Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: reading lists

This topic has 14 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 7 months ago by ColoradoMama.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)

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October 11, 2011 at 7:21 pm
Tia
Participant
My dd 7 has read through all of the books I scheduled for her this year. She just read In Grandma’s Attic and More Stories from Grandma’s Attic and is asking for the third one. After that, I’m not sure what to have her read. I’m looking for some books to help her finish out the year. I’d like to transition her into some harder reading material, because I think she’s ready for it. But I don’t want to overdo it.
Does anyone have any good book recommendations? I’ve looked through some classic book lists, but it’s hard to tell at first glance what is appropriate for her. For example, I saw Crime and Punishment and Black Beauty on the same list. lol
October 11, 2011 at 7:48 pm
viljoenavenue
Member
Here is a list of books that are recommened by grade level http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/scmguide/literature/ 
October 11, 2011 at 7:49 pm
viljoenavenue
Member
http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/scmguide/literature/ sorry, I think I posted the link wrong above!
October 11, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Monica
Participant
When my oldest was 7 he really loved the My Father’s Dragon trilogy.
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Tales-My-Fathers-Dragon/dp/0679889116/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318362689&sr=8-1
October 11, 2011 at 8:12 pm
RobinP
Participant
Would you believe I am just now (at age 48) reading Heidi. What a wonderful book! Just make sure it doesn’t leave out the Christian message.
October 11, 2011 at 8:32 pm
Tia
Participant
I read Heidi to the girls last year and it is one of my favorite books of all time!! I LOVED it!
I’ll check out the link..thanks! I guess I should have looked around before just asking…lol
October 11, 2011 at 8:34 pm
Tia
Participant
Vil – I believe those grade recommendations are for read aloud readiness…not independent reading. But I will look through the list and see if I see anything I think she would like to read. Thanks!
October 12, 2011 at 3:05 am
Shannon
Participant
What about Caddie Woodlawn or Understood Betsy?
We have loved both those books.
shannon in NC
October 12, 2011 at 3:59 am
suzukimom
Participant
Not sure of the level of the books you mentioned, so not sure if this is about the right level or not…
how about Pollyanna? Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm?
eventually Anne of Green Gables (but I’m guessing that is a later book for you…)
October 12, 2011 at 10:55 am
simple home
Member
Has she read Little House on the Prairie yet? And the first 19 books of the Boxcar children are fun too.
My dd 8 is reading Heidi and loving it too. It is challenging reading for her age, but she is doing fine. I did read to her the first couple of chapters to get her going, and now she is almost done. Love that book!
October 12, 2011 at 6:09 pm
Tia
Participant
I just ordered Pollyanna and the next two in the Grandma’s Attic series. That should last her through the weekend. lol
The library has always completely overwhelmed her (and me too to be honest), but I need to really teach her how to make it work. I can’t keep ordering books like this…
She read one of the Boxcar Children books, but never cared to pick up the others for some reason…?
Thanks for your help ladies! 🙂
October 13, 2011 at 4:45 am
ColoradoMama
Member
Our local library system is HUGE. There are things I love about it, but browsing can be a little overwhelming. However, I am finally taking advantage of our librarians. The children’s librarians especially can be a treasure trove of ideas for great, age-appropriate books.
There are books that are dedicated to reading lists, sorted by age/grade level. If your local library has an online system, search “read with your child” as a subject/keyword and see what comes up. “Honey for a Child’s Heart” has lists as well as short summaries of each book. I thought the age ranges could have been narrowed down a bit more, but it was a place to start. The kids’ section of your local library also probably has books with recommended reading lists. There is one particular one that is quite well-known, but the name escapes me. I do remember that it was written by a man and has been updated several times. Sorry, not so helpful! Anyway, ask your children’s section librarian if they have books like that, and browse the shelves.
Google “recommended reading lists for children.” An amazing number of reading lists, many sorted by age/reading level, have been posted online.

Here are some of my favorite childhood books (I don’t remember when I read them):
Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon series
A Little Princess
The Secret Garden
Little Women series
Little House series
The Mushroom Planet books
Books by Lloyd Alexander
The Wizard of Oz series
The Black Stallion books
Anything by Marguerite Henry (Yes, I was horse-crazy!)

Books my kids (6 & 4) are enjoying:
Magic Treehouse series
The Clementine books by Sara Pennypacker
Betsy Tacy series
October 13, 2011 at 4:46 am
ColoradoMama
Member
Also E. (Edith) Nesbit books!
October 13, 2011 at 4:48 am
ColoradoMama
Member
… and the Chronicles of Narnia. I read them through once a year from the time I was 8 until I was in my 20’s.
Okay, I’m going to stop now. I hope some of these ideas help!
October 13, 2011 at 8:08 pm
ColoradoMama
Member
I found it on Penny Gardner’s website: The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. I didn’t realize that it was specifically for read-aloud, but you still might find some book books in there that she can read on her own. Best of luck to you both.