Top 5 Wednesday | Top 5 Favorite Children’s and Middle Grade Reads

Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey (Gingerreadslainey) and is currently hosted by Samantha (Thoughts on Tomes). For more information, check out the group on Goodreads.

This week’s prompt is…

Top 5 Favorite Children’s and Middle Grade Reads

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This post felt like a walk through memory lane for me! There are so many books and series I wanted to include in this list that I just didn’t have rooms for. I do find it funny that Samantha (the current host of T5W) pleaded with everyone to stray from Harry Potter and Percy Jackson (assuming that literally everyone was going to include those in their list this week) – well … I have literally never read a single HP or PJ book in my life … oops!

But here are some of my all time FAVORITE children’s and middle grade books and series that I HAVE read.

– Listed in random order –

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Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie

Peter Pan HAS to be a top 5 favorite all time read for me. This story is a part of my soul and has been for as long as I can remember. Talk about nostalgia. I love this book so much that I include a copy of this novel in my “new baby” gift package to friends and family.

This story has so many levels to it that you can read it over and over and over and still find new depths and meanings. It’s a beautiful story, it’s a heartbreaking story, it’s a happy story, it’s a sad story.

When I was in Preschool, I dressed up as Peter Pan for several months strait, refusing to respond to anything other than “Peter Pan” … yeah I was a tragic fangirl even then! (I really need to dig those pictures out and post them on here someday!)

This book has such a special place in my life and in my heart and I hope everyone has the chance to love this book too ❤

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The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

The Neverending Story – book and movie both – have a special place in my childhood memories as well! This book (along with The Hobbit) is one of the books that really started off my love for reading!

2 months ago ( My Life in Books | Book Tag )I wrote about how I rebelled from my elementary school reading program by refusing to read the early reader chapter books I was expected to read and take quizzes on, and instead spent my time reading The Hobbit and The Neverending Story … I failed the program. BUT I gained a love for fantasy books … so who was the read winner here really?

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Lockwood & Co. series by Jonathan Stroud

I actually JUST gave this series a chance a few months ago and I am so glad that I did!

I love this series! It is NOT just for kids either. It’s intricate and really well written and intriguing and … well … awesome!

You can read my review of book 1 HERE

You can read my review of novella 1.5 HERE

I also rated book 2 (4/5 stars) and book 3 (solid 5/5 stars) but have not gotten around to reviewing them yet.

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Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi

This book is precious! OMG!

It’s funny and cute and unique and absolutely pulled me out of a pretty serious slump a while back. My daughter and I listened to this audiobook while driving down to Florida back in February. We both really enjoyed this story and were giggling along with this cute fantasy adventure ❤

 

 

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Coraline by Neil Gaiman

The movie Coraline has been my daughters favorite movie for YEARS! She loves creepy things … always has.

But we just this year finally got around to reading the book … and while it differed slightly on a few minor details from the movie version … this book did not disappoint!

I think we can both happily say that both the book and the movie are a solid 5/5 stars from us 🙂

 

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 What are your favorite Children’s and middle grade reads? Comment below!