My Favorite Things
If you are looking for a fresh approach to celebrating reading in your classroom or library, consider a “Favorite Things” theme. Begin by having readers make a list of their “favorite things.” Then send them searching for books that best represents their “favorite things.” For example, if someone likes chocolate, send them looking for cookbooks that have recipes for fudge, brownies, or chocolate chip cookies. If a person names baseball, then they may search in the nonfiction section of the library for a book about baseball; the biography section for a book about a famous baseball player; the fiction section for a story about the game of baseball. Many library users love crafts. Lead them to books like The Golden Book of Family Fun (all ages) by Peggy Brown and Ill. By David Sheldon. Readers will celebrate the idea that there is something in the library that satisfies their interests. Other suggestions for a “Favorite Things” theme include:
Have readers make a list of favorite books in specific genres. Such genres and books may include the following from Random House:
Favorite Historical Novels
The Book Thief (ages 12-up) by Marcus Zusak
Bud, Not Buddy (ages 9-12) by Christopher Paul Curtis
Counting on Grace (ages 9-12) by Elizabeth Winthrop
Moon Over Manifest (ages 9-12) by Clare Vauderpool
Nory Ryan’s Song (ages 9-12) by Patricia Reilly Giff
North by Night (ages 12-up) by Katherine Ayers
Rodzina (ages 9-12) by Karen Cushman
Favorite Humorous Novels
Junie B. Jones series (ages 6-8) by Barbara Park
Almost Starring Skinnybones (ages 8-12) by Barbara Park
Alvin Ho series (ages 7-9) by Lenore Look & illus. by Lellyen Pham
Imogene’s Last Stand (ages 6-8) by Candace Fleming & illus. by Nancy Carpenter
How to Survive Middle School (ages 9-12) by Donna Gephart
10 Things to Do Before I Die (ages 12-up) by Daniel Ehrenhaft
Favorite Fantasy and science fiction
Ace: The Very Important Pig (ages 6-8) by Dick King-Smith & illus. by Lynette Hemmant
100 Cupboards (ages 8-12) by N.D. Wilson
The Diamond of Darkhold (ages 9-12) by Jeanne DuPrau
Ashling (ages 12-up) by Isobelle Carmody
His Dark Materials Trilogy (ages 12-up) by Philip Pullman
Brain Jack (ages 12-up) by Brian Falkner
Emerald Atlas (ages 12-up) by John Stephens
Favorite Mystery Novels
The Amazing Ghost Detectives (ages 4-8) by Daniel San Souci
The Case of the Cool Itch Kid (ages 6-9) by Patricia Reilly Giff
The Case of the Elevator Duck (ages 6-9) by Polly Berrien Berends
The Black Heart Crypt (ages 9-12) by Chris Grabenstein
Boom! (ages 10-up) by Mark Haddon
Acceleration (ages 12-up) by Graham McNamee
Bad Taste in Boys (ages 12-up) by Carrie Harris
If the Witness Lied (ages 12-up) by Caroline B. Cooney
Favorite Classic
Alexander the Wind-Up Mouse (ages 4-6) by Leo Lionni
Are You My Mother? (ages 3-6) by P.D. Eastman
Go, Dog, Go! (ages 3-6) by P.D. Eastman
The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins (ages 6-9) by Dr. Seuss
The Phantom Tollbooth (ages 8-up) by Norton Juster & illus. by Jules Feiffer
Harriet the Spy (ages 10-up) by Louise Fitzhugh
The Black Stallion (ages 10-14) by Walter Farley
The Chocolate War (ages 12-up) by Robert Cormier
Encourage readers to think about favorite book characters and write about that character’s favorite things. Then ask them to suggest books that the character would enjoy reading. Examples from Random House include:
- Jack Catcher, one of the main characters in All the Earth, Thrown to the Sky (ages 9-12) by Joe R. Lansdale dreams of being a hero. Have readers make a list of novels about heroes that he may like.
- Wahoo Cray, the main character of Carl Hiaasen’s Chomp (ages 9-12) loves animals and the Florida Everglades. What books would he enjoy reading?
- Maybe readers will choose Deza Malone, the main character of The Mighty Miss Malone (ages 9-12) by Christopher Paul Curtis; Brick and Mariel in All the Way Home (ages 9-12) by Patricia Reilly Giff; Brendan Buckley in Brendan Buckley’s Universe (ages 8-12) by Sundae Frazier; and Andi Alpers in Revolution (ages 14-up) by Jennifer Donnelly.
Suggest that families volunteer their favorite read aloud books, and post a list of the books on the school or library’s website.
