12 classic books for children under 12!

A classic is a book that has stood the test of time. A book is called a classic if it has been in print for many years, sometimes a 100 or more, which implies that it has stories relevant to many generations. These pieces of literature connect us to the human history across cultures

Legends, philosophies and ideologies have been understood by mankind for centuries using stories. Stories are hardwired in brain as the path of least resistance to understanding for humans. Be it compassionate innocence of Heidi or Tolkien’s middle earth and its magic. Some of the classics have been made into motion pictures, some revamped and some rewritten.

C. S. Lewis describes literature in a beautiful way. He says “Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become.”

Here is a compilation of some of the best classics for children under 12 to engage a budding bookworm as well as a reluctant reader:

1. Charlie and the chocolate factory by Roald Dahl: is a 1964 book by British author Roald Dahl. The story features the adventures of young Charlie Bucket inside the chocolate factory of eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka. The story is inspired from Roald Dahl’s own experience at school where he would get free chocolate samples from companies in exchange of feedback on the products. It was a combination of this secrecy and the elaborate, often gigantic, machines in the factory that inspired Dahl to write the story.

2. Matilda by Roald Dahl: is a story of a sweet, exceptional young girl, Matilda, whose parents think she’s just a nuisance. She looks forward to reading and school but finds a terrifying headmistress Ms Trunchbull. While at school, she discovers her remarkable powers with which she could fight back Mrs Trunchbull. This children’s classic book has been remade into a motion picture too.

3. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgreen: is a story about the adventures of a spunky young girl who lives alone with a horse and a monkey. The story has been set in Stockholm, Sweden. Pippi has crazy red pigtails and her flair for outrageous always seems to lead to another adventure. The celebrated author Astrid Lindgreen has a museum dedicated to her in Stockholm.

4. The lion, the witch and the wardrobe – The chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis: was published in 1950 and is one of the bestselling books of all times with over 100 million copies sold worldwide. The story is set in an imaginary world called Narnia where there are mythical characters. It revolves around 4 children who accidently enter a wardrobe which takes them to the Narnia world.

5. Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter: was first published in 1913 by the American author Eleanor Porter. Pollyanna was a huge success and was followed by 11 sequels to it. The entire collection is known as “Glad books”. The hero of the story is a young girl called Pollyanna who has an unfailing optimism. She gained this positive outlook towards life from her deceased father who used to play the glad game with her to battle life’s sorrows and uncertainties. A fun trivia about the book is that the term Pollyanna now finds a place in the English dictionary and is used to describe someone excessively cheerful.

6. Heidi by Johanna Spyri: is set in the Swiss Alps and revolves around an orphan named Heidi. She lives with her grandfather, a rather eccentric man. Heidi finds her life in the mountains rather nice. The story chronicles her life in the mountains and how she is forced to move to a new city where she finds a new friend.

7. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Sheil Silversten: is a beautiful compilation of poems that broadens the constraints of imagination. This is a collection that belongs on everyone’s bookshelf.

8. Harry Potter and Sorcerer’s stone by J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter is a series of fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The novels chronicle the lives of a young wizard, Harry Potter, and his friends Hermione Granger and Ron W, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The first novel was released in 1997 and has been a popular read for children and adults alike.

9. Alice’s Adventure In Wonderland by Lewis Carol: was written in 1862 by an oxford mathematician Charles Lutwidge. Alice is the most famous protagonist in the English literature. It accounts the life of Alice and how she deals with the trial and tribulations of growing up….all in fairy tale and in a child’s perspective.

10. Anne Of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery: is a 1908 novel by Canadian author Lucy Montgomery. The story is about a 11-year orphan, Anne who was wrongly sent in place of a boy who was intended to be adopted by a family. It chronicles the life of Anne as she makes her way through school, home and the new town.

11. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney: is the first book in the Wimpy kid series. The book revolves around a middle schooler, Greg Hefley and his adventures to become popular at school. Highly recommended books for reluctant and avid readers alike.

12. The Hobbit by Tolkien: The Hobbit, or There and Back Again is a children’s fantasy novel by English author J. R. R. Tolkien. The book remains popular and is recognized as a classic in children’s literature. The Hobbit is set within Tolkien’s fictional universe and follows the quest of home-loving Bilbo Baggins, the titular hobbit, to win a share of the treasure guarded by Smaug the dragon. Bilbo’s journey takes him from light-hearted, rural surroundings into more sinister territory.

And a bonus book !

1. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery: Is timeless tale of a personal odyssey of a little boy who decided to travel the universe and in the process learn about the uncertain adult behaviours.