As you can tell from my reading lists, current and past, reading is super important to us. Especially for the kids. Tonchi LOVES being read to and will often spend hours just looking at books! He is just starting to learn to read and picks out words here and there, but is usually content with just looking at the pictures.

Koa sometimes will sit still long enough to listen to a book and Aisling is about like him! However… if the story is about pirates, fights, espionage, swords, ropes or danger of any kind he is riveted! I’ve been trying harder to balance great classics for them to listen to as well as books that Koa, specifically, will enjoy.

I’ve also wanted to keep track of the books we read throughout the year so that we can remember which ones we’ve read and which ones were our favorites. The following is a list of what we’ve completed for 2013. I’ve included my mini review from each one and a few comments from the kids.

Aisling doesn’t remember any of these books so I’m sure they will be repeated sometime in the future, but for the boys, at least, they’ve listened to all of them. Some of these I’ve read to them and some we’ve listened to as books on tape. We especially like doing this in the car on long road trips or just bopping around town!

[amazon_link id=”B00FP4D3LO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link]

Give me some feedback! Let me know what you’ve read and liked or new books we should add to our list for this year!

1.[amazon_link id=”B00FP4D3LO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link] [amazon_link id=”B00FP4D3LO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Peter Pan – Barrie, James Matthew[/amazon_link]
Me: I really liked it! Fun story. Lots of new and difficult vocabulary that sparked many a conversation.

2. [amazon_link id=”0061148172″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”0061148172″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Little House in the Highlands[/amazon_link] – Melissa Wiley
Me: This book and the next three are about the grandmother of Laura Ingalls Wilder of the Little House on the Prairie books. These take place in Scotland. We LOVED these books. Probably would be more enjoyed by little girls, but my boys enjoyed them and were always wanting to read more.
T: “Oh! Yeah! I liked that book! Can we read another one?”

3.[amazon_link id=”0064407136″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”0064407136″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Far Side of the Loch[/amazon_link] – Melissa Wiley
4. [amazon_link id=”0064407144″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”0064407144″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Down to the Bonny Glen[/amazon_link] – Melissa Wiley
5. [amazon_link id=”0064407152″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”0064407152″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Beyond the Heather Hills[/amazon_link] – Melissa Wiley

6. [amazon_link id=”014036708X” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”014036708X” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Pinocchio[/amazon_link] – Carlo Collodi
Me: This is another book that was probably above their heads and not sure how much they understood, but they seemed to like it and always wanted to listen to more.

7. [amazon_link id=”0763625299″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”0763625299″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Tale of Despereaux[/amazon_link] – Kate DiCamillo and Timothy Basi
Me: This is a true boy story. Thrilling chases, sword fights, sneaky activities and daring escapes! It is a boy thriller to the heart!

8. [amazon_link id=”B004R10BXE” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”B004R10BXE” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Charlie and the Chocolate Factory[/amazon_link] – Roald Dahl
Me: Such a classic and was the topic of conversation for weeks. Still things about this story come up. We followed it up with watching the 70s version movie which is in the library!
T: “Oh! Yeah! They shuted it down because thieves were stealing the recipes!”
K: “I like the movie of it!”

9. [amazon_link id=”B004R5YXJS” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”B004R5YXJS” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator[/amazon_link] – Roald Dahl
Me: I wasn’t as familiar with this one, but it was still good. The kids didn’t seem to enjoy it quite as much. A lot of humorous remarks by Willy Wonka that younger children would probably miss.
T: Can we get it again? I liked that gooey monster that can stretch very long and change.”

10. [amazon_link id=”0007528620″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”0007174160″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Bear Called Paddington[/amazon_link] – Michael Bond
Me: This was a compilation of books on CD that we listened too and the boys really liked these as well. They were much simpler than some of the other books we’ve listened too and really cute. Having them read by a woman in the UK adds a lot to the experience and enjoyment!
T: “ I forgot the story actually, but I still love it!”
K: “I love it so much.”

11. [amazon_link id=”B00EDYYFVO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”B00EDYYFVO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Courage of Sarah Noble[/amazon_link] – Alice Dalgliesh
Me: I really liked this one. Definitely more of a girls tale. The boys listened, but don’t think they enjoyed it quite as much as I did!

12. [amazon_link id=”B009K5CSC4″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”B009K5CSC4″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Misty of Chincoteague[/amazon_link] – Marguerite Henry
Me: We all liked this one a lot and it makes us want to go to the Pony Round up sometime soon. Fun to know that it takes place so close to home! This was another easy one to understand for them.
T: “Oh! That story about the fast mustang! I loved that one!”
K:” YEAH! Let’s read it again!”

13. [amazon_link id=”0060097914″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”0060097914″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Flat stanley[/amazon_link] – Jeff Brown and Macky Pamintuan
Me: OK, in my opinion. Not a classic or anything fantastic, but fine for light listening. This was a three book series on CD that we listened to if I remember correctly. The story of a little boy who becomes flat as a pancake and the experiences he ha
T: “I liked it cause he was so flat”
K: “That was so funny… the paper falled on him!”

14. [amazon_link id=”1416918094″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”1416918094″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Peter pan in Scarlet[/amazon_link] by Geraldine McCaughrean
Me: This one was just OK too. A lot of bad attitudes, rarely a kind word spoken by Peter Pan, and it lacked excitement. He was really depressed sounding and didn’t enjoy fun adventures like the original. The boys seemed to like it, but I don’t think we will do this one again.

15. [amazon_link id=”0689852797″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link][amazon_link id=”B000WUMHW2″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Justin Morgan Had a Horse[/amazon_link] – Henry, Marguerite and Dennis, Wesley
Me: This was fantastic read! the whole family enjoyed it! It’s a story about a horse and a young man who all his life loves this horse and wants to own him. Very well written, easy to read and moves quickly enough to keep the attention of little boys!
T: “He liked that poor horse SO much!”

We found some special treasures in books this year and we hope you did too!  What did you read?  What should we add to our list?