As college students, we usually gravitate towards the young adult or adult sections when visiting the library. But when we do this, we forget to visit the children's section, and some of the best books live on those shelves. If you're looking for an easy read, a good adventure story, or a book filled with magic, the children's section is the place for you. Here are some of the best books I've found there, and I hope you can enjoy them too!
1. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Snicket’s series of thirteen books follows the messy adventures of three siblings after the death of their parents. Violet, Klaus and Sunny investigate the death of their parents as they are forced to run from their evil relative Count Olaf. Full of laughs and mystery, this series is fun for anyone.
2. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
If you’re looking for a relatable character, Anne is her. While we can’t all be lovable, red-haired Canadian preteens, but we can all relate to the hilariously awkward situations Anne gets herself into. From her school room crush Gilbert Blythe to her make believe games, Anne is the best friend you never knew you needed.
3. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
You’ve probably heard of The Hunger Games but I bet you didn’t know that Suzanne Collins wrote another amazing series geared toward her younger audiences. The Gregor the Overlander series is full of adventure in a hidden, underground society. Complete with giant bats, spiders, and cockroaches this series is a great read for anyone seeking both action and fantasy.
4. Shackleton's Stowaway by Victoria McKernan
Ernest Shackleton, who was a real-life explorer, sets out towards Antarctica with a hidden passenger. Before they departed on the voyage, a teen boy had hidden himself away in the ship and isn’t discovered for several days. If you’ve ever been curious about the frozen tundra but aren’t willing to go there yourself, then this book is for you.
5. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson
For a children’s book, The Secret Garden contains some pretty tough topics like death and loneliness. The end of the book is happy though, I promise. This story is filled with friendship, mystery, and mischievous kids and it definitely belongs on everyone’s reading list.
6. Hoot by Carl Hiassen
There’s a good chance you’ve heard of this book since it was pretty popular for a few years. But if you haven’t read it, now is the time! Hoot follows three kids working to save a group of burrowing owls in Florida. The characters are lovable, funny, and smart and they really make you think about environmental impact.
7. The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale
The Goose Girl is the first book in the Books of Bayern trilogy. Like all good fantasy novels for girls, there is a princess whose life and kingdom are both in danger. Follow Princess Ani’s adventures as she meets her two best friends and the prince of a neighboring kingdom. And don’t forget to read the rest of the trilogy!
8. The Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi
This series follows three siblings as they move to an aunt’s home and discover a world within their own filled with magic and interesting creatures. When they find a book explaining most of this magical world, the adventures really begin. This hilarious series will keep you on your toes wondering what the siblings will discover next.
9. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
In the middle of summer, a meteor pushes the moon so close to the earth that it causes an endless winter. Miranda, a teenage girl living with her mother and two brothers, turns to her diary to keep from going crazy. Life As We Knew It is a collection of her diary entries which follow her life for about a year after the meteor collision. If you like this book, be sure to check out the other two books Pfeffer wrote about the same fictional event.
10. Matched by Allie Condie
The Matched trilogy has all the requirements of dystopian literature: a system for the perfect life, a bold escape, and a love triangle. The protagonist, Cassia, has to make some tough choices about what she wants out of life. If you can’t decide between fast paced or romantic, this series is the perfect mix.
11. Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris
12. The Giver by Lois Lowry
Another popular book you’ve probably heard of, "The Giver," is actually just one out of four books which explore different types of societies. Jonas, a young boy, is given the gift to see the world in the way it was meant to be seen and is forced to choose between the familiar and the real world. The book has an odd ending but if you read the other three books, the final novel truly completes the story.
