Writers Who Read: Beloved Children’s Books

For many people, the love of reading starts at a young age, thanks to being introduced to classic children’s books. Growing up, I had multiple novels that I loved to read over and over again. To this day, I still remember those stories and the emotions they brought with them. If you are looking for a new book to share with the little people in your life, take a look at the suggestions from our writers below.

The Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park

“My name is Junie B. Jones. The B stands for Beatrice. Except I don’t like Beatrice. I just like B and that’s all.” This classic sentence is the opening to all of Park’s Junie B. Jonesbooks. From 1992 to 2013, this series produced almost 30 books around this fictional 6-year-old, her parents, baby brother Ollie, her grandparents, friends, and Junie B.’s stuffed elephant, Phillip Johnny Bob. The series covers Junie B.’s journey of starting kindergarten in the first book, Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, to making it to first grade.Some of my favorites novels in the series are Junie B. Jones is a Party Animal, Junie B. Jones Has a Peep in Her Pocket, and Junie B. Jones Is a Graduation Girl. If you are looking for a fun-loving book series, written in the voice of a child, for the young ones in your life, Park has the perfect collection. In addition, she has written older books for middle school aged children.

Physik, Book 3 in theSeptimus Heapby Angie Sage

Author Angie Sage has created the Septimus Heapseries about a young boy, Silas Heap, a wizard’s apprentice who is on the journey of becoming an Extra Ordinary wizard. In book 3, Physik, Heap finds a sealed-up room in a palace and releases the ghost of Queen Etheldredda, who has an evil plan of giving herself everlasting life. Writer Lisa Doss loves the series.  “It’s the 7thson of a 7thson who was taken as an infant from his family. Throughout time, he discovers who he is. It is a series about friendship, loyalty, self-discovery, and making choices,” stated Doss. “Quirky characters, magic, dragons, ghosts, and it’s not too scary. Good for girls and boys. I have read the series numerous times. This time, I am enjoying it with my 8-year-old daughter and she loves it!”

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The book, The Outsiders, is another one of my favorites. It is geared towards middle-school aged children or older, but teaches many valuable lessons. First published in 1967, author S.E. Hinton describes it as a “coming of age” novel. It tells the story of two rival gangs, the working-class “Greasers” and the upper-class “Socs” and is told through the view point of Ponyboy Curtis, a teenager who is part of the “Greasers.” The Outsiders is set in 1965 Oklahoma. What I love about this novel is that it shows society that socio-economic classes and their differences are pointless and they can cause more harm than good. The Outsiders is filled with themes of bridging the gap between the poor and rich, standing up for those who can’t, and the interactions between people. Many students read this novel in school, but if you haven’t, I recommend you do so. Also, fun fact: Hinton starting writing The Outsiders at the age of 15 and was only 18-years-old when the book was published.

There are many classic children’s books out in the world. People have their favorites that they read over and over again. One of the best things, however, is when the love of a children’s book is passed from generation to generation.

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