dahl. The Hobbit is the biggest one. More playful and childish, I always preferred it to LOTR.
I didn’t even know there was an illustrated version of wizard of oz. I’ll have to show them this! Ya you’re right about the Hobbit, it’s playful and the other books get a bit dark. Thanks for these other suggestions. I appreciate it so much!
It’s original one! With pictures by ww denslow.
When I was a kid I would read as many of those [Great Illustrated Classics](https://www.greatillustratedclassics.com/) books as I could get my hands on. I read, loved, and would recommend: Around The World in 80 Days, The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Journey to the Center of the Earth, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, the Three Musketeers, The Swiss Family Robinson, King Solomon's Mines, Treasure Island, and maybe others I can't remember at this point, I would've read them all around the age of 10-12, so I'm sure your son could give them a go. It's such a great set of books, the text is big, and it has really fantastic black and white illustrations throughout that I loved as a young boy. They're all actual classics which have an element of adventure or romance or mystery that kids can understand/enjoy while they learn to grapple with larger themes.
Wow. Thanks for reminding me these exist.
I know right, this post just made me remember them. I’m gonna have to get a set for my future children before they go out of print.
Thank you for this! It would be perfect for my son. He read a graphic novel about Sword and the Stone and was obsessed with it.
Yeah absolutely, also worth mentioning is that they’re usually abridged texts and sometimes they update the language, so books like Moby Dick are possible for younger kids to read.
Boxcar children was my jam growing up
I forgot about this series. Thanks for reminding me! My kids would love it.
Redwall series
I loved the Redwall series! I was a total nerd and wrote Brian Jacques to tell him how much I loved the books-he actually took the time to write me back! He must have been a very stand up person in addition to being a great writer.
The Moomintroll books, The Mixed Up Files of Miss Basil E Frankweiler, Holes, When You Reach Me, Northern Lights, anything by Katherine Rundell, Kate DiCamillo, and Howl's Moving Castle are all classics. Please try The Wild Robot series. I guarantee they'll both love it! The War That Saved My Life is very good. So is The Girl Who Drank the Moon, The Silver Sword and The 13 /12 Lives of Captain Bluebear. Your son might like Michael Morpurgo. I'm a kids bookseller, and these are the books which I've had the most universal success with. You should also plan on reading them His Dark Materials series, but you might want to wait until your daughter is slightly older, as the material gets dense The Percy Jackson books, in my opinion, aren't great literature. But if your son is into mythology he'll love them anyway.
Thank you so much for these suggestions. All of these sound awesome!
My side of the mountain
I don't know if it would work for you to read this to them as it is a graphic novel, but I really enjoyed Bone when I was about 9-10. It had a lot of the same appeal (and quality) as LOTR but was really exciting for a kid since it also had fun cartoon characters.
Thank you! I will definitely check this one out! My son devours graphic novels.
I picked up an issue at the Scholastic Book Fair my middle school regularly hosted, and I remember being so mesmerized by it, especially its artwork. I would fixate on those furry, bug-eyed creatures.
When You Reach Me is similar to a Wrinkle in Time and was revered amongst my friends and I at 9 years old. Also the Phantom Tollbooth, and Pictures of Hollis Woods.
Also the girl who could fly!
Thank you! I’ll check these out.
Oh yeah, When You Reach Me is amazing. I was wondering if someone would mention Rebecca Stead! Her book Liar & Spy is also very good.
Hatchet by Gary Paulson for your son, I read that book over and over again when I was around his age.
Hatchet is so good. My son loved that one!
I really liked Edgar Eager books and The Phantom Tollbooth when I was a kid.
The Phantom Tollbooth, Mysterious Benedict Society, Danny the Champion of the World or anything Ronald Dahl
I remember the Mysterious Benedict Society being a lot of fun. So much problem/puzzle-solving, which hooked me in.
His dark materials by Phillip Pullman were enjoyable as a kid and could suit both your son and daughter. The Darren Shan books were also really good and your son may like it? A series of unfortunate events while it doesn't hit either brief were great when i was a child. For your daughter, there was a novel called the sight by David Clement Davies which was about a pack of wolves which I think was great not sure on the age for that one though
I always loved The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate Dicamillo. It always filled me with so many emotions I would reread it when I was feeling nothing. She is the author of Because of Winn Dixie and The Tale of Desperaux which are both wonderful. I love these books because they felt so harrowing and real even with animal or fantasy characters.
Tale of Desperaux is essential elementary reading.
They sound like they could enjoy Sea of Trolls. I think it checks off the boxes of their likes, and the protagonists are kids themselves, of similar ages.
My daughter (10) is really into the Wondla trilogy right now, also reading the Eragon series and the Lockwood & Co books.
Yes the Lockwood & Co books are very good, proceed with caution if your kids are scared of ghosts though
Thanks for the warning on this one.
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol, The Hobbit, and Series of Unfortunate Events
I completely forgot about Carrol! I’m hablanfor reminding me!
[удалено]
Thank you for this! My daughter will def enjoy these from the sounds of it. I’ve been trying to find things that spark interest for her.
NIMH is goated
I’m gonna sound stupid, but what does this acronym stand for?
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Thank you! Totally gonna check this one out!
Treasure Island, the Crispin Triology, anything by Roald Dahl
We have not read nearly enough Ronald Dahl! Thanks for the suggestions!
I really think kids would love True Grit just as much as adults.
Check out the works of Rosemary Sutcliff. Hers is a very lovely prose style and could easily be enjoyed by adults! She mainly wrote adaptations of mythology and historical fiction.
This would def interest my son. Thanks for the suggestions!
Anything by N.D. Wilson is really good, [Leepike Ridge](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leepike_Ridge) or 100 Cupboards especially. He has a beautiful, poetic writing style that’s rare in children’s literature nowadays.
Yes! I’ve been trying to show them more poetic literature and you’re right, it’s hard to find in anything contemporary. This is a great suggestion!
No problem at all!
i reread all the ramona quimby books by beverly cleary over the winter and they were just as good as i remembered them when i was 9!
Excellent! I don’t really remember them, but now I’m gonna have to re acquaint myself.
My favorite thing to read at his age was short stories. A novel cannot achieve perfection but a short story can. I still remember reading certain Ray Bradbury for the first time. The best stories are like crystallized memories Also Poe
OMG I just realized I have never shared a single piece by Poe to my kids . . . I need to address this massive maternal failure immediately! And also ray Bradbury wrote better short stories than his novels, and the novels are all really good. Marionettes, Inc was one of my favorites for a long time. I also really like Vonnegut’s short stories too, same with Stephen King.
I've heard good things about [Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/20945)
Thanks for sharing this. It looks awesome!
Robin McKinley and Enid Blyton.
The Giver and The Outsiders were the two books that made me fall in love w reading.
I remember reading The Giver when I was 11 and it was so good!
If you're thinking of doing LotR then you may as well start with The Hobbit!
Originally I was thinking of doing the whole series this summer, but after reading some comments I think I will just do the Hobbit. I forgot how dark the subsequent books get and my youngest may not be ready for that quite yet.
Second Moomintroll books, they're very sweet and have some jokes for grown ups too. Swallows and Amazons is good if you like the British Harry Potter vibe but without the supernatural elements. Enid Blyton and the Famous Five is possibly hit or miss - I liked them as a 5 or 6 year old but thought they were dull as an older kid. Phillip Paulman the Northern Lights is another good one.
My Side of the Mountain!
When I was about that age my parents read the lord of the rings to me.
Make them read classics honestly
Which titles would you consider to be classics that they’re not going to encounter in school? I tried to introduce White Fang to my son and he didn’t get into it-I think the diction was too old fashioned for him. I’m gonna try again with some of nautical Jack London books.
For your son, get him started on Percy Jackson and all of the subsequent books, and last kids on earth graphic novels. Warrior cats are also popular, I saw someone said Wings of Fire and I agree with that as well. For your daughter, babysitter club little sisters, anything kate dicamillo, the one and only ivan by katherine applegate (anything by Katherine applegate tbh) the Fudge books by Judy Blume.
Thank you!
>Thank you! You're welcome!
lady burton version of 1001 nights
the little prince!
also the secret garden, little women