25 Children's Books (and Series) that Adults Will Enjoy
December 18, 2005
A list like this is by its very nature subjective, and subject to criticism. People like different things. But I hope to stave off some of the criticism by pointing out that I'm not saying that these are the only children's books that adults will like. Or even the best ones. The idea is to provide a starting point. I welcome your feedback.
- Watership Down by Richard Adams
- Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
- The House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
- The Dark is Rising series by Susan Cooper
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
- Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
- Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
- From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
- The Narnia Books by C. S. Lewis
- Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
- The Giver by Lois Lowry
- Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery
- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
- The Inheritance Series by Christopher Paolini (Eragon, Eldest)
- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
- The Complete Adventures of Curious George by Margaret and H. A. Rey
- The Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- The Velvet Room by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
- The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
- Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
Bonus book: As I started sharing this with people, several immediately complained about the absence of The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster. Since people never publish "top 26 lists", we'll just call it a bonus book.
I'll be starting an email newsletter on Children's Books for Adults sometime in the near future. It will contain further recommendations, as well as discussion by adults reader's of children's books. If you are interested in being notified when sign-up begins, send me an email.
(c) 2005 by Jennifer K. Robinson