Children and reading

[speedymama]

Interesting topic here
So what would you recommend by way of classic or contemporary books for children to read?

I quite like Alice in Wonderland,
Animal Farm,
The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe
Lord of the Rings
Lord of the Flies
Macbeth
Most of the fairy tales from the Ladybird series e.g. Puss in Boots

My DTs are only 23 months old but when they are older, for contemporary books I will seek out books that have black and mixed race characters (to reflect their background) as well as the popular books in general circulation e.g. Harry Potter

They already go the library now so this will provide them with a huge choice to read in the future

I do agree that children should be encouraged to love books and reading and that reading the classics shouldn't be a chore but a pleasure (well mostly!). Depending on age - I think these would be for secondary school - I would recommend (as well as all of Speedymamas):

Jane Austen (everything she has written)
Catcher in the Rye
To Kill A Mockingbird
The Red Pony
The Grapes of Wrath
Romeo & Juliet
King Lear
Mill on the Floss/Middlemarch
Silas Marner
Wuthering Heights
Tess of the D'Urbervilles
1984
Down & Out in Paris & London
Cider With Rosie

So many more I can think of too!! And it has made me want to re-read all of these books. Right see you again sometime next year...

The Red Pony! I remember reading this and being so upset that I couldn't bear to pick it up again. I can't even really remember what it was about but it certainly left a lasting impression.

I have just been reading a version of Alice in Wonderland to 3yo DD this evening. Never read it before and only kind of know the story. Is it me or is it really wierd and not make sense?! Got to the part where she has been swimming in a pool of tears with a mouse.

Nope, it is really wierd Hula. I have never got it, it simply doesn't float my boat. DS1 absolutely adores it though ... but he is a bit peculiar! Have you read The Phantom Tollbooth? I put that in the same category.

LOL! At least not just me. Was reading it to DD and all the time I was thing "what the....!!!" So far she seems to quite like it. Wonder if it imporves!

speedymama, do you have a good bookshop nearby? If you do then you won't have to search hard for the books.

Also, when are your DTs birthday? Mine are 23 months old, and will be 2 in 10 days.

My dd loves
The Gruffalo
The tough Princess
any book with her name in it
Winnie the Pooh - just love it myself
The Three Little Pigs! - got a CD and book for Christmas - has it on twice at least a day!

Ah, The Phantom Tollbooth. A brilliant story I had forgotten all about. Also love Where the Wild Things Are.