For me growing up, summer was the best because you had more time to read all those books that weren't in the school curriculum. More opportunities to go to the library and read in the sun. Coming up with the top books I'd recommend was really difficult because there were just so many but it was so fun and nostalgic to remember the ones that really made an impact on me. So here it goes!
Books girls might prefer-
- The Ramona Collection by Beverly Cleary. Each book in this collection is so funny as you go through life with Ramona and her antics.
- Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild is probably the most well known of the shoe books. It's the story of three orphan girls making their way in life through performance art. It's a very sweet story that will have the reader coming back over and again.
- Mandy by Julie Edwards. When I first read this book I was so surprised that it was written by the actress, Julie Andrews from Mary Poppins and the Sounds of Music. This was one of the books that inspired the idea that I would be a gardener when I grew up... that still hasn't happened yet but maybe someday.
- The Baby-sitters Club by Ann M. Martin. I devoured these books as a kid and couldn't wait for the day I was old enough to babysit too!
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is the classic story of four sisters growing up together and the bonds that hold a family together. I loved this book and the movie was one of my favorites too!
- The Secret Garden was one of those books I read over and over again. My copy was an older one with pictures illustrated by Tasha Tudor. If possible I'd recommend finding that version to really experience the magic of the garden in the pages and in your imagination.
- And if you liked The Secret Garden, A Little Princess is another great by Francis Hodgson Burnett to keep you in the magic a little longer.
- Anne of Green Gables is a definite classic. With her little quirks and funny turns of phrase, Anne makes the most of even the worst life situations and gives you a fresh perspective as well.
- Emily of New Moon is another story of L.M. Montgomery's that will keep you entertained. I thought this one was a little more dark but also kept me wanting to read more. Sadly this series is only three books long.
- Nancy Drew has been solving crimes since the 1930's. Written by different authors under the name Carolyn Keene, each story holds you in suspense of the mystery and keeps you guessing as you hurry to turn the next page.
- The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking was a favorite Saturday morning read for me when I got up before the rest of the house. These three books showcase Pippi, her unconventional lifestyle, her superhuman strength and her quirky, upbeat character.
- The Betsy-Tacy Treasury are the beginning stories of best friends in the early 1900's and the adventures they take using their imagination.
- Little House on the Prairie has it's place marked in time not just by these autobiographical books but by the eight year long tv series. If you're looking for a little insight into pioneer life in the 1800's, these books will do the trick.
Books boys might prefer-
- Hatchet is about a boy stranded in the wilderness who learns to survive using only his brains and his hatchet. This story made me want to try survival methods of my own in the forest or at the very least to go camping.
- The Phantom Tollbooth is about a boy on an adventure through a world of puns and literal explanations of figurative phrases. It's quite funny while still being a little education.
- Holes is a book that keeps you so enraptured by a modern day boy with the worst of luck and a history that eventually intertwines in the most unique way.
- The Indian in the Cupboard is the first of four books about a boy who locks his plastic Indian toy in the cupboard and watches him come to life. Their adventure makes for a good read while also throwing a moral about respect for all people into the mix.
Books that everyone will enjoy-
- Henry Reed is a boy on summer vacation in the quiet like neighborhood of Grover's Corner, NJ. Somehow, he manages to keep himself entertained each summer with his never ending imagination and a few friends. The journal-like style of writing adds to the humor in the chaos. I liked these books so much that I remembered the name of the area he lived in years later and tried to find it... sadly, it does not currently exist in real life.
- The Inkheart Trilogy is based in a world where books come to life and characters, good and bad, transition in and out of stories. The adventures that one girl and her father go through to make the world right again. This will captive young readers who sometimes wish that the books they read and their imaginations would become reality.
- The Chronicles of Narnia is the go to series for fantasy beginners. The characters, the action, the motive and the moral will draw you in.
- Mrs. Piggle Wiggle is a funny collection of books about a lady who helps kids with their bad habits using very unconventional methods. This book makes you wish you had a Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle in your life even as a kids.
- From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is the story of a brother and sister who go to live at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the things they learn along the way. I loved it because, who doesn't want to live in a museum?
- The Tale of Despereaux is the fantasy story of a mouse that rescues a princess. What made this book stand out for me was the wording, the way the story was laid out and the relatable characters.
- Matilda is the story of a smart and magical girl who lives in a very ordinary world with people who can't understand her. The preposterous situations she find herself in keep the reader laughing and cheering Matilda along to find her happy ending.
Happy reading!