Hand That Rocks the Cradle

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If you're not into lists, don't buy this book. Hand That Rocks the Cradle is one of the longest lists you'll encounter, but it's also one of the most helpful and (if you're a list lover) most fun. What's in the list? 400 classic books to read aloud with your children. It might not be a comprehensive list, and not every title will appeal to every reader, but this is a great place to start if you're looking for great books to read and discuss as a family.

There are many reasons to read out loud. Many of the reasons author Nathaniel Bluedorn offers simply relate to literature in general, whether read aloud or not—good books teach good writing, good character, and comprehension skills. But he also suggests that reading aloud as a family is a great way to build familial bonds and memories. We'd like to add that reading aloud is a great way to teach children how to be attentive.

The books in Hand That Rocks the Cradle appeal to a variety of ages (pre-K to teens) and interests (adventure novels, historical fiction, family dramas, fantasy, etc.). There is only one list, arranged alphabetically by author, with brief synopses of the selected works as well as symbols representing suggested age-range, time and geographic setting of the story, and the book's publication date.

Titles range from classics like Charlotte's Web and Ben-Hur to lesser-knowns like Beau Geste and the true-life adventure Kon-Tiki. Each book is selected for the quality of its writing and the moral character of its content; that's not to say, however, that there aren't moral dilemmas and difficult concepts in these stories to provide fodder for excellent and wide-ranging family discussions.

Every title we carry is listed below. While we'd like to carry all of them (Hand That Rocks the Cradle is an excellent list), some of them simply aren't available or are very difficult to get. If you find one you particularly want and we don't have it, let us know and we'll do our best to bring it in. The author identifies this list as one his parents compiled during years of reading aloud; we're sure it will lead to many hours of enjoyment for your family as well, and maybe you'll find your own favorites to add.

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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Hand That Rocks the Cradle

Hand That Rocks the Cradle

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	Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Puffin Classics by Mark Twain from Puffin Books for 6th-10th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $8.99
	Adventures of Tom Sawyer Puffin Classics by Mark Twain from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 6th-10th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $8.99
	Aesop's Fables by Aesop from Signet Classics Fairy Tales & Fables for 10th grade-adult in Ancient Literature (Location: LIT1-ANC) $5.95
	All Creatures Great and Small James Herriot Series Book 1 by James Herriot from St. Martin's Press Realistic Fiction for 7th-Adult in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $19.00
	Ben-Hur A Tale of the Christ Signet Classics by Lew Wallace from Signet Classics Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $9.95
	Call of the Wild Puffin Classics by Jack London 2008^th edition from Puffin Books Action/Adventure for 7th-10th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.99
	Captains Courageous Signet Classics by Rudyard Kipling from Signet Classics Nautical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.95
	Christmas Carol Puffin Classics by Charles Dickens from Puffin Books Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.99
	David Copperfield Signet Classics by Charles Dickens from Dover Publications Realistic Fiction for 10th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Emma Penguin Classics by Jane Austen from Penguin Classics Romantic Realistic Fiction for 8th-12th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $9.00 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard from Tyndale House Allegorical and Moral Stories for 7th-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard from Benediction Classics Allegorical and Moral Stories for 7th-Adult in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
	Hound of the Baskervilles Signet Classics by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from Signet Classics Mystery for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $3.96
	Hound of the Baskervilles Signet Classics by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from Penguin Classics Mystery for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $8.80
	House of the Seven Gables Signet Classics by Nathaniel Hawthorne from Signet Classics Fantasy for 9th-12th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.95
	In His Steps by Charles M. Sheldon from Revell Publishing for 9th grade-Adult in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.99
	Invisible Man by H. G. Wells, with an introduction by W. Warren Wagar and an afterword by Scott Westerfeld from Signet Classics Science Fiction for 7th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.95
	Ivanhoe Signet Classics by Sir Walter Scott from Signet Classics Historical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.95
	Ivanhoe Penguin Classics by Sir Walter Scott, edited by Graham Tulloch from Penguin Classics Historical Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $13.00
	Jane Eyre Puffin Classics by Charlotte Bronte from Puffin Books Realistic Romantic Fiction for 8th-Adult in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $9.99
	Journey to the Center of the Earth Puffin Classics by Jules Verne Reprint from Puffin Books Science Fiction for 6th-10th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $8.99
	King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard from Dover Publications Adventure for 7th-12th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.00
	Kon-Tiki by Thor Heyerdahl from Pocket Books Non-fiction/Adventure for 8th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $8.99
	Last of the Mohicans Leatherstocking Tales #2 by James Fenimore Cooper Reprint from Signet Classics Realistic Action/Adventure Novel for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $6.95
	Les Miserables (abridged) by Victor Hugo, supplementary materials written by Margaret Brantley from Simon and Schuster Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $9.99
	Mansfield Park Penguin Classics by Jane Austen from Penguin Classics Romantic Realistic Fiction for 8th-12th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $9.00
	Martyr of the Catacombs A Tale of Ancient Rome by Anonymous Christian from Kregel Publications Historical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Morality Tales (Location: FIC-WH05) $7.00 (1 in stock)
	Moonstone Signet Classics by Wilkie Collins from Signet Classics Mystery for 9th-12th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Mysterious Island Signet Classics by Jules Verne from Signet Classics Science Fiction for 10th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $8.95
	Northanger Abbey Penguin Classics by Jane Austen from Penguin Classics Romantic Realistic Fiction for 8th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $8.00
	Persuasion Penguin Classics by Jane Austen from Penguin Classics Realistic Romantic Fiction for 8th-12th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $7.00
	Pudd'nhead Wilson Signet Classics by Mark Twain from Signet Classics Mystery for 8th-10th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $4.95
	Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith from HarperCollins Historical Fiction for 6th-10th grade 1958 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $15.99
	Robinson Crusoe Signet Classics by Daniel Defoe from Signet Classics Realistic Adventure Novel for 8th-Adult in 18th Century Literature (Location: LIT5-18) $5.95 $3.50 (1 in stock)
	Scarlet Pimpernel Puffin Classics by Baroness Orczy from Puffin Books Action/Adventure for 6th-10th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $5.99
	Sense and Sensibility Penguin Classics by Jane Austen from Penguin Classics Romantic Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $8.00
	Silas Marner Signet Classics by George Eliot from Signet Classics Realistic Fiction for 8th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $4.95
	Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Signet Classics by Robert Louis Stevenson from Signet Classics Mystery/Suspense for 8th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.95
	Study in Scarlet & The Sign of Four Dover Thrift Editions by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from Dover Publications Mystery for 8th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $4.00 $2.40 (1 in stock)
	Through the Looking-Glass Puffin Classics by Lewis Carroll from Puffin Books for 10th-Adult in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.99
	Uncle Tom's Cabin Signet Classics by Harriet Beecher Stowe from Signet Classics Realistic Fiction for 10th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.95
	Virginian by Owen Wister from Pocket Books for 9th-Adult in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $8.99
	War of the Worlds Signet Classics by H. G. Wells from Signet Classics Science Fiction for 10th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $5.95
	White Fang Puffin Classics by Jack London from Puffin Books Action/Adventure for 7th-10th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.99
	Woman in White Dover Giant Thrift Editions by Wilkie Collins from Dover Publications Mystery for 10th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Woman in White Dover Giant Thrift Editions by Wilkie Collins from Penguin Classics Mystery for 10th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $11.00

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