A Great Gift: Read a Book to a Kid

The holiday season is upon us once again, a time for family, friends, food, and the giving of gifts. Are you looking for an amazing gift for a child, one that will last a lifetime? Allow me to suggest a simple and wonderful thing: read a book to the favorite Kid in your life. They will love it, they will not forget it, and neither will you. Reading aloud to a child is a bonding experience; a bit of time snatched from the hustle, bustle, and distractions of our busy world. Reading a book aloud can be a quiet moment of mutual magic. The story unfolds as one reads it, floating in the air for a little girl or boy to imagine. There is nothing quite like it. Instilling the love of books in a child is a gift that goes far beyond the simple act of reading. A child that is read to will become an adult that reads. That is a gift beyond price. 

But where to start? Listed below is my small primer of great stories for kids, graduated by age. Over the course of years, I have read each of these books to my son Liam. It is my hope that you will enjoy these classic tales for kids. More importantly, I hope that you read one of these to a child in your life. With that said, let's get to it! I have started each entry with some of the publisher's description. My own comments follow the descriptions.

 

The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

Paperback, 186 pages

Published January 26th 2014 by Harper Collins (first published 1965) 

"Pb-pb-b-b-b. Pb-pb-b-b-b." With these magic vocables, Ralph the mouse revs up a dream come true--his very own motorcycle. Living in a knothole in a hotel room, young Ralph has seen plenty of families come and go, some more generous with their crumbs than others. But when young Keith and his parents check in to the hotel, Ralph gets his first chance to check out. He has always fantasized about venturing beyond the second floor, maybe even outside. 

My comments... 

This is a wonderful story about overcoming fear and having an adventure. Ralph the mouse is a great character for children as young as four years old. The bond that grows between Ralph and the boy Keith is heart-warming. With Keith's help, the toy motorcycle becomes the vehicle that enlarges and enhances Ralph's world. As an added bonus, there are some great opportunities for sound effects whilst reading this aloud. Go for it! Make the little motorcycle roar, and you will be rewarded with giggles.

 

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Paperback, Full Color Edition, 184 pages

Published October 1st 2001 by Harper Collins  (first published 1952) 

Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter.

My comments... 

Fair warning, no one is going to get through Charlotte's Web without a few tears. Because of some of the subject matter, I would say this book is best suited for children from six to sixty-five years old. 

The story of Wilbur (Some Pig!) and Charlotte, the wise spider, is poignant and emotional. Even with the inevitable tears, E.B. White weaves a most magical tale. I simply cannot imagine a child growing up without reading this book, or, better yet, having it read aloud. The supporting cast of barnyard characters, some good, some not so good, will enthrall any youngster. 

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Paperback, 256 pages

Published 1996 by Random House Bullseye Books (first published 1961) 

For Milo, everything’s a bore. When a tollbooth mysteriously appears in his room, he drives through only because he’s got nothing better to do. But on the other side, things seem different. Milo visits the Island of Conclusions (you get there by jumping), learns about time from a ticking watchdog named Tock, and even embarks on a quest to rescue Rhyme and Reason! Somewhere along the way, Milo realizes something astonishing. Life is far from dull. In fact, it’s exciting beyond his wildest dreams. 

My comments... 

Meet Milo, the boy who has everything. Life has lost its luster: boring, boring, boring. His toys are boring, his games are boring, and there is simply nothing worth doing. Sound familiar? When he discovers a small car and a magic tollbooth, everything changes. Milo has some lessons to learn. He sets out on a allegorical journey, one that will reveal the worth, or lack of worth, in many things. Some of the concepts in this book will be best understood by a child who is a bit older, somewhere in the range of eight to eighty years old.

 

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

 

Hardcover, Borzoi Book Edition, 146 pages

Published September 10th 2002 by Alfred A. Knopf (first published 1961) 

When James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. When James discovers a secret entrance way into the fruit and crawls inside, he meets wonderful new friends--the Old-Green-Grasshopper, the dainty Ladybug, and the Centipede of the multiple boots. After years of feeling like an outsider in his aunts' house, James finally found a place where he belongs. With a snip of the stem, the peach household starts rolling away--and the adventure begins!

My comments... 

Roald Dahl is the master of 'Poor Boy Makes Good.' As in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mr. Dahl creates a magical world. The child has only to enter, and the journey begins. This is a classic tale of the boy who has very little, but is rewarded with riches beyond price: Adventure! Charming characters await inside the giant peach, which continues to grow, bigger and bigger. This story will enthrall small readers of all ages.

Watership Down by Richard Adams 

Mass Market Paperback, 478 pages

Published June 1975 by Avon Books (first published November 1972) 

Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of friends, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society.  

My comments... 

Watership Down is more of a commitment than the other books listed above. This full-length novel is one to be read over the course of many bedtime sessions before sleepy eyes close. It is a complex story, one more suited to children aged ten to one hundred years old. My son loved this story, insisting on long reading sessions before he would even consider sleeping. The story deals with deep bonds of friendship, adventure, and dangers overcome. 

Terror has come to the old warren, forcing the few surviving rabbits to flee. Dogged by their own fears, as well as real danger, they must overcome both to find a new home. The members of their small company each have their strengths and weaknesses. They must learn to work together to survive. Watership Down is a great anthropomorphic adventure, but also imparts some profound life lessons. This book is well worth the time invested

And, in a quick pause for the cause...

Marco Etheridge is an eccentric world traveler and writer living in Vienna, Austria. He is the author of The Dark Rain Series, a riveting and original tale of ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. This post-apocalyptic saga opens with the novella "Clouds Before Rain" and continues in the full-length novel "The Best Dark Rain: A Post Apocalyptic Struggle for Life and Love." Marco's second novel, "Blood Rust Chains," is a stand-alone novel, set in Portland, Oregon. "Blood Rust Chains" was released in 2018. Marco's third novel, a political satire thriller, is complete and awaiting publication. He is hard at work on other projects, including a fourth novel, a three-act play, and a children's book.

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