So what books should geeks be reading to their kids? What books are essential to the geek experience? Well, that depends on the parent, and that depends on the kid. Some kids can handle the long slog to get Frodo to Rivendell where The Lord of the Rings finally takes off and becomes a rollicking adventure; many kids (and adults) cannot. So rather than creating a single list of recommended books, we decided to let members of the GeekDad team create the list of books which they enjoyed reading to their hatchlings as they progressed through their beta period. Consider these the staff picks at your own personal geek library:
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Celznick
- The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
- The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Cate DiCamillo
- Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
- Shel Silverstein’s Poetry
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone by JK Rowling
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman
- Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
- The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien
- Coraline by Neil Gaiman
- Half Magic by Edward Eager
- Arabel’s Raven by Joan Aiken
- Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
- The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett
- The Borrowers by Mary Norton
- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
- The 13-1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers
- The Cartoon History of the Universe (series) by Larry Gonick
- Danny Dunn (series) by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid (series) by Jeff Kinney
- The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
- The Mad Scientists Club by Bertrand R. Brinley
- Percy Jackson and the Olympians (series) by Rick Riordan
- Savvy by Ingrid Law
- Shredderman (series) by Wendelin Van Draanen
- The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
- The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
- Far Flung Adventures trilogy by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
- A Mouse and His Child by Russell Hoban
- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien
- The Penderwicks series by Jeanne Birdsall
- The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
- Toys Go Out series by Emily Jenkins
- Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
- The Search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi
- James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
- The House with a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs
- Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
- Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- The Silver Crown by Robert C. O’Brien
- Holes by Louis Sacher
- The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater
- The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Stuart Little by E.B. White
- The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit
- From The Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsberg
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
- Magyk by Angie Sage
- The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
- A Whole Nother Story by Dr. Cuthbert Soup
- The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton
- The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
- Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
- Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
- LIttle Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
- Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
- Amelia Bedilia by Herman Parish
- In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
- Curious George by H. A. Rey
- Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
- Owl at Home by Arnold Lobel
- Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant
- Clifford by Norman Bridwell
- Arthur by Marc Brown
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak