Book Tree - Exodus Books

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Unlike many books of its kind, The Book Tree doesn't waste time trying to tell you why reading is important, what makes a good story, or how the authors came to be interested in making a list of their favorite books—all that's relegated to the brief, straightforward preface. Instead, mother Elizabeth McCallum and daughter Jane Scott simply provide lists of titles accompanied by short synopses to whet your appetite.

The authors are Christian, and often they'll point out ethical or spiritual elements of the books they've chosen to include, but this isn't a "build-a-Christian-worldview-through-literature" kind of book. It's simply a guide to great literature for preschoolers, elementary and middle school students, and high school kids, divided into age-appropriate chapters for easy reference.

Six chapters are divided (very broadly) by grade-level and genre:

Preschool Literature
Elementary School Fiction
Middle School Fiction
Elementary & Middle School Biography
High School Fiction
High School Biography

Some parents will no doubt be surprised by the age-groups to which some titles are assigned. For instance, Anne of Green Gables is included in "Elementary School Fiction," and in middle school kids are supposedly reading Dickens and H.G. Wells. No doubt some students will be advanced enough for this timeline, but others will not; use your judgement, and don't adhere to the recommendations slavishly.

By high school, students should be reading almost exclusively "great books," and this list reflects that: recommended titles in the last two chapters include everything from Quo Vadis and David Copperfield to Foxe's Book of Martyrs and The Screwtape Letters. Many may balk at this level of reading, but if kids are taught a love of reading from an early age, they'll be ready for (and wanting) a challenge when they get older.

Three indexes covering titles, authors, and subjects help parents navigate quickly, finding similar books or works by one author. Older students can probably use The Book Tree on their own, finding books that sound interesting to them. This isn't school-related, and there aren't discussion topics or anything to help guide study; the point is to get kids reading, and to get kids to enjoy reading.

Most of the books you'll find in The Book Tree are titles we carry at Exodus Books; many of them are among our staff favorites. We've listed what we have below, though if you find one we don't have we'd love for you to suggest it, and we'll do our best to bring it in. If you want kid who love literature but don't know where to start, this is a fantastic and easy-to-use resource you can use for many years to come.

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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	Adventures of Tom Sawyer Puffin Classics by Mark Twain from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 6th-10th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.64 $3.20 (2 in stock)
	Augustine Farmer's Boy of Tagaste by P. de Zeeuw from Inheritance Publications Biography for 4th-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $8.42 $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Augustine Came to Kent Bethlehem Books Living History Library by Barbara Willard from Bethlehem Books Biography for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade 1955 Newbery Honor Book in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Beowulf the Warrior by Ian Serraillier from Bethlehem Books Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 4th-8th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $10.16 $5.60 (1 in stock)
	Black Beauty Sterling Classics by Anna Sewell, illustrated by Scott McKowen Unabridged from Sterling Publishing Co. Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.50 (1 in stock)
	Black Pearl by Scott O'Dell Reprint from Houghton Mifflin for 4th-6th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $8.49 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Black Stallion Black Stallion #1 by Walter Farley from Yearling Realistic Animal Fiction for 5th-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.64 $3.20 (2 in stock)
	Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt! by Jean Fritz from PaperStar Books Biography for 5th-8th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $6.79 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Family Fiction for 3rd-7th grade 1936 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Calico Bush by Rachel Field from Dell Publishing Realistic Fiction for 5th-8th grade 1932 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry from Scholastic Inc. Realistic Fiction for 2nd-6th grade 1941 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Carolina's Courage by Elizabeth Yates from Bob Jones University Press Historical Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham, illustrated by John O'Hara Cosgrave II from Houghton Mifflin Biography for 5th-9th grade 1956 Newbery Medal winner in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $16.00 (1 in stock)
	Charlotte's Web by E. B. White from HarperCollins for 2nd-6th grade 1953 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $4.80 (2 in stock)
	Children's Homer Adventures of Odysseus and the Tale of Troy by Padraic Colum & Willy Pogany from Aladdin Paperbacks Greek Mythology for 3rd-8th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $9.34 $4.80 (3 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 (2 in stock)
	D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Edgar & Ingri D'Aulaire from Yearling Greek Mythology for 4th-8th grade in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER) $16.99 $11.20 (3 in stock)
	Eight Cousins Puffin Classics by Louisa May Alcott from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
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	Escape From Warsaw Originally titled The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier, illustrated by Irwin Hoffman from Scholastic Inc. Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $3.20 (2 in stock)
	George Washington Sowers Series by Norma Cournow Camp from Mott Media Biography for 6th-8th grade in Sowers Biographies (Location: BIO-SOW) $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright, illustrated by Beth & Joe Krush from Harcourt Realistic Fiction for 4th-6th grade 1958 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.49 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Good Master Puffin Newbery Library by Kate Seredy from Puffin Books Realistic fiction for 4th-6th grade 1936 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.64 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Heidi Puffin Classics by Johanna Spyri, translated by Eileen Hall and illustrated by Cecil Leslie from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	High King Prydain Chronicles #5 by Lloyd Alexander from Yearling Fantasy for 4th-8th grade 1969 Newbery Medal winner in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Huguenot Garden A Children's Story of Faith by Douglas Jones from Canon Press Historical Fiction for 4th-7th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.00 (1 in stock)
	In Grandma's Attic In Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson from Cook Communications for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.50 (2 in stock)
	Just So Stories Puffin Classics by Rudyard Kipling from Puffin Books Fairy Tales, Fables, and Legends for 1st-6th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $6.79 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Chronicles of Narnia Book 2 by C. S. Lewis from HarperCollins Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.34 $4.40 (1 in stock)
	Little Lord Fauntleroy Puffin Classics by Frances Hodgson Burnett Reissue from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $6.79 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Man of the Family Little Britches Series #2 by Ralph Moody 1^st edition from W. W. Norton and Co. Biography for 5th-9th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $12.00 (1 in stock)
	Men of Iron by Howard Pyle 2^nd edition from Bob Jones University Press Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Men of Iron by Howard Pyle from Mint Editions Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $5.60 (1 in stock)
	Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade 1948 Newbery Honor Book in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry; illustrated by Wesley Dennis from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade 1948 Newbery Honor Book in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.79 $3.20 (2 in stock)
	Mountain Born by Elizabeth Yates, illustrated by Nora S. Unwin from Bob Jones University Press Realistic Fiction for 4th-6th grade 1944 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.64 $3.60 (2 in stock)
	Piece of the Mountain Story of Blaise Pascal by Joyce McPherson from Greenleaf Press Biography for 5th-9th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $6.40 (1 in stock)
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	Son of Charlemagne Bethlehem Books Living History Library by Barbara Willard from Bethlehem Books Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $12.71 $7.20 (2 in stock)
	Sounder by William H. Armstrong from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 3rd-8th grade 1970 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $5.94 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Sounder by William H. Armstrong from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 3rd-8th grade 1970 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Sounder by William H. Armstrong from Harper & Row Realistic Fiction for 3rd-8th grade 1970 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting from Yearling Animal Fantasy for 3rd-7th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.79 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Summer of the Swans by Betsy Byars from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 5th-8th grade 1971 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.79 $3.20 (3 in stock)
	Tales of the Greek Heroes Puffin Classics by Roger Green from Puffin Books Greek Mythology for 6th-9th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Tales of the Greek Heroes Puffin Classics by Roger Green from Puffin Books Greek Mythology for 6th-9th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.64 $3.20 (2 in stock)
	Winged Watchman Bethlehem Books Living History Library by Hilda Van Stockum from Bethlehem Books Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $13.56 $7.20 (1 in stock)

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