Top 100 Chapter Books: 31-40

Yeah, I knew that there was no way that I would finish my top 100 chapter book list before the beginning of 2015. Like, I had any time over the holidays to blog!  Oh well, here is to a new year in which I will be a bit more consistent with my posts.

On to the countdown!

40. On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Honestly, Wasn't she the best character?

Most people would probably name The Little House on the Prairie or Little House in the Big Woods as the best of the Little House series. My decision to designate On the Banks of Plum Creek ahead of the other eight Little House books may seem to come out of left field. Why is it my favorite? Well, being born in the late 70s I grew up watching the television series, Little House on the Prairie  Now, even though the title of the show was Little House on the Prairie, the real Ingalls family did not actually live near Walnut Grove, nor did they meet the infamous Nellie Olsen until On Banks of Plumb Creek.

The other reason that On the Banks of Plum Creek is my personal favorite has nothing to do with adoring Nellie Olsen or wishing that Michael Landon was my Pa. It is that in the beginning of the book while Pa is building their wood house the Ingalls live in a sod house.  As a little girl I thought that the was the coolest thing in the world. I would even cover the kitchen table with blankets so I could crawl underneath and pretend that I was living in a sod house. At the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota they have a replica of the sod or dugout house that you get to go inside. How fun would it be to stay inside? You could pretend to be Laura or Bilbo Baggins.

39. My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles

My Father's Dragon is the first book in a fantasy trilogy about a young boy named Elmer Elevator who travels to Wild Island (yeah, not too creative of a name. It reminds me of Tolkien calling a volcano Mount Doom). Despite the rather obvious name of an island inhabited by wild animals, My Father's Dragon, is an original and  immensely entertaining fantasy that was the runner up for the Newbery Medal in 1949. Interestingly, Gannett writes the story in third person, often referring to Elmer as her father. The reader is given the impression that the events happened long ago and were told to the author by a grown up Elmer. All three books in this trilogy are wonderful to read aloud or for beginning chapter book readers since each book is relatively short with beautiful illustrations.


38.  Ballet shoes by Noel Streatfield

You do not have to be a dancer to love Ballet Shoes. I'm not even a girly girl and I still love this story of sisterhood that was written in 1936. Posy, Paulina, and Petrova were all abandoned as babies and adopted by the wealthy and eccentric paleontologist, Professor Brown (or as the girls call him Great Uncle Matthew-Gum for short). While Gum travels the world the girls are left in the care of his grown niece, Sylvia, and Nana, Sylvia's childhood nanny. When Gum is gone for more than five years and the money runs out, the three adopted sisters are trained to dance and perform to earn money for the family.While Posy is an incredibly talented dancer, Paulina would rather act, and Petrova dreams of flying airplanes.

Ballet Shoes is less about dancing and more about the relationship between the three sisters. Do the three orphans love one another as sisters? Yes, but Posy, Petrova, and Paulina are also three strong individuals with different interests, personalities, talents, etc. I think that I fell in love with Ballet Shoes, because I could relate to that sisterly conflict. As much as I love my sister (and as often as people tell me that my sister and I look alike) personality-wise we are poles apart.

I was unaware that a movie version of Ballet Shoes starring Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) as Paulina was released in 2007. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film 7.7/10 stars so maybe I will have to check it out.


37. The Cay by Theodore Taylor

Okay, I have already mentioned Call it Courage and Hatchet so you are probably wondering why so many kids are struggling to survive after being stranded in the wilderness. The Cay is not the typical scrabbling for food, water, and shelter story, though. It also grapples with the tougher issues of war and racism.

Searching for Nazi submarines off the coast is just a game until Philip and his mother are forced to flee their home on the island of Curacao and return to America. When their ship is torpedoed Philip is left blinded and stranded on a deserted cay with an elderly West Indian man named Timothy (and, weirdly, a cat named Stew).  Philip must learn to trust Timothy and to do that he will need to let go of the deep seeded prejudices that he has been raised with.



36. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing is no doubt the best and most well known of Judy Blume's books for kids. Despite being published in 1972 this story of a  boy beleaguered by his puckish younger brother still resonates with kids today.

The story is told from Peter's point of view but, let's be honest, Fudge is the real star. From his birthday party and starring in a commercial to the infamous turtle incident, Fudge is what makes Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing such a fun book to read. This is probably why the subsequent titles featuring the Hatchers are titled Superfudge, Fudge-a-Mania, and Doublefudge.


35. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth Speare

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a remarkable historical fiction book that explores everyday life in the the New England colonies and the puritanical dogmas that led to the Salem witch trials. Don't let kids be deterred by the educational aspects, though, because it is also a great story!

As the only child of a wealthy Englishman Kit has lived a life of privilege and indulgence on the island of Barbados. When Kit's father dies and she is sent to live with her aunt and uncle in Connecticut, the climate is not the only thing that Kit must get accustomed to. Kit quickly realizes in the strict Puritan community that many of the freedoms that she has taken for granted  (from her education to simply knowing how to swim) leave her open to suspicion and persecution.

34. The Witches by Roald Dahl

More witches, but these ones are not imagined by puritans. Even better these witches wish to rid the world of repulsive children who reek of "fresh dog's droppings".

At first glance the plot of The Witches may come across as being too scary for children, but this is a total misconception. Roald Dahl is a master at taking topics or events that seem dark and frightening and making them outrageous and hysterical. In my opinion, Dahl's books are not only a delight to read, but they also empower kids to conquer their fears.

I find it incredibly disheartening that The Witches is one of the most frequently challenged and/or banned books.  One reason that The Witches is banned is for what I believe to be completely misconstrued misogyny. The real hero of the book is an elderly grandmother who smokes cigars. How awesome is that? Also, I do not understand why it is sexist to make women (and in actuality they are not real women, they are witches) villains.

The movie adaptation of The Witches is quite good. Angelica Houston is divine as The Grand High Witch (who is one of the best literary villains). SPOILER ALERT The only part of the movie that I didn't agree with was the changing of the ending. Honestly, why do they do crap like that? It was ridiculous how there was one witch that turned good somehow and used her magic to change Luke (FYI: the boys is never named in the book) back into a boy. I much preferred how Dahl left him as a mouse and he was happy with that.




33. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

This peek into the life of an Eskimo girl trapped between the history and traditions of her culture and the onslaught of modern America is both fascinating and exciting. I really wish that Julie of the Wolves had a different title, though, because Julie is her modern American name, whereas, Miyax is her true Yupik name. It is Miyax, not Julie, who survives alone on the frozen tundra with only the wolves for companionship.

I want to warn parents about one scene in Julie of the Wolves that may be inappropriate for young readers. Or at the very least you may want to discuss it. When Julie's father disappears she is told at the age of 13 that she will marry Daniel, who is "simple-minded".  Egged on by other boys, Daniel attempts to rape Julie, which is one of the main reasons she runs away.


32. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham

You may not have read the book but, admit it, you are familiar with Ratty, Mole, Badger and the original adrenalin junkie, Toad. If anything you have seen the animated Disney short film that usually accompanies The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in the cartoon, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.  Over one hundred years later The Wind in the Willow is still a fun and whimsical story about friendship and loyalty with a good dash of humor and adventure thrown in.

31. A little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The story of Sara Crewe has been immortalized by Shirley Temple's portrayal, but I sincerely I hope you take the time to read the book which is so wonderful. The book actually began as a serialized short story called Sara Crewe: or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's and Burnett expanded it into a novel at the request of her publisher.

The real standout character of this book is not Sara, but Miss Minchin. I don't know what it is about evil stepmothers, headmistresses, housekeepers, etc. but they are so enjoyable to read about. Miss Minchin (doesn't that name even sound dried up and bitter) showers Sara attention when her wealthy father is paying for it, but the moment Captain Crewe is missing in action that the her true nature is exposed. Too concerned about public opinion to throw Sara , Miss Minchin keeps her on as a much abused servant.

They did remake A Little Princess in the 90s but I still gotta go with the original 1939 film starring Shirley Temple.