Jonathan Auxier | The Children’s Book Review | September 27, 2018
What are you family’s five favorite books? What a delightful question! I talk a lot about my own favorite books, but things get a little more interesting when I have to factor in the opinions of my three kids (2, 4, and 6 years old). Finding a book that appeals to multiple ages can be a challenge. Here are a few books that are a hit with everyone at bedtime:
Written by Arnold Lobel
I’m a gigantic Arnold Lobel fan, and I’ve worked hard to introduce my kids to some of his lesser-known books. Uncle Elephant is without a doubt our family favorite. The book has more of an arc than Lobel’s other books — which leads to an emotional wallop at the end like no other. If you don’t own this book, you must, must, must pick it up. (Pro tip: practice your elephant “trumpet” sounds … your kids deserve it).
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Ages 4-8 | Publisher: HarperCollins | ISBN-13: 978-0064441049
Written by Ruth Stiles Gannett
This is one of the first books I remember my own father reading to me. It is a perfect introduction to the longer pacing of a novel. The chapters are all short and distinct from one another, and it’s gorgeously illustrated. This one we’ve read multiple times, and I never tire of a single moment. (Pro tip: Repeating the phrase “My Father” can be confusing to a young reader. I recommend giving up and just calling the hero “Elmer”)
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Ages 7-10 | Publisher: Martino Fine Books | ISBN-13: 978-1684221967
Written by Carl Barks
You might be wondering how a highbrow fancy-pants writer such as myself would deign to list a Disney comic strip. If you are wondering, STOP. Forty years before “Duck Tales” hit the airwaves, a (then anonymous) artist named Carl Barks penned the greatest comic books of his time. They are jam-packed with adventure and gags and breathtaking art. Treat yourself and make sure you get the recently restored Fantagraphics collection, which are amazing. (Pro tip: The traditional Donal Duck voice is impossible to replicate; consider replacing with a hammy Bronx accent … you’ll be surprised how well it fits the character).
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Ages 7+ | Publisher: Fantagraphics | ISBN-13: 978-1-60699-875-5
Written by Pippa Goodheart
This book is an import and might be a bit harder to find … but it’s worth it! Simple line drawings contain a world of opportunity for young readers as they work through a series of questions about what sort of imaginary life they might want to have. We read this so much that we had to buy a second copy after the first one fell apart. After years of bedtimes, it is still the top request. (Pro tip: As readers select different clothing options, make them pantomime putting them on … and lead by example!)
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Ages 7+ | Publisher: Fantagraphics | ISBN-13: 978-1-60699-875-5
Written by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
For the parent looking for longer, heavily illustrated adventures, this series is the gold standard. The full-color paintings by LeUyen Pham are perfect. These books are funny, bold, and fast-paced. This is the sort of hero every parent dreams of their children idolizing. Truly, nothing beats hearing your kids run around the yard yelling “Twinkle-twinkle-little-SMASH!” (Pro tip: just go ahead and buy the whole series.)
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Ages 5-8 | Publisher: Candlewick | ISBN-13: 978-0763678883
That’s my top five! Though, there is *one more* book that might be worth mentioning. As I was revising Sweep: The Story of a Girl and her Monster I read the chapters aloud to my older kids. It was the first time I’d done anything like that with them, and I was delighted (and greatly humbled) to see them grab hold of the world and make it their own. If you have young readers who love rooftops and monsters and mischief, I hope you give Sweep a try!
Written by Jonathan Auxier
Publisher’s Synopsis: It’s been five years since the Sweep disappeared. Orphaned and alone, Nan Sparrow had no other choice but to work for a ruthless chimney sweep named Wilkie Crudd. She spends her days sweeping out chimneys. The job is dangerous and thankless, but with her wits and will, Nan has managed to beat the deadly odds time and time again.
When Nan gets stuck in a chimney fire, she fears the end has come. Instead, she wakes to find herself unharmed in an abandoned attic. And she is not alone. Huddled in the corner is a mysterious creature—a golem—made from soot and ash.
Sweep is the story of a girl and her monster. Together, these two outcasts carve out a new life—saving each other in the process. Lyrically told by one of today’s most powerful storytellers, Sweep is a heartrending adventure about the everlasting gifts of friendship and wonder.
Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Candlewick | September 25, 2018 |ISBN-13: 978-1419731402
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About the Author
Jonathan Auxier is the New York Times bestselling author of The Night Gardener, Sophie Quire and the Last Storyguard, and Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes, which the Wall Street Journal called “as delightful a magical story as readers . . . will hope to find.” He lives in Pittsburgh with his family.
Jonathan Auxier, author of Sweep, selected these five family favorites. Discover more articles on The Children’s Book Review tagged with Family Favorites.