The Five Best Books for Children

Ever since I was a toddler I loved to read. My relatives always thought my parents were freaks when they told them all I wanted was books for my birthday. Since then, I'm proud to say not much has changed.

Here I've reviewed some of my favorite books from my childhood in hopes that your children will enjoy them as well. I know I still can't help but curl up at night with one of these books myself.

1) Dinotopia Written By, James Gurney.

The Dinotopia books have snowballed into a large series that has been taken over by a number of writers. While these are okay, the best are the four original, fully-illustrated books by James Gurney. Instantly recognizable by their large size (not in thickness but by the dimensions themselves), and the gorgeous oil-painted illustrations that fill the inside.

The saga of Dinotopia begins when professor Arthur Denison and his twelve-year old son William, are shipwrecked in a storm. They are carried to the shores of a mysterious forgotten island called Dinotopia where humans and dinosaurs live harmoniously in a world apart from time. As they learn to live in this strange yet wonderful new land readers quickly begin to feel a part of this amazing lost world.

2) The Scarecrow and His Servant Written By, Phillip Pullman.

This book is about a scarecrow that is struck by lightning in a farmer's field and comes to life. The stupidly intelligent creature sets out to explore the world and is soon joined by a young boy. They go on fantastic adventures together, from fighting in a war, to becoming actors in a play, and eventually fighting in a court case. This book is wonderfully and wittily written, and full of laughs that will bring anyone back to the magic of childhood.

3) Un Lun Dun Written By, China Mieville.

This book is actually quite long, however it makes a wonderful bedtime book to be read in installments by a parent with a young reader. The story takes place in London, England and follows the story of two young girls who, quite by accident, discover a pathway in to a parallel universe in which everything is a strange take on the normal world. Packs of garbage roam the streets (one of which befriends the girls), double decker buses fly and are plagued by enormous flies, people dress in clippings from newspapers, and schools of fish travel across land in diving suits. However, a terrible problem faces this wonky world. The Smog. A terrible spreading, disease-ridden cloud that is threatening to take over Un Lun Dun, and is little by little escaping into our world. It is up to the girls to save them.

4) Akiko on Planet Smoo Written By, Mark Crilley

This is the first book in an amazing series following the adventures of Akiko and her alien friends as she joins them on amazing intergalactic adventures (the books are written in larger print and are wonderfully illustrated so they are perfect for newly independent readers). These books are wonderfully creative and will have your child waiting to be picked up in a zooming hovercraft to Smoo!

5) Here be Monsters Written By, Deckle Edge

This book is thick but full of hilarious pictures. The story is full of crazy escapades and fun your child is sure to enjoy. A troop of ragtag characters come together to expose a group of evil cheese poachers (yes cheeses are alive and protected by law) and soon discover an evil plot and a monstrous obese rat monster set to take over town!