Awesome children’s books for adults. Post contains affiliate links for your convenience.
“There was a boy called Eustance Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it… He didn’t call his Father and Mother “Father” and “Mother”, but Harold and Alberta. They were very up-to-date and advanced people. They were vegetarians, non-smokers and teetotallers and wore a special kind of underclothes. In their house there was very little furniture and very few clothes on beds and the windows were always open.” The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C.S. Lewis.
I love reading! I used to read a novel a week or more pre-motherhood. Though I don’t have time for that now, and Netflix has come on the scene, I still do love a good book. But one thing that bothers me about some novels is how explicit they are in nature. And while I like a good spy novel or mystery, I don’t like reading dark and heavy stuff before bedtime.
People like to make fun, but I genuinely love reading books for young adults or tweens! They are clean, wholesome, and often more witty than adult books are. You know, because adult books just put an explicit scene and use swear words for entertainment.
Read: All-Time Best Christian Parenting Books (According to Mom Reviews)
So… if you’re looking for light-hearted, uplifting, and just plain good, here are my recommendations for “kid books” that are great for adults!
Individual Novels
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Calvin and Hobbes
1. The Essential Calvin and Hobbes
2. Attack of the Deranged Mutant Killer Monster Snow Goons
3. It’s a Magical World: A Calvin and Hobbes Collection
the Tillerman Cycle
1. Homecoming
2. Dicey’s Song
3. A Solitary Blue
4. The Runner
5. Come a Stranger
6. Sons from Afar
7. Seventeen Against the Dealer
Anne of Green Gables
1. Anne of Green Gables
2. Anne of Avonlea
3. Anne of the Island
4. Anne of Windy Poplars
5. Anne’s House of Dreams
6. Anne of Ingleside
7. Rainbow Valley
8. Rilla of Ingleside
Little House on the Prairie
1. Little House in the Big Woods
2. Little House on the Prairie
3. On the Banks of Plum Creek
4. By the Shores of Silver Lake
5. The Long Winter
6. Little Town on the Prairie
7. These Happy Golden Years
8. The First Four Years
In Grandma’s Attic
1. In Grandma’s Attic
2. More Stories from Grandma’s Attic
3. Still More Stories from Grandma’s Attic
4. Treasures from Grandma
5. Away from Home
6. A School of Her Own
7. Wedding Bells Ahead
8. At Home in North Branch
9. New Faces, New Friends
10. Stories from the Growing Years
Chronicles of Narnia
1. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
2. Prince Caspian
3. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
4. Silver Chair
5. The Horse and His Boy
6. The Magician’s Nephew
7. The Last Battle
If I’ve missed any that MUST BE on the list please leave a comment to spread the joy to others :)
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Elisabeth says
Cynthia Voigt ~ Especially the Tillerman series. They are awesome!!
Rachel Norman says
I may have to add these in. Ha ;)
Missy says
I’ve been known to read children’s books as well including Little House, The Anne Books and The Grandma’s Attic Series! : ) I also love Jeanette Oak especially the Love Come Softly series which is actually written for young adults. I have a collection of children’s classics that I’m saving to read to my kids aloud when they are older, but I bought them as much for myself as I did for them. :)
Also, have you read Francine Rivers? The Mark of the Lion series and Redeeming Love are AMAZING!!! They are christian adult novels and deal with heavy topics, but they are so worth it!!!
Rachel Norman says
Oh, Missy, I LOVEEEE Francine Rivers and particularly the Mark of the Lion series. I really enjoy “young adult” books because they are just more wholesome, you know? I can’t wait until I can read Little House and Anne with my daughter. Ha. PLanning ahead ;)
Jacquie says
I loved the Melendy series and also the Penderwick books (they are wonderful!) and I’ve a huge Calvin & Hobbes fan :)
Trisha says
Love all the ones you mentioned, huge kids book fan :) have recently discovered a newer series, “Gregor the underland chronicles” (by Suzanne Collins, author of the hunger games, but I like better :) ) and if you dont mind alittle greek mythology/fantasy, the percy jackson books by Rick Riordan are really fun and engaging dialog as well. Ilder favorites from my childhood include All of a kind Family (series), Owls in the Family, and Homer Price books are funny as well :)
Rachel Norman says
Oh that sounds awesome, that series. I’ll add it to the list :)
Christy says
Hi! I love young adult fiction! I just thought you should know that the Giver is the first in a series of 4! They’re all fantastic.
I also like the Gregor the Overlander series by Suzanne Collins (younger audience and not gruesome like Hunger Games). Everything Margaret Peterson Haddix is worth reading. Also Magnus by Sigmund Brouwer. I could come up with a lot more but I’ll stop there.