As we closed our final book of 2022 (Knock Three Times by Marion St. John), I asked my 7-year-old son to tell me which of the books we read this year are in his top 10.
Here are his choices!
Entertaining and funny, informative and formative. Great lessons about the value of a job well done, and having patience, all with endearing characters – my son immediately wanted to know if Almanzo is in the next book -(sadly not until By the Shores of Silver Lake, but there is a follow up chapter book by Heather Williams called Farmer Boy Goes West).
The Abebooks link will take you to a full color version.
This first book in this series by Karina Yan Glaser has all the makings of a modern classic. It is sweet and cozy with wholesome, original characters, one of which is the Brownstone building in which the Vanderbeekers live with its timely groans and creaks and sighs. Set in Harlem from Dec 20 to Dec 25 so is a great holiday season read.
My son really enjoyed this one! I know when a book is a real hit with him when he launches into make-believe play and reenacts the story with his dad which is exactly what happened! Great introduction into Norse mythology. This one has several illustrators to choose from – I’ve linked to my favorite by Chris Riddell. However, do check out the other illustrated versions by Brett Helquist and Adam Stower.
I’ve pictured an older version here because this hilarious tale must be told alongside Roy Doty’s classic illustrations. None of the recent publications have them, which is a great pity! Alternatively, you can listen to the audio version narrated by Judy Blume herself!
My Neighbor Totoro by Tsugiko Kubo is slower-paced, so I was rather surprised that my son enjoyed it as much as he did! But it makes sense, the gentle-pace immersing him into the world of the two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, in Japan. Full of botanical and household description, this movie-to-book lends itself to a feeling of PLACE. FYI…we watched the movie for the first time after finishing the book.
This title goes up there as being one of the most beautiful children’s books I have ever read. Animals of all sorts, dragons, dwarves and a devoted doctor all mixed into a wonderful story that at times is eerie, sad, wistful, magical, and historical in a Lord of the Rings kind of way. Originally written in 1964, it has been republished in this beautiful paperback.
My son loved this book so much that he dressed up as a vampire for a week!
Originally written in German, this version is a newly published edition with an awesome cover, but sadly lacks interior illustration. For the illustrated version, use the Abebooks link. There are also movie versions of this too!
At the top of my son’s list is this gem of a story set in the Amazon Rainforest by the author of The Secret of Platform 13, Eva Ibbotson (I’ll give you a wild guess whose writing she inspired). References to Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett, this one just fascinated my son completely! It is such a favorite that it inspired a follow up book titled Escape to the River Sea by Emma Carroll. This beautifully illustrated version by Katie Hickey is fantastic!
Honorable Mentions
We read and fell in love with Peter Brown’s first in the series The Wild Robot in late 2021, and as great as that one is, we found the sequel to be even better! This is another modern read that has all the makings of a classic.
I was so happy to find that my son really loved The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. We read the MINALIMA version pictured here which had wonderful illustration and interactive elements to help smooth over any bits that might have been difficult to understand. The story begins during a pandemic, so of course having that relatable element in place made it even more interesting.
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie was a reread for us this year, and the second time was even better than the first! We read the MINALIMA version, which is gorgeous and worked well, but after doing an illustrator explore of Peter Pan, I think Trina Schart Hyman’s version would be the version we would read when we read it again. See here for other Peter Pan illustrators.
