Gone to the Woods: Surviving a Lost Childhood by Gary Paulsen

Author Gary Paulsen is known for his tales of survival in the woods and wilderness.  This book is a different sort of survival story -- the true story of how he survived his childhood.

He escaped his neglectful mother in Chicago when he travelled to spend a summer with his aunt and uncle in the North Woods.  It was this experience that inspired his most famous book -- Hatchet.

He then spent the remainder of this childhood in post-WWII Philippines and his teen years back in the states with two drunk parents who continued to neglect him.  His saving graces at that time were the woods that he still loved and the public library.  The library handed him the first book he ever read at 13 years.  It started a lifelong love of reading and then writing when she gave him a notebook to write his own stories in.

The book ends with his time in the army when he discovered his true calling as a storyteller.

This is a sad, yet hopeful, story of a neglected child becoming who he was meant to be.  It is inspiring to hear how he turned his life experiences into stories that have thrilled children for decades.  I would recommend this to older children and teens who are fans of Gary Paulsen's stories.  (It might be a little rough for younger children.)  I would also recommend the audio version as the narrator did a great job of sharing Gary Paulsen's story.
 

The Witches by Roald Dahl

 The Witches by Roald Dahl - 244 pages

Grandmama has told him everything there is to know about witches.  They hide in plain sight although they must wear disguises to cover their bald heads, clawed fingers, and squared-off feet with no toes.  They are also deadly dangerous to children.  It is their sole purpose to get rid of children.

While on vacation, he accidentally runs into the witches of England having their annual meeting.  At the meeting, the Grand High Witch shares her evil plan to turn all the children of England into mice.  Will he be able to stop them?


This book is a little creepy and a lot of fun.  Like most Roald Dahl books it doesn't have a traditional happy ending but you are satisfied with how the story ends.  I also recommend the audio version of this book narrated by Miranda Richardson.  And after reading the book, make sure to watch one of the movie versions of this story.

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbitt

Have you ever picked your nose?
Have you ever picked your nose and eaten it?
Have you ever picked your nose, eaten it, and by doing so get kidnapped by pirates from a world occupied entirely by animals?

Mabel Jones has.

Now, she must work with those pirates to find the missing pieces of "X" to re-open the portal back to her world and her home.



This is a hilarious book by author Will Mabbitt, who also wrote the picture book I Can Only Draw Worms.  I would suggest listening to it on the audio narrated by British actor Toby Jones.  He uses the perfect tones of sarcasm and over-emoting that the book calls for.  I would definitely recommend this book to all kids.

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig

Nikolas must find his father. 

His father traveled to Elfhame to find proof that elves exist.  But he's been gone too long. 

Now, Nikolas must travel to Elfhame to try to find his father.  Along the way, he'll deal with starvation, the cold, mountains.  He'll be imprisoned by elves and attacked by a troll. 

But he'll also make a lifelong friends with a flying reindeer, a pixie, and others as he journeys towards finding his father and ultimately, his purpose in life.


This is a great book for those looking to get into the holiday spirit.  It's basically the story of the events that lead up to Nikolas being Santa Claus.  I would highly recommend listening to the book on audio.  It is narrated perfectly by British actor Stephen Fry.

Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts by Roald Dahl

Have you ever REALLY thought about the story of Goldilocks?  She's not quite the sweet little girl everyone thinks she is.  She's really a criminal who has no problem ruining other people's lives.

And what about Cinderella?  Is the Prince REALLY such a great guy?



This audio book includes two of Roald Dahl's books -- Revolting Rhymes and Dirty Beasts.  Both are rhymed retellings of popular fairy tales to tell the real story.  I would highly recommend this audio book for all kids who enjoy fractured fairy tales and Roald Dahl's unique sense of humor.

Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Five year old Laura Ingalls lives in the big woods of Minnesota with her Pa, Ma, older sister Mary, and baby Carrie.  Over the course of a year, we learn about her traditional farm life.  Laura and Mary spend their time helping Ma with the chores, listening to Pa tell them stories, and playing. 

This is the first book in the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Considered a classic, this audiobook version narrated by Cherry Jones is a great listen for children of all ages.

The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell

Once there was Magic, and the Magic lived in the dark forests.
Until the warriors came . . .

Xar is a Wizard boy who has no Magic and would do anything to get it.

Wish is a Warrior princess who owns a forbidden magical object and will do anything to hide it.

When stars collide, Xar and Wish will meet.  They must forget their differences if they are to save not only themselves but both their worlds from the returning evil Magic that has been sleeping for hundreds of years.


This is the first book in Cressida Cowell's new series.  (She previously wrote the extremely popular How to Train Your Dragon series.)  This is a great start to the new series.  I especially  enjoyed the audio version of the book narrated by David Tennant.

Who Was Dr. Seuss? by Janet B. Pascal

Who Was Dr. Seuss? by Janet B. Pascal - 112 pages

Who was Dr. Seuss?

- A boy who loved zoos and drawing silly animals
- A college student voted "least likely to succeed"
- An author and illustrator who changed children's books forever
- All of the above

This entry in the popular Who Was biography series for children was entertaining and informative.  The audiobook version was narrated quite well by Danny Campbell.  This would be a great book to listen to on a car trip or to read for fun or a school report.

Who Was Walt Disney? by Whitney Stewart

Who was Walt Disney?
A. A boy who loved practical jokes
B. An ambulance driver during World War I
C. The creator of Mickey Mouse
D. All of the Above

Find out in this biography of Walt Disney which starts with his childhood in Missouri through his years with Disney Studios.

This is a great biography on Walt Disney for kids.  It gives just enough information to intrigue.  It also gives information on several related topics.  Check it out on audiobook!