When I was in elementary school, my favorite books were my massive collection of yellow hardback
Nancy Drew books (which I am still adding to to this day) and the
Laura Ingalls Wilder series. Even though not everyone has the same feelings about them, they both centered on strong female lead characters and I admired them so. I was so determined after reading
Matilda by Roald Dahl, that I had to complete the list that she did, though none of those became my favorites - just the start of being a compulsive list maker.
In addition, another longtime favorite has been
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. I took that book with me to Ohio for college even though it is RL: 5 and the pages are definitely yellowing. Charmont was my first fictional crush, with Gilbert Blythe not too far behind.
Anne of Green Gables and all of its succeeding books was a series I was introduced to at age 9, but finally finished during high school and can't believe that I didn't read them beforehand.
Probably my single favorite author is Tamora Pierce. She writes a lot of female centered fantasy novels, which I know aren't the most challenging things in the world, but I love them. I don't know any other author who has written so many novels that I can't even attempt to put down. I started reading her books upon a suggestion from my friend Shoshana in eight grade and I am still anxiously waiting for her book to come out in October (
Mastiff!!!!!!).
I don't even know how to explain my love for the
Harry Potter series. I started reading them at the end of fifth grade, so 1998 and they sustained me for over a decade. I have lived my live longer with the characters and places in it than without them. I'm such a book purist that if they don't read them, that might be the only series that I would be sad about. The others I could understand skipping, especially if I have boys first. They might not be so keen on reading all of my girl-centered books.
Another brilliant series I have been following is the
Eragon one. The fourth book may never come out, but as with Harry Potter, the world seems so vibrant to me. It will be a bit disappointing if the story isn't finished.
Of course, they aren't books I have to read to my children, but maybe strongly suggest them. Multiple times. And include ice cream upon completion if I must bribe with sweets.