100 Chapter Books for Kids

According to this website, these are the best 100 children's chapter books. I've heard of most, some not at all, and I've read plenty myself. I'm happy to be able to say we've read a lot of them as a family. I've decided to post this list here for our family, so we can cross them off as we read. We hope to read at least one a week this summer!

Charlotte’s Web

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone

A Wrinkle In Time

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The Phantom Tollbooth

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Holes

The Giver

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

The Hobbit

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Anne of Green Gables

The Mysterious Benedict Society

The Tale of Despereaux

The Velveteen Rabbit

Hatchet

The Little Prince

Because of Winn-Dixie

Alice in Wonderland

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

Tuck Everlasting

Bridge to Terabithia

Where The Red Fern Grows

Winnie the Pooh

James and the Giant Peach

Artemis Fowl

Island of the Blue Dolphins

The Golden Compass

The Bad Beginning

Number The Stars

Harriet the Spy

Maniac Magee

Coraline

The Lightning Thief

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Black Beauty

Julie of the Wolves

Ella Enchanted

Shiloh

The Graveyard Book

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Matilda

Little House on the Prairie

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Little Women

Wonderstruck

The Lost Hero

Sideways Stories From Wayside School

The Neverending Story

The Wind in the Willows

Fablehaven

Stone Fox

Inkheart

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

The Watsons Go To Birmingham, 1963

The Westing Game

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Roll Of Thunder, Hear My Cry

When You Reach Me

The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz

Bud Not Buddy

Ramona The Pest

The Penderwicks

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Frindle

The BFG

Stuart Little

Sarah, Plain and Tall

The Boxcar Children

The Secret of the Old Clock

A Long Way From Chicago

The Book of Three

Walk Two Moons

Redwall

The Borrowers

The Witches

The Thief Lord

The Maze of Bones

My Side of the Mountain

City of Ember

Judy Moody

Mary Poppins

Love That Dog

Out of the Dust

Johnny Tremain

Where the Mountains Meet the Moon

Peter Pan

The View From Saturday

Beezus and Ramona

Caddie Woodlawn

The Indian in the Cupboard

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

The Little White Horse

Pippi Longstocking

Fantastic Mr. Fox:

Read and Reading

January Reads

Borrowed Light | So good. Full of cowboys and just enough church-i-ness to inspire and not over do it. I picked up the sequel, Enduring Light this month as well. Both must reads on my list.

Winnie - the - Pooh | Mark kept calling it Winne - the Poop. What a boy.

The Box Car Children, Surprise Island | We are continuing our love for the Box Car kids!

Charlotte's Web | Another must read, especially raising animals and living on a farm

Peter Pan | The first of our "Classic Starts" collection from Christmas. Adapted and illustrated, perfect to start kids reading the classics. We're still reading this one. Mark loves the pirates and Indians (anything to get him to sit still and listen)!

Books for February

Since we're reading about one book a week, we'll most likely finish our "Classic Start" collection this month.

The Jungle Book | A Disney favorite and books are always better than the movies.

Anne of Green Gables | Classic read for young girls, am I right or am I right?

Treasure Island | Treasure. Island. Pirates. 'Nuff said.

The Swiss Family Robinson | Who wouldn't want to read about a family who lives in a tree house??

Matched | I'm going to try and join the craze of the Matched series come February. I'm looking forward to another good series.

Good Reads

1. The Frontiersman's Daughter

Pleeeeeasssssse, don't judge this book by its cover! Dustin thought I was reading a Harlequin Romance, tee hee... but for real.

Lael Click, is the daughter of a famous frontiersman, living in the late 1700s of Kentucky territory. Spanning eight years, we read as Lael grows up in raw Colonial America. Find love, loosing love, discovering herself and God.

"The Frontiersman's Daughter takes readers along for quite a ride with high-spirited Lael as she searches for love during a time when the world is more savage than civilized, when medicine comes from roots, and when a woman alone needs to keep a gun within reach. Laura Frantz portrays the wild beauty of frontier life, along with its dangers and hardships, in vivid detail."--Ann H. Gabhart, author of The Outsider

Seriously, I loved this book. Its one for my nightstand.



2. Cowboy Sam and the Fair

Last week we went to the library and found three Cowboy Sam books for sale! My dad read these when he was little and they are a treasure to him. When I found them I knew I had to get them for my library and to share with my kids. They are fun books about a cowboy, his friends and their adventures. Mark loves them and carries them around with him!



3. A Little Princess

Another accidental find! During a routine diaper and formula run to Wal-Mart, I was scanning the book section and found books for $1! I snatched up A Little Princess, The Wizard of Oz, Oliver Twist and Doctor Dolittle. There were lots of others that we already owned, like Peter Pan. For a $1, how could you pass that up?

A Little Princess, is the story of Sara Crewe. Sara is the pampered daughter of a rich military man and is student at Miss Minchin's School for Girls. Sara's life is turned upside down when after the death of her father, she is left penniless and is forced to work as a servant. Sara's strong will, determination and kind heart keep her going as she realizes you don't have to be rich to be a princess. Its through your actions and good deeds that is what makes you truly rich.



4. The Book of Mormon

On Facebook, I came across the event "Reading the Book of Mormon." It gives you a suggested reading schedule and outlines how much you need to read everyday in order to finish the book by December 31st. As a family we've really tried to incorporate daily scripture reading into our routine and this has helped so much! We have a goal and we are trying our hardest to reach it. We've made it a habit to ready after baths every night. The kids all know to get their jamies on and go to the couch. Its been a wonderful experience and we've felt the spirit as we been reading it together. We are way behind schedule, as having little kids doesn't always allow us to ready the four pages a night. But getting into the habit has been such a blessing!

What are you reading?

Mockingjay Randomness

I finished Mockingjay Wednesday and I've been pondering and rereading ever since.

I really loved the book. It was very intense and fast paced. I had to take a couple breaks to slow my heart beat. Hey, I didn't want to go into preterm labor people. But I wasn't so sure I loved it at first. There were some awesome one liners and some sweet bow and arrow action.. but a couple of things (Peeta and Gale) just killed me. When I finished I thought "Hmmm, okay... What?!"

Let's talk about Gale, shall we? What the flippin' heck happened?!
The boy next door.. oh I have soft spot for you. But I hated every minute of Gale in this book. It seems like everyone of his scenes was building me up for a let down. And boy oh boy were we let down. The Nut. Not telling Katniss about Peeta's interview. Questioning why Katniss saved her stylists. Being partner's with Coin. LASTLY! How could he have just left Katniss in 12 without so much as a "good bye, we'll be friends forever.. but I'll let you live your life now."??? NO-- we get "Was it your bomb?" "I dunno? Does it matter? You'll always be thinking about it." ACCCKKKK! That's all you got boy?! Soooo mad. Oh Gale. You let me down.

That brings me to Finnick, a friend Katniss could actually depend on. I loved Finnick. I had to reread the page he died on multiple times to make sure it really happened. I loved Finnick's love for Annie. I loved the one on one moments he had with Katniss.. the night in the hallway when Katniss realizes what Snow is doing to Peeta and Finnick knows.. he's there too. Then his interview.. dang. All that big hot-stuff act was always just a front. A front for the pain he was going through. "Finnick. Maybe some pants?" "Why? Do you find this" -he strikes a ridiculously provocative pose- "distracting?" Oh, I laughed til I cried.

Talking about pain brings me to Haymitch. I wanted to rip his face off again for Katniss when he made his entrance in Mockingjay.. out of nowhere, just a voice overhead in the studio. But time after time Haymitch proves to know exactly what Katniss needs and what will best help her while benefiting the rebellion.

Coin. Oh man. I knew she was a bad egg. When Katniss said yes to the reinstatement of the Hunger Games, I knew something was up. Then BAM arrow through the heart. YES! Justice.

Johanna. Love. Hate. Love. "She got very squeaky. It was like someone stabbing a mouse with a fork repeatedly." Nice.

Now, we must talk about Peeta. I love Peeta. I truly do love him. He played a strong role throughout the series. At first I thought he was really screwed over in Mockingjay. I missed him. He was gone.. he was absent.. then he was back but it wasn't him. He was different. It scared me. I didn't want any one to kill him. I didn't want him to be different. But by being different and by falling in love with Katniss again I fell in love with him too. How he replayed lines from previous conversations. Giving Katniss the lamb stew. "You’re a painter. You’re a baker. You like to sleep with the windows open. You never take sugar in your tea. And you always double-knot your shoelaces." Ah! Tears. Then when Katniss kissed him in the tunnel, I knew she had made her choice. "Stay with me." "Always." Perfect. Lastly, the ending paragraph

"On the night I feel that thing again, the hunger that overtook me on the beach, I know this would have happened anyway. That what I need to survive is not Gale’s fire, kindled with rage and hatred. I have plenty of fire myself. What I need is the dandelion in spring. The bright yellow rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go one, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again. And only Peeta can give me that"

"So after, when he whispers 'You love me. Real or not real?' I tell him, 'Real.'"

Jessica you might kick me for this.. but I'm happy that Katniss and Peeta had their happily ever after. I'm happy that they had their babies and the book ended the way it did. I'm happy.

Finally, Katniss. Katniss grew and grew throughout the series. I can't believe she started the games at fifteen and the war was waged during her seventeenth year. What amazing strength. What bravery. She didn't always know what she was doing.. she didn't always know what to do. But she made it work. She rocked it. She never became a pawn for the rebels. Haymitch said in Mockingjay "Every time we coach her or give her lines, the best we can hope for is okay. It has to come from her. That's what people are responding to." It was all her. Katniss the Mockingjay. You go girl!

Okay I'm still not done...
The symbolism -- the pearl, the rose, the bow and arrow.. district 13 - being underground, the bomb, Prim, Buttercup!

This book drive to the core of your morals. What do you believe? How far would you go?
Plutarch said, "We're fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction. Although who knows? Maybe this will be it.." I don't believe that. I don't believe that at all. When Katniss writes the book about her experiences, I know that things will not repeat themselves. When she plays the game listing in her head every act of goodness she sees. We know. Good always triumphs over evil. This is a happy ending.

Deep in the meadow, under the willow

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes

And when again they open, the sun will rise.

Here it is safe, here it is warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you.

Hungry?

I've expressed my love for the Hunger Games series many times on this blog. I may have even made blog buttons for the series once. Well the countdown for book three, Mockingjay is down to 77 days!

According to Mahalo.com the Hunger Games will be made into a movie in 2011!

The Hunger Games movie rights have been acquired by Lionsgate per their announcement on March 18, 2009. The Hunger Games is the first book in a trilogy by author Suzanne Collins, who will also be adapting the screenplay. Due to be released in 2011 along with many other anticipated movies, such as The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II .http://www.imdb.com/year/2011/⁶ http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=53788⁷

With the promise of a movie next year and the anticipation of the third book, I recently reread books one and two and came up with the following for actors:

Katniss

Emma Roberts

I think this picture says it all.

Gale

James Franco

I know, I know.. he's way way way too old and everyone laughs at me when I tell them this but can't you picture Tristan out hunting in the woods with Katniss??? Swoon.. I'm secretly on Team Gale.

Peeta

Christopher Egan

After watching Letters to Juliet I kinda fell in love with the goofy brit. He's sweet and blond and could totally pull of Peeta. Am I right or am I right?

Haymitch

Stellan Skarsgård

You know the guy from Angels and Deamons.. he played Boot Strap Bill in Pirates 2. He's Haymitch 100%.

Prim

Elle Fanning

Dakota's little sister = Katniss' little sister? I think so.

Effie

Kristin Cheynowth

Sweet, bubbly, annoying Kristin. Plus I can totally picture her in a pink wig.

Cinna

Christian from Project Runway

Ok maybe I stretched this one a bit. But Christian is who I imagine when I think of Cinna...

Finnick

Sean Bean

First of all.. what a terrible name. I know its pronounce Shawn but really what were his parents thinking??

I was reading Catching Fire once while Dustin was watching National Treasure and he's been Finnick to me ever since.

President Snow

Henry Gibson

Do you remember him as the scary doctor from The Burbs?

While Googling for his picture I learned that Mr. Gibson died last year.. bummer. 

What do you think??!

Who did you picture when you read the Hunger Games and Catching Fire?

Are you dying for book three?

What Does Lauren Love?

Well hellooooooo my friends.

I am happy.
I have a fire in my fireplace, I just ate a cookie and the laundry is all folded.
My husband will be home from work soon and my kids are playing happily in the next room.

What could be better?

Not much!

I'm super happy about some other things too!!
Want to know what they are? Here goes...

in list form of course. Its just how I roll.

1. My Funky New Christmas-y Blog Look
I wasn't ever super happy with my last design. I'm not sure I'm totally in love with this one either.. but we'll try it on for size. Its colorful and fun. Just like me.. "I'm not crazy, I'm colorful!" If you can name the movie that came from I'll give you 10 cool points!

2. This Book

I am dumbstruck by the awesome-ness of this book. I literally could not put it down for a week. I cooked with it, I slept with it, I ate with it... and so on.
Its all about the missionaries who were called to the Hole in the Rock settlement. It follows about a twenty year span.. from the main character David living in England, working in the coal mines at age 6 to him coming to American, falling love and gaining a testimony of the Church.
Read it, you'll love it.

3. This Book

Do you have little boys? Do they always wake up with cowlick hair?
Well I do and yes.
In this book we find out how little boys get cowlicks at night.. well from a cow of course!
I think I'm going to get it for Mark for Christmas.

4. I sewed!!
Don't mention how crazy I look in this picture.. I know.. it was late at night.
See the cute little black ruffle at the bottom of this super cute dress? I added it!!
The dress was too short, so I fixed it right up! Modest is hottest, you know!

5. The Temple

Ok, you caught me... the dress is my sisters. I want it really bad though. I made it modest for her, so she could wear it to the temple! Ashley went through the temple for the first time last Friday and she's getting married tomorrow!

6. My Hair
I got my hair done the other day. And I loooooove it. I'm so blond. I joked and said I look like Lucius Malfoy, but after looking at this picture, I've decided I'm way cuter than Mr. Mean ol' Malfoy.. I'm just similarly as blond.


7. Iron Man
Yes, I think I'm the last person on Earth to watch this movie. But I thought it was really good. It was just the right amount of cheesy-ness and action mixed in. Plus when we were watching it Dustin looked over at me and said,
"What's that guys name?"
"Robert Downey Jr."
"Really? I like his Christmas music."
"BAAHAAAHAHAAA HAA! You're thinking of Harry Connick Jr!"
"Oh. Shut up."
(not the Iron Man)

8. This Movie

Speaking of Rob Downey Jr... I want to see this movie. Anybody else?

9. An Award

My super cool, hot mama blogging friend Connie gave me this fun award! Thanks girl!!!

10. This Picture

OK... so this picture doesn't make me happy but it does make me laugh!

I hope the holiday season is making you happy and not stressing you out!

The End.

Dear John

In the movie, Stranger Than Fiction, Will Ferrell and Dustin Hoffman (two of my favorite actor, by the way) are discussing literature. Dustin Hoffman, who is a literature professor tells Ferrell that there are basically two different types of books -- comedy and tragedy. When Will Ferrell asks what that means, Hoffman replies, "In a comedy you get the girl, in a tragedy you die."

The latter pretty much sums up Dear John for me. No, John doesn't die, but he might as well have. Nicholas Sparks writes the saddest, true to life, no sparkling, no fluff books. And apart of me loves that about him and a part of me absolutely hates it!

Dear John is about two young people who fall in love. John Tryee is a soldier on leave from Germany who meets Savannah Curtis, a do-gooding hottie. They fall head over heals in love after John rescues her purse from the Ocean. When John's leave is up they keep in contact through letters. But the time apart is hard on both of them. Just before John is scheduled to be released from the Army, 9/11 hits and he reenlists. Separating him from Savannah for two more long years. So, life happens and life sucks sometimes... and I'm not going to ruin the ending for you (more than I already have) so let's just leave it at that.

I'm still going to see the movie though... cuz holy Channing Tatum. I love your face and your abs.

Happy {or sad, whatever} Reading.

Then End

Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy

Click here for the winner of the blog design give away!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy is technically a sequel to Pride and Prejudice.

Written by Sharon Lathan.. NOT Jane Austen... the new author explores what she believes happened after Mr. Darcy and Miss Elizabeth are wed.

When I saw this book at the store I was immediately intrigued. I've often wondered what happened to those two mixed up, proud and stubborn lovers.

So I bought it...

Upon opening the book there is a preface from the author, Sharon Lathan. Lathan had never even read the original book!! She got all her plot ideas after watching the newest version of Pride and Prejudice. I'll admit I love the newest version of P&P and I love the old version too..

But if you aren't a fan of these two...

I wouldn't recommend picking it up.

But even so, after reading the shocking preface I forged on.

The book is entertaining and well..... very newlywedish **wink, wink**

Lathan really tries to pick up on the quick wit that is so evident in Jane Austen novels.. but it just doesn't have the feel of an Austen book. The intelligence.. the tension.. the subtle dialogue is missing.

After about a couple 100 pages of Darcy lovin.. the plot finally picks up where a villain is introduced, there's a climax and it leaves off for another sequel.. two actually if my Internet sources are correct.

The next book by Lathan is called, Loving Mr. Darcy.. one guess what that one will be about.So, I give Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy a star maybe one and half for effort.

Like I said it was entertaining at best... but stick with the classics. You just can't go wrong with Jane Austen.

Books Books Books

When I was about 10 years old I received my first book series, The Little House books. They were a Christmas present from my Grandma.

Ever since then I've been hooked!!

I love me a good book series!

From The Work and the Glory

to Harry Potter!

My newest love is The Hunger Games series!

{Katniss is the shiz and Peeta for Prez!}

To celebrate this awesome new series, I made some blog buttons for all ya fans out there!!

Wear 'em with pride!

Oh and I must know, are you Team Peeta or Team Gale?!

Busy Busy Busy

With school wrapping up and summer on its way we've had a lot happining at our house! Its starting to feel like a ZOO!

See what I mean?!

{Estefan the monkey and Allie the tiger!}

Stuff that's been happenin' this week....

1. I died

Yup I died and went to heaven after watching this New Moon clip. Watch it and then call me so we can be dead together!

2. Estefan's had his 1st Piano Recital

He played a duet with his grandma/teacher!

3. Love that look
He's saying "enough pictures" with his eyes!

4. Estefan and Grandma
She does a great job and is so patient with Estefan, so he loves going to piano lessons! Thanks Gaye!

5. Handsome Boys
Estefan, Will and Caleb looking quite dapper in their suits!

6. Colorful Confections
Estefan has a summer birthday so we had his very Merry Un-Birthday at school the other day. He wanted "rainbow" cupcakes! So I made these tye-dyed wonders! Thanks for the idea Emily T!!

7. Day-light Savings was how long ago?
I just change our last clock to the correct time... yeah, I dunno what took me so long either.

8. Funny/Crazy/Silly/Awesome Book
I switched out Mansfield Park for Alice in Wonderland.

9. I'm gonna make one of these!!
I found the tutorial on my new favorite blog, Make it and Love it! I'm sew excited to make one I've got grocery bags everywhere!

10. I'm a Sorority Girl
I'm the assistant camp director this year and our stake theme is University Eternity. So our ward is doing a sorority theme!! Its going to be a blast! And I found this super cute digi-scrap book kit called Sisters for Life that I'm gonna incorporate!! Yay, for pink and girls camp goodies!!

Now we're off to the library for more fun!

TTFN :)

{Lauren Loves} what's happnin' at the Nelson's?

1. Allie is starting to say prayers without help.

This was her pray at breakfast...

"Dear Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ Amen!"

2. While driving to Overton today I saw 98*!

But it was really just the temperature gauge at the water company. You were jealous for a minute, admit it! Sad thing is.. 98* is actually not very hot for May. Bring on the 120* weather summer!

3. I ran into one of my scary, old middle school teachers the other day.
I was so scared she was gonna give me detention I almost cried.
4. Mark is starting to talk.
But really he isn't talking, he's grunting. He has some grunts that would make the Tool Man proud! Uh uh Uh!
5. Loving This.
I saw it on Lauren's Bite today. Is it November yet?
6. I'm still reading Mansfield Park.
It is my last book in the Jane Austen collection to read and I am dying. Please! Someone who has read it tell me it gets better. I have loved every other one of Austen's books. But this one is killing me.
7. We have the best garden ever.
Don't hate. But we've got onions popping out all over, sunflowers blooming and tomatoes reddening up!
8. I made another crayon cozy.
This one is a cool-camo print one with no frills for my son the man/boy!
9. View of the inside.
Estefan is so cool. When he untied the ribbon he tried to tie it around his waist like an army/crayon/weapon holster. It was too funny!
And no post is complete without picture of the kids!
10. Estefan at the res.
11. Beautiful Allie
12. And crazy haired, blued eyed baby
The End :)