Can we start a big thread to talk about books?
What are your “hidden gem” favorite books at various age groups and why? (Ie, stuff that isn’t in the top 20 that everyone has these days.)
What kids books do you have a grownup beef with?
Any especially useful books for unexpected purposes or illustrating an important, less-talked-about phenomenon?
8 answers
mamajen210
I had a boy (6) who was sick of the regular books. We were both way done with everything we had. I asked him to write his own. He has a collection of books that we love to read together now. He drew the pictures too! Way better than mainstream.
ritu2551
Hidden gems (and some probably not so hidden)
All Around Bustletown - these were quite popular a few years ago but if you haven’t seen these, the little details are so fun to look at for younger kids.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B18JKWCLEscargot - adorable book that should appeal to picky eaters. Ours is always read in an exaggerated French accent courtesy @jon so that makes it even funnier.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XRHB1PXHiccupotamus - this was a personal favorite (for me, that is - the kids liked it ok, I absolutely loved it). I loved the silly rhyming wordplay and completely ridiculous premise.
https://www.amazon.com/Hiccupotamus-Aaron-Zenz/dp/0761456228The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess - a sweet fairy tale about a brother and sister who take turns rescuing each other. No particular moral or message but I love how sweet and whimsical it is, and the art is adorable.
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Wooden-Robot-Log-Princess/dp/0823446980Pretty much anything by Jon Klassen: we’re big fans of his wry sense of humor.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jon-Klassen/author/B00MXOB18QBooks I have a beef with.
Not too many come to mind honestly, but here are two.The Pigeon books by Mo Willems - I find the pigeon excessively annoying. All those extreme reactions and tantrums and zero accountability for bad behavior. Can someone fry that bird already?
Disclaimer: my kids adore the pigeon.A whole bucket of rainbows/princesses/fairies/unicorns: I don’t particularly have a beef with rainbows and fairies and unicorns per se - they’re all lovely - but the fact that there are eleventy billion books about these is a bit much. Who churns these out in such ridiculous numbers? Some of these have got to be AI generated at this point!
- rachel—I hate the pigeon books. My kids think they are hilarious and I’m just annoyed by the pigeon.
- ritu—@rachel right??? they’re so annoying! glad I’m not the only one!
- EMucha—Wooden Robot 🥰🥰🥰
- ktisme50
The Book of Joy featuring Desmond Tutu and the Dali Llama
Books by Richard Rohr, esp The Art of Letting Go.
In it he says something like, we think religious education is enough, and what’s required is transformation.- christyb—Th Book of Joy is so good. I listened to it several years ago but I should listen again or find it to read.
- christyb50
When my son was an older elementary kid, and then into middle school, I read the Gregor the Overlander series to him. They’re written by Suzanne Collins who also wrote Hunger Games. I believe she wrote the Gregor series first. We really enjoyed them. Since they’re middle grade books, they’re of course not as intense as HG but there are characters who die, heads up. Honestly they were maybe the only chapter books that I read to my kid that I would sometimes read ahead on my own. 😄
- jujubee—Love the Gregor series
rachel8302
Here are some of my very favorite for kids. Might have to do a different post for adults!
Dragon Masters https://a.co/d/4Njwaez. I have recommended these books to so many moms. I first started reading these to my twins when they were four. And they sat for 45 MINUTES so I could finish it. They just kept asking for one more chapter. That’s how engaging it was! I mean, amazing. And they are a great 2nd-ish grade reader. My son is now reading through them all again. We have them all, and already have preordered the next two in the series.
Escape this Book: Titantic https://a.co/d/bYJFrDp. My son received this book as a Christmas book from a cousin, and it is great. I love that it’s a little bit of choose your own adventure plus actions as you read the book. Truly a gem, and we’ve now given it as a gift several times.
Count the Monkeys https://a.co/d/dZG66dt. Such a cute book, and I still laugh every time I read it to my kids.
Valentine Cat https://a.co/d/fZU6XC6. I still remember the first time I read this to my kids and how hard they laughed. We get it out every Valentine’s to read.
Frog and Toad. I know it’s a classic, but I loved it as a kid, and my kids love it too.