Book Recomendations from 0-8 years

Stories shape who we are.
That is one of the reasons why Wild Horse Publishing is so passionate about publishing good stories that will grow families, equip children to become men and women, and call out leaders and heroes.

I love stories. I love to write them, I love to read them, I love to watch them, and I love to listen to them. When I was growing up, my parents were either reading or their was an audio book on more times than not. Those stories shaped who my siblings and I are today.

Stories are a wonderful way to teach children lessons, to show them heroes to look up to and enemies to fight, and to shape their character. I can explain things to a child many times over, or I can show it to them with the consequences and rewards. That is why it is important to read true stories. And that doesn't mean that the stories have to be about real things that happened, but they have to be true. If they break God's rules and His design, they lie, and they teach lies to our children.

Now, I don't love "medicine stories." Stories that are like a dose of medicine with more preaching than character and narrative. But I also don't like "cotton candy" stories that are nothing but sugary fluff.

When a soldier prepares for battle he can't just eat sugary sweets if he expects to last the day out. But he also can't just take a bunch or cough syrup and pills either. He needs a good, wholesome meal that will give him the strength and energy he needs to see the day through and not only keep himself alive, but win the fight, and also aid his weary comrades and carry his wounded friends.

We must feed our children that meal (and feed ourselves that meal) if we expect to stand firm in the battle before us.

When children are young, they are like a flexible tree sapling. They can be shaped and bent easily. The other day I saw a young braided hibiscus tree.

The little branches had been woven together while they were still flexible, but as that tree grows, the braid will become almost impossible to undo and finally irreversible. We are shaping the saplings now as our children are young, and there will come a time when what we have done will harden and form the foundation of all they believe.

While they are young, we must shape them carefully, and good stories play a vital part in this. Give your children heroes to look up to and stories that point to Truth and Light and the hope that we have in our Savior. This doesn't mean every book must have an overtly Christian message, but they must be true. They must not lie, for these are the friends we are giving to our children now.

The characters they read about will become friends they grow up with. Those friends can influence them for good or evil. They can build up or tear down, kill or bring life.

Feed your children wholesome meals, give them good friends, and introduce them to true heroes. Give them stories that inspire them to go out and dig for treasure in the back yard, fight dragons with wooden swords, and explore God's creation. Teach them to read. Not just to read the words, but to read the message they are given. Help them to learn to look at a book pick out what is true and good and what is false or evil. Don't just let them consume.

This is a topic that is close to my heart, and it is one that I as an author find especially important. After the request of several people, I've decided to do a small series of posts with book recommendations from the stories that I and my siblings grew up on. Today's post will be for the little audience and I will build age range as I go. Now, just because I put something in an age category doesn't mean that I recommend it for all children of that age. You know your own child and what is good for them to read. I ask that you would consider at least looking at the full synopsis if not read the book first before sharing it with your kids. Also, just because I put a book in a younger age range doesn't mean that older kids and even adults can't enjoy them. Every book I list is still a book I enjoy now as an adult. As Lewis said: “A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.”
I would say that the age range is more to set the younger side of the scale rather than an age limit.

I hope that these lists prove useful, and I would love to hear from you in the comments if you discover any new favorite books or are reminded of old ones. If you are a new reader of my posts and would like to get an email when the next list comes out, please go to the "Newsletter" page on Wild Horse Publishing and subscribe.

List of Books For Ages 0-8

Madeline
By Russell Hoban

In an old house in Paris, That was covered with vines, Lived twelve little girls, In two straight lines. The smallest one was Madeline.. . (Not all the books are good)

Squire and the Scroll : A Tale of the Rewards of a Pure Heart
By Jennie Bishop

This captivating adventure follows a young squire who travels a long, dangerous road beside his brave knight, on a quest for their king with his Scroll of Truth at his side.

Princess and the Kiss : A Story of God's Gift of Purity
By Jennie Bishop

A a beautiful tale of a wise, young princess who learns about the precious gift of purity.

The Three Gifts of Christmas
By Jennie Bishop

The story of a young princess who learns why we give gifts at Christmas and the true meaning of the holiday. Giving is better than receiving.

We Help Mommy
By Jean Cushman

A Brother and sister help mommy around the house.

Dragon in a Dress
By Hannah Spuler

Dad and the kids come up with an epic adventure in the living room while mom is out for a few hours.

Dangerous Alphabet
By Douglas Wilson

A is for Anvil which lands on your head... who knew danger could be so fun!

Sir Badalot and the Cranky Danky Dragon
By Rachel Jankovic

Everyone deals with the temptations of the cranky danky dragon, but will they let him rule their little kingdom, or will they take a stand?

Crispin's Rainy Day
By Forrest Dickison

Crispin is on the search for the Lighting Blade with his pirate frog friends, and there is absolutely no room for little sisters who want to make cake and clean up messes on the ship... or is there?

Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka (10 book series)
By Maj Lindman

The story of triplet sisters in Sweden and their adventures.

Snip, Snap, and Snurr (10 book series)
By Maj Lindman

The story of triplet brothers in Sweden and their adventures.

Homer Price books
By Robert McCloskey

The story of an American boy who loves to invent things while helping at his parents shop.

Lentil
By Robert McCloskey

Lentil cant sing or play many instruments, but he does know how to play the harmonica...

Stone Soup
By Marica Brown

Three hungry soldiers teach selfish villagers to make "stone soup" soup made of stones and a little bit of salt, pepper, carrots...

Choo Choo: The Story of a Little Engine Who Ran Away
By Virginia Lee Burton

A naughty little train runs away from it's driver....

Little Mommy
By Sharon Kane

A little girl learns to care for her doll like a real baby

Bread and Jam for Francis
By Russell Hoban

Francis only likes bread and jam and she only wants to eat bread and jam...
(I have not read all the books)

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
By Virginia Lee Burton

Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain passes for trains, and hollow out cellars for city skyscrapers.

Katy and the Big Snow
By Virginia Lee Burton

Katy, a brave and untiring tractor, who pushes a bulldozer in the summer and a snowplow in the winter, makes it possible for the townspeople to do their jobs.

The Little House
By Virginia Lee Burton

A little house lives in the country until the city begins to grow up around her...

Max's Castle
By Kate Banks

Max and his brothers set out to build a castle with the words they can make out of their lettered blocks...

The Biggest Bear
By Lynd Ward

Johnny sets out to shoot a bear so that their barn may have a bear skin like all the others in the village, but the adventure takes a surprising turn.

Time of Wonder
By Robert McCloskey

Two sisters explore the wonder of the world around them from spring to fall, in fair weather and in storms.

Blueberries For Sal (and the sequel, One Morning In Maine)
By Robert McCloskey

Sal and her mother set out to find blueberries to make jam, but they are not the only ones out in the fields...

Make Way For Ducklings
By Robert McCloskey

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard must find a place for their nest to raise a family.

The Legend of the Easter Egg
By Lori Walburg

A boy is brought face to face with death when his sister falls ill with scarlet fever. He is sent away while she is ill and comes to learn the true story of Easter and the hope of eternal life in Christ.

Caleb's Colt
By Lori Walburg

The fictional story of a boy who owned the colt Jesus' disciples took for the triumphal entry. Witness the last days of Jesus, His death and resurrection through the eyes of a boy and the accounts he hears.

The Last Zookeeper
By Aaron Becker

A wordless book about a robot trying to save his little animal friends from a flood.

The Tree and the River
By Aaron Becker

A wordless book that shows the passing of time and history.

A Stone For Sascha
By Aaron Becker

A wordless story about the passing of time and change.

The Journey Trilogy
By Aaron Becker

A wordless book on the adventures of a girl and boy who can make things come to life by drawing them.

Building Our House
By Jonathan Bean

The true story of the author and his family working to build their very own home.

This is My Home This is My School
By Jonathan Bean

After building their home, the author and his family have many adventures as they homeschool.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt
By Michael Rosen

A father and his children set out on a bear hunt.

Hello Ninja
By N. D. Wilson

Hello Ninja! Yes, Hello. What do Ninja's do all day?

Guess How Much I love You
By Sam McBratney

Big nutbrown hare and little nutbrown hare are getting ready to say goodnight.

Runaway Bunny
By Margret Wise Brown

Once there was a little bunny who wanted to run away. His mother said, "If you run away, I'll come for you, for you are my little bunny."

Goodnight Moon
By Margret Wise Brown

Good night moon, goodnight cow jumping over the moon...

The Big Red Barn
By Margret Wise Brown

The adventures the animals have when the children have gone away

Flip books
By Wesley Dennis

Flip is a colt who wants to jump the brook but just can't get up the courage to do it.

The Quiltmaker's Gift
By Jeff Brumbeau

The story of a selfish king and a woman who will only make quilts for the pour.

Fritz and the Beautiful Horses
By Jan Brett

There was once a city known for it's beautiful horses...

Corduroy
By Don Freeman

There was once a little bear who wanted a home...

Note 1: This is by no means a complete list. I will likely think of 20 more once I publish it.
Note 2: This is not ordered by age. Or By alphabet. Or by topic. It's not ordered at all.

The Garden Wall
By Jennie Bishop

The story of a boy called to build a wall of protection and a girl called to grow and nurture the garden within.

The Rattlebang Picnic
By Margaret Mahy

Mr. McTavish said they could have a very nice car or lots of children. Mrs. McTavish wondered why they couldn't have a few children... say six or seven, and an old rattlebang car....

Baby Dear
By Eloise Wilkin

A little girl cares for her doll like Mommy cares for her baby

We Help Daddy
By Mini Stein

A brother and sister help Daddy for the day.

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