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My only regret about keeping a reading record is not starting it sooner. I wish I had a list of ALL the books I've ever read since unlocking the written word at the age of four, back in 1983. Just imagine how extensive a 42-year-long reading journal would be!
Between print, digital, and audiobooks, I added 111 titles to my ever-growing list this past year. I also read lots of kidlit. I shared my favorite books from each month within the Biblio-files community. But today, I'd like to share the best of the best—my top titles in every single category.
Modest Queen Victoria has a problem. She wants to swim in the ocean—to experience the sand beneath her toes and the waves rolling over her head—but she doesn't want her subjects to see her improperly dressed. Ever the innovator, her husband, Prince Albert, designs and builds a special contraption for carting her to the water with discretion.
Based on the true story of the Queen's first ocean swim, this book is set in verse and contains delightfully captivating illustrations.
Please note: The text briefly mentions the names of old-fashioned women's undergarments, such as a corset and hosiery.
Three hours after I was born, I weighed 80 pounds. I kept growing and growing and growing until my Northwoods home could no longer hold me. With my trusty blue ox, Babe, by my side, I joined a crew of ax-wielding men and became the biggest, strongest lumberjack this side of the Mississippi. This is my almost-but-not-quite-true story.
Emergent readers will love the spirited, exaggerated text of this Level 3 tall tale.
A deathbed edict from the king forces his son to marry before he may inherit the crown. But the young Prince Raphael can't propose to just any maiden. According to his father's instructions, the woman he chooses must be his equal in beauty, intelligence, and wealth. The court counselors spend months scouring the land, looking for a perfect partner for the prince, but come up empty. One day, the daughter of a peasant farmer arrives at the palace and appears to be a match. However, she refuses to marry someone as arrogant and heartless as Raphael. She sends him on a quest to prove his merit.
With a hint of both Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty, this book is a return to the fairy tales of old and declares that character is more important than looks, status, and possessions.
Please note: When considering one particular potential princess, the spoiled future king recalls, "There was a princess with skin of alabaster on the body of a goddess." Three princesses are said to be "stupid."
Rebel lives a simple life. With the love of his boy, Tom, and the responsibility of keeping watch over the farm, the young mutt has all he could ever want or need. But when his boy runs away to join the ranks of the Reds, a growing band of townsfolk determined to break free from the king's tyrannical rule, Rebel leaves the safety of his beloved fields and runs headlong into a Civil War. He must find Tom and keep him safe. But that's not an easy task for a little dog who has never left the yard. As days turn into weeks, Rebel meets a ragtag group of friends who teach him about the sacrifice of real love.
This endearing story, set in a pseudo-medieval England, is told from the dog's point of view.
Please note: Jaxon, an older stray dog that Rebel meets, tells of Companion, a "spirit guide that walks with dogs to care for them and keep watch over them. Although the book is not Christian fiction, the brief description of the Companion reflects the Creator's care for animals, as seen in Psalm 50:10-11.
When Rebel nearly dies, he is joined by Companion who shows him some of the highlight memories of his life on the farm. He must choose to enter what can only be described as a sort of dog heaven (although the text never says that) or keep living in order to find and protect Tom.
A few chapters describe a battle scene that may be troubling for sensitive readers.
With her best friend miles away, Catherine spends her summer living in the shadow of her autistic, younger brother, David. To help him navigate social situations and mitigate his embarrassing behavior, Catherine creates a list of "rules" for him to follow, such as "No toys in the fish tank" and "Keep your pants on in public." As the summer progresses, Catherine meets two influential people: Jason, a non-verbal boy in a wheelchair she runs into at David’s occupational therapy clinic, and Kristi, a popular and stylish new neighbor she desperately wants to impress. Can Catherine realistically be friends with both?
She eventually confronts her own prejudices and the unfair expectations she has placed on herself and her brother, and learns that genuine friendship is far more important than simply fitting in.
This poignant coming-of-age story is surprisingly clean, lacking the language, sex, and angst of so many other YA novels. Instead, it is filled with empathy, kindness, and the true feelings of so many teens wrestling to find their place.
Please note: A kid on the school bus calls David a "retard," and a neighbor comments that even "regular" little brothers are pains.
There is one scene with a boy-crazy new neighbor who says a boy is cute and that she just broke up with her boyfriend. That same boy-crazed neighbor tries to pressure Catherine into inviting a boy to the community dance.
In one raw moment of reflection, Jason uses his talking device to admit that he sometimes wishes he would die so that he doesn't have to be wheelchair-bound anymore. But that statement becomes a turning point for the friendship between him and Catherine, growing in her the kind of compassion the world needs more of. Additionally, when describing why her parents are separated, neighbor Kristi says, "It's not like he's having an affair or anything."
Once a month, I email a book list similar to this one (only bigger) to the members of the Biblio-files. Every title on the list has been personally read and vetted by me and has been compiled by age range in order to help you navigate the library with your kids. In addition, I also include a few books that you should be aware of--books that contain explicit language, sexual agenda, graphic violence, etc. so that you can make an educated decision when/if your kids should ever be interested in reading any of them. What's more, members are invited to join me in a private Facebook group where we help each other find just the right books for our kids and each other. We'd love to have you join us!
Picture Book
Queen Victoria's Bathing Machine by Gloria WhelanBased on the true story of the Queen's first ocean swim, this book is set in verse and contains delightfully captivating illustrations.
Please note: The text briefly mentions the names of old-fashioned women's undergarments, such as a corset and hosiery.
Leveled Reader
Paul Bunyan: My Story by David L. Harrison
Emergent readers will love the spirited, exaggerated text of this Level 3 tall tale.
Illustrated Chapter Book
The King's Equal by Katherine PatersonWith a hint of both Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty, this book is a return to the fairy tales of old and declares that character is more important than looks, status, and possessions.
Please note: When considering one particular potential princess, the spoiled future king recalls, "There was a princess with skin of alabaster on the body of a goddess." Three princesses are said to be "stupid."
Middle-Grade Fiction
I am Rebel by Ross MontgomeryThis endearing story, set in a pseudo-medieval England, is told from the dog's point of view.
Please note: Jaxon, an older stray dog that Rebel meets, tells of Companion, a "spirit guide that walks with dogs to care for them and keep watch over them. Although the book is not Christian fiction, the brief description of the Companion reflects the Creator's care for animals, as seen in Psalm 50:10-11.
When Rebel nearly dies, he is joined by Companion who shows him some of the highlight memories of his life on the farm. He must choose to enter what can only be described as a sort of dog heaven (although the text never says that) or keep living in order to find and protect Tom.
A few chapters describe a battle scene that may be troubling for sensitive readers.
Teen (YA) Fiction
Rules by Cynthia LordWith her best friend miles away, Catherine spends her summer living in the shadow of her autistic, younger brother, David. To help him navigate social situations and mitigate his embarrassing behavior, Catherine creates a list of "rules" for him to follow, such as "No toys in the fish tank" and "Keep your pants on in public." As the summer progresses, Catherine meets two influential people: Jason, a non-verbal boy in a wheelchair she runs into at David’s occupational therapy clinic, and Kristi, a popular and stylish new neighbor she desperately wants to impress. Can Catherine realistically be friends with both?
She eventually confronts her own prejudices and the unfair expectations she has placed on herself and her brother, and learns that genuine friendship is far more important than simply fitting in.
This poignant coming-of-age story is surprisingly clean, lacking the language, sex, and angst of so many other YA novels. Instead, it is filled with empathy, kindness, and the true feelings of so many teens wrestling to find their place.
Please note: A kid on the school bus calls David a "retard," and a neighbor comments that even "regular" little brothers are pains.
There is one scene with a boy-crazy new neighbor who says a boy is cute and that she just broke up with her boyfriend. That same boy-crazed neighbor tries to pressure Catherine into inviting a boy to the community dance.
In one raw moment of reflection, Jason uses his talking device to admit that he sometimes wishes he would die so that he doesn't have to be wheelchair-bound anymore. But that statement becomes a turning point for the friendship between him and Catherine, growing in her the kind of compassion the world needs more of. Additionally, when describing why her parents are separated, neighbor Kristi says, "It's not like he's having an affair or anything."
Yearning for freedom and purpose, near-orphaned servant Deborah cuts her hair, dons the discarded pants of her master's son, and enlists in the Continental Army under the alias Robert Shurtliff. She proves herself a capable soldier, participating in dangerous raids and skirmishes while desperately guarding her secret. She eventually becomes an aide-de-camp to General John Paterson. After days, weeks, and months at his side, Deborah develops feelings for him.
This is the true story of a female patriot fighter during the Revolutionary War. At first glance, one might wonder if this book supports gender confusion or transition. It does not. Deborah just wanted to experience, if only for a short time, the kind of lifestyle privileges that were afforded to males at that time in history and free herself from indentured servitude. Once the war ended, she returned to her original life, married, and had children.
Please note: The text includes some mild language and one or two closed-door (little to no details) romantic scenes between a husband and wife.
This is the true story of a female patriot fighter during the Revolutionary War. At first glance, one might wonder if this book supports gender confusion or transition. It does not. Deborah just wanted to experience, if only for a short time, the kind of lifestyle privileges that were afforded to males at that time in history and free herself from indentured servitude. Once the war ended, she returned to her original life, married, and had children.
Please note: The text includes some mild language and one or two closed-door (little to no details) romantic scenes between a husband and wife.
In the 1920s, the KKK reinvented itself not as a Southern insurgent group, but as a mainstream "100% American" fraternal organization. It moved beyond the South into the Heartland and West, targeting Black Americans, Jews, Catholics, and immigrants. The Klan successfully infiltrated daily life, with membership endorsed by local churches and celebrated at town picnics. Under the leadership of D.C. "Steve" Stephenson, a charismatic and ruthless "Grand Dragon," Indiana became the organization's stronghold, where one in three white males joined. The group wielded immense power, controlling judges, prosecutors, ministers, and even governors and senators.
This was a fascinating look at a little-known piece of American history—the Midwest growth of the KKK and the seemingly "inconsequential" woman who single-handedly took it down.
This was a fascinating look at a little-known piece of American history—the Midwest growth of the KKK and the seemingly "inconsequential" woman who single-handedly took it down.
2026 has launched with an impressive start. I brought ten unfinished titles into January; finished two; and started three more. I have no idea where my reading life will take me in the next twelve months, but with the help of my "In Wisdom" goal for the year, I have no doubt I'll be adding many more titles to my reading journal.
More Favorites
Looking for more lists like this?
Once a month, I email a book list similar to this one (only bigger) to the members of the Biblio-files. Every title on the list has been personally read and vetted by me and has been compiled by age range in order to help you navigate the library with your kids. In addition, I also include a few books that you should be aware of--books that contain explicit language, sexual agenda, graphic violence, etc. so that you can make an educated decision when/if your kids should ever be interested in reading any of them. What's more, members are invited to join me in a private Facebook group where we help each other find just the right books for our kids and each other. We'd love to have you join us!
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