Sonlight long provided the bulk of our family read alouds, but we can't help but add other titles in. Many of the books we have read several times as a family are classics that would be hard to miss (I'd put the Little House books in this category), but others are real treasures that have been discovered to a much lesser degree. I list our favorites below, in no particular order.

Tales of the Kingdom, Tales of the Resistance, Tales of the Restoration, all by David and Karen Mains. Christian fantasy. The older hardcovers (especially Tales of the Kingdom), which we own, have very nice color artwork that is apparently missing from the newer softcovers. We enjoyed these very much.

Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White. This book was given to me as a child. Charlotte's Web (which Sonlight includes in level 1) is universally popular, but this one seems to get less attention. Also by the same author is Stuart Little, which I don't like nearly as much...something about a woman giving birth to a mouse just doesn't warm my heart!

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome . This is one of those lesser-known treasures. Set in England between the World Wars, the story features resourceful, intelligent, respectful children in adventures around England's Lake Country. Boats figure large in this book and its sequels--these are sailing children. Adults lurk in the background, supporting the children's adventures. The sequels introduce some other characters; I like the books with the original six children the best, but we've read as many as are in print. Swallows and Amazons series

Return of the Twelves by Pauline Clarke. The copy we have first belonged to one of my older brothers. I read it as a teenager and was so struck by it that I held onto it. I read it to my husband early in our marriage, and we've since read it to the children at least once. The plot involves the wooden soldiers that the Brontë children of literary fame once played with. The soldiers come alive after being discovered by a 20th century child. Reading it as a Christian I saw many parallels between the way the child interacts with the soldiers and the way God interacts with His children; to me, it's a story of predestination and free will. To my children, it's just a great story of toys that come to life.

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. In some circles, these are as popular as any other series of books, but I still run into adults who have never read these fantasy books. I learn something new about my Lord every time I read them.

The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I am amazed at how much children enjoy these books. The first one (Little House in the Big Woods) in particular is packed with the minute details of pioneer life--how to smoke meat, what to do with a pig bladder, and so on--but my children eat it all up.