People keep asking me to make a book list. I don't know if I have the patience to do that, particularly when there are very good book lists already available. I'm posting my indispensable book lists here (although they are in other posts) so that you have them in one place to access easily.
The go-to list is John Senior's “1000 Good Books.” For inspiration and the list, embedded within, read this delightful essay by Thomas More College president William Edmund Fahey. Originally, Senior's list appeared in The Death of Christian Culture, a book I highly recommend.
Ambleside offers a Charlotte Mason curriculum guide completely free. I've recommended it before for various reasons (you can read excellent summaries of her books there and get a good idea of what the homeschool environment should look like). Mostly, the book lists on Ambleside for all the levels of schooling will help you immensely. I thought I had found all the books before I stumbled on this site. So many treasures!
There’s my friend Theresa Fagan’s A Mother’s List of Books. I highly recommend this list — Theresa has gone to great trouble (which clearly I am not willing to do and why should I, when we have her) to collect all the wonderful literature that your child could and should be reading just for pleasure. As a mother of eight intelligent and well educated children, she knows what she is talking about.
For a long post with lots of recommendations from me after all, see Are Fairy Tales Always Appropriate?
For encouragement on helping your child (even your teenager) learn to be guided in his reading by his parents, you might like this post. And indeed all the Library Project posts!
Stephanie says
The price for Theresa Fagan’s list has gone up, by the way! It’s now $10 with $2 shipping
Christina A says
Thank you for all your lovely posts on this blog! Do you have recommendations for children’s picture books and chapter books for Advent/Christmas/Epiphany? Thanks in advance!
Leila says
Yes — here you go: http://likemotherlikedaughter.org/2008/12/quiet-moments-with-christmas-books/
Christina A says
Thank you!
Christina A says
By the way, your macaroni and cheese is such a hit; thank you! Years ago, my husband’s grandma gave me an incredible, super-rigid Le Creuset silicone spoonula with a 2-inch-wide flat tip, and it is perfect for keeping the milk from scorching on the bottom of the pan AND getting every last bit of cheese-sauce goodness out of the pan when serving. A great Christmas gift idea for the mac-n-cheese lover in your life!
Christina A says
Ok, one last comment (for some reason, the other posts I’ve wanted to comment on haven’t had a “leave a reply” section): in your post about the LMLD Library Project on June 10, 2013, you said “there’s this Eager Reader’s list,” but the hyperlink doesn’t seem to be working. Do you know if their website moved since then? Thanks for your help!
As a side note, another blog I follow (http://www.livingbookslibrary.com/) is written by a lady that has a library in her home of thousands of volumes that she invites neighborhood children to come to once a week; delightful! She also routinely reprints books that have sadly gone out of print; what a lady! Also, in my town, a homeschooling mama whose kids are grown keeps a fantastic lending library of curriculum, literature, and historical fiction which is continually blessing my friends and me. I’m so happy to see you are doing your part to make sure the truly good, old books do not die out!
Leila says
Well, I looked and looked, but I have no idea what that “Eager Reader” list could have been! So I took it out. Ah well!
That site looks like it COULD be fabulous, but I will confess that between the tiny type and the white text on the black background, I can NOT read it! Sad! I wish I could. I wonder if someone who is a good faithful reader could convince her (and anyone else so misguided as to do the white-on-black thing) to reverse it! Then I would read 🙂
Christina A says
Her post from November 23, 2017, was the first one I’d had trouble with on my phone, and even as I look at it on my PC it’s a bit difficult. The other posts use a different font, but yes, always the white on black. I’ll mention it to her as a detraction for some potential readers. 🙂
Christina A says
Well, Living Books Library has changed their look! Black-on-white has prevailed, and it really is quite refreshing: http://www.livingbookslibrary.com/
Leila says
Oh, wow, what a difference! Fantastic!
Emily says
Does your friend still sell her book guide?
Lindsey in OK says
The link to Theresa Fagan’s list on Amazon now sends me to a listing for aftermarket toner cartridges 😛
Leila says
Okay, I removed the link. She will send you her list — I know it seems so old-fashioned, but it’s worth it!
Lindsey in OK says
I rather appreciate people who fly in the face of modern efficiency. Old-fashioned works for me w
richei2268 says
Thank you very much for this post and the book lists on Ambleside. During my last visit to my grand-daughter’s home out west, I brought along a book my children loved to read when they were young “Mrs. Piggle Wiggle”. During my 2 week stay for my daughter’s recovery from surgery, my 5 year old grand-daughter couldn’t wait for me to read a chapter with her before bed. Over the past 30+ years, I donated most of the books our children read while homeschooling to other families and church libraries. I just purchased several of the recommendations on Ambleside in preparation for my grand-daughter’s upcoming visit … oldies but goodies! Also purchased the 3 volumes of the New St Joseph’s Baltimore Catechism. Rosella (6 years old) likes to talk with me about her questions of God and Jesus and His mother. So grateful for your website. Thank you Leila.
Sarah B. says
What a treasure Theresa Fagan’s list is! I’ve been reading through the blog archives and enjoying them so much, learning a great deal. Your pizza method is delicious, and my children are starting to understand not being eaten by bears, but the library project is my favorite! Interlibrary loan has been busy in my town, keeping up with my appetite to try them all. And now with Theresa’s list, I’ll be even worse. What fun! Thank you so much.