Planting Seeds by Reading Good Books

Written By: The Good and the Beautiful Published On:

Are you looking for clean, age-appropriate books that your children will love, but you don’t have time to preread books yourself? Search The Good and the Beautiful Book List to find a growing collection of more than one thousand recommended books that bring the joy of reading to children and parents alike. You’ll find that the books children read really DO matter!

Free Character-Building Book List for Children

We have reviewed thousands of books so you don’t have to! With a growing list of more than one thousand titles, you are sure to find books your child will love. Our free database of Good and Beautiful approved books now includes the following exciting features.

What’s New and Improved

  • A fresh, updated look
  • Easier navigation
  • More recommended books, including titles for adults
  • New sorting options, including filtering topics like holidays, seasons, historical events, and places
  • Saved personalized book list that is easier to use
  • Free resources such as blog posts, videos, and a supportive monthly newsletter with ideas to help you Raise Joyful Readers

  • Parents Need Good Books Too!

    Are you stumped about where to find books that will fill YOU with a JOY for reading? We have added a filter to the Book List just for parents!

    The Parent Book List is a mix of highly recommended fiction, nonfiction, light romance, biography, and personal-growth genres. All books are profanity-free and do not contain any inappropriate sexual content. Check out this new and growing feature so you can create a “Favorites List” for yourself before your next library visit.

    New titles for parents are being added regularly, so be sure to check back often!

  • The text "Parent List" on a blue watercolor background with greenery, flowers, and an open book | The Good and the Beautiful

Keep reading to learn how to navigate the site and log in to access the Book List.

  • The text "Access the Free Book List" surrounded by illustrated watercolor books | The Good and the Beautiful

  • How to Access the FREE Book List

    1. Go to goodandbeautifulbooklist.com.
    2. Click on Sign Up in the top right corner to create an account and access the full Book List. (Please note that this account is different from your account on our main website.) If you already have an account, click Sign In.
    3. Begin searching the Book List database of books. Filter by age, genre, type, and more!
    4. Click on the heart to mark your favorites.
    5. Print or save your personalized list.
    6. Locate books at your local library or online. Original Good and Beautiful books can be purchased in our Bookshop.
    Visit Book List

  • Join the NEW Raise Joyful Readers Newsletter List

    Sign up for our monthly Raise Joyful Readers newsletter that is packed with free resources to help you share the love of reading with your family. 

    Whether you have a reluctant reader or a child who devours books, raising joyful readers can be a challenge, and we’re here to help!

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  • An illustrated background with chairs, books, and a sleeping cat and the text "Raise joyful Readers" | The Good and the Beautiful

Some Favorite Titles Found on the Book List

  • Prairie School book cover | The Good and the Beautiful

  • Prairie School
    By Avi

    Level 2

    This book gives insights into life on the prairie during the 1800s. As a young boy, Noah gains an appreciation for learning and education from his aunt. This book is packed with educational and moral merit. Kids should find the story interesting.

  • The book "The Beatinest Boy" by Jesse Stuart cover shown with an illustrated tree with many bare branches and a man climbing with a light | The Good and the Beautiful

  • The Beatinest Boy
    By Jesse Stuart

    Level 3

    This short, heartwarming book brings the old days to life as it strongly supports love of family, thoughtfulness, kindness to animals, and speaking encouragingly. Boys will especially like the coon hunting, tree climbing, and nursing back to health an abandoned hound puppy. Although this is not a fast-paced, instantly entertaining adventure, it is a thoroughly enjoyable and fun book that reinforces important values and teaches about life in early America. The author, Jesse Stuart, who died in 1904, led an extraordinary life and published over 36 books. Note: “Beatinest” means “most remarkable or unusual.”

  • The book "Lumber Camp Library" cover with a pink background and an illustrated image of a young girl reading a book on a tree stump | The Good and the Beautiful

  • Lumber Camp Library
    By Natalie Kinsey-Warnock

    Level 3

    Young Ruby Sawyer has lived her whole life in a Vermont lumber camp. When her wonderful father is killed in an accident, life changes for Ruby’s family. This is a beautiful story of family, love, kindness, hard work, and love of learning. The literary, moral, educational, and entertainment values are all fantastic!

  • The cover of the book "Jade Dragons" with illustrated ships in the water and mountains surrounding it | The Good and the Beautiful

  • Jade Dragons
    By Florence Wightman Rowland

    Level 7

    If Wong Ting―a river boy in China—had extra coins, he would buy a copper kettle for his mother and a desperately needed new fishing net for his father. For himself, Wong Ting wanted something that money could not buy. In his heart was a secret wish. Only he knew what it was: Wong Ting wanted to walk on the land. This wish is kept hidden for a time as Wong Ting works hard with his family upon their sampan. A raging storm starts a series of exciting events as the family’s sampan is blown down the angry river out of control toward the open sea. A boat as small as theirs could not hope to ride safely upon the high waves of the South China Sea. As Wong Ting and his family escape pirates, rescue an orphaned baby, and search the river bottom for a bracelet with three jade dragons, gentle messages come to life about respect, obedience, hard work, kindness, integrity, courage, and hope.

  • Gabriel and the Hour Book cover | The Good and the Beautiful

  • Gabriel and the Hour Book
    By Evaleen Stein

    Level 7

    This classic book, first published in 1906, is truly a treasure. The main character, Gabriel, is a young Norman boy of the Middle Ages who works at the abbey, helping Brother Stephen create a special illuminated book for the king’s future bride. This touching tale of friendship, faith, and kindness is so beautifully written, it is a pleasure to read. The story is engaging and should hold the attention of both old and young children. Evaleen Stein was a master at her craft, and this is my favorite of all her books. You can access this book for free on Gutenberg.org or mainlesson.com

  • An illustrated book cover of green hilly land occupied by a church, a girl who is running, and goats | The Good and the Beautiful

  • Heidi
    By Johanna Spyri

    Level 8

    Heidi, one of my all-time favorite books, is a heartwarming story of a young girl in the Swiss Alps whose kindness, optimism, and love of life has a transforming effect on all those around her. This engaging story is skillfully written with imagery, beautiful description, and elevated vocabulary. Readers also learn about Switzerland, the Alps, and life in the 1800s. If girls could only read one book in a summer, this is the one I would give them.

  • King Otto's Crown book cover | The Good and the Beautiful

  • King Otto’s Crown
    By Richard Roth

    Level High School

    Experience the golden age of Germany through the adventures of the honorable von Stein family and King Otto. This historic narrative tells of daring feats, warm friendships, and noble kingdoms threatened by treachery. Though betrayal and rebellion brew and occasionally erupt with great heartache, the von Stein family and King Otto continuously meet such trials with fairness and long-suffering forgiveness. This incredible journey sheds light on how a courageous German king of the tenth century came to be known as Otto the Great.

Reading good books is one of the quiet, steady ways we plant seeds in our children’s hearts. Seeds of truth, kindness, courage, and joy. The stories they return to again and again shape how they see the world, others, and themselves.

That’s why having a trusted place to find books truly matters. The Good and the Beautiful Book List removes the guess work, giving families confidence that the books they bring home are worth their time and attention. 

Whether you are nurturing a young reader, guiding a reluctant one, or rediscovering the joy of reading yourself, we invite you to explore the Book List often and to keep planting seeds that will grow for years to come.

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