Honorable Mentions

Well, I am just now getting around to posting this list. I hope someone finds some media ideas that are new to them. Of course, the final decision is up to you as to whether you want something in your home - even if I recommend it. :)

First of all: BOOKS! (Have I mentioned that I love children's books?) :)
Picture books: 2-? years old

• Peter Rabbit (and others) by Beatrix Potter

• The Three Little Pigs is one of my little friend's favorites right now. One of the neat things about fairy tales is some of the cute variations of the story. There are a couple of fun ones for the 3 Pigs.

• The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig by Eugene Trivizas and Helen Oxenbbury (She LOVED this one!)

• Also for a little older child: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf as told to Jon Scieszka.

Picture books are easy to find and usually pretty clean, but watch your age genre. Some picture books are really meant for older readers even up to teens. We're seeing more of this as demand increases.

Elementary:
Boys and Girls are still enjoying much of the same books at the younger elementary stage, don't forget the classics. Sometimes you have to introduce a book/series for them to figure out that they like it. Reading to them is a good way to do this and spend some quality time.

• Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
• The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare (one of my favorites from childhood, one of my teachers read it to us.)
• Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

More for girls elementary and a little older:

• The Mandi Series by Lois Gladys Leppard (Kids love series! and they enforce a certain step in reading skills. Remember reading similar formula mysteries like Bobbsey Twins and Hardy Boys?)
• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (I loved many of her books as a girl. Do be aware of the different influences on her writings - a little mystical/spirit of nature stuff. It would be something to discuss, what is the "magic?")
• Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster

For Boys, I have found a few, not having boys, it isn't one of my areas of expertise, but I do try to read a variety.

• The Mars Diaries Series by Sigmund Brouwer (a little Sci-fi I read for my Adolescent Lit class and really enjoyed it!)
• Cooper Kids Adventures by Frank Peretti (He is a very diverse author!)
  

And for teen girls:

• The Christy Miller Series by Robin Jones Gunn (Don't tell the girls, but I really like the principals that she teaches!)
• I will add more; for a list of non fiction check out Time to Bloom.

As for Audio:There are many Old Time Radio shows that are great! They are also public domain and you can find them free to download. Here are a couple of my favorites: (click the links to find the downloads.)

• Father Knows Best (great family comedy and lessons learned)
• Cavalcade of America (History, anyone? Well done for their era, especially the ones done in the 40's and later.)
  

• Of course Adventures in Odyssey! :)
  

I haven't spoken a lot about DVDs on my blog, but there are some that I think are worth promoting.

• Miss Potter (even "little friend" enjoyed this one)
• Ocee Nash
• Drive through History with Dave Stotts (Educational and VERY interesting!)
• Boz and Hermie for the young and young at heart (I even enjoy these. and I really like the emphasis both series place on prayer.)
• Don't forget the classics! Shop around The Corner (with Jimmie Stewart)
• Life with Father
• I Remember Mama
• Cheaper by the Dozen (The OLD not the new! Great father figure.)

I'll edit this post later and add more links! For now... I've got bunches of stuff to do, but I wanted to get this up. What are some of your favorites that I missed? ;)