The Top 100 Children's Books on Goodreads discussion
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Which Book are You Currently Reading From the Top 100 List?
We just finished reading Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. I've read it before but my daughter had never read it. She really liked it.
I finished reading "Inside Out and Back Again". I really enjoyed reading this novel in verse. Based on a true story, it was interesting to learn about what the main character Kim Ha and her family went through.
Julie wrote: "I finished reading "Inside Out and Back Again". I really enjoyed reading this novel in verse. Based on a true story, it was interesting to learn about what the main character Kim Ha and her family ..."I'm moving this one up on the list!! :)
I just finished Echo
by Pam Munoz Ryan, 4****sI really enjoyed this book for middle-age readers! It begins with a fairy tale of three sisters who have been cursed by a witch. The curse can only be broken when the sisters "save a soul on the brink of death." Then begins the telling of three separate stories from the 1930's, '40's, & '50's that will all be tied together in the end. After the three stories finally come together, the story of the three sisters is finalized.
What I really enjoyed was that each of the three stories is so good. They are very compelling and make you want to keep reading. And each story ends fairly abruptly making you wonder "How did that story end?, "Is he alive?", etc., making you want to read and read! The era and setting of each of these stories would also be very educational for youngsters reading this book. It is very historical and entertaining. It is a Newbery Honor Book and is written for Grades 5-8. I highly recommend it for all ages!
Inside Out & Back Again
by Thanhha Lai, 4****sI really enjoyed this book told by a 10-year-old Vietnamese girl, Ha, who, along with her family, had to flee Saigon in 1975 during the Vietnam War. Her family decided to go to America where they had to have a sponsor. A man from Alabama (much to his wife's chagrin!) chose to sponsor the whole family, even though he really only wanted a young man to work for him.
Ha tells of the difficulties that she has at school and how the community has so much trouble accepting them. However, as time goes by, they all begin to acclimate to their situations and learn to enjoy life again.
This book is recommended for Grades 4-8, and I can see that it would be very informative (It informed me!). And it reads very fast because it is written in verse (I thought that might throw me off at first but it certainly did not.) It is also based on the author's own experience of coming to America from Vietnam and living in Alabama. I highly recommend this book for any age reader! :)
Julie wrote: "I finished reading "Inside Out and Back Again". I really enjoyed reading this novel in verse. Based on a true story, it was interesting to learn about what the main character Kim Ha and her family ..."Julie, thanks so much for recommending this book to me! I LOVED it! :)
I have just started reading Matilda. I've read and really enjoyed other books by Roald Dahl so hopefully I'll like this one too.
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I Love to Read! wrote: "I have read Matilda and loved it! I hope you do as well! The movie is good too :)"I enjoyed Matilda a lot! :)
Julie wrote: "I have just started reading Matilda. I've read and really enjoyed other books by Roald Dahl so hopefully I'll like this one too."Two years ago I read eight of Dahl's books because they weren't around when I was a child! Hope you enjoy it! :)
I think I had forgotten to post it but we finished Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. We haven't read through the looking glass yet. We're trying to finish the Secret Garden right now. My daughter just brought home a book list from school though that they are going to have a Battle of the Books with at school between classrooms. Most of them are fairly short and some of them are ones I read as a kid like a Bunnicula book. There's Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Lois Lowry...We have 2 months to read them and then the classes will be quizzed on them and the winning team gets Barnes and Noble gift cards.
Jason wrote: "I think I had forgotten to post it but we finished Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. We haven't read through the looking glass yet. We're trying to finish the Secret Garden right now. My daughter j..."Oh, that sounds like fun! I am not an "Alice" fan, but I really enjoyed The Secret Garden. And last year I got a free download of the audio book "Bunnicula" read by Victor Garber and it was fabulous!! I absolutely loved it! Have fun with the Battle of the Books :)
My favorite Frances Hodgson Burnett book is "A Little Princess." Love it. 8)
slauderdale wrote: "My favorite Frances Hodgson Burnett book is "A Little Princess." Love it. 8)"I read that one recently! Loved it! :)
Jason wrote: "I think I had forgotten to post it but we finished Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. We haven't read through the looking glass yet. We're trying to finish the Secret Garden right now. My daughter j..."
That sounds like a cool idea. I wish we got to do something like that when I was at school a long time ago.
That sounds like a cool idea. I wish we got to do something like that when I was at school a long time ago.
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The Crossover was short, sweet, and sad! 4 stars for this one. It took me only about an hour to read, so length is definitely not an issue if any of you are thinking of reading it. I can definitely see why this book made it onto the Top 100 list - there are multiple morals/lessons throughout the story that are valuable for any age group. Jason mentioned 'Booked' before which is another book by the same author. I really enjoyed Alexander's writing style with the poetic flow and funky fonts, and I am excited to read that one at some point!
A few of you had asked me to tell you about what I thought of this one -- The Crossover is one to read!
One more checked off the list! Any suggestions for what to read next? I am thinking Inside Out and Back Again...??
Inside Out and Back Again was really good. It's also a short read and it's written in prose too.
The Crossover sounds really good. I'll try and read it sometime this year. Inside Out and Back Again is great. As Jason said, Inside Out is written in prose so it depends on whether you don't mind reading two books written like that in a row.
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I have finished reading Matilda. It's been a very long time since I read anything by Roald Dahl. I found Matilda to be an enjoyable light read. I also liked the illustrations throughout the book.
Julie wrote: "I have finished reading Matilda. It's been a very long time since I read anything by Roald Dahl. I found Matilda to be an enjoyable light read. I also liked the illustrations throughout the book."Last year I think I read 6 Roald Dahl books! He's not my favorite children's author (sometimes the adults are really mean to the children! Like Matilda's teacher!). But they are enjoyable. I think Matilda was one of my favorites. I also liked George's Marvelous Medicine. So cute!
P.S. You're right -- I also love the illustrations!
Terris wrote: "Julie wrote: "I have finished reading Matilda. It's been a very long time since I read anything by Roald Dahl. I found Matilda to be an enjoyable light read. I also liked the illustrations througho..."
Yes, the adults can be horrible including Matilda's parents. I enjoyed the ending a lot.
Yes, the adults can be horrible including Matilda's parents. I enjoyed the ending a lot.
I recently read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. I knew what to expect with this book as some of you have already read it and let me know about it. I found it a quick but emotional read. Although it was sad, it was good to learn about Sadako and her life.
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See You at Harry's
by Jo Knowles, 4****sThis book is written for Grade 7 - Up. It is a family story of what looks to me like a fairly typical family. These could be any of us living our everyday lives. So there is "happy" in the book, but "sad" also comes in and hits pretty hard. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but this book tackles some pretty heavy topics. However, as it is narrated by a seventh grade girl, it is told in a very real way. It is well written and easy to read. I would highly recommend it for middle school and early high school, but even as an adult, I liked it a lot. It made me laugh, but I also cried. I think you will too :)
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I Love to Read! wrote: "How can I wait any longer to start this book?! :D From what you and Slauderdale have said, I think I will really like it...and I am glad you did!"Yes! Get started! We need to talk! ;)
It is well written and easy to read. I would highly recommend it for middle school and early high school, but even as an adult, I liked it a lot.Yes. I told my mother-in-law that I was reading it, without getting into detail about the plot but nonetheless mentioning my fears re: what was going to happen, and she looked it over and decided right away that she wanted to read it. So it definitely has a cross-age appeal.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
by Beverly Cleary, 3***sThis one is on the "Amazon's Top 100 Children's Books" list.
This is a cute little book, written for 8 years old and up, about a boy who takes his toy cars and "motorcycle" on vacation with him and his parents, and finds that his hotel room has mice. One particular mouse, Ralph, is especially drawn to the toy motorcycle. And, would you believe it -- the boy and the mouse are able to communicate with each other and become friends! Also, Ralph is able to make the motorcycle run just by making motorcycle sounds ;)
Of course, there is a dramatic and climactic part close to the end where the boy becomes ill and Ralph must scour the hotel for an aspirin to help break the boy's fever, since there isn't an aspirin to be had withing 25 miles. And you guessed it, Ralph finds an aspirin (on the floor), delivers it to the boy, who gets better, and we all lived happily ever after! It really is cute. If you have a young child, you should read it to them or better yet, have them read it to you! Enjoy this one together :)
I am currently reading The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. I'm not far through it, but am liking it quite a bit so far. It reminds me a little bit of the "Mr. Lemoncello's Library" books, but this one was written first :)
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I Love to Read! wrote: "Have fun! I loved Mr. Lemoncello's Library, so I may just enjoy The Mysterious Benedict Society too :)"I'll let you know what I think!
I loved The Mysterious Benedict Society! It was really fun! And now I've started listening to The Mighty Miss Malone and reading The Crossover (along with listening to The Return of the Native and reading Dear Mr. M)! I've been so good lately at keeping to one audio and one print book and here I go off the deep end again! But I love it! And I'm really enjoying Miss Malone & The Crossover so far! :)
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I just finished Mrs. Piggle Wiggle
by Betty MacDonald, and I loved it -- again!! The last time I read it I was in 3rd grade!! I re-read it for a challenge that had a "book from your childhood" category. And now I remember why I enjoyed Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle so much! She doesn't have any children of her own, but the neighborhood children love her and come to visit every day. And all their mothers call her for cures for such childhood ailments as: "won't-pick-up-toys-itis"; "answer-backers disease"; and "never-want-to-go-to-bedders' syndrome." Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle has a cure for them all! Just an adorable book, I'm so glad I read it again! :)
I loved The Crossover
by Kwame Alexander, 4****sI really enjoyed this YA book on basketball, family, grief, and life. And I liked the way it was written in blank verse, rhyme, and rap. Very interesting and a quick read!
This book is not on the list, but I'm recommending it as a fun read for children:School Ship Tobermory
by Alexander McCall Smith, 4****sThis book, recommended for ages 9-12, is a fun adventure of children who go to school on a ship. They study regular subjects as well as learning to sail a ship. The story starts with twins, a boy and a girl, who are starting as new students at this school, making new friends and learning about the ship. Of course, there is some mystery and high adventure on the sea that make for excitement and friendship bonding.
This is Book #1 of this series. Book #2 The Sands of Shark Island, came out in September, 2016. I am not planning to read any further in this series, but was interested in it as I am a big fan of Alexander McCall Smith. However, if I had children at home or classroom that I could read to, I would definitely enjoy the fun and excitement along with the children!
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I just got done with The Mighty Miss Malone
by Christopher Paul Curtis, 4****sWhat an enjoyable read! This is story of Deza Malone, an intelligent, vivacious, African American 12-year-old girl, trying to survive the Great Depression with her family. I enjoyed it very much and learned a lot too :)
The Mighty Miss Malone sounds good. I enjoy books where the story is really good and I learn things at the same time.
I'm planning to listen to The Red Umbrella very soon -- I'm getting a free audio download through Audiofile! They send out two audio downloads/week for 15(?) weeks during the summer and they've offered this one. I'm really excited!
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I have started reading The Crossover. When I'm reading it I can't help reading it with a teenage boy's voice in my head saying the words.
I had "Booked," Kwame Alexander's sequel to "The Crossover," recommended to me very strongly the other day by a coworker. Not touching either of them for the moment as I am buried under the books I am reading (mingled pleasure/obligation/competition), but they are on my to-read list.
Julie wrote: "I have started reading The Crossover. When I'm reading it I can't help reading it with a teenage boy's voice in my head saying the words."I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this one! I hope you do too, Julie :)
I Love to Read! wrote: "I haven't read any books from The Top 100 List in a pretty long time, so I requested a bunch from my local library, and they should be in soon. Some of them include Stella by Starlight, Brown Girl ..."I know! I'm excited to get started with it! I only recently heard of Operation Pedro Pan and want to learn more.
I also want to read Stella by Starlight and Brown Girl Dreaming, so let me know what you think (you'll probably get to them before I do!). I think you'll enjoy The Mysterious Benedict Society -- kind of fun, mysterious, & adventurous :)
slauderdale wrote: "I had "Booked," Kwame Alexander's sequel to "The Crossover," recommended to me very strongly the other day by a coworker. Not touching either of them for the moment as I am buried under the books I..."I love your comment " I am buried under the books I am reading (mingled pleasure/obligation/competition)"! That's exactly how I feel! I can't wait to get to my pile of books but everything keeps getting in my way!!!
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I will let you know about Stella by Starlight and Brown Girl Dreaming! If anyone else wants to read any of these two books as well, we could possible read it together? I can wait to read them until later. Just a thought though.
The Top 100 Children's Books on Goodreads
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I really didn't know anything about this one, but I looked it up and now I'm interested! Thanks for bringing it to my attention :)