As a homeschool mom of avid readers, through the years, I was always on the lookout for suitable books for my daughters. Books that didn’t include the sexuality, violence, or other disturbing subject matter so prevalent in today’s literature. Such was not an easy feat in today’s culture. However, my girls always did manage to leave the library with a U-Haul full of books that they read in record time.
If you are in need of some book suggestions for your kids, check out the following (in no particular order). I will be periodically adding to this list, so be sure to check back!
(*denotes that both girls and boys can enjoy the book; others are specified).
Note: some children are more advanced readers than others so some in this listing would be better suited for tweens based on reading level.
Enjoy the Poodle Skirt by Kate Willis (kids and adults of all ages will enjoy; go here to read the review)
Grandma’s Attic Series by Arleta Richardson
The Wishing Ring by Shellie Neumeier*
Henny & Penny: A Story of Sharing and Caring by Vivian Higginbotham Nichols* (picture book)
Winnie the Horse Gentler Series by Dandi Daley Mackall (girls)
Starlight Animal Rescue Series by Dandi Daley Mackall*
Dream Seekers by Loree Lough*
Turn Homeward, Hannalee by Patricia Beatty (girls)
The Riverboat Adventures Series by Lois Walfrid Johnson*
Church Camp by Donny Fort*
The Young Underground Series by Robert Elmer*
Adventures of the Northwoods by Lois Walfrid Johnson (girls)
The Codebearers Series by The Miller Brothers*
Sticky Situations: 365 Devotions for Kids and Families by Betsy Schmitt*
Sticky Situations 2: 365 Devotions for Elementary Kids by Betsy Schmitt*
George Muller (Christian Heroes: Then & Now Series) by Janet & Geoff Benge*
Hollyhocks (by yours humbly)*
77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference (by yours humbly)*
The Princess and the Kiss by Jennie Bishop (girls)
Lizzy and the Guernsey Gang by April W. Gardner*
Daddy Will You Dance With Me? by Sandra Schoger Foster*
Daddy Will You Play Catch With Me? by Sandra Schoger Foster*
Do You Love Me More Than You Did Before? (Faith Basics for Kids Series) by Ava Pennington and Crystal Bowman*
Will I See You Today? (Faith Basics for Kids Series) by Ava Pennington and Crystal Bowman*
A Girl After God’s Own Heart – A Tween Aventure With Jesus by Elizabeth George (girls)
Newspaper Caper by Max Elliot Anderson (boys)
North Woods Poachers by Max Elliot Anderson (boys)
Barney & The Runaway by Max Elliot Anderson (boys)
When The Lights Go Out by Max Elliot Anderson (boys)
Lost Island Smugglers (#1 Sam Cooper Adventure Series) by Max Elliot Anderson (boys)
Captain Jack’s Treasure (#2 Sam Cooper Adventure Series) by Max Elliot Anderson (boys)
The Keystone Stables Series by Marsha Hubler*
Chosen Girls Series by Cheryl Crouch (girls)
Elsie Dinsmore Collection by Martha Finley (girls)
Winnie the Horse Gentler Series by Dandi Daley Mackall*
The Cul-De-Sac Kids Series by Beverly Lewis*
Kathleen’s Shaken Dreams by Tracy Leininger Craven (A Life of Faith Series) (girls)
Heaven’s Heroes by David Shibley*
The Truth Chronicles (The Time Machine) by Tim Chaffey and Joe Westbook*
Darien’s Rise by Paul McCusker*
Christian Heroes Series including George Muller, Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Gladys Aylward and C.S. Lewis by Janet & Geoff Benge*
Kingdom Series by Chuck Black*
The Boxcar Children Series by Gertrude Chadler Warner*
Elise the Actress by Norma Jean Lutz (Sisters in Time series)*
Kate and the Spies (Sisters in Time Series)*
Lizzie and the Redcoat (Sisters in Time Series)*
Sarah’s New World (Sisters in Time Series)*
Maggie’s Dare (Sisters in Time Series)*
Betsy’s River (Sisters in Time Series)*
Lydia the Patriot (Sisters in Time Series)*
All of the Sisters in Time Series books published by Barbour Books*
A Summer Secret by Kathleen Fuller (girls)
Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder*
Astrokids Series by Robert Elmer*
Reel Kids Adventures Series by Dave Gustaveson*
Bobbsey Twins Series by Laura Lee Hope*
Encyclopedia Brown Series by Donald J. Sobol*
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes*
Wildwood Stables Series by Suzanne Weyn (girls)
Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie, the Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell by Kristiana Gregory (girls)
Classics to Grow on by J. Walker McSpadden*
The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney*
Friendship According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney*
School Days According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney*
The Jungle Book and Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling*
Stuart Little by E.B. White*
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett*
Adventures in Odyssey Passages by Paul McCusker*
Hank the Cowdog Series by John R. Erickson
Knight of Arrethtrae Series by Chuck Black
Phantom Outlaw at Wolf Creek by Sigmund Brouwer*
Phantom Tollboth by Norton Juster*
The Red Rock Mysteries Series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry*
Trixie Belden Mystery Series by Julie Campbell/Kathryn Kenny*
Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene (girls)
Hardy Boys Series by Franklin W. Dixon*
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White*
Pollyana by Eleanor Porter*
The Wormling Series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry*
The Great Battle by Shawn Lamb*
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis*
Hunter Brown Series by Christopher Miller*
My Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara*
Launch by Jason Joyner*
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (girls) (for the movie review go here).
The League and the Lantern by Brian Wells*
Circle C Adventures by Susan K. Marlow (girls)
Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson*
Adventures Down Under by Robert Elmer*
Swiss Family Robinson by Johann Wyss*
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin (girls)
Mysteries of Middlefield by Kathleen Fuller (girls)
The Door Within Trilogy by Wayne Thomas Batson*
Love from Afar (12+ by yours humbly)
Note: Some children/teens are more sensitive than others. For instance, in my book Love Under Construction, it is a clean romance novel, but it does touch on the topics of grief, PTSD (the main character is a veteran), and adoption. While not explicit and does not contain any language or sexuality, these topics might be an issue for younger teens.
Ilyon Chronicles by Jaye L. Knight* (go here to read review)
The Montana Skies Series (McKenzie, Kaydie, and Hailee) by yours humbly (girls)
Circle C Milestones by Susan K. Marlow (girls)
The Secret Admirer Romance Collection (girls) (go here to read review)
The Underground Railroad Brides Collection (girls)
Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien*
The Runaway Brides Collection (girls)
Blades of Acktar Series by Tricia Mingerink*
The Green Dress by Liz Tolsma*
Henry and Evaline (by yours humbly)*
The Rogues Series by Kristen Hogrefe* (16+ go here to read review)
Preacher on the Run by Jayna Baas* (go here to read review)
The Ravenwood Saga by Morgan L. Busse*
The Tethered World Chronicles by Heather L.L FitzGerald*
The Staff and the Sword Series by Patrick W. Carr*
The Dancing Realms by Sharon Hinck*
Abort by C.D. Hulen (go here to read review)
Keeper of Shadows by Bridgett Powers*
Anything by Donita K. Paul*
Wars of the Realm Series by Chuck Black*
Love Under Construction (16+ by yours humbly)
The Songkeeper Chronicles by Gillian Bronte Adams*
The Staff and the Sword Series by Patrick W. Carr*
Heart of Gold by Robin Lee Hatcher (girls)
The Weaver Trilogy by Lindsay A. Franklin*
A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California by Kelli Gwyn (girls)
Echoes of Mercy by Kim Vogel Sawyer (girls)
The Chronicles of Sarco by Joshua A. Johnston
Deceived by Madisyn Carlin (16+)
The Dark King’s Curse by Wyn Estelle Owens (girls)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne*
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom* (16+)
The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy*
Oath of the Outcast by C.M. Banschbach* (16+)
Penny Zeller 
Hi Penny,
I grew up hating to read and now write Christian adventures & mysteries for readers 8 – 13, especially boys. Six of my books are published and two more are in production at two different publishers.
My blog is at – Books for Boys Blog http://booksandboys.blogspot.com
As you search for good books for boys, I wanted to make sure you had my information.
Thank you,
Max Elliot Anderson ACFW Member
mander8813@aol.com
My Youtube Videos http://www.youtube.com/user/Maxbooks100#p/u
Newspaper Caper 193669526X
North Woods Poachers 1936695057
Barney & The Runaway 0984559841
When The Lights Go Out 1936695472
Lost Island Smugglers #1 Sam Cooper Adventure Series 1935600028
Captain Jack’s Treasure #2 Sam Cooper Adventure Series 1935600141
River Rampage #3 in the series is now in production
Legend of the White Wolf – Coming February, 2012 1936695690
Terror at Wolf Lake isin production
Hi Max,
Thank you so much for sharing about your books for boys. I am honored to add them to my list. I think it’s wonderful that you write books especially for boys, as I have heard time and time again how difficult it is to find good reading material for those with young sons. Your list will certainly be a blessing!
Have a wonderful week!
Blessings,
Penny
Hi Penny,
May I suggest one of our authors, Sandra Schoger Foster. She wrote Daddy, Will You Dance with Me? published by Thomas Nelson. We (g8press) just released her book Daddy, Will You Play Catch with Me? It’s really a gift book/read aloud book for boys (and fathers). Here’s the link if you’re interested: https://www.createspace.com/3647413
Sandra and I were invited to a local elementary school last night. She spoke to the kids about writing. The school bought a box of books and raffled them off. But the kids didn’t buy any tickets. A ticket was given for writing a poem, or doing a craft or their parents attending the Parent/Teacher night. It was an awesome success. We wish we had brought more books as we had a couple of boys very sad they didn’t receive one. Anyhow, we’d be honored if you added this book to your list.
Hello Debby,
I am happy to add Sandra’s books to the list! What a beautiful cover!
I think that is so neat how she spoke at the school and did the raffle. Thank you for sharing that wonderful idea!
Blessings,
Penny
Thank you for this list!!! I would just like to add a little comment, I see you have one of the Sisters in Time books (and I would definitely recommend them all), but I just wanted to add, even though it is mainly for girls and have a girl as the main, they always (at least in all the ones I’ve read) have a young male as a “co-star” making it appealing to boys as well! We love that series in our home!!
Hi Cassandra! Thank you so much for stopping by. I really appreciate your suggestion and I have added the * by the Sisters in Time books to reflect that they can be enjoyed by boys as well. I also added a few more in the series and I agree, they are all good! Thank you again and have a blessed weekend!
What a great list! I have passed it on to my 16 1/2 year old son. He also enjoys books by Ronie Kendig, Elizabeth Goddard, Nancy Mehl, Lynette Eason, Tom Threadgill, James Hannibal…and so many more 🙂 So many great authors out there!