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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	Blind Colt by Glen Rounds from Scholastic Inc. for 3rd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	Borrowers Borrowers Series #1 by Mary Norton from Harcourt Fantasy for 3rd-6th grade 1952 Carnegie Medal in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.99
	Borrowers Afield Borrowers Series #2 by Mary Norton from Harcourt Fantasy for 3rd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.99
	Borrowers Aloft Borrowers Series #4 by Mary Norton from Harcourt Fantasy for 3rd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.99
	Borrowers Avenged Borrowers Series #5 by Mary Norton from Harcourt Fantasy for 3rd-6th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.99
	Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare from Houghton Mifflin Historical Fiction for 5th-9th grade 1962 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99 $5.00 (2 in stock)
	Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham from Houghton Mifflin Biography for 5th-9th grade 1956 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $9.99
	Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming from Random House Books for Young Readers for 3rd-7th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming Reprint from Candlewick Press for 3rd-7th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99
	Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes from Little, Brown & Company Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade 1924 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Dark Frigate by Charles Boardman Hawes Dover 2018 from Dover Publications Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade 1924 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.99
	Five Bushel Farm Sally Series #2 by Elizabeth Coatsworth from Bethlehem Books Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Ginger Pye by Eleanor Estes from Harcourt Realistic Animal Fiction for 2nd-5th grade 1952 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	Golden Key by George MacDonald, illustrated by Maurice Sendak from Sunburst Book Fantasy for 4th-8th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $9.99
	Golden Key and Other Stories by George MacDonald from Chariot Victor Publishing Fantasy for 4th-8th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT)
	Golden Key and other fantasy stories by George MacDonald, illustrated by Craig Yoe from William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company Fantasy for 4th-8th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT)
	Hawk That Dare Not Hunt By Day by Scott O'Dell from Bob Jones University Press Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Hobbit There and Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien from Houghton Mifflin Fantasy for 5th-9th grade in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20) $17.99
	I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño from Square Fish Publishing Realistic Fiction/Slavery for 5th-8th grade 1966 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.99 $4.50 (3 in stock)
	Letters to Children by C. S. Lewis from Charles Scribner's Sons Autobiographical Letters for 3rd-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $16.00
	Little Britches Father and I Were Ranchers Little Britches Series #1 by Ralph Moody from University of Nebraska Biography for 5th-9th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $16.95
	Lost Baron Bethlehem Books Adventure Library by Allen French from Bethlehem Books for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
	Madeleine Takes Command Bethlehem Books Living History Library by Ethel Brill from Bethlehem Books Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $14.95 $9.00 (1 in stock)
	Middle Moffat Moffats #2 by Eleanor Estes from Harcourt Realistic Fiction for 2nd-5th grade 1943 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.99
	My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara from HarperCollins Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $16.99
	Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle from Dover Publications Historical Fiction for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $12.95
	Red Keep Bethlehem Books Adventure Library by Allen French from Bethlehem Books Historical Fiction for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
	Sea Star by Marguerite Henry from Aladdin Paperbacks for 2nd-5th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $1.60 (1 in stock)
	Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare from Houghton Mifflin Historical Fiction for 3rd-6th grade 1984 Newbery Honor Book in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC)
	Smoky the Cowhorse by Will James from Aladdin Paperbacks for 5th-8th grade 1927 Newbery Medal winner in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $8.99
	Star of Light by Patricia St. John from Moody Press Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow Bethlehem Books Adventure Library by Allen French from Bethlehem Books Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $15.95
	Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow Bethlehem Books Adventure Library by Allen French from Yesterday's Classics Historical Fiction for 5th-8th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $10.95
	Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit, illustrated by Gordon Browne & Lewis Baumer, afterword by Peter Glassman from Chronicle Books Family Stories for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Swallows and Amazons Swallows and Amazons #1 by Arthur Ransome from Overlook Press Family stories/boating for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
	Terrible Wave by Marden Dahlstedt from Richard R. Dahlstedt the Attic in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.00 (5 in stock)
	Thee, Hannah! by Marguerite de Angeli from Herald Press Realistic Fiction for in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $16.99
	Theras and His Town by Caroline Dale Snedeker from American Home-School Publishing Action/Adventure for 4th-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $17.99
	Treasures of the Snow (adapted) by Patricia St. John, adapted by Mary Mills 2^nd edition from Moody Press Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Twice Freed by Patricia St. John from Christian Focus Publications Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher from University Press of New England Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Voyages of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting from Yearling for 3rd-7th grade 1923 Newbery Medal winner in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $8.99

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