Classical Childrens Books

List of Authors and Books

The Classical Children's Books list of authors and books is a resource for finding great literature by favorite writers. Find FREE unit studies on this site to go with some of the best loved literary works for kids.

Famous Authors and their Books

Charles Dickens

The hard hearted Scrooge and gentle Tiny Tim, the orphaned Oliver Twist, the cruel Madame Defarge and sweet Lucie Manette: Charles Dickens novels create characters that strike a thread in the human heart and dance in the imagination long after the book is closed.

We have chosen six of the most popular books by Charles Dickens and placed them in a recommended order for youth to read. Start with the well-known Christmas Story and continue through Hard Times.

If your student enjoys the stories of the nineteenth century, encourage them to read on Charles Dickens novel each year.

William Shakespeare

No, Shakespeare never intended his plays to be a form of torture for English students. Here are some fun ideas and resources so that even upper elementary and middle school kids can enjoy Shakespeare plays. We even give you a step-by-step strategy to make a lively Shakespeare Unit Study. Seriously, your kids will look forward to the next Shakespeare play.

Jane Austen

Have a romantic in your house? Those who enjoy the popular Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility will take delight in more of Jane Austen's books. We provide discussion questions so students can think past the obvious plots and human motives to consider how social attitudes affect our lives.

Arthur Conan Doyle

Its' elementary! Have fun solving mysteries and investigating classic literature with Sherlock Holmes stories and projects. Join the famous detective of 221 B. Baker St. and his first person side-kick, Dr. Watson as they round up the Victorian era criminals of London.

New Childrens Books and Authors

This list of authors and books displays the work of children's authors who have new books they have published.

Why do we list new authors on a site about classical children's books?

While most of the books listed on this site are more than 50 years old, we also keep in mind that some of the books written today will be the classics your grandchildren will read to their children. Help identify the "new classics" as they find their way in a tumultuous market.

The Peleg Chronicles

By Matthew Christian Harding

Reading Level: Grade 6 to adult
Interest Level: Grade 2 and above
Genre: Fiction from the time of the dispersion, an era in Biblical history after Noah's flood when people groups separated

Book One: The Foundling

A witch has pronounced a curse on Lord McDougal. He and all his family will die by the end of the year. One by one, the others passed away. Now the nobel McDougal is the only one of his family left.

Fergus, his loyal servant, fights by his side as they encounter dragons, giants, evil priests, and other enemies from a pre-historic world. The two befriend orphan foundlings who are also in danger.

The author portrays the challenges of those who followed Noah's God in a hostile world. It ends in a dramatic scene. Wild beasts are sent on a Death Hunt of McDougal and his followers outside as the people inside the walled city watch. An exciting adventure story which leaves the reader craving for the second book.

Book Two: Paladins

Danger and suspense continue in the second book as Lord McDougal and his servant Fergus are separated. The intrigue builds as king's courtiers, grave robbers, and the dragon priests plot against the orphan foundlings and their protectors - the paladins. Like the first book, the second story also ends with a dramatic flare as a main character faces unknown enemies in the arena.

Read more about the Peleg Chronicles at Matthew Christian Harding's website.

Costly Freedom

By Terry Webb

Era: Georgia during Reconstruction
True Story
Reading/Interest Level: 4th - 8th Grade

Albert, Sam, and Will were friends before the Civil War. Now they are reunited, but the war has changed everything - including their friendship.

Sam is the son of an abolitionist pastor. Will's father was a confederate soldier whose plantation and health were destroyed. Albert is a former slave.

When the Klu Klux Klan brings violence to their community, the boys need courage to face the cost of freedom.

This story is based on the experience of the author's great-grandfather. It helps today's children recognize the wide spread impact of the Civil War on every aspect of life. Even after the war, difficult decisions were faced by the younger generation as former slaves struggled with issues of liberty and justice for all.

Founders Fables: 10 Tales for Future Patriots

Author Laurie Cockerell

Illustrator Travis Dougherty

Genre: Political Poetry for Kids

Here is a full color picture book, with child-pleasing poetry to promote political principals. Laurie took ten different statements from America's founders. The list includes Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Locke, and James Madison. (Quick Quiz: Which two were NOT presidents?)

The statement is then dramatized with a modern day story written in verse. Colorful pictures illustrate the poem on the opposite page. There are discussion questions for each of the ten sections for both younger and older children.

Here is an example. One section entitled Fair Share starts with a quote from Thomas Jefferson's first Inaugural address. "A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one naother, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned."

A poetic story follows of two boys earning money for a toy they want to buy. One boy keeps a lemonade stand; the other does chores for neighbors. At the end of the summer, one has more than the other. The "queen" of the block decides that isn't fair, and redistributes the money. Discussion questions relate to the redistribution of wealth.

You can look at the download of one of the poems and discussion questions at www.FoundersFables.com.

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Meet the Teens

Author: Marcie Cooper

Age: 4 to 8 years
Genre: Counting Book (Numbers 10 to 20)

If you have ever taught a pre-schooler to count above ten, you realize the irregularity of the number names. If your little one is struggling with these numbers, you will want to read "Meet the Teens."

The story is about the teens moving to Numberville. Their new neighbors, Ten, Eleven, and Twelve, have difficulty remembering their names.

The book uses rhythm and rhyme which is perfect for preschool and kindergarten students. So introduce them to the challenging teen numbers with "Meet the Teens."