nature girl Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 I've been trying to go deeper into everything we read, so looking for books that will allow for that...My DD is still young, so it's a bit harder to find books that lead to much discussion and introspection, but I'd love to hear suggestions for books (primarily secular) that help to teach core values like compassion, empathy, kindness, service, etc., and also books that give children a deeper understanding of the outside world. Which books have you read that you think have really expanded your children's mind? Which books have led to the most interesting discussions? I'm primarily interested in the younger grades personally, but feel free to talk about books at any level that have inspired your kids! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kfamily Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Here are few that we have loved over the years and that I thought fostered lovely conversations:Picture Books:Roxaboxen by Alice McLerranThe Little Island by Golden MacDonald and Leonard WeisgardAdelita: A Mexican Cinderella Story by Tomie dePaolaMufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John SteptoeThe Empty Pot by DemiThe Little House by Virginia BurtonThe Story About Ping by Marjorie FlackThe Little Engine that Could by Watty PiperOx-Cart Man by Barbara CooneyStone Soup by Marcia BrownThe Three Questions by John J. MuthThe Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf A New Coat for Anna by Harriet Ziefert Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette WinterChildren's Books:The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery WilliamsCharlotte's Web by E. B. WhiteTrumpet of the Swan by E. B. WhiteLittle House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls WilderFavorite Poems of Childhood edited by Phillip SmithThe Blue Fairy Book by Andrew LangThe Red Fairy Book by Andrew LangThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. LewisOrdinary Princess by Mary Margaret KayeThe Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian SelznickPinocchio by Carlo CollodiAndersen's Fairy Tales by Hans Christian AndersenA Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis StevensonHeidi by Joanna SpyriUnderstood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor EstesThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. LewisThese are just some of many suggestions for the primary grades. I can give you more for the upper elementary grades or more if you'd like. I'm so sure that I've forgotten a few. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nature girl Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Wow, KFamily, thank you!!! I'm about to drive our local librarians crazy with my hold list. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Good ideas so far, and I would add Old Turtle, The Sneetches, and The Quiltmaker's Gift. Oh, and, Horton Hears a Who, The Braids Girl, and Grandpa Bear's Fantastic Scarf. All are picture books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Some of my favorites have already been mentioned, so I'll add The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Have you considered Five in a Row? It's a lovely curriculum for young children, pre-K, kindergarten and first grade. You ae guided through discussing and doing little projects that relate to the book you are reading five times in a row. I wouldn't necessarily have chosen Madeline for my 5 yo son, but he loved it! We got to talk about appendicitis, look up picture of it, etc. You get the idea. Some of the discussions are very fact-oriented, some are more about feelings, moral dilemmas, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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