The Second Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling (1895)
Favorite Illustrator: ANGEL DOMINGUEZ
There was a time, not long ago, when I had no idea that there was a second Jungle Book!
Here we have Mowgli stories – Mowgli a little more grown up, so the stories are a little more grown up – interwoven with some of the most beautiful literature I’ve come across in a while. The Miracle of Purun Bhagat and Quiquern are inspiring, and The Undertakers is haunting. The final Mowgli story, The Spring Running, moved me so much I teared up and could barely read it out loud to my 6-year old!
If you are a fan of the newest movie, several elements of the film actually come from The Second Jungle Book: Peace Rock, the scene with the bees, and the Law of the Jungle:
“Now this is the Law of the Jungle-as old and as true as the
the sky;
And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf
that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth
forward and back-
For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength
of the Wolf is the Pack.
Yep, that’s from The Second Jungle Book.
Another wonderful thing about it is that Kaa and Mowgli become trusting friends. It is actually such a wonderful friendship, and with Bagheera and Baloo, completes the three attributes that Kipling puts forward as thematic in this work: Wisdom, Strength and Courtesy.
DO NOTE I would make sure your kids are comfortable with hunting, death and the natural cycle of life and struggle of nature before reading it.
The Jungle Book illustrated by Angel Dominguez contains both the first and second books, both beautifully illustrated.
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Jungle Book Illustrated by Angel Dominguez from Abebooks
1900-1910
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by Frank Baum (1902)
Our Favorite Illustrator: MICHAEL HAGUE
My son was so pleased with this almost Tolkien-like, fantasy version of Santa Claus’s life that at the end he was all smiles and gave me a huge hug!
There is an explanation for everything. Santa’s immortality and his red cloak, Christmas trees, stockings, even how he manages to get around modern “chimneys”.
If reading to a younger child, prepare for a little bit of gore in the Chapter titled “The Great War between Good and Evil”, which reminded me of JRR Tolkien’s battles in The Lord of the Rings, with its orcs and elves and wizards and hobbits except Baum’s story (which predates LOTR by half a century or so) has awgwas and nymphs and master woodsmen and ryls and knooks.
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus Illustrated by Michael Hague from Abebooks
The Magic Pudding by Norman Lindsay (1918)
Illustrated By: NORMAN LINDSAY (the Author)
I love Australian literature and in each of my reading lists I try to choose one such title.
I read this out loud to my son until I realized that this definitely is a book better PERFORMED than read, so began using the audio version.
My son and I found this quirky adventure funny when viewed as a whole. When done, book shut, examining the front cover, I realized how wonderfully ridiculous it all was, and then laughed out loud!
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Magic Pudding Illustrated by the Author from Abebooks
∞The Magic Pudding Audio version performed by full cast
1920’s
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (1922)
Illustrated by: WILLIAM NICHOLSON
This is one of my best friend Kristi’s favorite books from childhood and I totally understand why…it is beautiful!
In my opinion, even though there have been so many beautifully illustrated versions of this book (Charles Santore is a great one for example), this story is one of those children’s books like Winnie-the-Pooh or the The Tales of Beatrix Potter where the original illustrations marry with the prose so vividly that it’s a shame not to read them together. We read this story twice and got so much more out of it when we read it with the original illustrator, William Nicholson.
The audio version, read by Meryl Streep, is wonderful.
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Velveteen Rabbit Illustrated by William Nicholson from Amazon
∞ The Velveteen Rabbit read by Meryl Streep Audible Audiobook
The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White (1938)
Illustrated by: T.H. WHITE & DENNIS NOLAN
We listened to the audio version by Neville Jason (who does a fantastic job) while following in the book illustrated by T.H. White, keeping the version by Dennis Nolan handy.
I found it hilarious, and incredibly wise. My 6-year old son found it hilarious and adventurous and magical. At times he would burst out laughing and giggle on for minutes. But, at other times he was bored- many of the chapters begin with a long-winded description and some irrelevant side play, before getting into the core of the chapter. Another time, he was too scared to finish the chapter (the one about the Giant) so I finished it for him and told him what happened.
I had to explain a lot, but it worked, and he ended up really living the journey with The Wart. And when The Wart pulled that sword from the stone and the chapter ended, there was the “one more chapter please!” that I just adore hearing when reading aloud.
We had read the first Harry Potter a couple of books before, (my first time reading it too), and what struck me most were the similarities between HP and The Wart. Both of mysterious birth, both destined for glory, both guided by a great wizard, both speaking to snakes and owls. I don’t need an online check to know that J.K. Rowling took some inspiration from this story.
I wish there was a better illustrated version though. T.H. White’s illustrations are adorable, and Dennis Nolan does a version that has beautiful color plates throughout, but so many scenes could be much easier understood by younger readers with a well placed illustration. I’ve added this book to my “Needs more Illustrators” list. See here for the post.
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Sword in the Stone Illustrated by Dennis Nolan from Abebooks
Comet in Moominland by Tove Jansson (1946)
Illustrated by the Author
So original and charming that it made me glow all over after reading it. It took my 6-year old son a couple of chapters to get into, but he is now Moomin crazy and is watching all the shows we can find on Youtube and wants to read more “Moomintroll” books. I can’t get over how brilliant in their own simplicity her characters are. Oh and did you know there are two Moomin theme parks – one in Finland and one in Japan? I wanna go!!!!
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ Comet in Moominland illustrated by the author from Abebooks
Illustrated by GARTH WILLIAMS
This was the first fictional read aloud I shared with my almost 6-year-old that tackled real-world problems. This beautiful story set in Paris, is gentle in its approach; and there is a practical, non-magic-based solution that brought about the answer and resolution to the problem of homelessness the family faced. Beautiful to read during the holiday season. I will say that at his age there were parts that were a bit boring for my son, so I will probably reread it with him sometime when he is older.
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Family Under the Bridge Illustrated by Garth Williams from Amazon
1960’s
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming (1964)
Illustrated by: JOE BERGER
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is such fun! It has everything a kid could want. Magic, adventure, mystery and danger and a loving family to boot complete with a Dad who loves to provide not so much “Dad jokes” but rather “Dad info”- so my son learned several new random things like the meaning of boating terms starboard and portside which we now use instead of “left” and “right”. It is delightful. The original illustrator, John Burningham, created illustrations that are classic and just as inventive as the text, and I love them so much…but the version illustrated by Joe Berger has an awesome skeleton hanging in the dark which became my 6-year old’s favorite page to look at time and again. If you are into audio version’s I hear David Tennant’s version is wonderful.
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Illustrated by Joe Berger from Amazon
∞ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Audio Version by David Tennant from Amazon
Socks by Beverly Cleary (1973)
Our Favorite Illustrator: This one is a toss up between BEATRICE DARWIN and TRACY DOCKRAY. Both have their individual style to fit the story. I ended up going with Beatrice Darwin due to her version being the one I found at our local library, but with either you can’t go wrong.
Sweet book that intrigued my 6-year old son with it’s detail on raising a baby….which completely surprised me but there he was, perking up with questions about why the Brickers did this or did that while attending to the baby’s needs. And the chapter with the Mother-in-Law was so wonderful and spot on! I love how Socks’ role changes throughout the book – brings the movie Gladiator to mind. Final chapter – wonderful!
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ Socks Illustrated by Beatrice Darwin from Abebooks (scroll down to find exact hardcover featured above)
∞ Socks Illustrated by Tracy Dockray from Abebooks
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks (1980)
Illustrated by BROCK COLE
Original, exciting and…fun! While reading it, my son and I imagined what would happen if we put his 3- inch Jedi and Darth Vader figures in the cupboard. What a blast!
Some enlightening and educational tidbits on the Iroquois were presented, as well as some world history. That was fantastic.
It’s chock full of outdated terms…in fact sometimes while reading it out loud it felt a bit like playing dodgeball, but my son completely got it when I explained it to him….as you may expect, it’s really Boone, the cowboy, whose dialogue you need to look out for! I can forgive a lot if the ending is strong…and it was gorgeous! My son was definitely affected by it’s sad sort of wonderfulness.
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Indian in the Cupboard Illustrated by Brock Cole from Amazon
The School Mouse by Dick King-Smith (1994)
Illustrated by: CYNTHIA FISHER
This is the second Dick King-Smith that I have read-aloud and one thing about his writing that sticks out to me is that he provides a cleverly woven tale with solid lessons and…a good dose of reality. In The School Mouse, the reality came in the form of two mice massacre’s, one via poisoning and the other via weasel. If your kiddo can handle that, it is a wonderful book that teaches the value of learning to read! My 6-year old gave it the ”just one more chapter” stamp of approval.
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The School Mouse Illustrated by Cynthia Fisher from Amazon
How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell (2003)
Illustrated by: CRESSIDA COWELL (Illustrated by the Author)
Vastly different from the movie, but no worse. Actually, (and I know that I am differing from most other opinions out there), I liked the book more. Yeah, in the book there is no “meet cute” between Hiccup and Toothless, and Toothless is not in possession of any special or unique dragon powers. But in the book you get a sense of the Viking and the Dragon, and what they are, and how they subtly but surely move beyond what is expected of them…that didn’t quite reflect in the movie for me. There is also a ton of humor that easily finds delivery on the pages of a book but simply does not on the screen. You do not want to miss that.
My 6-year old’s favorite line was: “GEDDOUTOFHEREBEFOREIMAKEYOUINTOHANDBAGS!” He could not get enough of that line.
I hear David Tennant’s audio version is all the rage (total accident that I happened to choose two books on this list with awesome David Tennant narrations- I swear it!). Anyway…Next road trip!
If reading to younger ones…there are lots of “idiots” and “shut ups” and name callings to be aware of. After all, they are Vikings!
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ How to Train Your Dragon Illustrated by the Author from Amazon
∞ How to Train Your Dragon Audio Narrated by David Tennant from Amazon
The Adventures of a South Pole Pig by Chris Kurtz
Illustrated by: JENNIFER BLACK REINHARDT
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Adventures of a South Pole Pig Illustrated by the Jennifer Black Reinhardt from Amazon
2020-Present
Illustrated by JARED CULLUM
I always try to add a graphic novel into these lists and this is an exquisite one for younger kids. My 6-year-old absolutely loved it! The watercolor illustrations are gorgeous, and the story unfolds in a wonderful way. It is a story of loners, who find a way to be together – a subject which resonated deeply with my son during the time we read it, (almost a year into the Pandemic). It’s a wonderful book to read and own!
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ Kodi by Jared Cullum from Amazon
That’s it for this list! Have you read any of these titles with your kids? What were their experiences?
Let me know in the comments section below and thank you for visiting my post!
