How many of you read a book for fun? October is National Book Month. Reading is important because it can improve your cognitive function by challenging your brain with vocabulary. It also improves emotional well-being through reducing stress and feeling empathy. Reading books can also improve sleep, communication skills, and writing ability. The point of National Book Month is to encourage daily reading routines and help people discover a new genre.
Over the years of reading and understanding books, here are some I recommend that you or your camper should read, depending on age and taste. I understand if some of these books are too hard for younger children to read and understand because of their reading level, but at least give them a try.
However, if your camper cannot read them, you can always read them out loud to see if they understand and love it. My siblings and I loved our family read-alouds that continued until we all graduated from high school.
One of my favorites is The Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne. It is a series of books for kids aged 6 to 12 years of age. The books are based on real, true facts and information. The series is about 8-year-old Jack and his 7-year-old sister, Annie, who discover a treehouse that is magical and can take them anywhere into the past. All of their adventures are based on real-life historical events.
Another one of the books I recommend is The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell. The book is for ages 10 and up. This book is a tale of a wild horse in Australia. There was a cartoon in 1996 with the same name that is based on the books, and it follows them detail by detail. There is also a 1993 movie of the same name.
One of my favorite books that I highly recommend is The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe of The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis. The age range for this book is 8 to 12. There is a movie based on the book, and it follows it in detail as well.
Another one of my favorite books from high school is The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. It is for ages 10 to 15. The book is about a young man going to war, but finding out it is not as easy as it seems.
One of the recent books I have read and want to recommend for you or your camper to read is The Cruel Prince by Holly Black. This one is for ages 14 to 17 years old. This book has fantasy with popular myths mixed into it. I do recommend this book if you or your camper likes fantasy.
Reading a good book is a gateway to embracing imagination. As well-known American novelist Harper Lee put it, “The book to read is not the one that thinks for you, but the one which makes you think.” Have you ever come across a book that made you think? I know I have run into books that made me think as I was reading it, including these I have mentioned here.
I hope my list of recommended books helps you and your camper figure out what you like. There are many books that are considered classics, and they are called that for a reason. Some of the books on my list are considered classics. Who knows, maybe you and your camper will learn something from these books as well as appreciate them. I cannot wait to find out which one is your favorite and why.
