Book Recommendations for Inspired Kids
It feels like forever since I’ve shared some beautiful books! Consequently, this is quite a big list. I can’t help myself. There are just too many gorgeous reads that I want to tell everyone about. Someone remind me to post more often so it’s not such a big job that I keep putting off, ha!
Anyway, let’s get on with it, you’re going to want to see these…
Egypt Magnified
Miss 8 has had quite the interest in Egypt in the past few months and we’ve been learning so much about every aspect of this ancient civilization. We hired out a mountain of books from the library, but honestly, most are so uninspiring. There were a few goodies but for newer books we had to go shopping ourselves. We were lucky enough to receive this one as a gift and she loves it!
It’s a search-and-find book which makes it super fun but along the way you end up learning a lot too!
Like this! There are snippets of information about about lots of things and all the things you have to find have an explanation or interesting fact to go along with them.
It’s a super cool book for a general overview of all things Ancient Egypt! She’s come across things in here that she’s then wanted more information about and that’s sent us searching for more answers. Definitely recommend as a great introductory book that is super fun and interesting. There’s two more on pirates and castles too!
The Element in the Room
For the chemistry lovers! This is a fab book that makes chemistry understandable. I don’t know about you, but I need that!
Among other things, the book goes through each element, explaining what it is, where you can find it, and other interesting facts! It really makes it ‘real’ when you can identify things in your own home made up of different elements and see how useful they are.
There are also lots of experiments included!
What a Wonderful Word
This book is super interesting and funny! We pick a word each day and read about it, often laughing together. We’ve also learnt some unusual things about different countries and cultures around the world that wouldn’t have otherwise come up. Everyone likes this book! We are often googling various things after we’ve finished reading a page.
So many interesting words we never knew existed!
We all laughed at this one!
Why Rhinos Need Friends
This is a really great book for kids that talks about the impact humans are having on our planet, and the difficulties that many plants and animals are facing. As well as how we can help! Such an important topic and this explains things in a child friendly way. This is a conversation I think everyone needs to be having with their children and I’m all for books that help with that!
Where’s Will?
Another search-and-find book, but this time the theme is Shakespeare! Making some classics accessible and fun for a younger audience. Love it!
There are 10 of Shakespeare’s plays included in the book with a short summary of the story line, and pictures of all the characters you have to find.
On the next page is a scene from the play where you have to find Shakespeare as well as the characters! The illustrations are beautiful and interesting and I just love this simple way to introduce the kids to the work of Shakespeare.
A Child Through Time
This is one of the good ones we borrowed from the library with all the Egypt books! Something you don’t see often: history from a child’s perspective. Usually we hear all about what life was like for adults, so the focus on the life of a child in different time periods in this book is refreshing and interesting. I think we might have to make it a permanent book in our home.
Big Ideas for Curious Minds
Ok guys, this book is my favourite right now. I LOVE it and I especially love the conversations we are having because of it. I am going to say it’s a must have. I am a sucker for a book that tackles big concepts in simple ways that children can understand. And let’s be honest, pretty sure I understand better after reading some of these books too. This one is about philosophy and it is just so good. SO GOOD! Put it on your Christmas list, if you can wait that long (I couldn’t).
Ok NOW I get what philosophy is.
After introducing us to philosophy and it’s purpose, the book takes us through lots of ‘big ideas’, i.e. some of the most important philosophical ideas through history.
At the end of each chapter, or idea, there is a bit about the famous philosopher who it came from and why their ideas are so important.
We have had some GREAT discussions sparked by this book. We haven’t finished it yet. Trying to savour it and leave time between each idea to digest it and notice it in our life. We’ve been focusing on ‘wise responses’, identifying feelings, and getting to the root of why we feel the way we do when things happen. Brilliant stuff and absolutely the conversations I want to have with my kids.
Honestly, a must have book.
Wild Things
Feast your eyes on this beauty! The perfect book for encouraging a love of nature and all things wild. Packed full of ideas for getting outside and making it pretty freaking magical too.
“This fantastical guidebook will help you track dragons, create fairy fashions, brew magic potions, build snow unicorns, discover trolls and go on night hunts to capture moon magic. Search forests, meadows, fields, ponds, rivers and the seaside, as well as everyday places like school playgrounds, local parks or among the pots on the patio.”
Potions! Who doesn’t love potions? We’ve got lots of ideas out of this book for things we can do with friends in nature too. It is really great and has tons of ideas. I think it’s perfect whether you’re already a nature lover or looking to encourage more time outdoors. Perfect for all the wild and free children.
The Complete Brambly Hedge
This prettiness. I picked this one up for Miss 4’s birthday. Delightful little stories for the younger crowd.
I do like a good seasonal book. This one has a story for each season and more.
The gorgeous illustrations.
Wolf Girl
Got this one for my wolf loving 10 year old and it hooked her in straight away. It is actually the first novel she has ever read! Sometimes you’ve just got to find the right book.
Not too much writing on each page and has some pictures, making it an easy and not too laborious read. Perfect! Quite a few of her friends are also reading and enjoying this one so I think a great option for this age group!
The Chronicles of Narnia
Classic. This is our current read aloud. Hubby has been reading to us all each night and we are just loving this time together. I wasn’t sure if it would be too scary but my 10 and 8 year olds have not found it to be! The little ones (5 and 4) are also listening but at their ages we need to stop and summarise for them at the end of each chapter. We’re all enjoying this series together!
Greta’s Story
A very relevant read right now with School Strike for Climate happening tomorrow!
Grab a copy of this guys. Let your children be inspired by this amazing young woman. I love her. And what a powerful message that young people can make a big difference.
As the title says, this book goes through Greta’s story, and also includes chapters on how to talk to children about the climate crisis, and things we can all do to help.
And last but not least…
Audio Book Favourites
We also listen to a lot of audio books. We listen through Audible and are really happy with it! Here are some the girls have been loving this year…
The Land of Stories Series
How to Train Your Dragon
Nevermoor
The Ice Monster
A Little Princess
The Polar Bear Explorers Club
The Wolf Wilder
The Wizards of Once
The Secret Garden
The Creakers
Harry Potter
Phew! That was a big list! But I really couldn’t bear to leave any out. I won’t leave it so long next time.
Happy reading!!
Comments
A marvelous list! I believe you’d enjoy this one as well:
://www.brainpickings.org/2018/11/20/a-velocity-of-being-letters-to-a-young-reader/
Thank you!
Amazing thank you so much 🙂 Xmas list sorted 😉
Oh my goodness! You’ve got me wanting Winter back! Thank you for taking the time to compile this list, I needed some inspiration 🙂 I particularly love the Why Rhinos Need Friends and A Child Through Time, Wild Things and Wolf Girl… I’ll be ordering them in at the library.
I have 4 darlings, 3 girls 19, 17 and 6 and a boy 13. We unschooled for 3yrs and I LOVED it. For now the youngest two are happily tucked into a beautiful Community School… but we’ll see… 🙂 Thanks again.
Of the many books, what do you think is the most inspiring book for children?
Your book recommendations are so spot on! I almost dislike them – they end up costing me a large order of books we now *need*! Thank you!
bahahahaha
What books do you recommend for 4 year olds?
That’s a great list, thank you. We love seeing what others are reading.
We really love ‘A Child Through Time’ and ‘Big Ideas’. Have you also read ‘A Street Through Time’? It’s fabulous, and in the BCC library collection. He also has A City Through Time and (possibly a different author) China Through Time.