Books are one of my favorite things on the planet. One of my top 5 favorite places to be on this great earth is in a Library or a Bookstore. There are thousands of books that I have read over the years (and even more thousands I want to read). So, to say that I’m a book lover is a semi understatement.

I am sharing with you the actual library I’m building for my family. Just about every book on this list I already own ~ I will write my library wish list later. That will be quite the list as my favorite online bookstore’s wishlist is at 18k (all new books of course). So used bookstores and online used booksellers are my best friends.

With all that said, I hope from my own journey to inspire you to keep thinking and/or perhaps to start thinking of what books you want your kids to someday read.

Please do not feel like you have to do anything, let alone everything that I have done. My goal is to encourage you to think outside the box a little. Even if it’s just to remember the benefits of having a library card.

If you are interested. I will also be writing up some of my homeschool classes that I did and that I will be teaching my kids someday ~ You will find them on ThePrudentFarm.com 

Also, as an encouragement “Every library is as unique as its builder(s)!”

As an example:

I have always been a history lover and prefer real stories and people. Therefore, I will always gravitate towards real stories, accounts, people and places over the fiction section. There is nothing wrong with fiction. I just prefer to read books that teach you about real people who did real things and gain a knowledge that is based on truth vs fun/fantasy/freestyle with facts.

Due to this you will notice that there are very few fictional books after you pass the “learning to read” years. This is not the only way to build a library or to homeschool, as I have personally seen from watching many other homeschoolers. There are a TON of ways to mix and match ways to build your library and build your child’s education. Many people are more of a solid mix of fiction with non-fiction. This just emphasizes the true blessing and wonderful opportunity homeschooling offers. You can tailor it to you and your kids’ likings. So long as you get the basics required by your state and/or county.

NOW to the book list!

Baby and Toddler List

• • The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown

Pre & Kindergarten List

• • Mr. Gumpy’s Motor Car by John Burningham

• • Go to Sleep Little Farm by Mary Lyn Ray

• • The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

• • Corduroy by Don Freeman

• • Caps For Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

• • Little Bear’s Little Boat by Eve Bunting

Early Elementary List (1-2nd grades)

• • The Gardner by Sarah Stewart

• • Phoebe The Spy by Judith Berry Griffin

• • The Glorious Flight by Alice and Martin Provensen

• • Good Work, Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

• • The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

• • The Ballot Box Battle by Emily Arnold McCully

• • Then What Happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz

• • B is for Buckaroo by Louise Doak Whitney and Gleaves Whitney

• • Billy and Blaze by C W Anderson

• • Blaze and The Forest Fire by C W Anderson

• • Blaze and Thunderbolt by C W Anderson

• • Blaze and The Mountain Lion by C W Anderson

• • Blaze Shows The Way by C W Anderson

• • Blaze and The Lost Quarry by C W Anderson

• • Blaze and The Gray Spotted Pony by C W Anderson

• • Blaze Finds The Tail by C W Anderson

• • Blaze and The Indian Cave by C W Anderson

• • Blaze Finds Forgotten Roads by C W Anderson

Middle Elementary List (2-3rd Grades)

• • The Sarah Plain and Tall Treasury by Patricia MacLachlan
    • • Sarah Plain and Tall
    • • Skylark
    • • Caleb’s Story

• • The Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz

• • Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

• • Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

• • Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder

• • On The Banks Of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder

• • By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder

• • The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder

• • Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

• • These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder

• • The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Late Elementary List (4-6th Grades)

• • Come on Seabiscuit by Ralph Moody

• • Boys of Wartime: Daniel at Siege of Boston 1776 by Laurie Calkhoven

• • Janet & Geoff Benge
    • • Christian Heros: Then and Now (books 1-50)
    • • Heroes of History (books 1-31)

• •  

Middle School (7-8 Grades)

• • Little Britches by Ralph Moody

• • Man of The Family by Ralph Moody

• • The Home Ranch by Ralph Moody

• • Mary Emma and Company by Ralph Moody

• • The Light and The Glory by Peter Marshall and David B. Manuel

• • Sounding Forth the Trumpet by Peter Marshall and David B. Manuel

• • From Sea to Shining Sea by Peter Marshall and David B. Manuel

• • The Story of Liberty by Charles C Coffin

High School (9-12 Grades)

• • Fearless Leadership by Carley D. Lohrenz

• • How Successful People Lead by John C. Maxwell

• • Halftime by Bob Buford

• • Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

• • 1776 by David McCullough

• • The Pioneers by David McCullough

• • John Adams by David McCullough

• • THe Power of One More by Ed Mylett

• • The Fields of Home by Ralph Moody

• • THe Dry Divide by Ralph Moody

• • Shaking The Nickel Bush by Ralph Moody

• • HOrse of A Different Color by Ralph Moody

Books for Young Ladies

• • God’s Garden of Grace by Elizabeth George

• • A Woman’s Walk With God by Elizabeth George

• • Beautiful in God’s Eyes by Elizabeth George

• • Loving God With All Your Mind by Elizabeth George

• • Beautiful Girlhood by M. Hale Revised by Karen Andreola

• • The Companion Guide to Beautiful Girlhood by Shelley Noonan and Kimberly Zach

• • A Sanctuary for Your Soul by Kay Arthur

Books For Young Men

• • A Young Man After God’s Own Heart by Jim George

• • A Boy’s Guide to Making Really Good Choices by Jim George

Mom and Daughter Books (I grew up in a household of girls)

• • Everything I know I learned in My Garden by Emilie Barnes

• • Christmas Teas of Comfort and Joy by Emilie Barnes

• • The Twelve Teas of Inspiration by Emilie Barnes

• • The Twelve Teas of Christmas by Emilie Barnes

• • Home Warming by Emilie Barnes

• • Garden Moment Getaways by Emilie Barnes