Tony Dungy’s 'Best Books for your Kids this Summer' list

Earlier this week, Tony Dungy’s “All Pro Dad” organization released its “Best Books for your Kids this Summer” list, and the list includes more than a few classic books for children.

Dungy prefaced the list by saying that, “Today, most of our country is aliterate—meaning we can read but choose not to. Reading enlarges a person’s heart, broadens his perspectives and sharpens his ability to think. And studies show the more you love reading as a father, the more your children will love it. So dads, hit the books, even if it’s only for 15 minutes a day. Summertime is the perfect time to start.

“Once your children feel confident and comfortable reading on their own, the two of you can read aloud – together. The following list is suitable for children ages eight and older. When the titles might be of particular interest to boys or girls specifically, (G) for girls and (B) for boys follows. If a title should be reserved for children of a certain age, the recommended age follows in parentheses.”

Books on Dungy’s list included the following titles:

ANNE FRANK: The Diary of a Young Girl (G) (12)

ANNE OF GREEN GABLES SERIES by Lucy Maud Montgomery (G)

BLACK BEAUTY by Anna Sewell

THE BORROWERS by Mary Norton

CHARLOTTE’S WEB by E. B. White

DANDELION WINE by Ray Bradbury (B) (11)

THE ENORMOUS EGG by Oliver Butterworth

THE HOBBIT by J.R.R. Tolkien

THE HUNDRED DRESSES by Eleanor Estes (G)

ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS by Scott O’Dell (G)

LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE SERIES by Laura Ingalls Wilder: Includes “Little House in the Big Woods,” “Little House on the Prairie,” “Farmer Boy,” “On the Banks of Plum Creek,” “By the Shores of Silver Lake,” “The Long Winter,” “Little Town on the Prairie,” “These Happy Golden Years” and “The First Four Years.”

LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott (G)

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA by C.S. Lewis: Includes “The Magician's Nephew,” “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” “The Horse and His Boy,” “Prince Caspian,” “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” “The Silver Chair” and “The Last Battle.”

RAISING DRAGONS by Bryan Davis

RED BADGE OF COURAGE by Stephen Crane

ROBINSON CRUSOE by Daniel Defoe

THE SECRET GARDEN by Frances Hodgson (G)

SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL by Patricia MacLachlan

TREASURE ISLAND by R.L.Stevenson (12)

20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA by Jules Verne

WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS by Wilson Rawls (B)

In the end, how many of these books have you had a chance to read? Which is your favorite? Which would you recommend and why? Let us know in the comments section below.