With Thanksgiving approaching, there’s no better time to consider all of the things we are thankful for than now. Our team is thankful for a number of books that have had a profound impact on our thinking, our memories and our hearts. Here is a roundup of our top selections:
“I am thankful for Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter by Kate Clifford Larsen. This book is so engaging and informative and has such a compelling narrative that it inspired me to read more non-fiction…beyond just Kennedy biographies!” – Morgan
“I am thankful to have read Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year by Anne Lamott. I read this first as a teenager, when I was two decades away from having a baby, but I loved it then anyway. I received it as a gift years later when I was pregnant with my daughter, and loved it again. It was a relief to read a book about the dark days of early parenthood, where you could both laugh and cry about it. But mostly laugh.” – Julia
“One book that I’m thankful for is The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. When I was in elementary school, my dad would read aloud to me every night before bed, and this book was one of our favorites — we must have read it at least a dozen times over the years. One of my favorite memories is curling up on our big rocking chair together and listening to him read aloud from the well-worn pages, using different voices for each character. My dad passed away when I was in high school, so I am eternally thankful for the books like this one that allowed us to make such beautiful memories together. To this day, when I think about the Chronicles of Narnia series, I think about those moments!” - Emily
“I am thankful for George by Alex Gino. More than ever, children – and adults – need books to discover other’s experiences different from his or her own and, most importantly, learn empathy for other’s experiences. It touches your heart to see the main character go through a brave journey to discovering who she really is. I expect this to become an American classic.” - Mike
“I am grateful to have read Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll while in elementary school. This classic encouraged me to meet the world around me with never-ending curiosity, and to learn more about people with lives vastly different than mine.” – Ashley
“I am deeply thankful that I discovered the Harry Potter series when I was younger. I devoured those books and I absolutely think that they transformed me into the reader that I am today!” - Brittany
“Lately, I have been thankful for the I SPY series. My three year old nephew and I have been reading them together and I love seeing the excitement and joy on his face when he finds something in the book. Proud aunt moment.”– Alex
Personally, I am thankful that a teacher introduced me to the book Freak the Mighty by Rodman Filbrick when I was in middle school. The incredible story of an unlikely friendship helped to teach me the importance of taking time to get to know people.
What books are you thankful for this year?
Scholastic
