Andrea at Atypical Homeschool wants to know what books folks think all kids should read. I could come up with a list that would never stop growing, but I can easily hold back and make it quick and easy. I can think of a concise list can't I?
I feel I should begin by pointing out that I don't believe in this list. I don't believe in subjective restraints on what children should or should not read. I believe firmly in censorship within the family itself based on the content of individual books and the maturity (for lack of a better word) of the child or children. When I think in terms of appropriateness, I consider sexual content, types of violence and adult themes, drug use for example. These are all subjects that children should be taught about with complete honesty, but I want to reserve the right to time those discussions for when they are most appropriate for my children.
As almost the only author I will list by name, I think all kids should read the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. We are of course all aware of his four most popular works, The Hobbit as well as the The Lord of the Rings trilogy. These are perfect books to get lost in, to sink into as too many hours slip past unknown. What I've read of his other work, though not quite as lengthy, is also fun to read. These are the kind of books we read as kids then get excited to read to our own kids. These are the books that we cherish as old friends, books that we read and reread over the years, the books that cause me to lament that I can only read them for the first time once.
Kids should read historically accurate stories, both fiction and nonfiction. These books are fun because they give us a look at a time past. We could all use a little view of ourselves in relation to the never ending rush of time and history. Perhaps Laura Ingalls didn't change the world and doesn't show up in world history books, but she's changed the view of plenty of people over the years with her Little House series of books. Through those books we see how different life was not so long ago. Along with this, kids should read biographies and autobiographies. What better way to explore the lives of people that made history happen, though they little thought it at the time.
Kids should read crap, and I mean that in the best possible way. The Animorphs series of books are not likely to win any Nobel or Newberry awards, and they aren't the deepest most well thought out paragons of writerly ability. They are fun to read though, and they can pull you right into their fantastic stories of DNA acquiring kids who change into animals to fight the evil alien invasion. This is the kind of book that's perfect for when you want a quick read that will let you let go for a couple of hours or days.
If any point just sticks with me it's simply that kids should read. Parents should know what their kids are reading to be able to weed out books that are not appropriate for their kids, but beyond that, why stand in the way of a kid who wants to read? I fear that many parents limit their children's reading by making up standards of quality, the people who will tell you that their kids never read twaddle, that their kids only read classics. I say there's room for all books and that no one should be made to feel bad because of their choice of what to read. It's that old unschooling philosophy to me, giving kids the richest library we can, making them aware that it exists for them and that they are welcome to what they want.
4 comments:
You know what? ITA. Sarah has read so much of a variety of books, including everything you mentioned, that I think that is the reason why she asked me to come up with recommendations.
She's read Animorphs and Goosebumps, Babysitter club books, Harry potter (even though we were intially on the "good Christians don't read HP" bandwagon, then we got a clue), some of Tolkein as she got older and now reads adult historical fiction like the Clan of the Cave Bear series, and Terry Brooks.
And yeah, some of the YA novels that get bad press. :D She's well on her way to having read almost all the books in our house. Which is something.
Amen, Samuel! lol
I would write exactly what you wrote in response.
I use those lists as a guide to remind me of cool books, but I don't make a list -- other than our school list (which is just history and things I know he'd like -- and it's not required but usually gets read.)
My son is currently reading the Larua Ingalls Wilder series. He's loving it. He reads Garfield cartoons, comic books, Spongebob stuff, Captain Underpants -- all twaddle and junk. However, he's 10 and that's what appeals to him!
He also reads other things. Good things. Things I select for him bsed on knowing his likes and dislikes. And I have three bookcases full of books with nonfiction, fiction, biographies, etc. for him to choose from. And we have a great library.
I just want him reading.
Hey, I did have a caveat, and she did ask for a list to follow. :) I'm not insisting she read any of them.
I did start a post more along the lines of a book list, and I think I edited/tossed two different posts working toward a list. But I can't just do a list because my brain tries to start working, and I get into each book and do a critique, and I end up not doing what I intended. So I let the post I did post sort of flow.
I'm still tempted by the idea of a list, and I might try to work on one, mostly to share books others may not have heard of. I would wager that that is the true strength of a list of books to read, the introduction to a new author.
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