The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a classic by this popular and talented children’s author, poet, and illustrator. With simple line drawings and a mere few words, Silverstein tells a poignant tale of a growing boy and the passage of time. The tree starts out as shade and playtime for the little boy, who receives great joy from the tree. But the older the boy gets, the more he demands from the tree, stripping her of her beauty and ability to provide gifts. However, in the end, even the tree stump has something to offer. The book leaves it open to the reader to interpret the message and is quite sophisticated for a kids’ book.

Holes by Louis Sachar is the winner of the Newbery Medal and for good reason. The story of a juvenile detention facility called Camp Green Lake, this book’s philosophy is that if you make bad boys dig holes in the dirt all day they will turn into good boys. So Stanley, the main character, is sent to do just that in the dry, desert like wasteland of an old Texas lake bed. But the warden of Camp Green Lake is putting all this digging to good use and when the boys catch on, the mystery ensues. The plot is strange and surprising, even for adults.
Compassion and the triumph of underdogs makes the story a heart warmer, but the bizarre landscape and humor keep it interesting and not too sappy. The movie version of the book is a fun compliment to the reading experience.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt is written for kids nine to twelve years old, but adults will find a sweet and profound book about the issues of life and death. The story is centered on the Tuck family, who have the secret of eternal life. The fountain of youth is found in the nearby forest and when young Winnie Foster gets kidnapped and embroiled in a murder case, the gift of everlasting life seems a lot more complicated than it might at first appear. This moving story gives kids and adults alike a wonderful appreciation for the way nature moves in cycles for our own good.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle is a classic by a prolific author. This Newbery Medal winning tale features brother and sister Charles Wallace and Meg Murry as they search for their father through space and time. The book shares elements of science fiction and action adventure in an ultimately moving and profound story.
The children cross boundaries of physical law and delve within themselves in the end to find all the answers they need. As they fight a dark power taking over the universe one planet at a time, they pool their strengths and display the eternal good triumphing over evil.

The Giver by Lois Lowry is reminiscent of the most classic science fiction tales. Lowry creates a utopian society in a futuristic setting.
Couples who are well matched are required to marry and produce one boy and one girl. Adolescents are stifled with prescription drugs and assigned the correct career path from the community’s Elders. The elderly and those children who do not develop properly are disposed of, or “released.” As the hero, Jonah, grows and begins to train for his rather mystical career, he realizes the hypocrisy inherent in the society and is deeply troubled by the knowledge he has gained. The book hints at Christian allegory and produces an eerie feeling throughout. This Newbery Medal winner is a sophisticated book that any adult will find stimulating.

The Music of Dolphins by Karen Hesse is an incredible novel of linguistic sophistication and emotional depth. The story centers on Mila, a wild child discovered on a deserted island by the Coast Guard. Mila is studied by scientists as she learns to speak and function as a human.
The special thing about Mila? She was raised by dolphins. As Mila advances at an amazing rate, her language becomes more advanced as well and Hesse shows this progress with varying typeface in the book. But as Mila learns about civilization, the entire picture begins to make her homesick for her island and her original family. The writing and imagery of this book are breathtaking.