- Charlotte’s Web
Charlotte’s Web is a classic book written back in 1952 by E. B. White. A young girl named Fern takes in a piglet and names it Wilber. After years of growing up with her pet, it becomes clear that Wilber is not fit for her lifestyle, and she must give him up to a farm where he can be properly cared for. He meets the other animals at the farm who bring him some comfort and friendship, including a barn spider named Charlotte. When summer sets, the time must come when the farmer takes the pigs to be slaughtered. Charlotte and Wilber form a plan that says if he is famous enough, the farmer won’t hurt him. Once Charlotte has met her goal, she ultimately passes away. The story is a gentle push into learning about the tragedy of loss and finding the good from it. It also shows how having the right friends can make any scary place feel like home.
- Harry Potter
Harry Potter is a seven-book series written by J.K. Rowling. The series is the best possible introduction to fantasy-styled books for children. The author uses incredible world-building, complex characters, and mystery- all seen through the eyes of the main character, Harry Potter. It’s relatively easy to follow since the reader learns more about the magical world of Hogwarts through the clueless eyes of Harry. It is a franchise that suggests every villain has a story that made them one. And it beautifully demonstrates relationships through family, found families, and friendships. The series matures as it goes on, as well through dark themes and more complex writing.
- Percy Jackson
The Percy Jackson seris by Rick Riordan is so important for growing and changing minds because it illustrates real-life struggles and failures might be looked at as faults rather than simply indifferent. It presents awareness of learning disorders like dyslexia and ADHD. The main character, Percy, is seen as a “troubled kid,” and often acts out and resents his major role as the Son of Poseidon. It paints an accurate picture of a kid playing the role of a demigod. For children, it’s so important to be exposed to characters and settings where differences are explored and celebrated, especially if they are being taught otherwise in real life.
- Wonder
Wonder by R. J. Palacio is a story most schools provide as required reading now, and there are strong arguments behind why it is such a praised book. It is a standalone novel about a boy who has Treacher Collins syndrome, which causes his face to look disfigured. He attends public middle school for the first time after years of being homeschooled due to fear of bullying. As many know, middle schoolers can be quite cruel, but Auggie finds his true friends through his own self-acceptance. It’s a great book to expose to kids to because it shows the effects of what words can truly mean, and it can open your eyes to the impact being kind to others can have, regardless of appearance.
- The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas
As heavy as The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas is, it’s such an important read. The book by John Boyne is a historical fiction book from the time of the Holocaust. It is written about a boy whose father and family support the concentration camps. The main character meets a child prisoner wearing “striped pajamas” of one of these camps and forms an unlikely friendship with his so-called enemy. He learns what his family had been lying about and how cruel the world is to innocent people. He struggles to find the line between his good morals and his loyalty to his anti-semitic family. The ending is extremely tragic and heartbreaking, but it shows how horrible the real event was through a very small amount of it. This book is also commonly read aloud in elementary schools and is definitely one that will silence the class upon the last chapters. Some stories are harder to read than others, but their impact brings awareness to such a brutal time that deserves to be mourned.
- Because Of Winn-Dixie
Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo, is the perfect book for unlikely friendships. It shows the story of a girl named Opal who misses her home when she moves to Florida with her father. She adopts a dog named Winn-Dixie and her new companion and forms friendships with her new acquaintances all over town. It shows the value of friendships in lonely times and is the embodiment of the phrase, “never judge a book by its cover.”
