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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	Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, Illustrated by John Tenniel from SeaWolf Press Fantasy for 2nd-7th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $6.89
	Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard from SeaWolf Press Adventure for 7th-12th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW)
	Bastable Adventures Set by E. Nesbit, illustrated by Cecil Leslie from Living Book Press Family Stories for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $39.56
	Captains Courageous Signet Classics by Rudyard Kipling from Living Book Press Nautical Fiction for 7th-10th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	Emma by Jane Austen, Illustrated by Hugh Thomson 200th Anniversary from SeaWolf Press Romantic Realistic Fiction for 8th-12th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $12.99
	Five Little Peppers and How They Grew Five Little Peppers #1 by Margaret Sidney from Living Book Press for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $11.99
	Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter from Living Book Press Romance for 7th-10th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Hans Brinker or The Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge from Living Book Press Realistic Fiction for 4th-9th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $11.99
	Invisible Man by H. G. Wells, illustrated by Louis Strimpl from SeaWolf Press Science Fiction for 7th-Adult in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $7.95
	Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Illustrated by F. H. Townsend from SeaWolf Press Realistic Romantic Fiction for 8th-Adult in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $11.19
	Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne, illustrated by Edouard Riou Illustrated Fir from SeaWolf Press Science Fiction for 6th-10th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $8.95
	King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard from SeaWolf Press Adventure for 7th-12th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW)
	Lad: A Dog by Albert Terhune from Living Book Press Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
	Last of the Mohicans Leatherstocking Tales #2 by James Fenimore Cooper, Illustrated by N. C. Wyeth from SeaWolf Press Realistic Action/Adventure Novel for 9th-Adult in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $11.95
	Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Illustrated by Ethel Franklin Betts Illustrated Fir from SeaWolf Press for 3rd-8th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $8.45
	Lorna Doone A Romance of Exmoor by R. D. Blackmore from Living Book Press Realistic Romantic Fiction for 9th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $21.99
	Mansfield Park by Jane Austen, Illustrated by Hugh Thomson 200th Anniversary from SeaWolf Press Romantic Realistic Fiction for 8th-12th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $12.95
	Men of Iron by Howard Pyle 2^nd edition from Living Book Press Historical Fiction for 6th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $9.99
	Mysterious Island by Jules Verne, illustrated by N. C. Wyeth from SeaWolf Press Science Fiction for 10th-Adult in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $15.95
	Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, illustrated by Hugh Thomson 200th Anniversary from SeaWolf Press Romantic Realistic Fiction for 8th-Adult in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $8.95
	Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott, Illustrated by Jessie Wilcox Smith 150th Anniversary from SeaWolf Press Realistic Romantic Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $10.95
	Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle from Living Book Press Historical Fiction for 5th-9th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.99
	Penrod by Booth Tarkington from Living Book Press Realistic Fiction for 7th-Adult in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $11.99
	Persuasion by Jane Austen, Illustrated by Hugh Thomson 200th Anniversary from SeaWolf Press Realistic Romantic Fiction for 8th-12th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $8.95
	Pollyanna Puffin Classics by Eleanor Porter from Living Book Press Realistic fiction for 4th-7th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
	Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald from Living Book Press Fantasy for 6th-10th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $9.99
	Railway Children Puffin Classics by E. Nesbit, illustrated by C. E. Brock from Living Book Press Family Stories for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $10.99
	Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy from SeaWolf Press Action/Adventure for 6th-10th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $9.95
	Secret Garden by Frances Burnett, illustrated by Charles Robinson from SeaWolf Press Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $8.95
	Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, illustrated by Hugh Thomson 200th Anniversary from SeaWolf Press Romantic Realistic Fiction for 9th-Adult in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $11.45
	Sign of Four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 1892 Illustrated from SeaWolf Press Mystery for 8th-Adult in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $6.95
	Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Signet Classics by Robert Louis Stevenson from Living Book Press Mystery/Suspense for 8th-Adult in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19)
	Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Illustrated by George Hutchinson 1891 Illustrated from SeaWolf Press Mystery for 8th-Adult in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $7.49
	Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll, Illustrated by John Tenniel from SeaWolf Press for 10th-Adult in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW)
	Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit, illustrated by Cecil Leslie from Living Book Press Family Stories for 4th-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.99
	White Company by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Illustrated by N. C. Wyeth 100th Anniversary from SeaWolf Press Historical Fiction for 8th-Adult in Seawolf Illustrated Classics (Location: FIC-SW) $12.95
	White Fang by Jack London, illustrated by Charles Livingston Bull from Living Book Press Action/Adventure for 7th-10th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)

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