Timeless children's classics the family can enjoy! Share on X

I’ve read a fair number of children’s classics over the years. There are those I read or had read to me as a child. Those I’ve read to my children. And those I’ve read since for my own enjoyment. While I’ve enjoyed them at every stage, I do think that books we experience as children can find a special place in our hearts.

I’ve reviewed a handful of children’s classics below. If you’re looking for a listing without the reviews, there are many more books on my children’s classics Goodreads shelf. I also encourage you to check out the many children’s classics reviewed on Sabbath Rest Book Talk.

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At first I admit to being somewhat bored with this book and ready to chalk it up to another children’s story I didn’t “get” because I was first reading it decades beyond the target age range.

However, Sara’s magnanimous way of living grew on me as she suffered a reversal in fortune and her true character was tested. It is one thing to be kindhearted when you have so much largesse and quite another when your mettle is tested.

In the end, A Little Princess is a charming tale, probably best-loved by children, about loyalty, generosity, kindness, perseverance, and the kind of outlook that finds joy and beauty in simple or adverse circumstances.

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An enjoyable chapter book for kids set in medieval England. Young Robin, crippled and alone, is taken under the wing of a friar, where he learns to see possibilities where there appear to be none. The attention he receives help to restore his body, mind, and spirit.

A hopeful story of love, loyalty, and heroism.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read and re-read Heidi when I was a child. But over several decades, I’d forgotten much of it.

Reading it aloud to my children, I was re-introduced to the beauty of Heidi’s simple mountain life and the relationships with Uncle Alp, Clara, and Peter. The setting and the characters are the highlights of the book as the plot seems rather thin.

As an adult, I recognized the simple Christian messages interspersed throughout the novel, which were well-placed.

A lovely classic enjoyed by many generations!

Freckles by Gene Stratton-Porter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Freckles left me with mixed feelings. I loved the setting – all of the exotic flora and fauna of the Limberlost. Freckles was a sympathetic, admirable character.

But, Freckles and the Angel were a bit too perfect for my taste. Too much of Freckles’ value was laid on the shoulders of his parentage and too little on his own character. His love for the Angel was a bit over the top – kissing a preserved footprint in the muck!

Too much emphasis seems to be placed on parentage, above character. While others seems to love Freckles for who he is, despite his circumstances, he himself measures his worth solely by his parents’ presumed character.

Part of my displeasure probably stems from my reading with a 21st-century outlook. And, reading as an adult, when I think this may capture the imaginations of children more than it did mine.

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book aloud to several of my children. The little ones lost interest, but my 9-year old loved it. She had recently devoured the Little House on the Prairie series, and this appealed to her in the same way.

For myself, I found Caddie Woodlawn a pleasant story with likable characters, humor, adventure, and even some heart-tugging moments as Caddie matures and things come full circle.

A lovely book that families can share and enjoy!

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