To build a delightful library for kids, start with these books
Recent tussles over the “appropriateness” of kids’ books obscure the genius and joy of so much children’s literature. As a reset, we asked dozens of parents across the political spectrum to share the children’s books they love best. They did, and reaffirmed an essential principle: One of our most important jobs as adults is to help foster in children a love of reading, and the lifetime of wonder and wisdom that follow from it.
All our participants knew this list might include books they wouldn’t choose for their own families. But together, they’ve created a library in which everyone can find something to awe and delight young people.
This week: Books for children ages 8-12
› “Blended,” by Sharon M. Draper
“Blended” explores themes of biracial identity, divorce and remarriage, and police brutality. A good book to read and discuss along with your child, especially if your family is dealing with any of the book’s social themes. — Stacia L. Brown, author and podcaster
› “Bridge to Terabithia,” by Katherine Paterson
It appears as though it’s going to be an innocent book about two kids creating an adventure world, but it has a sad twist. I still loved it when I was younger, because it was relatable to me at that age. — Flora Saucier, child of Post Opinions contributing columnist Fernanda Santos
› “Charlotte’s Web,” by E.B. White; illustrated by Garth Williams
The first book that ever made me cry was “Charlotte’s Web”; I think I was about 8 years old. It is a book of such wisdom, and sorrow, and joy, so much of it encapsulated in Wilbur’s summary of the barn in which he lives: “It was the best place to be, thought Wilbur, this warm delicious cellar, with the garrulous geese, the changing seasons, the heat of the sun, the passage of swallows, the nearness of rats, the sameness of sheep, the love of spiders, the smell of manure and the glory of everything.” — Jennifer Finney Boylan, author of the Falcon Quinn series
› The Chronicles of Narnia series, by C.S. Lewis
While the seven-book series weaves understated theological symbolism throughout, its powerful strength is its great appeal even to readers who don’t have a strong religious bent. — Rachel Reeves, co-host of the RightBooks4Kids Instagram account
› “Echo,” by Pam Muñoz Ryan
I loved this book for its complicated plot, for its connections across time and for the conversations it sparked. It’s a perfect read-aloud.— Emily Oster, author of “Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong — and What You Really Need to Know,” “Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, From Birth to Preschool” and “The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years”
› “El Deafo,” by Cece Bell When Bell loses her hearing after an early childhood illness, she develops a fearless alter ego named El Deafo — to sweet, poignant and comedic effect. — Stacia L. Brown
› “Farah Rocks Fifth Grade,” by Susan Muaddi Darraj; illustrated by Ruaida Mannaa
The first book in an incredible middle-grade series about a young detective, and it introduces a young Arab American girl as the protagonist! — Hannah Grieco, editor of “And If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing: Parenting Stories Gone Speculative”
› “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler,” by E.L. Konigsburg
This is such a lovely book in its respect for children’s intelligence and discernment, and for its portrait of friendship between kids and adults. — Alyssa Rosenberg
› “Front Desk,” by Kelly Yang This story about a Chinese immigrant family gave my daughter perspective on what my childhood was like while also touching on themes of racism, socioeconomic exclusion and inclusion. — Sofia Chang, chief executive, Girl Scouts of the USA
› “The Great Brain,” by John D. Fitzgerald; illustrated by Mercer Mayer
A classic about the merciless but harmless manipulations of a younger brother by his older, in a mixed Catholic-Mormon family on the Utah frontier. Full of gentle moral lessons and diversity of the religious sort; it also imparts a lot of American history without forcing it. — Charles Lane, Post Opinions columnist and editorial board member
› “Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans,” by Kadir Nelson
Narrated in the voice of a fictionalized African American elder, this book offers an engaging overview of the trials and triumphs of African Americans. It’s filled with Nelson’s jaw-dropping, full-page portraits, and the narrative writing draws each reader into a personal story. — Amber O’Neal Johnston, author of “A Place To Belong: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond”
› “The Hobbit,” by J.R.R. Tolkien
Warmer, funnier and lighter on its feet than the author’s more celebrated “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “The Hobbit” is still a perfect introduction to the world of high fantasy. — Zack Stentz, creator of “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous” and co-author of “Colin Fischer”
› “The Lives of Christopher Chant,” by Diana Wynne Jones
A much funnier, more imaginative, more nuanced and less formulaic J.K. Rowling novel. — Amanda Katz, assignment editor, Post Opinions
› “My Side of the Mountain,” by Jean Craighead George
On the pier between childhood and stormy adolescence, this novel meets readers ready to imagine independence, self-reliance and life without parents. Part adventure story, part naturalist handbook, George’s story awakens a love for the outdoors even as she prepares preteens for what comes next. — David Von Drehle, Post Opinions columnist
› “Out of My Mind,” by Sharon M. Draper
This book and its sequel, “Out of My Heart,” are compelling stories that teach bravery and compassion while giving a bold view into what life is like for some people with disabilities. — Amber O’Neal Johnston
› Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, by Rick Riordan; illustrated by John Rocco
A good way to introduce early teens to their own situations while teaching them about Greek mythology. Plus, any story that says the gods live in New York and the entrance to hell is in Los Angeles gets huge props from me! — Henry Olsen, Post Opinions columnist
› “The Phantom Tollbooth,” by Norton Juster; illustrated by Jules Feiffer
This classic is a magic trick: a fantasy adventure that fuses an overtly allegorical, “Pilgrim’s Progress”-esque ode to the importance of learning and education with anarchic Lewis Carroll-like whimsy and nonsense. — Steven D. Greydanus, founder of Decent Films
› “The Pushcart War,” by Jean Merrill; illustrated by Ronni Solbert
Simply the best book about politics ever written for children, and vastly more fun than that description makes it sound. — Alyssa Rosenberg
› “Ramona and Her Father,” by Beverly Cleary; illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers
No other author has rendered ordinary childhood in such windowpane prose or with such unpatronizing dignity and deft humor. — David Von Drehle
› A Series of Unfortunate Events, by Lemony Snicket; illustrated by Brett Helquist
The books in this series are unlike anything we’ve read before: Though each is about an “unfortunate” event, the writer still finds a way to be funny. — Fernanda Santos and Flora Saucier
› “Sisters,” by Raina Telgemeier
For many kids, I think graphic novels are a key to opening up a love of reading. There are many great ones, but in my house this book is distinguished by being the most coated in food crumbs, as it’s the top choice for reading while eating dessert. — Emily Oster
› “So You Want to Be a Wizard” and its sequels, by Diane Duane
While movies about magic are dominated by third-act CGI-fests, Duane’s wizards are attentive to small things, and their adventures turn on small risks of generosity and trust. — Leah Libresco Sargeant, author of “Arriving at Amen: Seven Catholic Prayers That Even I Can Offer” and “Building the Benedict Option: A Guide to Gathering Two or Three Together in His Name”
› “Treasure Island,” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Pirates! Pretty much every buccaneer trope (maps to buried treasure, peg legs and eye patches, parrots who yell “Pieces of eight!”) comes straight from this tale of a boy swept into a high-seas adventure. “Treasure Island” is particularly fun to read aloud, since you can do all the pirate voices as you move through the chapters. Just don’t act out the sword fights unless you want your kids to stay awake long past bedtime. — Zack Stentz
› “Watership Down,” by Richard Adams
Adams is the Homer of the hedgerow, the Malory of the warren — or, a bit more precisely, the Tolkien of rabbitry, complete with rabbit myths and folk tales, poetry, spirituality, even a sketch of a rabbit language. This is an epic saga, brimming with philosophical depth, about a special group of rabbits pursuing a better life, facing seemingly insurmountable difficulties with creativity, loyalty and hope. — Steven D. Greydanus
› “Where the Sidewalk Ends,” by Shel Silverstein
If Dr. Seuss’s work feels like cartoons on mushrooms, then Silverstein’s illustrations vibe like they favor single malt. — Marc Bernardin, podcaster and writer of comics and graphic novels, including “Adora and the Distance”