I’ve chosen four books that I love. And I want others to have the same chance to love them as I do. A bonus – these are generally considered children’s books that I loved even more as an adult. While younger people will enjoy the stories, I found so much more meaning in these books the older I was.

1. Bambi by Felix Salten

Bambi was not originally written for children, but the humor of the story made it adaptable for a great Disney movie. The original version is much starker in its description of life in nature. If you have never read this, you will be caught off guard by its vivid descriptions of the woods and its inhabitants. It is a story of survival and love with meaning that goes beyond the forest.

2. At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald

This is a Victorian tale by the author of The Princess and the Goblin and is my favorite story of all time. The book might be a little long and meandering for younger children (or even some adults!), but it is a beautiful allegory that takes on the theology and subject of death through a young, poor boy’s encounter with the North Wind. You will find yourself thinking about this book long after you finish reading it.

3. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

This is another story that takes place in Victorian England. Dickens tackles social issues by drawing you so thoroughly into the story that you will see, feel, smell, and hear what young Oliver does – and it will break your heart. Despite the harshness of some of the events, Dicken’s use of words and story will keep you mesmerized until the end.

4. Heidi (unabridged) by Johanna Spyri

This might be the most familiar of the books, but I bet it has been a long time since most people have actually read it. Although not typically considered a “boy book,” I recently read this to my 12-year-old son, and he loved it – and so did I. It’s a comforting book, a book about love, friendship, and the beauty and power of nature and of God.

These books would make a great Christmas or anytime gift. The recipient not only receives a gift from you but can also travel to another world and age with new friends that just might stick around a long time.

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