International Literacy Day Book List
In celebration of International Literacy Day on September 8th, the GC-DWC team shares some of their favorite books for young readers!
Hannah Chandler | Associate Director of Programs
Book Recommendation: Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Ideal Age Group: 8-13 years old
The Chronicles of Narnia follow a group of children through a fantasy world of magic, mythical beasts, and talking animals. The series has beautifully complex characters and faith-based symbolism. As a child, I loved imagining I was one of the children discovering and adventuring in a new land.
Anasthasie Liberiste-Osirus, Ed.D. | GC-DWC Haiti
Book Recommendation: Grand émoi à l'école by Odette Roy Fombrun
Ideal Age Group: 4th - 7th grades
A theft has happened at the school and the mystery begins. Who stole the money for the school fair? Read to find out who did it!
Madison Bellorado | Assistant Project Director
Book Recommendation: The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
Ideal Age Group: 10-18 years
Harry Potter is a coming of age series that readers can get lost in. It opens up a world full of magic and infinite possibilities, improving a child's imagination. It also teaches life lessons that are often easier for children to understand when set in a fantasy world.
James Reimer | Social Enterprise Initiative
Book Recommendation: The Gospel of Luke
Ideal Age Group: 13 years and older
An introductory book to the whole of Scripture that both reads as a biography of Jesus and links the gospel to the broader context of God's plan for mankind. Even for the casual reader it is a foundational narrative that reveals truth and provides insights into the development of western civilization.
Neil Boothby, Ed.D | Professor and Director of the GC-DWC
Book Recommendation: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Ideal Age Group: 5 years and older
The book follows the lives of an apple tree and a boy, who develop a relationship with one another. The tree is giving; the boy becomes a "taking" teenager and adult. While written over 50 years ago, its simple illustrative text is very relevant to today's challenges between humankind and nature.