Recommended Books

This list is compiled of Kailey’s personal favorite books. These are organized by author’s last name. What is your favorite book? You can leave a comment, adding your book to the list…

* = Particularly Good Book/ Must Read!
These books may include:

Mild Violence/ Slightly Scary Situations (Example: A punch in the face. Locked in a basement)
Innocent Magic/Fantasy (No witchcraft or spells. Example: Super powers, Magical objects, beasts, or places.)
Nice ghosts (Think Casper.)

Conservative Children’s Recommendations

Under the Lilacs – Louisa May Alcott *
Jack and Jill – Louisa May Alcott **
Little Men- Lousia May Alcott *
Jo’s Boys- Louisa May Alcott *
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase – Joan Aiken *
Black Hearts in Battersea- Joan Aiken *
Night Birds on Nantucket- Joan Aiken *
Sidekicked – John David Anderson
Popper’s Penguins – Richard and Florence Atwater
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle – Avi *
Spiderwick Chronicles – Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
The Coral Island- R. M. Ballantyne *
Chasing Vermeer- Blue Balliet *
The Wright 3- Blue Balliet
The Calder Game- Blue Balliet
Adventures of King Midas- Lynne Reid Banks
Indian in the Cupboard- Lynne Reid Banks
Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens- J. M. Barrie *
Dreamtreaders – Wayne Thomas Batson
The Door Within Trilogy – Wayne Thomas Batson
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz- L. Frank Baum *
The Peppermint Pig- Nina Bawden
The Penderwicks- Jeanne Birdsall **
The Penderwicks on Gardam Street- Jeanne Birdsall
The Enchanted Wood – Enid Blyton
Twenty-One Balloons – William Pene de Bois *
A Bear called Paddington- Michael Bond
The Children of Green Knowe- L.M. Boston *
The River at Green Knowe- L.M. Boston *
Nurse Matilda – Christianna Brand
The Pink Motel – Carol Ryrie Brink
Caddie Woodlawn – Carol Ryrie Brink **
Freddy goes to Florida- Walter R. Brooks
Granny’s Wonderful Chair – Frances Browne **
The Gideon Trilogy: Time Travelers – Linda Buckley Archer
The Gideon Trilogy: Time Thief – Linda Buckley Archer
The Gideon Trilogy: Time Quake- Linda Buckley Archer
The Adventures of Old Mr. Toad- Thornton W. Burgess
The Lost Prince – Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett **
Little Lord Faunterloy – Frances Hodgson Burnett *
The Little Princess- Burnett **
Edith’s Burglar- Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Dark Hills Divide- Patrick Carman
Beyond the Valley of Thorns- Patrick Carman
Alice in Wonderland- Lewis Carroll *
Through the Looking Glass- Lewis Carroll
Sylvie and Bruno- Lewis Carroll
Sylvie and Bruno Return- Lewis Carroll
The Thief and the Beanstalk- P.W. Catanese *
The Trouble with Magic – Ruth Chew
Mostly Magic – Ruth Chew
Second-Hand Magic- Ruth Chew
Secret of the Andes- Ann Nolan Clark
The Mouse and the Motorcycle – Beverly Cleary
Ralph S. Mouse – Beverly Cleary
Ribsy- Beverly Cleary
Gregor the Overlander- Suzanne Collins **
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane- Suzanne Collins *
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods- Suzanne Collins *
Half-Moon Investigations – Eoin Colfer *
Airman- Eoin Colfer **
What Katy Did – Susan Coolidge **
What Katy Did Next – Susan Coolidge **
What Katy Did at School – Susan Coolidge **
Clover- Susan Coolidge
Over Sea, Under Stone – Susan Cooper **
Dark is Rising – Susan Cooper *
Greenwich – Susan Cooper *
The Grey King – Susan Cooper
Silver on the Tree – Susan Cooper
The Boggart – Susan Cooper *
The Boggart and the Monster- Susan Cooper
The Lionboy Trilogy- Zizou Corder
Into the Land of the Unicorns- Bruce Coville
Song of the Wanderer- Bruce Coville
The Wanderer – Sharon Creech
The Courage of Sarah Noble- Alice Dalgliesh
Danny the Champion of the World – Roald Dahl **
The BFG – Roald Dahl *
George’s Marvelous Medicine – Roald Dahl
Matilda – Roald Dahl ***
James and the Giant Peach- Roald Dahl
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar- Roald Dahl
Esio Trot- Roald Dahl
Fantastic Mr. Fox- Roald Dahl
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory- Roald Dahl *
Finn the Wolfhound – A. J. Dawson
The Riddle of the Wren- Charles DeLint
The Magician’s Elephant- Kate DiCamillo
The Tale of Desperaux- Kate DiCamillo *
Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates- Mary Mapes Dodge **
Brill of Exitorn – Peggy Downing
The Finches Fabulous Furnace – Roger Wolcott Drury
City of Ember- Jeanne DuPrau **
Half Magic – Edward Eager *
Seven Day Magic- Edward Eager
Knight’s Castle- Edward Eager **
Magic or Not?- Edward Eager
Magic by the Lake – Edward Eager
The Time Garden – Edward Eager
The Well-wishers – Edward Eager
Mandy- Julie Andrews Edwards
The Great Brain- John D. Fitzgerald *
The Great Brain Does it Again- John D. Fitzgerald
The Great Brain at the Academy- John D. Fitzgerald
More Adventures of the Great Brain- John D. Fitzgerald
Harriet the Spy- Louise Fitzhugh
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang- Ian Fleming *
Johnny Tremain- Esther Forbes *
Pipkin- S. Forst
The Voyage of Patience Goodspeed – Heather Vogel Frederick
Homesick: My Own Story – Jean Fritz
Igraine the Brave- Cornelia Funke
Dragon Rider- Cornelia Funke *
The Thief Lord – Cornelia Funke
I, Coriander- Sally Gardener *
Elidor- Alan Garner
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen- Alan Garner *
My Side of the Mountain – Jean Craighead George
Castle Glower Series – Jessica Day George
Cheaper by the Dozen – Frank B. Gilbreth
Belles on their Toes- Frank B. Gilbreth
Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame **
The Golden Age- Kenneth Grahame
The Adventures of Toad- Kenneth Grahame
The Reluctant Dragon – Kenneth Grahame
The Princess Academy Trilogy – Shannon Hale *
The Goose Girl (Books of Bayern Series) – Shannon Hale *
Book of a Thousand Days- Shannon Hale
Peter Potts – Clifford B. Hicks
Goodbye Mr. Chips – James Hilton *
Bobbsey Twins Series- Laura Lee Hope
The Willows in Winter – William Horwood
The Willows at Christmas – William Horwood
The Willows and Beyond – William Horwood
Captive Treasure – Milly Howard
The Runaway Princess – Milly Howard
The Secret of Platform 13 – Eva Ibbotson *
Island of the Aunts- Eva Ibbotson *
Journey to the River Sea- Eva Ibbotson *
The Star of Kazan- Eva Ibbotson *
The Beasts of Clawstone Castle- Eva Ibbotson *
Dial-A-Ghost- Eva Ibbotson
Redwall- Brian Jacques *
The Door to the Lost – Jaleigh Johnson
The Little Colonel- Annie Fellows Johnston
The Little Colonel at Boarding School- Annie Fellows Johnston
A Tale of Time City- Diana Wynne Jones *
The Phantom Tollbooth- Norton Juster *
The Water Babies- Charles Kingsley *
The Invisible Dog- Dick King-Smith
A Mouse Called Wolf- Dick King-Smith
The Water Horse- Dick King-Smith
Spider Sparrow- Dick King-Smith *
Just So Stories- Rudyard Kipling
Jungle Books 1 &2- Rudyard Kipling *
Captains Courageous- Rudyard Kipling *
Puck of Pook’s Hill- Rudyard Kipling
Rewards and Fairies- Rudyard Kipling
The Clockwork Tree – Matthew J. Kirby
Nacky Patcher and the Curse of the Dry-Land Boats- Jeffrey Kluger
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler – E. L. Konigsburg
Meg’s Mysterious Island – Elizabeth Ladd
The Blue Fairy Book – Edited by Andrew Lang *
Diamond in the Window- Jane Langton
Swing in the Summerhouse- Jane Langton
Guardians of Ga’Hoole Series- Kathryn Lasky
Nooks and Crannies – Jessica Lawson
The Great Rescue Operation- Jean Van Leeuwen
A Wrinkle in Time- Madeline L’Engle *
Meet the Austins- Madeline L’Engle
Dragons in the Waters- Madeline L’Engle *
The Mandie series- Lois Gladys Leppard
Ella Enchanted – Gail Carson Levine *
The Two Princesses of Bamarre – Gail Carson Levine *
Cinderellis and the Glass Hill- Gail Carson Levine
Dave at Night- Gail Carson Levine
Fairest- Gail Carson Levine *
The Fairy’s Mistake – Gail Carson Levine
The Princess Test- Gail Carson Levine
Fairy Haven and the Quest for the Wand- Gail Carson Levine
The Chronicles of Narnia- C.S. Lewis ***
Pippi Longstocking – Astrid Lindgren
Pippi Goes On Board- Astrid Lindgren
Pippi in the South Seas- Astrid Lindgren
Pippi goes to School – Astrid Lindgren
The Magic Pudding – Norman Lindsay
Fell Farm Holiday – Marjorie Lloyd
Fell Farm for Christmas – Marjorie Lloyd
Fell Farm Campers – Marjorie Lloyd
Voyages of Doctor Dolittle – Hugh Lofting *
Doctor Dolittle’s Circus- Hugh Lofting *
The Story of Doctor Dolittle- Hugh Lofting *
Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone – Dene Low
Piggle Wiggle Treasury – Betty MacDonald **
The Light Princess – George MacDonald **
The Princess and the Goblin – George MacDonald *
The Princess and Curdie – George MacDonald *
At the Back of North Wind- George MacDonald
The Box of Delights – John Masefield
The Bracken Trilogy – Jeri Massi
Derwood, Inc. – Jeri Massi
Urchin of the Riding Stars- M. I. McAllister *
Heir of Mistmantle- M. I. McAllister *
Urchin and the Heartstone- M.I. McAllister *
Urchin and the Raven War- MI McAllister *
Homer Price – Robert McCloskey
The Moorchild – Eloise McGraw
The Seventeenth Swap- Eloise McGraw
The Blue Sword- Robin McKinley *
The Hero and the Crown- Robin McKinley *
Chalice- Robin McKinley *
Wildwood Trilogy – Colin Meloy
The Superlative Horse – Jean Merrill
Winnie-the-Pooh series- A.A. Milne
Christmas with Anne- L.M. Montgomery
Magic for Marigold- Montgomery **
Pat of Silver Bush- Montgomery *
Emily of New Moon- Montgomery **
The Story Girl- Montgomery **
The Golden Road- Montgomery **
Jane of Lantern Hill- Montgomery
Coverlet’s Magicians – Mary Nash
The Bodies in the Bessledorf Hotel – Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
The Magic City – E. Nesbit *
The Magic World- Edith Nesbit *
Harding’s Luck – E. Nesbit *
The House of Arden – E. Nesbit *
The Would-Be-Goods – E. Nesbit *
Further Adventures of the Would-Be-Goods – E. Nesbit
Story of the Treasure Seekers – E. Nesbit *
New Treasure Seekers – E. Nesbit
The Enchanted Castle – E. Nesbit *
The Railway Children – E. Nesbit *
Four Children and It – E. Nesbit *
The Phoenix and the Carpet – E. Nesbit *
The Story of the Amulet- Nesbit
The Dragon’s Child – Jenny Nimmo
Midnight for Charlie Bone- Jenny Nimmo *
Charlie Bone and the Time Twister- Jenny Nimmo *
Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy- Jenny Nimmo *
Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors- Jenny Nimmo *
Charlie Bone and the Hidden King- Jenny Nimmo *
Charlie Bone and the Beast- Jenny Nimmo *
Charlie Bone and the Shadow- Jenny Nimmo *
The Borrowers – Mary Norton **
The Borrowers Afield – Mary Norton
The Borrowers Afloat – Mary Norton
The Borrowers Aloft – Mary Norton
The Borrowers Avenged – Mary Norton
The Borrowers on Vacation- Mary Norton
Frisby and the Rats of NIMH – Robert C. O’Brien *
Merry, Rose, and Christmas Tree June – Doris Orgel
Hatchet- Gary Paulsen
The Treasure of El Patron- Gary Paulsen
Tom’s Midnight Garden – Phillipa Pearce
Minnow on the Say – Phillipa Pearce
The Voyage of Barracks – Stuart Petrie **
Pollyanna- Eleanor H. Porter
Freckles- Gene Stratton Porter
Girl of the Limberlost- Gene Stratton Porter
Swallows and Amazons Series – Arthur Ransome **
Swallowdale- Arthur Ransome
Winter Holiday- Arthur Ransome
Peter Duck- Ransome ***
Coot Club- Ransome
Pigeon Post- Ransome
We Didn’t Mean to Go To Sea- Ransome
Secret Water- Ransome
The Big Six- Ransome
Missee Lee- Ransome
The Westing Game – Ellen Raskin
Kitty Hawk series – Iain Reading
Secret of the Golden Cowrie – Gloria Repp
In Grandma’s Attick series- Arletta Richardson
Henry Reed Inc. – Keith Robertson
The Dragon of Lonely Island – Rebecca Rupp
The Taker’s Stone- Barbara Timberlake Russell
Holes – Louis Sachar
Cricket in Times Square – George Selden
Chester Cricket’s New Home- George Selden
Black Beauty – Anna Sewell
The Rescuers – Margery Sharp ***
The Turret – Margery Sharp *
Bernard the Brave – Margery Sharp
Miss Bianca – Margery Sharp **
Miss Bianca and the Bridesmaid- Sharp
Miss Biacna in the Orient- Sharp
That Boy Johnny! – Evelyn Ray Sickels
The Five Little Peppers – Margaret Sidney *
Five Little Peppers Midway – Margaret Sidney
Long Ago Elf- Mary and R.A. Smith
The Egypt Game- Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Encyclopedia Brown Series – Donald J. Sobol
Enola Holmes Mystery: The Case of the Missing Marquess- Nancy Springer
Enola Holmes Mystery: The Case of the Left-Handed Lady- Nancy Springer
Heidi- Johanna Spyri
The Mysterious Benedict Society – Trenton Lee Stewart **
Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey – Trenton Lee Stewart *
Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma- Trenton Lee Stewart *
Mysterious Benedict Society and the Riddle of Ages – Trenton Lee Stewart *
The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict – Trenton Lee Stewart *
The Secret Keepers – Trenton Lee Stewart *
Thursday’s Child- Noel Streatfeild
The Magic Summer- Noel Streatfeild
Skating Shoes- Streatfeild
Tennis Shoes- Streatfeild
Ballet Shoes – Noel Streatfeild ***
Theater Shoes – Noel Streatfeild *
Dancing Shoes – Noal Streatfeild **
Star of Light- Patricia St. John
Treasures of the Snow- Patricia St. John
Secret of Pheasant Cottage- Patricia St. John
The Hobbit- J.R.R. Tolkien ***
Roverandom- Tolkien
New Policeman Trilogy- Kate Thompson
The Great Good Thing- Roderick Townley *
The Blue Shoe- Roderick Townley *
Mary Poppins Series – P.L. Travers
American Girls: Samantha series- by Valerie Tripp*
Explorer Academy Series – Trudi Trueit
Keystone Kids- John R. Tunis
Tom Sawyer Abroad – Mark Twain
Tom Sawyer Detective – Mark Twain
Aunt Jane’s Nieces series – Edith Van Dyne (Pseudonym for L. Frank Baum)
The Great Cheese Conspiracy- Jean Van Leeuwen
Five Weeks in a Ballooon- Jules Verne *
Around the World in 80 Days- Jules Verne *
Sparrow in the Scullery- Barbara Brooks Wallace
Ghosts in the Gallery- Barbara Brooks Wallace
Peppermints in the Parlor- Wallace *
The Perils of Peppermints- Wallace
Surprise Island- Gertrude Chandler Warner
Boxchar Children Series- Gertrude Chandler Warner
Knock Three Times – Marion St. John Webb ***
Stuart Little – E. B. White ***
Charlotte’s Web- E.B.White
The Trumpet of the Swan- EB White
Mistress Masham’s Repose – T. H. White **
The Strictest School in the World- Howard Whitehouse
The Faceless Fiend – Howard White house
The Island of Mad Scientists – Howard Whitehouse
Mother Carey’s Chickens – Kate Douglas Wiggin ***
The Bird’s Christmas Carol – Kate Douglas Wiggin **
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm- Kate Douglas Wiggin *
Little House on the Prairie Series- Laura Ingalls Wilder **
Little Clearing in the Woods- Maria D. Wilkes
The Velveteen Rabbit – Margery Williams Bianco
Herbert- Hazel Wilson
More Fun with Herbert- Hazel Wilson
Castaways from Lilliput – Henry Winterfield
The Castle in the Attic- Elizabeth Winthrop *
The Battle for the Castle- Elizabeth Winthrop *
The Ravenmaster’s Secret- Elvira Woodruff *
Swiss Family Robinson- Johann R. Wyss *
Pippa Park Raises Her Game – Erin Yun
The Thirteenth Princess – Diane Zahler
The Outspoken Princess and the Gentle Knight – Jack Zipes

6 thoughts on “Recommended Books”

Amy

February 18, 2015 at 12:52 pm

Amazing list!

- booksformks
  
  February 18, 2015 at 11:56 pm
  
  Thankyou, Amy! Do you have any books to add to the list? What are your favorites?
  
Hannah Berkey

January 29, 2020 at 1:36 am

This is a fantastic and extensive list! Do you have any recommendations for Junior High level books?

- booksformks
  
  February 20, 2020 at 9:34 pm
  
  Many of the books on this list are for Middle Grade, Junior High, or YA. I don’t have them grouped by age, but you can explore around and see what sparks some interest. Happy Reading!
  
R. E. Chrysta

May 12, 2022 at 7:17 pm

I did not know that there was a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang book and a Mary Poppins series! Definitely need to check them out. Great comprehensive list, most of which I have yet to read. I recommend a YA classic adventure called King Solomon’s Mines by H. Rider Haggard; YA classics about poor boys making their way in the world called Phil the Fiddler, Ragged Dick, Ben the Luggage Boy, The Young Outlaw, Jack’s Ward, and more by Horatio Alger Jr; oh, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention The Rover Boys series by Arthur M. Winfield (pseudonym for Edward L. Stratemeyer who set up the company Stratemeyer Syndicate that published Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys).

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