I have always been a reader. I'm the person who walks out of the theater, triumphantly declaring that the book was better.
When I was in middle and high school, I'd go to rummage sales with my mom and would choose books out of the bins that usually ended up being a teenage romance novel or a story about the Holocaust.
So you can say I'm well rounded.
Now that I have four kids, I get a bit overwhelmed when it comes to choosing books for them. I want to make sure they're reading the good stuff because
a. I want them to love reading
b. I want to help shape their imagination around good stories and characters
c. Their consumption of stories about teenage romance and genocide should be monitored
We have plenty of books at home but my family loves our local library for staying well-stocked with great books--except for that month when I had a $121 late fee. #fourkidproblems
A few years ago, I started asking for book recommendations from friends. I also did some digging around online to find resources and was pretty overwhelmed by how many lists are out there, especially because I have readers ranging from 14-5 years old.
Now I've established a pretty good system and wanted to pass it along to you.
I've found that the Newbery Medal Award books are consistently great books for ages 8-14. These books are awarded annually by the American Library Association for the most distinguished American children's book published the previous year. Here's some great websites to get you started:
50 Books for Kids Before They're 12
Newberry Medal Winners
Books for Preschool-Young Adult
Notable Children's Books
Lists are a great jumping off point, but maybe you'd like to know more about the story or the reviews before getting it from the library or purchasing it.
I like to use Amazon's quick link for Newbery Medal winners to read reviews and to find out more about the story. I also use Common Sense Media if I want to know parent reviews about content and age-appropriateness. Common Sense Media also has reviews for movies, tv shows, games, and apps to give you a better idea of what other parents have think. Your kids will roll their eyes and accuse you of being neurotic, but whatever. You're a parent--you've earned the right to your neuroticism.
What are your sources for finding great books?
