5 Books You and Your Child Can Enjoy Together

Valley View Elementary School has a regular Family Reader's Day where parents can come to read with their children's friends in the classroom for the first half hour of the day. But what's a book that will interest both the kids and the parents?

Carole Cain, the librarian at the elementary school, is offering a few tips of the top five lately (she has many more, but here are five good ones):

1. The Battle of the Labyrinth— The fourth adventure book in the Percy Jackson & The Olympians series by Rick Riordan is a favorite of the fourth, fifth and sixth graders. But the parents like it, too. The mix of Greek mythology and the modern world is captivating, says Cain.

"Oh, that is my favorite book, it's great," said PTA president Catherine Glandon, who is reading the book with her second-grader Caty. "The movie doesn't do the book justice, but this latest one is fantastic."

2. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey—The adventure book by Trenton Lee Stewart was so well loved that Cain received a note from one student saying, "This is the best book I ever read" and asked her to order more for the library to share with all her friends. The four children in the book go on bizarre and fun adventures, and in this one it's a treasure hunt.

3. Diary of a Wimpy Kid—The Ugly Truth—"I see kids everywhere reading this series," Cain said. "I was at a restaurant last night and saw two kids reading the latest book, it's the purple one." A recent movie, with another on the way, the Diary series by Jeff Kinney personifies every kid's fears, thoughts and mischief. 

4. The Secret Garden—This classic novel is more than a century old, but still captivates children of all ages, and is a fun book to read as a family.  Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote the book in 1910 and its been adapted into many movies and TV shows, but there's nothing like reading it in a book, Cain said.

5. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea—"I always try to push the classics, and this one is one that is always a favorite," Cain said. Jules Verne's look at the future is still captivating for children and adults alike, and it's an easy and exciting read just before bed each night.

"The most important thing is to just read, and read with your children together," Cain said. "I love seeing children walk through the library and come across a book that becomes their favorite book ever."