I’ve heard of the Wilderking Trilogy but have never read it! I’ll have to check into it for my 10 year old son who loves all things fantasy like Wingfeather Saga, Chronicles of Narnia, and Redwall. I think that this trilogy might be a perfect fit! Thank you for sharing all of your book suggestions, Rachel!
I love that your son is reading so many great books! When my son was 10 he was obsessed with The Lord of the Rings series. I still have a memory of him sitting in a tree reading. We made eye contact through the window (I was inside) and he lit up and waved. It was just such a precious memory to me. These good books really do shape us.
The Angel Knew Papa and the Dog sounds good. I'm going to see if my library has it.
One of our daughters was reading the 1st of the Wilderking Trilogy recently, so I may have to look for the 2nd and 3rd books.
Mio, My Son by Astrid Lindgren is a beautiful fairy tale that my 8 & 12 year old daughters enjoyed having read aloud to them. Some others we've journeyed through: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Hitty: Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field, Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink.
Thanks so much for all of these recommendations! I love hearing about what other families are reading and enjoying. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is one of my favorite books and I'm trying to remember if we read A Little Princess. My eldest is almost 20, so it's fun to revisit some of these books for a second time. As my kids grow up, I cherish these memories of reading aloud together even more deeply!
Yes, reading aloud to my children is/has been the best way to love and connect with them for me. Our oldest is 25 and our youngest is 8 - and we have a 2 yr. old grandson who already loves being read aloud to when he visits, so I have lots of memories of the early years and am really still in the thick of it all. I also like to hear what other families read and enjoy. I actually didn't read The Secret Garden as a child, but as a mom, and I loved it and found it to be so hopeful. I haven't read it aloud to my kids yet but hope to. I also had the opportunity to read aloud the Little House on the Prairie books and The Chronicles of Narnia with my older kids, which I had not read as a child. What a gift reading with my children has been!
This has been my story, too! I didn't read these stories as a child, so I am experiencing them as an adult for the first time alongside of my kids. It has been such a wonderful experience. I appreciate them so much in this season of my life. My only sadness is that I won't have time to get to them all. There are just so many great books to read. Congratulations on your grandson. I can't wait to have grandchildren one day! Children are a blessing!
Me too. Having a grandchild is indeed a HUGE blessing, but I also can say that I am amazed at how much ENERGY those little ones have. When he spends the night - which is fairly frequently - I am reminded of how much stamina it takes to care for little ones. We also have a granddaughter on the way - due at the end of this month. I can't wait to meet and hold her!
Love book recommendations! Our kids have loved all the George MacDonald books (At the Back of the North Wind was a favorite read aloud for my now 10 year old, and we all love the Princess and the Goblin and its sequel). Howard Pyle's Garden Behind to the Moon is another beautiful fairy tale-like story that reminds me of MacDonald's writing. My 10 and 8 year olds loved hearing the first book in the Wingfeather series outloud over the summer and then they fought over who would get to read the sequels :) I always find interesting books from the New York Book Review kids' collection - it's worth checking out their page and then searching for used copies on Better World Books.
At the Back of the North Wind has been on my list for such a long time. Thank you for the reminder! And I love this tip about searching for used copies! Brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing. Howard Pyle is new to me. I always love discovering someone new! I appreciate you taking the time to leave me this!
We loved Gene Stratton Porter’s books: Freckles, Girl of the Limberlost, Keeper of the Bees. They were so full of nature and adventure. God is glorified in the beauty of His creation and this author’s way of conveying the science in literature.
Quo Vadis was another great read by the Polish Nobel Laureate author Henryk Sienkiewicz written in 1896. This was a gripping tale detailing life during the reign of Nero. It has a beautiful love story and truth about how Christians courageously met their death in the amphitheater in Rome. This mother’s eyes were brought to tears as we read it aloud together. The drama of history comes to life in the books that have been written before us. Our lives are richer because of them.
But of course, the Bible has been by far the best. As Napoleon said, “The Bible is no mere book but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it.” While celebrating our 40th Wedding Anniversary, our children shared how the “wisdom” searches around the kitchen table, focusing on the Psalms and Proverbs blessed their lives. What an encouragement to hear how they experienced the Living God through the Word equipping them for life. Praise the LORD for His great and precious promises.
I have a friend who is your age. We read books aloud to each other via voice memos over Voxer (a voice memo app). We have been doing this since 2018 and are on our 44th book (Peace Like a River). Freckles and Girl of the Limberlost were recommended to us and have been on our to-read list, so I am excited to see them here. I am so glad your kids were blessed by their time with you in the Psalms and Proverbs. I feel that same time about our time singing together around the piano. I have carried those songs in my heart my whole life long... or as Wordsworth said, "The music in my heart I bore, long after it was heard no more."
Thanks Rachel. I had half a notion to delete my comment, after I thought about the post. It was focused on books for grade schoolers to read. I just charged ahead with all the stored memories of days gone by. They are sweet, but I might have missed the point. Your kids have been blessed to have such a rich education centered on books, the Bible, music and so much more. Keep up the good work.
I’ve heard of the Wilderking Trilogy but have never read it! I’ll have to check into it for my 10 year old son who loves all things fantasy like Wingfeather Saga, Chronicles of Narnia, and Redwall. I think that this trilogy might be a perfect fit! Thank you for sharing all of your book suggestions, Rachel!
I love that your son is reading so many great books! When my son was 10 he was obsessed with The Lord of the Rings series. I still have a memory of him sitting in a tree reading. We made eye contact through the window (I was inside) and he lit up and waved. It was just such a precious memory to me. These good books really do shape us.
The Angel Knew Papa and the Dog sounds good. I'm going to see if my library has it.
One of our daughters was reading the 1st of the Wilderking Trilogy recently, so I may have to look for the 2nd and 3rd books.
Mio, My Son by Astrid Lindgren is a beautiful fairy tale that my 8 & 12 year old daughters enjoyed having read aloud to them. Some others we've journeyed through: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Hitty: Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field, Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink.
Thanks so much for all of these recommendations! I love hearing about what other families are reading and enjoying. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett is one of my favorite books and I'm trying to remember if we read A Little Princess. My eldest is almost 20, so it's fun to revisit some of these books for a second time. As my kids grow up, I cherish these memories of reading aloud together even more deeply!
Yes, reading aloud to my children is/has been the best way to love and connect with them for me. Our oldest is 25 and our youngest is 8 - and we have a 2 yr. old grandson who already loves being read aloud to when he visits, so I have lots of memories of the early years and am really still in the thick of it all. I also like to hear what other families read and enjoy. I actually didn't read The Secret Garden as a child, but as a mom, and I loved it and found it to be so hopeful. I haven't read it aloud to my kids yet but hope to. I also had the opportunity to read aloud the Little House on the Prairie books and The Chronicles of Narnia with my older kids, which I had not read as a child. What a gift reading with my children has been!
This has been my story, too! I didn't read these stories as a child, so I am experiencing them as an adult for the first time alongside of my kids. It has been such a wonderful experience. I appreciate them so much in this season of my life. My only sadness is that I won't have time to get to them all. There are just so many great books to read. Congratulations on your grandson. I can't wait to have grandchildren one day! Children are a blessing!
Me too. Having a grandchild is indeed a HUGE blessing, but I also can say that I am amazed at how much ENERGY those little ones have. When he spends the night - which is fairly frequently - I am reminded of how much stamina it takes to care for little ones. We also have a granddaughter on the way - due at the end of this month. I can't wait to meet and hold her!
Oh yes! I feel you with that! Congratulations on your granddaughter! What a blessing!!! I am so excited for you to hold her toooo. What a gift!!!!
Love book recommendations! Our kids have loved all the George MacDonald books (At the Back of the North Wind was a favorite read aloud for my now 10 year old, and we all love the Princess and the Goblin and its sequel). Howard Pyle's Garden Behind to the Moon is another beautiful fairy tale-like story that reminds me of MacDonald's writing. My 10 and 8 year olds loved hearing the first book in the Wingfeather series outloud over the summer and then they fought over who would get to read the sequels :) I always find interesting books from the New York Book Review kids' collection - it's worth checking out their page and then searching for used copies on Better World Books.
At the Back of the North Wind has been on my list for such a long time. Thank you for the reminder! And I love this tip about searching for used copies! Brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing. Howard Pyle is new to me. I always love discovering someone new! I appreciate you taking the time to leave me this!
We loved Gene Stratton Porter’s books: Freckles, Girl of the Limberlost, Keeper of the Bees. They were so full of nature and adventure. God is glorified in the beauty of His creation and this author’s way of conveying the science in literature.
Quo Vadis was another great read by the Polish Nobel Laureate author Henryk Sienkiewicz written in 1896. This was a gripping tale detailing life during the reign of Nero. It has a beautiful love story and truth about how Christians courageously met their death in the amphitheater in Rome. This mother’s eyes were brought to tears as we read it aloud together. The drama of history comes to life in the books that have been written before us. Our lives are richer because of them.
But of course, the Bible has been by far the best. As Napoleon said, “The Bible is no mere book but a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it.” While celebrating our 40th Wedding Anniversary, our children shared how the “wisdom” searches around the kitchen table, focusing on the Psalms and Proverbs blessed their lives. What an encouragement to hear how they experienced the Living God through the Word equipping them for life. Praise the LORD for His great and precious promises.
I have a friend who is your age. We read books aloud to each other via voice memos over Voxer (a voice memo app). We have been doing this since 2018 and are on our 44th book (Peace Like a River). Freckles and Girl of the Limberlost were recommended to us and have been on our to-read list, so I am excited to see them here. I am so glad your kids were blessed by their time with you in the Psalms and Proverbs. I feel that same time about our time singing together around the piano. I have carried those songs in my heart my whole life long... or as Wordsworth said, "The music in my heart I bore, long after it was heard no more."
Thanks Rachel. I had half a notion to delete my comment, after I thought about the post. It was focused on books for grade schoolers to read. I just charged ahead with all the stored memories of days gone by. They are sweet, but I might have missed the point. Your kids have been blessed to have such a rich education centered on books, the Bible, music and so much more. Keep up the good work.
I loved it and I loved these recommendations.
I'm bookmarking this for when my kiddos are a little older. These all look wonderful, Rachel!
The last one, the picture book, was so whimsical and lulling. Your kids might enjoy it as a bedtime story. I thought it was very sweet.