I was just thinking of books that I want to read to my (eventual) children. Mostly they’re books I was read as a kid, but some are books I wished I’d read or that I’ve read more recently.
- Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R. Tolkien – I’m reading this to Nicole right now, and it’s really fun, especially because she’s never read it before.
- Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card – I once aspired to re-read this every year, but that didn’t happen. I’m long overdue.
- Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis – I never read this, and while I’m cautious of the Christian overtones, it’s one that I feel I missed out on.
- The Dark is Rising, by Susan Cooper
- Redwall, by Brian Jacques
- The Prydain Chronicles, by Lloyd Alexander
- The Enchanted Forest series, by Patricia Wrede – Feminist and irreverent, while I didn’t see these as most favorite, I think they’re important.
- The Pit Dragon Trilogy, by Jane Yolen
- Stardust, by Neil Gaiman – I actually read this in college, but I like the idea of exposing children to Neil Gaiman’s writing early.
- Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling – So that the kids will have read the books before seeing the movies.
- Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman
I have most of these in a trunk in Amherst. I like reading books aloud! But as noted by the friend with whom I brainstormed this list, I may run out of time to get through everything, unless we read more than at bedtime, or the kids fall asleep very slowly.
Reading to kids is sooooooo good for them!! I love in general thinking about things that families or parents and kids can do together…like cooking dinner!! or playing board games 😀