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The best books to read from birth to college. These will comfort you, surprise, teach, and entertain you.
These are the books that will stay with you years after you’ve read them. The ones that you will want to pass on – that I want to pass on to my children. Some are new and some are old. All are page turners from the youngest child to the youngest adult.
I’ve added the beginnings of some of my favorite series. You won’t be able to stop at just one book.
They’re not arranged in any particular order – other than how they came to mind. How many have you read? What others are on your list? I could add many more.
The Best Baby Books
for ages 0-24 months
Bright and colorful illustrations, playful interaction, rhymes, and counting make these lovely baby books a gentle introduction to reading.
The Toddler Years
for 2 and 3 year olds
Your toddler is growing in independence and will love these stories as they begin to recognize and name numbers, letters, and all the different things around them.
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Preschool Books
for little ones 3-5
Books that can be enjoyed again and again (and again…) and parts of a series with memorable and humorous characters that you will giggle with into the night.
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Primary Grades
for kiddos 5-7
A mix of picture books and chapter books, these lovely stories will encourage children to explore their corner of the world as well as learn about others.
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Elementary Grades
for big kids 8-12
Bigger kids means bigger ideas, bigger themes, more intense characters and story lines alongside a few lighter titles. Reading aloud or digging into a series independently at this age is so much fun.
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Middle School
for growing kids aged 12-14
A variety of genres with more mature themes with charismatic and interesting characters that young people will identify with.
The Thing About Jellyfish | The Book Theif | The Lightning Theif |
Chains | The Outsiders | Poetry for Young People |
The Westing Game | Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Wonder |
The Girl Who Drank the Moon | The Hunger Games | Pax |
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High School
for teens 14-18
Older teens can bounce between young adult and mature fiction. These will keep them turning the pages all night.
College
for young adults 18-22
Books that will stay with them for years into adulthood, introduce new perspectives, and inspire young adults.

Ashley helps parents who want to homeschool find the resources they need to successfully teach their children. Ashley is a former teacher, current homeschooler, published author, and designer behind Circle Time with Miss Fox printables as well as the creator of this website, The Homeschool Resource Room.
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