Age 08-12. 5 Stars. The Moffats, who live in the same town as the owners of Ginger Pye, are a close-knit family of four children and a hard-working seamstress mother… Estes’ engaging characters, living in the context of a sweetly old-fashioned small town, hold an undeniable appeal that has caused this story to endure for 70 years.

Age 00-04. 4 Stars. Another of the Reys’ gleeful books of monkey business… appropriate for preschool through elementary school ages.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. Teunis and Gertrude Van Alstyne are Dutch homesteaders caught in the middle of the French and Indian War, and one night Teunis is called away to fight… There are few stories in which a child is given such an important and difficult task, and [ten-year-old Edward's] courage and responsibility are awe-inspiring.

Age 08-12. The Reluctant Dragon is a mild-mannered specimen of his breed who, unlike the “active and earnest” fellows who used to charge around battling knights, has survived long enough to develop his passion for poetry…. This is a brilliantly written satirical fantasy, lambasting the traditional knight-and-dragon stories and providing a wonderful protagonist that boys of all ages (and many girls) will want to identify with. The fantastical pleasure of friendship with a dragon is enhanced by encounters with knights, a theatrical battle, and plenty of intelligent wit to amuse both children and adults.

Age 08-12. A lonely mole, exasperated with Spring cleaning, abandons his home and goes for a long jaunt ending at a river, where he meets a friendly river rat… Thus follow some of the most implausible and wonderful adventures ever to enthrall a young reader. The story delights with what C.S. Lewis calls “scandalous escapism,” yet within the animals’ adventures, dangers, and reveries, if you are looking for them, you will find timeless moral qualities: the value of friendship, the beauty of unblinking courage, and the consequences of foolishness. It really should not be missed.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. Ferdinand is a mild-mannered Spanish bull who (unlike his peers) has no aspirations to be chosen for a big bullfight in Madrid… Some parents will see this story as a treatise against the violence and cruelty of bullfights, while others will view it as an example of someone being true to himself. However you interpret it, this is an undeniably hilarious story that has been loved by children since its first publication in 1936.

Age 08-12. 5 Stars. Paul and Maureen, two siblings living on Chincoteague Island, are rambling together one day when they spot a wild mare. Transfixed by her beauty, they set about earning money to buy her… This story provides a view of a close friendship between siblings, an interesting and challenging goal for both protagonists, healthy family relationships, and respect for authority. It is romantic, refreshing, and inspiring, full of beauty and life.

Age 12-16. 3 Stars. The story is very well written and will be enjoyed by anyone who loves animals and the outdoors. It will be especially attractive to boys, with its masculine-romantic view of nature and his bohemian life with his father. However, North’s depiction of families, religion and the created order (especially the origin of life) are sometimes at odds with a biblical worldview. Although it is written at an 8-12 reading level, Christian parents may want to wait to introduce this book until readers are old enough to read it with discernment.

Age 04-08. 5 Stars. Winnie-the-Pooh has been beloved by several generations because of the wonderful way Milne captures the imaginative play of children…. Milne’s excellent writing, wonderful use of language, subtle and silly sense of humor, and the unforgettable eccentricities of his characters make the world of Pooh a delightful place. Like other classic children’s stories, Winnie-the-Pooh may not appeal to every reader, but every child ought to have a chance to experience it.

Age 05-10. This memorable story provides an example of genuine, loving friendship, which blooms among the hard realities of farm life… it is these contrasts that have made this story such an enduring classic — the reality of death and pain make joy and love all the sweeter where they exist.