Hand that Rocks the Cradle

400 Classic Books for Children

by Nathaniel Bluedorn

  • Reviews of 400 books full of perilous adventures, delightful characters, and sound values
  • Listed by subject and author
  • Reading Aloud (from the introduction)
  • Sample Pages (PDF)
  • Completely revised and expanded 5th Edition

My mother kept this list of the books she and Dad read to us. My brother and sisters and I added books that we read ourselves. My family is conservative; many books didn’t make it onto this list. We prefer older books, but we enjoy some newer books too. Almost every book listed here is fiction.

I have summarized the plot for each book. I hope I didn’t give away too much. Book descriptions include time the story takes place, geographic setting of the story, and the publication date of the book.

Books are divided into three reading levels: (1) Language and plot are easy – all ages, (2) Language is more difficult or plot more complex – ages 10 and up, and (3) Language is advanced or plot more mature – ages 13 and up. Reading levels help many parents. My mother didn’t stick to these reading levels; I’ll forgive you if you ignore them.

Hand that Rocks the Cradle
$15.00
4.5×9 quality paperback, 113 pages
ISBN 978-0-9745315-4-0


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Table of Contents for Hand that Rocks the Cradle:

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1 • Jessica Phillips • April 24, 2008 • 6:37 PM

I am grateful to Laurie Bluedorn, who not only set an example of diligence in reading aloud 1-2 hours per day, but that she also made it a point to keep a list of their family’s favorite stories. Many thanks to Mr. Bluedorn who, years later, organized that list for our benefit. A mother’s time does not have to be wasted in searching for books and wondering, “will this one impart some negative character trait to my child/children?” Hand that Rocks the Cradle helps to eliminate much of this guesswork.

2 • Daddypundit • April 24, 2008 • 6:38 PM

When the book first arrived in our mailbox, my youngest daughter, who is 10 years old, immediately started going through to see what books she had read were included on the list. On her very next trip to the library she started checking out books that she had seen listed in this book.

3 • Creekwood Chronicles • April 24, 2008 • 6:41 PM

Each title includes a suggested reading level, the time and location of the story, publication date and a brief summary of the book - without spoiling the ending.  I found numerous titles I knew and enjoyed listed as well as others I had not read or heard of.  It does not list every title by each author, but it is an excellent starting point for those wanting to find good books for their children.  Not all authors or titles will appeal to everyone, but there is a wide range of choices to begin with.

4 • Tami Fox • June 01, 2008 • 3:11 PM

I have spent a lot of time in the past previewing books for my children, and now I have a resource that is divided up by author with short summaries of some of the author’s books. What a help to me this book has been! There are guides for each book that gives the time period covered, location, and publish date. There is also an index at the end of the book that gives the books listed in the book by topic, such as Animals or Dogs.

5 • Midwest Book Review • June 10, 2008 • 2:30 PM

What’s a good way to choose the best books for one’s child, with a massive sea of literature in today’s market? ” Hand That Rocks the Cradle: 400 Classic Books for Children” is a comprehensive guide to children’s literature, pointing out the classics through the centuries that today’s children will simply adore. A must have for any parent who is unsure of which books to have for or read to their children, “Hand That Rocks the Cradle: 400 Classic Books for Children” is a good addition community library parenting collections.

6 • aloha-gal • October 09, 2008 • 9:45 AM

So, if you are at a loss where to start with your own little gang, order Nathaniel Bluedorn’s Hand that Rocks the Cradle. It’s a great little pamphlet list of classic books with summaries and difficulty ratings. And definitely check out Little Lord Fauntleroy!

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Hand that Rocks the Cradle

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