Kiddie Books

Over the past weekend, I saw Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. While I haven't read any of the books, I enjoyed the movie, as did my two young (11 and 5) nieces. The eleven-year-old has already read the first three books in the series—approximately what is covered in the movie. My mother, a newly-retired middle school teacher, has also read some of them, mostly because she's seen some of her students reading them. This made me think about some of the books I'd read when I was young(er), and some of the books I'd like my kids (if any) to read one day.

I should state at the outset that it is entirely possible—probable, even—that my kids will grow up to be geeks. Like their father. Don't get me wrong, I'm not intending to dictate to them everything they'll read, watch, listen to, etc. But I want them to be exposed to some of the finer and/or more esoteric things in life: Poe and Shakespeare and Douglas Adams and Beethoven and Hovhaness and Vangelis and the Beatles and Glenn Miller and Star Wars and Star Trek and Babylon 5 and chemistry sets and model rockets and plush bacteria and role playing games and all other manner of geeky things. If they grow up reading car magazines and listening to the flavor-of-the-week boy bands, it won't be because they don't know anything different.
(Okay, I'll step off my soapbox now.)

Anyway, here are some of the books (series of books, mostly) that I'd like my children to read some day.


The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
» The Hobbit
» The Fellowship of the Ring
» The Two Towers
» The Return of the King
I agree with the sentiments expressed by Peter Jackson and others. I hope that the recent success of the LOTR movies has helped to remove the stigma from Fantasy literature—moved it out of the 'kiddie pool' and into the realm of a legitimate literary form. But whether or not that actually happens, I will do my best to see that my children read these books. A working knowledge of LOTR is essential for any geek-to-be. Without it, one would not know why a Champions villain would be named Grond, or why prog-rock bands would give themselves names like Illuvatar and Marillion, or why describing Micro$oft with the phrase "One OS to rule them all" is funny.

The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
» Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
» Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
» Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
» Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
» Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
» Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
This series is wonderful. The writing is insightful and sometimes poignant. Harry goes through all those struggles we geeks—and teenagers in general—have had to go through ourselves. Alienation, disappointment, anger, loss, regret, achievement, friendship, pride, rivalry, awkwardness, infatuation, and puberty are all examined in the lives of Harry and his classmates, sometimes in painful detail. Despite the fantastic setting, every child (and adult) who reads these books will see elements of his or her own life in the lives of the characters. Maybe that's why they've sold so well.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
» The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
» Prince Caspian
» The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
» The Silver Chair
» The Horse and His Boy
» The Magician's Nephew
» The Last Battle
This series works well on two different levels. For younger, less experienced readers, these books tell stories about how the brave and good-hearted overcome the forces of evil, sometimes only with great difficulty. More mature readers will discover much more complexity. There are lessons on sacrifice, endurance, dedication, and faith. Metaphors for the divine abound—which, I suppose, is why Lewis wrote the series in the first place.

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
» The Golden Compass
» The Subtle Knife
» The Amber Spyglass
Admittedly, this is for older, more advanced readers. The heroes of the books, Lyra and Will, are presented as 11 years old or so, but most children will probably need to be 3-5 years older than that to understand and appreciate the intricate and ever-evolving story of the series. Lyra and Will are much more complex than most characters in children's or adolescent fantasy. They have their flaws, but they are heroic and determined in the face of monumental trials and opposition. There are lessons for young and old alike about loyalty, dedication, optimism, and trust.

The Mancer Series by Don Callander
» Pyromancer
» Aquamancer
» Geomancer
» Aeromancer
This series is just fun to read. The writing and characterizations are not as complex or as well developed as most of the other books on this list, but they don't need to be. Douglas Brightglade, the most central character, originally applies for the position of magician's apprentice only as alternative to becoming a cook. He proves to have the necessary talents for magic, including a large Bump of Curiosity. With his master and their friends, they protect World from dangers great and small. He learns, among other things, that those with extraordinary talents have an obligation to get involved with their communities—not to lead or to rule, but to render the kind of assistance that only they can. That's a lesson I want my kids to learn.

Two books from Robin McKinley
» Beauty : A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
» The Blue Sword
If I have any daughters, I will make certain they read these two books. Both feature strong female characters. Both tell coming-of-age stories, and both leading characters demonstrate remarkable wisdom, endurance, and compassion. And, lest we forget that this is fantasy, both women end up with a prince—but neither by virtue of having been rescued by him.

The Tennis Shoes Adventure Series by Chris Heimerdinger
» Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites
» Gadiantons and the Silver Sword
» The Feathered Serpent (Parts One and Two)
» The Sacred Quest
» The Lost Scrolls
» The Golden Crown
» Warriors of Cumorah
» The Tower of Thunder
This is a great translational fantasy series for Latter-day Saints (and others too, I suppose). It follows the story of a family over several decades and their adventures in the scriptural past. The storytelling is good, and the research behind the stories appears sound. The tone of the narrative is sincere—sometimes lighthearted and happy, sometimes grave yet hopeful, sometimes sarcastic. It's both entertaining and spiritual, and an easy read.

I'm sure there are others that I've forgotten. These should make for a good start, though. Now all I need are a few kids!