The Top 100 Children's Books on Goodreads discussion
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Which Book are You Currently Reading From the Top 100 List?
Terris, I started reading it today. We had a couple of birthday parties to go to over the weekend and I've had a cold so I was a bit late starting it. I've only read Chapter 1 and 2 but so far I'm enjoying it.
I finished it! I really liked it!
A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord, 4****s
This is a lovely book about a young girl learning about friendship and life: through her blind dog and a new friend who is a migrant worker picking blueberries in the area where she lives. There is both sadness and sweetness in this middle-grade children's book, and a lot to learn for us all!
Mod
A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord, 4****s
This is a lovely book about a young girl learning about friends..."
So glad that you enjoyed this! I hope Julie does too! :)
I Love to Read! wrote: "Terris wrote: "I finished it! I really liked it!A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord, 4****s
This is a lovely book about a young girl learnin..."
Have you read it? It wasn't my favorite of the children's books that we've read, but it was pretty good and read really fast :)
I finally finished reading A Handful of Stars and I really enjoyed it. I gave it 4.5 stars (I hardly ever give 5 stars). I liked how it was about the growing friendship between the two girls of different ethnicities and it featured a dog.
I finally decided to start reading Anne of Green Gables. I saw the TV series years ago so I know the story but I thought it was about time I read the book.
You should definitely read Anne of Green Gables!! I think you'll love it :)
I finished reading Anne of Green Gables at the end of January. I read it slowly but I loved it and now consider it to be a favourite book. I plan to read Anne of Avonlea at some stage in the future.
I love this series!! I have read the first three and plan to read Book #4 sometime in the near future. My mom recently read all of them (I'm not even sure how many there are!). They are her absolute favorites! She just turned 82 :)
Some box sets have 8 books in them but on GR it has 9 books in the series.
Wow, that's great that your Mum has read them all recently. :)
Wow, that's great that your Mum has read them all recently. :)
I just finished reading The Black Stallion to my 12 year old son. He really enjoyed it and I thought it was great. I read many horse stories as a child but from memory they all had girls as the main character so it was nice to read a horse story with a boy as the main character. The book had a good amount of action in it and it made for an great book to read to him.
I remember reading that when I was a kid and I really enjoyed it but I don't really remember it now. I hadn't read much at all the first part of this year but I've been reading some books the last couple of weeks. My new job didn't give me time to do much of anything, especially spending time with the family so I quit it and start a new job in a week that should give me more time at home.
Mod
So glad you enjoyed this!
I myself have not read many books this year, but I just read Refugee over a long road trip. Definitely a book worth checking out, and it's very kid friendly too (I'd personally consider it a children's book. Yes, it has to do with refugees, but the difficulty level and content is great for children!).
FYI: this is still 'I Love to Read', I just changed my username to my real name :)
Jason wrote: "I remember reading that when I was a kid and I really enjoyed it but I don't really remember it now. I hadn't read much at all the first part of this year but I've been reading some books the last ..."
I hope that your new job goes well and that you get more reading time.
I hope that your new job goes well and that you get more reading time.
Hufsa wrote: "Julie NZ wrote: "I just finished reading The Black Stallion to my 12 year old son. He really enjoyed it and I thought it was great. I read many horse stories as a child but from memory they all had..."
Hi Hufsa. That's good to hear about Refugee. It's already on my TBR.
Hi Hufsa. That's good to hear about Refugee. It's already on my TBR.
Julie NZ wrote: "I just finished reading The Black Stallion to my 12 year old son. He really enjoyed it and I thought it was great. I read many horse stories as a child but from memory they all had girls as the mai..."I have read Black Beauty but not The Black Stallion! I'm going to have to get to it sometime soon!
Hufsa wrote: "Julie NZ wrote: "I just finished reading The Black Stallion to my 12 year old son. He really enjoyed it and I thought it was great. I read many horse stories as a child but from memory they all had..."Hufsa! So glad to see that you're still out there in the world! I've been missing seeing you around!
I have not read many children's books lately, but need to keep adding to my list. I did read Diary of a Wimpy Kid recently. It was really funny! I see why that series is so popular with young kids ;)
Nice to see some conversation in this group. I know everyone is busy. Good to know that we're all still reading :)
Terris wrote: "Julie NZ wrote: "I just finished reading The Black Stallion to my 12 year old son. He really enjoyed it and I thought it was great. I read many horse stories as a child but from memory they all had..."
I haven't read Black Beauty. I've got a general idea of what the story is about and I think I'll end up crying lots. I got a pony as a child and I had her for 23 years until the end of her life.
I haven't read Black Beauty. I've got a general idea of what the story is about and I think I'll end up crying lots. I got a pony as a child and I had her for 23 years until the end of her life.
I'm currently reading When You Reach Me to my son. We're still getting into the story. I'm enjoying the short chapters.
Julie NZ wrote: "Terris wrote: "Julie NZ wrote: "I just finished reading The Black Stallion to my 12 year old son. He really enjoyed it and I thought it was great. I read many horse stories as a child but from memo..."Oh yes, that might happen! Some of these stories are just tearjerkers, especially if you have a special heart for animals!
I am reading The Yearling right now and am loving it! But I'm pretty sure it's going to get pretty sad near the end! I'm preparing myself! :'(
I don't think this one is on the top 100, but I just finished Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli and I really liked it!
I loved this children's book about a boy who can do almost anything better, faster, smarter than any other kid, but has no family and no place to call home. While looking for a home, he becomes involved with a neighborhood that is split in two: one half black and one half white. His capability to be happy with both groups of people, and his special abilities, enable him to bring them together as one community. It is written in a very cute and entertaining way that appeals to a variety of ages. I loved it! I think it could easily be on the Top 100 :)
Yes, so many animal books are tear jerkers.
That's good that you read another great children's book. I hadn't heard of Maniac Magee.
That's good that you read another great children's book. I hadn't heard of Maniac Magee.
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome, 4****s
I just finished this one and loved it! It should be in the Top 100!!
I loved this tale of four siblings who set out on an adventure "with a minimum of parental advice and interference" and enjoy a summer outing, camping on an island in a nearby lake. They pretend to be on a desert island in the the Pacific (though somehow the Amazon River is close by) and are excited to deal with the local "natives," "pirates," and finding buried treasure. They always stay in character as "Captain," "First Mate," "Able Seaman," etc. and the "natives" (mother and other neighborly adults who supply them with food) go along with them in playing their parts.
The children are given a fairly long leash by their parents as they sail around on their own (sometimes at night) and cook their food on an open fire. But it's really fun, and it's the way we all would have liked to have lived our childhoods, if allowed. Lots of freedom!
This is a good summer read. And if you really like it, there are 11 more books!! :)
Terris wrote: "
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome, 4****s
I just finished this one and loved it! It should be in the Top 100!!
I loved this tale of four..."
My son read that book last year and enjoyed it too.
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome, 4****s
I just finished this one and loved it! It should be in the Top 100!!
I loved this tale of four..."
My son read that book last year and enjoyed it too.
I finished reading When You Reach Me to my son earlier this month. We gave it 3 stars but I was expecting to like it more because it was on the Top 100 list. I found it jumped around too much and some of the time travel stuff was confusing.
We are currently reading The Red Umbrella and we are enjoying it much more. I don't know much about the Cuban revolution so it's an interesting book.
We are currently reading The Red Umbrella and we are enjoying it much more. I don't know much about the Cuban revolution so it's an interesting book.
Julie NZ wrote: "I finished reading When You Reach Me to my son earlier this month. We gave it 3 stars but I was expecting to like it more because it was on the Top 100 list. I found it jumped around..."It's been so long since I read When You Reach Me that I forgot what it was about!! But I really enjoyed The Red Umbrella. Like you, I didn't/don't know a lot about the Cuban revolution. I liked the book a lot and learned from it too!
Julie NZ wrote: "Terris wrote: "Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome, 4****s
I just finished this one and loved it! It should be in the Top 100!!
I loved th..."
Oh good! It's really a fun book :)
Mod
The Red Umbrella is one of my favorites! It's very informative as well! You'll have to update us when you finish :)
I just finished:
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor and I give it 4****s.
It is not on the Top 100 list, but I think it easily could be.
It is a difficult story of an African American family, in the South, in the 1930's, who own land, while most of the other families in the area work for a rich, white farmer who pays them poorly.
There is lots of drama, all told by one of the four children in the family, Cassie, the only girl. She is very feisty and must learn her "place" even though it is very hard for her.
This is an award winning book, and I can see how children could learn a lot from reading it. Although, as I said before, it could be a little scary for some, and it's pretty sad because of some of the dramatic things that happen. However, if you like the book, there are several others in the series!
It’s been a while since I’ve read anything from the list. I just read
.It was good. It’s short. I read it in a day. It’s two stories. One follows a boy in 1985, I think, and the other follows a girl in the current era. The girl’s parts are fairly short. It tells about how she walks for hours getting water for her family. The other part starts back in 1985 and is about a boy who is trying to survive when everything he knows is destroyed by war. At the end the two stories come together.
Jason wrote: "It’s been a while since I’ve read anything from the list. I just read .It was good. It’s short. I read it in a day. It’s two stories...."
Jason, we haven't had much action here for awhile! I'm glad to see that you enjoyed "A Long Walk to Water." It was our 'One Book/One Community' book seven years ago (I didn't realize it had been that long!!).
I just read Stuart Little for the first time, and I absolutely loved it!! It was hilarious!! Looking at the writer's words as an adult rather than as a child, I'm sure, makes a lot of difference. I can't believe it's not on the Top 100 list -- but it should be!
I used to love Stuart Little when I was a kid.
Jason wrote: "I used to love Stuart Little when I was a kid."I can certainly see why! :)
I just finished listening to the audio book of 
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, 4****s
It was so much fun! I loved it! And the audio book was wonderful.
As of now, I've read 60 off the list!
I’ve never read it or even seen the movie. I’ve been wanting to read it for awhile though. I’ll have to check it out soon.
Jason wrote: "I’ve never read it or even seen the movie. I’ve been wanting to read it for awhile though. I’ll have to check it out soon."I didn't even know there was a movie! I didn't know anything about it but had just seen the title on the list and decided to go for it. And I'm glad I did! Hope you enjoy it :)
I just finished 
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin and I really enjoyed it!
It is very much a Chinese fairy tale with dragons and magic, and many stories put together to teach a lesson about 'thankfulness.'
I liked it a lot!
Also, I enjoyed The One and Only Ivan so much that I am now reading The One and Only Bob, and it's really cute. It's fun reading a story told by a dog :)
Mod
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin and I really enjoyed it!
It is very much a Chinese fairy tale w..."
You are on a roll with the children's books - I am glad you are liking them!
Hufsa wrote: "Terris wrote: "I just finished Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin and I really enjoyed it!
It is very much a Chine..."
Yes, I've been meaning to read more from the Top 100 list, but hadn't for awhile. I'm glad when I can add a couple :)
Four years ago on my "How Many Have You Read?" comment, I had read 40 of these children's books. Now I've read 60! At least I'm making some progress! Slow and steady..... ;)
That's awesome! Last year because of my work I barely read anything but this year I've been reading a lot but nothing off of this list. I don't really read with my older daughter anymore and my younger is too young for most of these still.
Jason wrote: "That's awesome! Last year because of my work I barely read anything but this year I've been reading a lot but nothing off of this list. I don't really read with my older daughter anymore and my you..."I understand! Life gets crazy! I personally enjoy some of the YA novels nowadays. Have you and your older daughter ever read the same book and discussed it? I think that would be interesting :)
I just finished Howl’s Moving Castle. I liked it. It was entertaining but so weird. I want to watch the movie next. I’ve never seen it. I’m also reading Brown Girl Dreaming. It’s all prose which is cool but I’m having a hard time getting into it so far.
Jason, I loved Howl's Moving Castle! I only read it a couple of months ago. I think the movie would be really fun!I read Brown Girl Dreaming a while ago. I know everyone seems to love it and it got lots of awards, but it just didn't do anything for me. I hope it gets better for you :)
I know this one is not on the list, but I just finished Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective and it was so good! It has you try to solve the mystery at the end of every case. Then you can flip to the back of the book to see if you were right, or to get the correct answer. It was really fun! I think a lot of kids would like it -- I certainly did (I used to be a kid, once!)! :)
Terris wrote: "I know this one is not on the list, but I just finished Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective and it was so good! It has you try to solve the mystery at the end of every case. Then you ca..."I want to say I read some of those when I was younger but I can't remember. It sounds fun though. I know for sure I used to ready the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew.
Jason wrote: "Terris wrote: "I know this one is not on the list, but I just finished Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective and it was so good! It has you try to solve the mystery at the end of every ca..."I never read any of the Hardy Boys, and, unbelievable to me, I only read The Secret of the Old Clock in the Nancy Drew series! I don't know why I didn't read more of those. I kind of blame my local librarian. I was at the library a lot and checked out lots of books, but I don't remember her at all. I think she could have guided me a little more in certain areas to read better books. But I guess it didn't hurt me any -- I still became quite a book lover! ;)
Well, this one isn't on the Top 100, but I really liked it!
The Cay by Theodore Taylor, 4****s
It is definitely in the same vein at
: a young boy on his own hoping to be rescued. But it was very good! I recommend it :)
The Top 100 Children's Books on Goodreads
Books mentioned in this topic
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During the part I read today, the book Blueberries for Sal came up in the story. I think that one would be fun for you to read as a companion book with your daughter (might be too young for your son). I had it in my kindergarten classroom library :)
Let me know what you and your kids are thinking after you've read a little bit of it!