Love of classic fiction (advanced book list)

Joe
1 hour ago
4 min read

We all want to share the things we love with our children as they grow, hoping they'll take on those interests for themselves. We also instinctually know reading to our kids is overwhelmingly positive, to bond with them, to stimulate their brains, and at night to help them sleep. Reading has always been something I've enjoyed, in particular when it comes to old, classic stories. There's usually good reason something's lasted decades, or centuries, and I want to be part of that tradition. I want my kids to be part of that tradition. I hope to instill a love of classic fiction.

Starting with the Hobbit and the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, our bedtime reading has grown to include more advanced books. Once upon a time these were all (I believe) aimed largely at children, fwiw, even if they aren't used that way as often anymore. I'm not against picture books and they do get read, but I've intentionally pushed the ante in terms of difficulty for at least our eldest son, who's become a tremendous reader on his own accord. I must note that this extended, in-depth reading time has become the expectation every night, not just every once in a while. The positives are I'm staying ahead of what our eldest can understand on his own, plus I'm getting to read some books I'd would've sought out anyway. The negative, perhaps, if that what I'm reading frequently remains well beyond what our younger two can follow, and thus sitting still and listening for them is not the norm.

This time has been greatly enjoyable. It's fulfilling and special time with our continually curious son (yes this was the inquisitive toddler, now an inquisitive youth). It's getting to experience, sometimes for the first time, old and fantastic stories for myself. These have included, but not been limited to, a number of fairy tales to stir his imagination and adventures to encourage his boyish nature. There have been times where I wonder if the content is a bit much, but, luckily, in these cases the language is usually beyond him enough that I need to explain, and can perhaps soften, what we just read (he's only seven after all). Either way I'd prefer to keep challenging him and, in this way, expose him to certain ideas, or ideals, that he might not get from his every day life.

My post will, of course, include a list of these books. All of these I've read aloud to the kids, mostly but not exclusively at bedtime, within the last two years (we finished the Hobbit May 2024). It's organized by the last name of the authors and I've included the year each was published. Notes are added as I saw fit. Though seeking older stories was the goal I'm still amused the most recent ones on here came out in 1970, well before I was born. The oldest, Robinson Crusoe, came out more than 300 years ago and is >150 years older than everything else. There's also a shortlist of further stories that'll likely become part of bedtime in the near future. Altogether this is intended to be a different, and more difficult, list than what I included in the post about what our son was reading by himself (I believe Fantastic Mr Fox is the only overlap), though not everything here is super challenging either.

More advanced book list for kids

Roald Dahl

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964)
Fantastic Mr Fox (1970)

Daniel Defoe

Robinson Crusoe (1719)

Note - certainly feels the oldest by far, reads more like a journal than a narrative, loved hearing all the protagonist's ingenuity and the development of his faith

Charles Dickens