This post includes affiliate links which help support Autumn All Along.
One of my goals in 2018 is to read 52 books. While looking through the books I would like to read, it has been eye opening to realize that there are many children’s classics that I have never read! I read a lot of fairy tales in elementary school, but it wasn’t until middle school when I read Harry Potter that I really fell in love with reading. After that, I quickly became the kid who was in trouble for hiding their reading book in class. As someone who has now taught, I simultaneously roll my eyes and also wish my student’s were look at books instead of smart phones in class 🤦🏻🤣.
When I went to high school, I went straight to the heavy stuff like Dune and Atlas Shrugged and I’m kind of like: HEY THERE, where were the classic children’s books that kids normally read? When people tell me about really basic favorites, my eyes start to glaze over because I have no idea what they are talking about. Well, I’m changing that! These are 10 children’s chapter books I am reading this year to put some fun and whimsy back in my life.
10 children’s chapter books I am reading this year
📚 The Wizard of Oz
I watched this movie a ton with my sister growing up; she had the whole movie memorized by the time she was 3. I’ve seen all of the different variations of the movies, but somehow, I have never read the book. I’m excited to see how they compare and I’d love to see if I hear more back story about these loved characters.
📚 Anne of Green Gables
I’ve had so many people tell me that Anne of Green Gables is SO GOOD. I can kind of pick up on the general plot from what I’ve heard and it sounds a lot like Pollyanna. I’ve seen a lot of the quotes on Pinterest and Goodreads and I have to admit there is a lot of allure for me there… the books sounds wonderful. This year, I want Anne Shirley and myself to become friends.
📚 The Bridge to Terabithia
I remember picking this book up in the 3rd grade and my teacher telling me the book was sad and maybe a little difficult for me. I wistfully wanted to read it the rest of the year, but kind of felt deflated #sensitivechildproblems. Well, I’m going to read it. If I can get through a graduate program, I think I can read the book now. 😉
📚 Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
I would wake up at 6 AM in elementary school so I could watch The Little Mermaid and the Disney TV show of Adventures in Wonderland. I thought the show was the best, I loved the characters, and the zany stories. I’m kind of excited to see what the story is like!
📚 Matilda
I watched the movie Matilda all of the time growing up and decided that Matilda was my spirit animal. I loved how much she read and I’m surprised I never read this because I read a lot of Roald Dahl books. Devin was able to see Matilda the musical when traveling in New York and I kind of hated him for it.
📚 The Little House on the Prairie
I remember my Mom reading through these books when I was growing up and we visited Laura Ingall Wilder’s prairie homestead in Kansas. However, I have not ever read this series.
📚 The Borrowers
I remember little about this movie as a child except that we watched it several times. All I remember? There are little people and they live in walls.
📚 The Velveteen Rabbit
I know I am going to love this book already because every time I see a quote from it, I end up crying and snotting. Bring on the tissues!
📚 Harriet the Spy
This movie came out when I was in the 4th grade and it rocked my world. I always loved journaling and I told people that I wanted to be a writer or be in the CIA (I wanted to do language work); to be fair, I did end up with a masters in linguistics and I blog. So, you can kind of say that Harriet was who I decided my best friend for life was going to be. I ended up making several different codexs for different languages, bought a million spy books, and only wrote in composition books after this movie; I make no promises how I will respond to this book after reading it as an adult, but maybe Devin is in for a treat.
📚 Tuck Everlasting
I have never seen the movie, but I remember seeing the previews growing up and I thought they looked so good! I’ve heard the book is really good and that is good enough for me to try it out.
*** I had Beloved listed on here because a list told me it was a children’s book, but several of the comments on my blog said it wasn’t one. I replaced it with The Little House on the Prairie.
………………………………….
I have a lot of reading to do this year, but I’m so excited because I’m embracing my inner child and going crazy with these (and I’m sure more). I’m looking forward to making some more book friends and I would love your suggestions of more childhood favorites that I have to read!