JayneCM and her boys are reading the 1001 Childrens Books

We are making it a double reading challenge! I will be working through the 1001 Books and together, my boys and I will be working through the 1001 Childrens Books.
Again, I am going to start from scratch, although we have read many of these previously.
The only ones I am going to 'cheat' with are the three Harry Potter books that are in 1001 Childrens Books. We are just finishing re-reading the whole series through again (1/4 of the way through Deathly Hallows), so as they are such a recent read I am counting them!
My 7 year old will be reading lots of the picture books aloud for his reading practice, the 10 year old will read some himself as well as me reading aloud, and the 14 year old will probably just read his school English book (which at least happens to be in 1001 Childrens!)
My 10 year old is my keenest reader so he may even write a review or two. Believe me, I will do anything to foster a love of reading and if he wants to add a review here, I think I will encourage that! He has looked through the 1001 Childrens Books and has his eye on Lord of the Flies - not quite yet!

208/1001 = 20.7% completed (as of 22nd November 2021)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

December 2018 reads

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone #685 (read aloud by me)
2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azbakan #697 (read aloud by me)
3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire #701 (read aloud by me)
4. The Naming of Tishkin Silk #718 (Mr 10 read himself)
5. Peter In Blueberry Land # #42 (Mr 10 read himself)
6. The Cat In The Hat #66 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
7. Owl Babies #32 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
8. The Very Hungry Caterpillar #13 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
9. Green Eggs and Ham #70 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
10. The Gruffalo #150 (Mr 10 read himself)
11. Tashi #680 (Mr 10 read himself - The Big, Big, Big Book of Tashi which includes seven Tashi books)
12. Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs #293 (read aloud by me)
13. Go, Dog, Go! #71 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
14. Owl Moon #121 (read aloud by me)
15. Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain by Edward Ardizzone #198 (read aloud by me)
16. The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge by Hildegarde H. Swift #60 (read aloud by me)

16/1001 = 1.6% completed (as at 31st December 2018)

The Cat in the Hat and Owl Babies were the two books that my seven year old read to me today. After being an extremely reluctant reader, he is finally choosing to read! I choose a selection of picture books and he can select a few from there. It works much better than school readers, which, let's face it, can be pretty inane. This way he feels he is reading a 'real' book and gets much more satisfaction from the process. Learning without knowing it - the best way to learn!

An interesting fact is that of course The Cat In The Hat was written as a reader designed to be an antidote to the boring Dick and Jane type primers that were prevalent in the 50s.
Dr. Seuss was asked by William Spaulding, the director of Houghton Mifflin's education division, to create an exciting children's book that would encourage them to read. "Write me a story that first-graders can't put down!"
As readers have a limited word number, The Cat in the Hat was kept to a vocabulary of 236 words. Yet you barely notice this limited vocabulary. Truly a masterpiece!

And Owl Babies. What is not to love about Owl Babies? This was my oldest daughter's favourite book and she still talks about it as her favourite (she is 23 now).

Ed's take on The Naming of Tishkin Silk - Bear in mind it is school holidays here and this seemed all he wanted to manage!

I loved it because Griffin was like me. My favourite part was when Griiffin takes Zeus to school.

Mr 7 read to me Green Eggs and Ham and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
I think all schools should be including Dr. Seuss as readers. Mr 7's reading has progressed so much since he has started reading 'real' books to me. It is also so much more enjoyable for him. And Green Eggs and Ham is perfect - funny, rhyming, a great rhythm.
Hungry Caterpillar is, of course, a classic. I think everyone has grown up with a copy of this book or read it to children at some stage. The format makes it fun and the brightly coloured illustrations would attract any child.

Mr 10 read The Gruffalo as a category on his challenge list was read an award winning book. As Mr 7 is getting through a few books a day, he wanted to jump ahead on his list too!
I was just reading that between the original 1999 published edition and later ones, the text was slightly changed. I have the 1999 version - now I want to go to the library and find a newer edition!
Another book all my kids have grown up with - my oldest daughter was 4 when it was released. They have all loved The Gruffalo. I can pretty much recite it in my sleep now!

Now at 1% of the 1001 Childrens Books read!

I'm looking forward to following your children's progress on the list. I've used the 1001 Children's list when selecting books for my own children (and for myself; I occasionally enjoy some YA). Unfortunately, as we are not native English speakers, a lot of the books on the list either haven't been translated or the rhythm or rhyme of the books aimed at younger children is really off. Oh well!

>5 JayneCM: My girls loved all the Julia Donaldson books, especially around ages 3-5, and I enjoyed reading to them (can't beat some good rhyming rhythms, and the illustrations by Axel Scheffler). Interestingly though they haven't yet taken to Dr Seuss.

> Thanks! I am enjoying looking through the 1001 Childrens Books list as there are some European books that are not readily available in Australia that I am looking forward to tracking down. So it will be interesting to see if some of those don't work as well in English.

>7 puckers: Mine too! I think we have all her books. Stick Man is actually their favourite. They certainly make an amazing team as author/illustrator. I did find my boys liked Dr. Seuss way more than my girls. I think boys are more keen on sillieness than girls!

Ed talks about Tashi.

I loved Tashi because his attitude is really good and he's very nice. My favourite part is where he hides from Baba Yaga's daughter who is supposed to be cooking him and dresses a goose as himself!

Geting ready for the New Year as it is already 2019 here in Australia!

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

January 2019 reads

17. Goodnight Moon #7 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
18. Frog In Winter #133 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
19. Good Dog, Carl #24 (no words, so Mr 7 told me the story)
20. The Big Honey Hunt #72 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
21. Winnie the Witch #122 (read aloud by me)
22. The Giant Jam Sandwich #271 (read aloud by me)
23. The Ugly Duckling #171 (Mr 10 read himself)
24. Half Magic #517 (read aloud by me)
25. Harold and the Purple Crayon #225 (read aloud by me)
26. If You Give A Mouse A Cookie #312 (read aloud by me)
27. Caps For Sale #202 (read aloud by me)
28. Possum Magic #115 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
29. Harry the Dirty Dog #65 (read aloud by me)
30. The Story of Babar #50 (read aloud by me)
31. The Runaway Bunny #4 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
32. Pancakes For Findus #117 (read aloud by me)
33. The Velveteen Rabbit #189 (read aloud by me)
34. Fungus The Bogeyman #286 (Mr 10 read himself)
35. The Mouse and His Child #574 (read aloud by me)
36. The Magic Finger #571 (read aloud by me)
37. The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales #337 (read aloud by me)
38. Moomin, Mymble and Little My #61 (read aloud by me)
39. The Mousehole Cat #128 (read aloud by me)
40. The Eighteenth Emergency #597 (read aloud by me)
41. The Shrinking of Treehorn #589 (read aloud by me)

41/1001 = 4.1% completed (as at 29th January 2019)

Just dropping in a star :) Love it as an idea. May have to get a copy and try and use it to entice 10 (nearly11) yr old daughter away from Tom Gates/Diary of a Wimpy kid. She's rebelling against books because me and son (7 nearly 8) are complete book worms.

I also started using the kids 1001 last year - mostly to knock off those classics that I had missed as a kid. For example I could not remember ever having read Heidi! Hoping to carry on this year - makes a nice change from some of the tomes!

>11 BekkaJo: Luckily I love reading kids and young adult books! There are so many great ones in the 1001 Childrens Books. I was a total bookworm as a kid and there are heaps I never got to, so many years of reading here for us all.

I know what you mean about having a less than enthusiastic reader! Mine is my 14 year old son. He will read only what he has to for school.
There are some that I really loved when I was her age - The Black Stallion, Misty of Chincoteague, Finn Family Moomintroll, Ballet Shoes, any Nancy Drew are some that come to mind, as well as the more traditional classics.

I got my copy of 1001 Childrens Books from ebay for quite cheap - you may be able to snap one up.

Thanks for stopping by - I look forward to hearing what you are all reading!
(I cannot find your thread - do you have one on here?)

I made an Excel doc of the list if anybody needs one. Yes, I am a recovering listaholic......

>13 Yells: I am just a listaholic - don't think I will ever recover! :)

>11 BekkaJo: Maybe you would like a copy of the list as above?

We are getting through quite a few of the picture books so up to 32 books read now!

I am currently reading aloud, one per day, from The Blue Fairy Book which I absolutely love. Mr 10 is reading Minnow on the Say.

I have always adored fairy tales, folk tales, fables, myths, legends, all those type of stories. One of my prized possessions is my collection of Oxford Myths and Legends, left to me by my grandfather, with a different book per country. Beautiful hardcovers, published in the 50s.

And just like that, it is February!

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

February 2019 reads

42. The Little Prince #481 (read aloud by me)
43. One Woolly Wombat #108 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
44. The Little Engine That Could #1 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
45. Pumpkin Soup #144 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
46. The Giving Tree #248 (read aloud by me)
47. The Hundred and One Dalmations #526 (read aloud by me)
48. We're Going On A Bear Hunt #28 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
49. The Night Pirates #378 (read aloud by me)
50. Kipper #30 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
51. Lon Po Po #331 (read aloud by me)
52. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang #557 (read aloud by me)

52/1001 = 5.2% completed (as at 19th February 2019)

And now it is March!

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

March 2019 reads

53. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe #503 (read aloud by me)
54. Thomas The Tank Engine #6 (read aloud by me)
55. Bedtime For Frances #9 (read aloud by me)
56. Miss Nelson Is Missing #289 (read aloud by me)
57. Rosie's Walk #11 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
58. Dear Zoo #23 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
59. Make Way For Ducklings #3 (read aloud by me)
60. Prince Caspian #508 (read aloud by me)
61. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel #57 (read aloud by me)
62. The Tale of Peter Rabbit #43 (read aloud by me)

62/1001 = 6.2% completed (as at 30th March 2019)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

April 2019 reads

63. Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy #114 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
64. Meg and Mog #15 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
65. Mr Gumpy's Outing #14 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
66. My Cat Likes To Hide In Boxes #90 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
67. One Snowy Night #127 (read aloud by me)
68. Mr Archimedes' Bath #103 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
69. In The Night Kitchen #82 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
70. Morris's Disappearing Bag #92 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
71. Gorilla #110 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
72. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader #510 (read aloud by me)
73. Storm Boy #609 (read aloud by me)

73/1001 = 7.3% completed (as at 17th April 2019)

1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

May 2019 reads

74. Mister Magnolia #101 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
75. Clifford The Big Red Dog #74 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
76. The Bear Went Over The Mountain #35 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
77. Tickle, Tickle #26 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
78. Each Peach Pear Plum #20 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
79. Freight Train #98 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
80. The Elephant and the Bad Baby #12 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
81. Where's Spot? #21 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
82. Are You My Mother? #235 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
83. Handa's Surprise #33 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)

83/1001 = 8.3% (as at 25th May 2019)

1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

June 2019

84. Avocado Baby #109 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
85. Crocodile Beat #124 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
86. Lyle, Lyle Crocodile #76 (read aloud by me)
87. Maisy Goes To Preschool #31 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
88. Miffy #10 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
89. Angelina Ballerina #111 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
90. The Hobbit #467 (read aloud by me)
91. Pat The Bunny #2 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
92. Mr Tickle #84 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
93. The Best Nest #254 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
94. I Will Not Ever Never Eat A Tomato #354 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
95. The Paper Bag Princess #301 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
96. The Snowman #97 (wordless so Mr 7 told me the story)
97. Jumanji #302 (read aloud by me)
98. A Lion In The Meadow #260 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
99. Come Away From The Water, Shirley #282 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
100. Comet In Moominland #491 (read aloud by me)
101. Not Now, Bernard #300 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
102. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble #259 (read aloud by me)
103. The Polar Express #316 (read aloud by me)
104. Henry and Amy #350 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
105. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs #332 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)
106. Frog and Toad Are Friends #262 (Mr 7 read aloud to me)

106/1001 = 10.6% (as at 30th June 2019)

1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

July 2019
Mr 7 has had a birthday and become Mr 8!

107. A Walk In The Park #288 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
108. Old Tom #342 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
109. A Bad Case of the Stripes #351 (read aloud by me)
110. A Pocket For Corduroy #295 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
111. Mog The Forgetful Cat #263 (read aloud by me)
112. Finn Family Moomintroll #499 (read aloud by me)
113. Stone Soup #208 (read aloud by me)
114. Doctor De Soto #305 (read aloud by me)
115. The Thirteen Clocks #502 (read aloud by me)
116. Eloise #64 (read aloud by me)
117. The Field Guide #717 (Mr 10 read himself)
118. Snip Snap #377 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
119. Dinosaurs And All That Rubbish #272 (read aloud by me)
120. The Quinkins #296 (read aloud by me)
121. What Do People Do All Day? #79 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
122. Oh The Places You'll Go #333 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
123. Mother Goose #39 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
124. I Hate School #365 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
125. Llama, Llama, Red Pajama #374 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)

125/1001 = 12.5% (as at 29th July 2019)

1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

August 2019

126. Why Mosquitoes Buzz In People's Ears #279 (read aloud by me)
127. The Duck In The Gun #258 (Mr 10 read himself)
128. Beegu #361 (Mr 8 read to me)
129. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale #159 (Mr 8 read to me)
130. Matilda #328 (read aloud by me)
131. James and the Giant Peach #542 (read aloud by me)
132. The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses #294 (read aloud by me)
133. Olivia #153 (Mr 8 read to me)
134. The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon #381 (read aloud by me)
135. The Little Horse Bus #218 (read aloud by me)
136. The Jolly Postman #317 (Mr 8 read to me)
137. That Pesky Rat #360 (read aloud by me)

137/1001 = 13.7% (as at 31st August 2019)

1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

September 2019

138. Max #152 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
139. Flat Stanley #247 (Mr 11 read himself)
140. Skippyjon Jones #366 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
141. The Three Pigs #356 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
142. A Necklace of Raindrops #257 (read aloud by me)
143. The Hodgeheg #324 (read aloud by me)
144. Just Annoying! #691 (Mr 11 read himself)
145. Henry and Mudge #322 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
146. Horrid Henry #341 (read aloud by me)
147. Drac and the Gremlin #327 (read aloud by me)
148. Lily's Purple Plastic Purse #346 (read aloud by me)
149. John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat #281 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
150. A Chair For My Mother #304 (read aloud by me)
151. The Great Escape From City Zoo #349 (read aloud by me)
152. Ug: Boy Genius of the Stone Age #358 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
153. Fox #355 (read aloud by me)
154. Little House In The Big Woods #452 (read aloud by me)
155. Lost and Found #161 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)

155/1001 = 15.5% (as at 29th September 2019)

1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

October 2019

156. The Pied Piper of Hamelin #389 (read aloud by me)
157. The Sheep-Pig #633 (read aloud by me)
158. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory #561 (read aloud by me)
159. Jamela's Dress #148 (read aloud by me)
160. Are We There Yet? #370 (read aloud by me)
161. Crictor #231 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
162. The Children of the Forest #47 (read aloud by me)
163. The Three Railway Engines #5 (read aloud by me)
164. Guess How Much I Love You #138 (read aloud by me)
165. Where The Wild Things Are #75 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
166. The Story of Ferdinand #53 (read aloud by me)
167. The Hundred Dresses #482 (read aloud by me)

167/1001 = 16.7% (as at 30th October 2019)

Wow, you are having fun!!!

>26 annamorphic: It is! I love childrens' literature - and it is certainly faster reading than my own list reading!

The Sheep-Pig would have to be one of the sweetest feel-good books ever written. Read it if you just need something to make you smile.
And we all love the movie. My girls grew up watching Babe over and over. It is just gorgeous. Again, if you need a happiness boost just watching this little pig will do it.

The Hundred Dresses - still one of the best books about bullying and its consequences since its publication in 1944. I read it aloud to my boys (even though with that title you would think boys wouldn't like it!) and it created lots of discussion.

1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

November 2019

168. Flotsam #379 (Mr 8 'read' aloud to me - it is a wordless book)
169. Math Curse #344 (Mr 11 read himself)
170. Pippi Longstocking #207 (read aloud by me)

170/1001 = 17.0% (as at 15th November 2019)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

December 2019

171. The Princess and the Goblin #401 (read aloud by me)

171/1001 = 17.1% (as at 8th December 2019)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

January 2020

172. Madeline #56 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
173. The Tale of Jemima Puddle Duck #46 (read aloud by me)
174. Elmer #27 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
175. Little Toot #55 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
176. Curious George #58 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
177. The Little House #59 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)

177/1001 = 17.7% (as at 27th January 2020)

We seem to have sped our way through lots of the picture books (the ones that I can get hold of, that is) and are now slowing the pace down a bit as we get to more of the chapter books.

There may just have to be a few gaps as there are some books I just cannot find, except at great cost. I will keep looking at garage sales and op shops!

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

February 2020

178. The Neverending Story #886 (read aloud by me)
179. Blueberries For Sal #211 (Mr 8 read aloud to me)
180. The Tale of Despereaux #721 (read aloud by me)

180/1001 = 18.0% (as at 27th February 2020)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

March 2020

181.

180/1001 = 18.0% (as at 1st March 2020)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

April 2020

181. One Morning In Maine #216 (read aloud by me)
182. Five On A Treasure Island #480 (read aloud by me)
183. The Story About Ping #51 (Mr 8 read to me)
184. The Tale of Mr Jeremy Fisher #44 (Mr 8 read to me)
185. Can't You Sleep, Little Bear? #123 (Mr 8 read to me)
186. Mr Popper's Penguins #200 (read aloud by me)

186/1001 = 18.6% (as at 29th April 2020)

I do love reading Enid Blyton - just such innocent fun!
Looks like the boys and I will be slowing down on 1001 reads for a while as now they want me to keep reading Famous Five!
24 in the box set to go. I wonder if they will get sick of them before the end!

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

July 2020

187. Inkheart #619 (read aloud by me)

187/1001 = 18.7% (as at 3rd July 2020)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

August 2020

188. Stig of the Dump by Clive King #555 (read aloud by me)
189. The Iron Man by Ted Hughes #580 (read aloud by me)
190. Old Bear by Jane Hissey #120 (read aloud by me)
191. A Bear Called Paddington #68 (Mr 12 read himself)

191/1001 = 19.1% (as at 29th August 2020)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

September 2020

192. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland #395 (read aloud by me)

192/1001 = 19.2% (as at 24th September 2020)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

October 2020

193. The Ship That Flew #473 (read aloud by me)
194. The BFG #624 (read aloud by me)

194/1001 = 19.4% (as at 14th October 2020)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

November 2020

195. Goodnight Mister Tom #622 (read aloud by me)
196. The Secret Garden #434 (read aloud by me)

196/1001 = 19.6% (as at 12th November 2020)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

February 2021

197. Swallows and Amazons #448 (read aloud by me)

197/1001 = 19.7% (as at 11th February 2021)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

April 2021

198. The Twenty-One Balloons #495 (read aloud by me)

198/1001 = 19.8% (as at 16th April 2021)

The Twenty-One Balloons - totally mad and so much fun - we loved it! The calendar they invented is hilarious.

>46 JayneCM: It is a fun book, nice to be reminded of it!

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

May 2021

199. The Railway Children #763 (read aloud by me)
200. Misty of Chincoteague #493 (read aloud by me)
201. Millions #722 (read aloud by me)

201/1001 = 20.1% (as at 26th May 2021)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

July 2021

202. The Worst Witch #277

202/1001 = 20.2% (as at 13th July 2021)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

August 2021

203. Dogger #95 (Mr 10 read aloud to me)
204. The Borrowers #511 (read aloud by me)
205. D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths #547 (read aloud by me)

205/1001 = 20.5% (as at 11th August 2021)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

September 2021

206. Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH #591 (read aloud by me)

206/1001 = 20.6% (as at 19th September 2021)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up

October 2021

207. Peace At Last #102 (Mr 10 read himself)

207/1001 = 20.7% (as at 5th October 2021)

1001 Childrens Books You Must Read Before You Grow

November 2021

208. White Fang #762 (Mr 13 read himself)

208/1001 = 20.8% (as at 22nd November 2021)