extendedforecast Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 (edited) We have plenty of picture books as well as encyclopedias of (insert topic here). We do not have much fiction, so I was wondering which 3-5 works of fiction you would consider a must-have for the elementary and middle school ages. Up until now, we've used the library, but now I have a little extra money to spend towards our library, so please help me set up a proper library for my kids. Cindy Edited February 27, 2010 by extendedforecast Edited to add my name at the bottom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganClassicalPrep Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 I have no suggestions. I couldn't even begin to start a list of only 3-5. lol. We literally have hundreds and hundreds of books. So many that I have had to store them at my parents house until we have more space :tongue_smilie:. But I DID have to scale back and donate SOME. (It was TORTURE, let me tell you!) Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom3tn Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 There are so many that I would suggest, but the first 5 that come to mind are: Charlotte's Web The Cricket in Times Square Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Homer Price Island of the Blue Dolphins Not to say that these are the most important, but they were just the first 5 good books that popped into my head. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumping In Puddles Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 We literally have hundreds and hundreds of books. So many that I have had to store them at my parents house until we have more space :tongue_smilie:. I store mine at the library! :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In The Great White North Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 I have no suggestions. I couldn't even begin to start a list of only 3-5. lol. We literally have hundreds and hundreds of books. :iagree:Might I suggest used book stores, library sales, the dump, etc. Older books are better, more varied and cheaper. It's win - win all around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenL Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 (edited) Gosh, I could give you tons of titles, but the ones that initially came to mind when I read your question are the Holling C Holling books. We're thoroughly enjoying them here. They're books to be savored, imho. Pagoo Paddle to the Sea Minn of the Mississippi Tree in the Trail Seabird Anything by E.B White is also good. For middle schoolers, I love The Giver, House of the Scorpion, Night, The Diary of Anne Frank, Holes, and The Incident at Hawk's Hill. Some of them may be considered controversial, so you may want to review content before adding them to your library. Edited February 27, 2010 by jenL added more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 Like others, we have an immense home library, built up over many years. (Some books go back to my early childhood -- and I'm nearly 55 !) One effort I always have made is to decide whether a book is a "forever keeper", worth handing down to the next generation, or whether it is a "current use 'read' ". If a book is a "forever keeper", I will spring for a hardback version. (Sometimes this is not possible, and only paperback versions are available.) If you have been using the library for a while, you already are developing a "feel" for which books you would value for many years. Start with those titles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 If I could only have five I'd have a good anthology of mythology, a good translation of Arthurian legend, Peter Pan, a good anthology of Dickens' work, one of Shel Silverstein's books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendedforecast Posted February 27, 2010 Author Share Posted February 27, 2010 Like others, we have an immense home library, built up over many years. (Some books go back to my early childhood -- and I'm nearly 55 !) One effort I always have made is to decide whether a book is a "forever keeper", worth handing down to the next generation, or whether it is a "current use 'read' ". If a book is a "forever keeper", I will spring for a hardback version. (Sometimes this is not possible, and only paperback versions are available.) If you have been using the library for a while, you already are developing a "feel" for which books you would value for many years. Start with those titles. This is very good advice. Thank you :) I was a bookworm when I was a child (I still am), but for some reason, the books I liked back then do not interest my oldest DD. My younger ones pretty much love anything I suggest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendedforecast Posted February 27, 2010 Author Share Posted February 27, 2010 Gosh, I could give you tons of titles, but the ones that initially came to mind when I read your question are the Holling C Holling books. We're thoroughly enjoying them here. They're books to be savored, imho. Pagoo Paddle to the Sea Minn of the Mississippi Tree in the Trail Seabird Anything by E.B White is also good. For middle schoolers, I love The Giver, House of the Scorpion, Night, The Diary of Anne Frank, Holes, and The Incident at Hawk's Hill. Some of them may be considered controversial, so you may want to review content before adding them to your library. We love EB White. I've never heard of Holling C Holling. We'll have to check out this series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsmom3tn Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 When I was beginning to build my library, I ordered a Sonlight catalog and got tons of great titles from there. I also agree with the poster that suggested the Newbery and Caldecott winners. You can google for a list of titles. And if you find that you want/need more picture books, you can't go wrong with the Five in a Row booklist. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendedforecast Posted February 27, 2010 Author Share Posted February 27, 2010 We literally have hundreds and hundreds of books. So many that I have had to store them at my parents house until we have more space :tongue_smilie:. I am envious of all those books. Well, not envious, but I wouldn't mind having hundreds of books. We had quite a few, but having moved recently, we had to purge a lot of our collection, which was very difficult. So, I can relate a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
extendedforecast Posted February 27, 2010 Author Share Posted February 27, 2010 :iagree:Might I suggest used book stores, library sales, the dump, etc. Older books are better, more varied and cheaper. It's win - win all around! Yes, I am planning on shopping the used bookstores first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 We literally have hundreds and hundreds of books. So many that I have had to store them at my parents house until we have more space :tongue_smilie:. I hear you ! We could be running a public library for a tiny town, operating from our house. We don't store any at my parents' house. No, the situation is far worse. When they return to the Lord someday (and they are 86 and 87), ALL of their books will be left to US. (I'm running for cover already !) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 I would buy the books they most love and reread from the library. When my dd was little, her favorite book was the Usborne Time Traveler. Since then, it's Her Majesty Queen Hatshepsut. I have NO idea why she likes that book so much, but she claims to have read it 18 times, lol. Like the others, I recommend used sales to you. Nothing worse than paying full price and having your kid read it once. The Goodwill gets great books, if you go in once a week to check. Yardsales will be starting up again soon as spring comes. Make your money go further by buying used! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi7Sue Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 I would buy the books they most love and reread from the library. :iagree: When I was in grade school, my favorite books were: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle (and the two sequels) Laura Ingalls Wilder's book series (It's not fiction, but it's a great story) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 When my dd was little, her favorite book was the Usborne Time Traveler. My dd's too. I had to buy another copy for my younger dd to have her own. Apparently she can't share her favorite book even if she has outgrown it. She's saving it for her children and is afraid her sister won't be kind enough to it. To the OP - besides the ones already posted, my kids love E. Nesbit and E. Eager above all else. The Little House series, Little Women, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Bruce Coville's Shakespeare stories, anything by K.Y Craft, Jan Brett or Marianna Mayer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alte Veste Academy Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 We have plenty of picture books as well as encyclopedias of (insert topic here). We do not have much fiction, so I was wondering which 3-5 works of fiction you would consider a must-have for the elementary and middle school ages. Up until now, we've used the library, but now I have a little extra money to spend towards our library, so please help me set up a proper library for my kids. Cindy OK, I did the best I could with an impossible assignment. It's not technically cheating to include box sets, right? ;) A good poetry anthology. I like Favorite Poems Old and New. The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder The Chronicles of Narnia I just bought this exact version in hardcover and it is gorgeous! This E.B. White box set of Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan Anne of Green Gables box set Seriously though, this is not fair! :tongue_smilie: Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Doctor Dolittle, Just So Stories, Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Lord of the Rings, The Secret Garden, The Little Princess, Little Women, The Call of the Wild, Black Beauty, The Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, Robin Hood, King Arthur, Robinson Crusoe... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 A.A. Milne - His Winnie-the-Pooh books and his poetry. The Little House books The Narnian Chronicles Beatrix Potter The Bible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 Yes, I am planning on shopping the used bookstores first. I'd do used bookstores *second*. Library sales are the absolute cheapest place to get great books (like maybe 25 cents apiece?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 I would include a copy of Shakespeare's works with great footnotes (Riverside Shakespeare is the best but very weighty), a good poetry anthology, and a good Jane Austen book. Kids are never to young to start looking through the classics. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 A book of Greek myths A book of Bible stories The Little House books The Narnia books An A.A. Milne anthology/box set It pains me when I think of what I'm leaving out, but I would consider these essential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usetoschool Posted February 27, 2010 Share Posted February 27, 2010 I don't have any particular books to add to the list but just a regret which might help you avoide the same problem. In the interest of building up a library and saving money I bought far too many paperback books. Many of our paperbacks are coming apart or are bent and wrinkled. Some of them are favorites that are no longer available. To save money I should have bought used hardback or library editions wrather than paperbacks, in hindsight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brijen97 Posted February 28, 2010 Share Posted February 28, 2010 I think you will need to get some based on your child's interests or maybe what you think their interests will be. We found a great set of EB White's books, Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web, The Trumpt of the Swan in a small bookstore, they were pretty inexpensive because they were overstocks. My daughter has enjoyed them a lot. Tonight we just finished The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and discussed reading The Hobbitt. I try to buy books that she is currently ready to listen to and will probably want to read for herself later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi @ Mt Hope Posted February 28, 2010 Share Posted February 28, 2010 There are so many that I would suggest, but the first 5 that come to mind are: Charlotte's Web The Cricket in Times Square Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Homer Price Island of the Blue Dolphins Not to say that these are the most important, but they were just the first 5 good books that popped into my head. :001_smile: :iagree: A great place to start. I would put the Narnia series on my list. And I'm a huge fan of William Steig's Dominic and The Real Thief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BookLover210 Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I suggest: The city of ember series by Jeanne DuPrau The ascendance series by Jennifer a. Nielsen The Giver series by Lois Lowry Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling Percy Jackson series by Rick Rioridan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I second any recommendations for Little House, Winnie the Pooh, and Narnia. And The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings for older kids. I would prioritize buying non-public domain books over books that are old enough to be public domain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qtkimi Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 I suggest: The city of ember series by Jeanne DuPrau The ascendance series by Jennifer a. Nielsen The Giver series by Lois Lowry Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling Percy Jackson series by Rick Rioridan I was waiting to see Harry Potter! We love all things Harry Potter at our house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 If I were only getting a few books, I'd get ones that we could enjoy as a family and would want to read repeatedly. Wind in the Willows, illus by Inga Moore Charlotte's Web, 50th anniversary edition, out of print, available used Random House Book of Poetry for Children Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted June 30, 2013 Share Posted June 30, 2013 OK, I did the best I could with an impossible assignment. It's not technically cheating to include box sets, right? ;) A good poetry anthology. I like Favorite Poems Old and New. The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder The Chronicles of Narnia I just bought this exact version in hardcover and it is gorgeous! This E.B. White box set of Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little and The Trumpet of the Swan Anne of Green Gables box set Seriously though, this is not fair! :tongue_smilie: Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Doctor Dolittle, Just So Stories, Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Lord of the Rings, The Secret Garden, The Little Princess, Little Women, The Call of the Wild, Black Beauty, The Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, Robin Hood, King Arthur, Robinson Crusoe... The poetry book is old as the hills and one of the best around. We have multiple copies, as I pick them up at used book sales. Check out Book Sale Finder http://www.booksalefinder.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwik Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Go away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PachiSusan Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 ^^^^LMAO Kiwi!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Fiction is ebooks and library books now. Period. With VERY few exceptions. I am purging like crazy right now. I talked about it and prepared and transitioned for almost a year and now the great purging has begun. My only problem at this point is affording the shipping to give it all away. I don't sell books. and don't even like to collect shipping from people. I do NOT like the stress of worrying about customer satisfaction!!! Every book you take home, is a book that will eventually need to be disposed of. Disposing of books is easier than other items, but still a concern, especially if you feel guilty about throwing them away. I'm going to just take some of the books to the library sale and just hope they don't get wasted with the TMs getting separated from the texts, but I'm too overwhelmed with my stash right now, to care so much. If you know you will have book guilt, be careful about taking on the RESPONSIBILITY of starting a home library. Yes, it was a blessing to all my neighbors and friends and students that used it, BUT it was too big of a job for ME. I like the freedom of living light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shawthorne44 Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Mensa has a reading list. I was looking at the K-3 list the other day. Everything DD had already read had been a hit, as well as the few I checked out from the library based on the list. The reading age is very broad though. I'll be printing it and taking it to the library so the librarian can put it in categories for me. One thing I liked was that the list was twaddle-free. But, 5 books seems like a such a small number. That is the number to take on vacation not start a library. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3 Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Definitely Little House books, E.B.White, and Narnia. James Herriot and A.A.Milne are excellent as well. Otherwise... Treasure Island (a little beyond elementary level) :) A Little Princess The Secret Garden Pilgrim's Progress (abridged & illustrated) The Book of Virtues & The Moral Compass set (excellent collection!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sobeknofret Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 Wrinkle in Time The Westing Game From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Treasure Island Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Keep in mind, I devour books like food and there are hundreds more I would recommend beyond these five! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In the Rain Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 This thread is three years old! Maybe OP will pop in and tell us what she chose- if she can remember. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted July 1, 2013 Share Posted July 1, 2013 This thread is three years old! Maybe OP will pop in and told us what she chose- if she can remember. Lol. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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