Doorways to Great Reading

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If there's a one-world government, it's television. King of the Technological Age, he sits enthroned in homes around the world, a little box of images and sound emitting edicts to his unified followers from his electrical shrine. That description may be a bit overwrought, but the fact remains: more people these days would prefer to watch TV than read a good book.

Many parents are desperate to expose their kids to quality literature, whether it's a classic like Anne of Green Gables, a more recent novel like Mimus, or simply something other than the TV Guide. In response, a number of literature-based curricula have been developed, and in turn have become increasingly popular among both homeschool families and school educators.

As great and noble as this effort has been, there are a couple problems we see with the literature-curriculum approach: 1) literature is treated as curriculum, and 2) children aren't exposed to the depth and variety available because reading is limited to the curriculum suggestions. Consequently, a lot of children grow to dislike reading, associating it as they do with schoolwork and not having a good time.

We've accumulated many of the titles used by the major literature-based curriculum lines, and those products are among our best sellers. We're also not entirely opposed to the literature approach, but we also want to offer a much broader selection of literature, titles that don't find their way into the program guides but are nevertheless worth reading.

Numerous book lists, catalogues, and publishers (including many dedicated to reprinting the more obscure classic titles) have guided us in the construction of our fiction and literature sections. (Employees have also been an important factor in this process, and you can read about their favorites here.) Doorways to Great Reading collects the best of these lists in one place.

Discovering classic literature is more than just checking off titles from a master list, however. Though books like Honey for a Child's Heart, The Well-Educated Mind, and The Book Tree are great places to start and offer excellent guidelines, they are still jumping-off places. Developing the skills to find good books on your own (and imparting those skills to your children) is the end these books are supposed to help you achieve.

When Lucy Pevensie opened the wardrobe and found Narnia, her first experience with a snowbound landscape gave her little indication of the adventure and wonder she'd find there. Great books are the same way: the more you read, the more you realize how many are really out there, and the better you get at finding them.

If your adventure in the realms of literature hasn't started, or is still in its beginning stages, use the booklists you'll find here as maps of sorts, there to help you navigate but not to make the journey on your behalf. The travel is up to you, and whether you decide to explore Ben-Hur or The Wind in the Willows, it's travel that will take you far from your front door and back many times over.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he is a husband and father, teaches adult Sunday school in his Presbyterian congregation, and likes weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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Doorways to Great Reading

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Book Tree

Books Children Love

Give Your Child the World Booklist

Hand That Rocks the Cradle

Honey for a Child's Heart

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Used Books & Materials

	All the Places to Love by Patricia MacLachlan from HarperCollins for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $16.99 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman from Random House Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB) $8.49 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Baby Sister for Frances by Russell & Lillian Hoban from Atlas Editions Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward from Houghton Mifflin Realistic Animal Stories for Preschool-1st grade 1953 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Blaze Finds the Trail by C. W. Anderson from Macmillan for 1st-3rd grade in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Caps for Sale A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business by Esphyr Slobodkina from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for Nursery-1st grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Tasha Tudor from Simon and Schuster Poetry for 1st-5th grade in Poetry for Children (Location: POET-CHIL) $11.60 (1 in stock)
	Cinderella by Marcia Brown (translator) from Aladdin Paperbacks Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1955 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Cinderella Everyman's Library Children's Classics by C. S. Evans, illustrated by Arthur Rackham from Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. for 1st-4th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Corduroy by Don Freeman from Viking Press Personification Stories for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh Reissue from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Fiction for Kindergarten-6th grade 1955 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $5.09 $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Donde viven los monstruos (Where the Wild Things Are) Spanish Edition by Maurice Sendak from HarperCollins Fantasy for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1964 Caldecott Medal winner in Spanish Resources (Location: FL-SPARE) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Elmer and the Dragon My Father's Dragon Trilogy #2 by Ruth Stiles Gannett from Random House Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Fables by Arnold Lobel from HarperCollins Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for Preschool-3rd grade 1981 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Father Bear Comes Home An I Can Read Book Level 1 by Else Minarik & Maurice Sendak from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for Preschool-1st grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $5.09 $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Fool of the World and the Flying Ship A Russian Tale by Arthur Ransome, illustrated by Uri Shulevitz from Sunburst Book Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 1st-4th grade 1969 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Frog and Toad Are Friends An I Can Read Book Level 2 (Reading with Help) by Arnold Lobel from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade 1971 Caldecott Honor Book in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $4.24 $2.40 (3 in stock)
	Frog and Toad Are Friends An I Can Read Book Level 2 by Arnold Lobel from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade 1971 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $9.51 (1 in stock)
	George Washington's Breakfast by Jean Fritz from PaperStar Books Biography for 1st-4th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $6.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Glorious Flight Across the Channel with Louis Bleriot by Martin & Alice Provensen from Puffin Books Historical Non-Fiction/Picture Books for 1st-3rd grade 1984 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for Preschool-1st grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64 $3.60 (3 in stock)
	Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss from Random House Fantasy for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Beginner Books (Location: EAR-BB) $8.49 $3.60 (2 in stock)
	Harry and the Lady Next Door An I Can Read Book Level 1 by Gene Zion from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for Preschool-1st grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss from Random House read-aloud poetry picture book for Preschool-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $14.44 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss from Random House Animal Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $14.44 $7.20 (1 in stock)
	House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne from Puffin Books Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.79 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss from Random House Christmas Stories for Kindergarten-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $14.44 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman from Dragonfly Books Humor for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $16.99 $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Island Boy by Barbara Cooney from Trumpet Club Realistic Fiction for 1st-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Lewis & Clark Explorers of the American West by Steven Kroll from Holiday House Historical Non-Fiction for 1st-4th grade in Lewis & Clark Expedition (1801-1803) (Location: HISA-19L&C) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Little Bear An I Can Read Book Level 1 by Else Minarik & Maurice Sendak from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for Preschool-1st grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $5.09 $2.40 (2 in stock)
	Little House by Virginia Lee Burton from Sandpiper Books Personification Stories for Preschool-3rd grade 1943 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Littles by John Peterson from Scholastic Inc. Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $4.24 $2.40 (3 in stock)
	Lon Po Po A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young from PaperStar Books Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 1st-4th grade 1990 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.94 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Love You Forever by Robert Munsch from Firefly Books for Preschool-1st grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $5.06 $3.20 (2 in stock)
	Magic Fish by Freya Littledale from Scholastic Inc. for 1st-3rd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.39 $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Molly's Pilgrim A Bantam First Skylark by Barbara Cohen, illustrated by Daniel Mark Duffy from HarperTrophy for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $1.60 (5 in stock)
	My Father's Dragon My Father's Dragon Trilogy #1 by Ruth Stiles Gannett from Random House Fantasy for 1st-3rd grade 1949 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.76 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Noah's Ark by Peter Spier 1^st edition from Dell Publishing Bible Stories for Preschool-2nd grade 1978 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne from Dutton Children's Books Poetry for Kindergarten-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Olivia by Ian Falconer from Atheneum Animal Fantasy for Preschool-1st grade 2001 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $16.14 $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Olivia - Board Book by Ian Falconer from Atheneum Animal Fantasy for Preschool-1st grade 2001 Caldecott Honor Book in Board Books (Location: PIC-BOARD) $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Once a Mouse by Marcia Brown 2^nd edition from Aladdin Paperbacks Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1962 Caldecott Medal Winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Paul Bunyan by Steven Kellogg from William Morrow & Company Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Play with Me by Marie Hall Ets from Puffin Books for Nursery-1st grade 1956 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79 $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister from North-South Books Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $16.11 $7.20 (1 in stock)
	Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness from Henry Holt and Company Allegorical and Moral Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1967 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness from Holt, Rinehart and Winston Allegorical and Moral Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1967 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Sam, Bangs & Moonshine by Evaline Ness from Trumpet Club Allegorical and Moral Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1967 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.20 (1 in stock)
	Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats from Scholastic Inc. Poetry for Kindergarten-2nd grade 1963 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $1.20 (1 in stock)
	Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf from Viking Press Animal Stories for Preschool-2nd grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $15.29 $8.00 (1 in stock)
	Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig from Simon and Schuster Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1970 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh from Simon and Schuster Historical Fiction for 1st-3rd grade 1955 Caldecott Honor Book in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $8.99 $5.50 (2 in stock)
	Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh from Simon and Schuster Historical Fiction for 1st-3rd grade 1955 Caldecott Honor Book in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $1.20 (1 in stock)
	Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh from InquisiCorp Corporation Historical Fiction for 1st-3rd grade 1955 Caldecott Honor Book in Pilgrims at Plymouth (Location: HISA-17PIL) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Thy Friend, Obadiah (hardcover) by Brinton Turkle 1972 Seafarer Edition from Viking Press Realistic Animal Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1970 Caldecott Honor Book in Vintage Picture Books (Location: VIN-PIC) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Tree is Nice by Janice Udry & Marc Simont from HarperCollins Non-fiction for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1957 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79 $3.60 (2 in stock)
	Tree is Nice by Janice Udry & Marc Simont from HarperCollins Non-fiction for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1957 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams, illustrated by William Nicholson from Avon Books Personification for 1st-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $6.79 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	When I Was Young In the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant from E.P. Dutton & Co. Family Stories for 1st-3rd grade 1983 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $2.80 (1 in stock)
	When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard 1961 Redesigned from E.P. Dutton & Co. Poetry for Kindergarten-4th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak from HarperCollins Fantasy for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1964 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.61 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak 25th Anniversary from HarperCollins Fantasy for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1964 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $16.11 $7.20 (1 in stock)
	White Snow, Bright Snow by Alvin Tresselt, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin from Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books Poetry for 1st-3rd grade 1948 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $3.60 (1 in stock)

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