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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In-Stock Books & Materials

	Adam of the Road Puffin Modern Classics by Elizabeth Gray from Puffin Books Historical Fiction for 3rd-8th grade 1943 Newbery Medal winner in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $8.99
	Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Puffin Classics by Lewis Carroll from Puffin Books Fantasy for 2nd-7th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.99
	All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor, illustrated by Helen John from Yearling Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Ben and Me New and Astonishing Life of Ben Franklin as Written by His Very Good Mouse Amos by Robert Lawson from Little, Brown & Company Humor/historical fiction for 2nd-5th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink from Simon Pulse Realistic Family Fiction for 3rd-7th grade 1936 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	Call it Courage by Armstrong Sperry from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Fiction for 2nd-6th grade 1941 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $5.99
	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) $5.99 $3.50 (2 in stock)
	Daughter of the Mountains by Louise Rankin from Puffin Books Action/Adventure Animal for 3rd-7th Grade Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $5.00 (2 in stock)
	Doctor Dolittle's Post Office by Hugh Lofting from SeaWolf Press for 3rd-7th grade 1923 Newbery Medal winner in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $8.95
	Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli from Yearling Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade 1950 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99
	Ellen Tebbits by Beverly Cleary from HarperCollins in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.79
	Emily's Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Tracy Dockray 2008 edition from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson, illustrated by Garth Williams from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade 1959 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Five Little Peppers and How They Grew Five Little Peppers #1 by Margaret Sidney from Aladdin Paperbacks for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales Puffin Classics by Hans Christian Andersen, retold by Naomi Lewis 3^rd edition from Puffin Books Fairy Tales for 2nd-6th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.99
	Homer Price by Robert McCloskey from Puffin Books Humor for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Horse and His Boy Chronicles of Narnia Book 3 by C. S. Lewis from HarperCollins Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99
	Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes from Harcourt Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade 1945 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	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) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry; illustrated by Wesley Dennis from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade 1946 Newbery Honor Book in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.39
	King of the Wind The Story of the Godolphin Arabian by Marguerite Henry; illustrated by Wesley Dennis from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-7th grade 1949 Newbery Medal winner in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.39 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Lad: A Dog by Albert Terhune from Puffin Books Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $8.99
	Last Battle Chronicles of Narnia Book 7 by C. S. Lewis from HarperCollins Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.99 $5.00 (4 in stock)
	Last Battle Chronicles of Narnia Book 7 by C. S. Lewis from HarperCollins Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $5.00 (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) $9.99
	Little Princess Puffin Classics by Frances Hodgson Burnett from Puffin Books for 3rd-8th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.99
	Magician's Nephew Chronicles of Narnia Book 1 by C. S. Lewis from HarperCollins Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.99
	Matchlock Gun by Walter Edmonds from PaperStar Books Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade 1942 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey from Puffin Books Personification story for 3rd-7th grade 1947 Newbery Medal winner in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $2.50 (3 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) $6.39
	Now We Are Six by A. A. Milne from Puffin Books Poetry for Kindergarten-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.99
	Pinocchio Puffin Classics by Carlo Collodi, translated by E. Hardin and illustrated by Gioia Fiammenghi from Puffin Books Fantasy for 3rd-8th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $2.50 (2 in stock)
	Rabbit Hill Puffin Newbery Library by Robert Lawson from Puffin Books for 3rd-6th grade 1945 Newbery Medal winner in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $7.99
	Rabbit Hill Puffin Modern Classics by Robert Lawson from Puffin Books for 3rd-6th grade 1945 Newbery Medal winner in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.99 $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary from HarperCollins for 2nd-4th grade 1982 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan 30th Anniversary from HarperCollins Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade 1986 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare from Houghton Mifflin Historical Fiction for 3rd-6th grade 1984 Newbery Honor Book in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Silver Chair Chronicles of Narnia Book 6 by C. S. Lewis from HarperCollins Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.99
	Soft Rain A Story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears by Cornelia Cornelissen from Yearling Historical fiction for 3rd-5th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting from Yearling Animal Fantasy for 3rd-7th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.99
	Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting from Dover Publications Animal Fantasy for 3rd-7th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $4.99
	Stuart Little by E. B. White from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for 3rd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.99
	Tales from Shakespeare Puffin Classics by Charles & Mary Lamb from Puffin Books Shakespeare Stories for 3rd-8th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $8.99
	Toliver's Secret by Esther Brady from Yearling Historical Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.99
	Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White from HarperCollins Animal Fantasy for 3rd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.99 $5.00 (2 in stock)
	Voyage of the Dawn Treader Chronicles of Narnia Book 5 by C. S. Lewis from HarperCollins Allegorical Fantasy for 3rd-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.99
	When We Were Very Young by A. A. Milne from Puffin Books Poetry for Kindergarten-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.99
	Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne from Puffin Books Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99
	Wolves of Willoughby Chase Wolves Chronicles #1 by Joan Aiken from Yearling Historical Fantasy for 3rd-5th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.99

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