Books I want my daughter to read ...

While the kids were at church tonight, I tutored one of my high school algebra students, then headed to Half Price Books. Ben has been really enjoying the Flat Stanley books, so I wanted to see about getting him a few more from that series. I found a couple, then started browsing the shelves for something for Faith. In the end, I came away with Charlotte's Web (my own copy is still at my parents' house) and Sarah, Plain & Tall.

Right now, Faith is just beginning Beezus and Ramona, another of my long time favorites and she's reading my old copy, and she just finished with Stuart Little. In my room is the entire set of Little House on the Prairie books, just waiting for her.

After thinking about all this (and after a very interesting conversation with my hs student about how literature selections often feature male protagonists versus female, due to interest levels in a classroom), I started making a list, of all the books I want Faith to read at some point, which then morphed into all the books a girl really needs to read, from the simple picture books to the classics.


Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
The Best Loved Doll by Rebecca Caudill
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia Maclachlan
Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren,
Charlotte's Web by EB White
Ramona series by Beverly Cleary
All-of-a-Kind Family series by Sydney Taylor
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
Anne of Green Gable series by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Heidi by Johanna Spyri
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

This may be just the beginning. I'm always looking for awesome books featuring strong female protagonists, and I have another list of must-reads that feature male protagonists (Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, the aforementioned Stuart Little, many others as well). But for the time being, I will be happy if my daughter reads these.

I'd love any thoughts, especially other titles to add to this group, I never mind having more books to read.

Comments

  1. Oooh, great list! I just started rereading the Anne of Green Gables books. My mom sent my collection to my stepdaughter for xmas. It made my heart swell with great memories of following Anne on her adventures.

    My stepdaughter also got two of the City of Ember books by Jeanne DuPrau. I read both City of Ember and People of Sparks. They are both great with wonderful lessons on morality. They have two protagonists, a preteen boy and preteen girl. Highly recommended!

    Also, I really loved reading Anne McCaffrey's Dragon Singer series. Dragonsong, Dragonsinger, and Dragondrums. The main heroine of the story is really great.

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