I’m always on the hunt for good quality books for boys. Not just family read aloud books – although I look I look for those often – but books that are specifically geared toward boys.
And don’t get me wrong, I know it’s important for girls to have books for them, too. But I’m raising four boys and zero girls, so most of my energy goes into finding books for boys.
What drives me absolutely nuts is when I go to the library and sitting on the shelves are books called “Fart Quest” (I’m not kidding, this is a real book, look it up – I have no idea what it’s about, I don’t want to know) or Captain Underpants or Dogman.
I’m all about reading for fun – heck, it’s not like I’m reading the classics all the time, I love a good romcom – but it seems like authors and publishers alike have decided that books for boys should contain bathroom humor or the most insipid plots known to man.
Slowly but surely, I have filled my home library with wholesome books for boys. I’ve also gotten pretty good at finding quality books at the library to bring home every week.
Tips for Finding Books for Boys
Let’s talk about a few of my favorite tips for finding good quality books for boys. Because I can make a list as long as my kitchen table, but it still won’t include every single book out there.
This is a teach a man to fish situation. I’m going to teach you some of my favorite tricks for finding wholesome books. Then you can find and build your own collection of great reads for your boys.
Tip #1: Go Vintage – If you want a book that will teach your child wholesome values vintage books are the best! These books typically don’t push any agendas and keep the language relatively clean.
That does not mean you have to go to every antique store in town. What you should do is look for books that are older. And by older, I mean publishes in 1990’s or earlier. Because guess what 80’s & 90’s babies?? We’re vintage now!
So all of those Hardy Boys books your brother read as a kid and your parents still have in their basement? Grab them! The old school Scholastic paperbacks that you find all the time at the thrift stores, they’re absolute gold. Especially if you get a good deal on them.
Older books tend to have better values represented, more wholesome language, and no agenda. It is my favorite tip.
Tip #2: Peruse Homeschool Reading Lists – Even if you don’t homeschool, homeschool reading lists are a great place to find book recommendations.
Often times these lists have been well researched and heavily curated. Plus, these books will usually also have excellent vocabulary and great ideas for your child to think on. And I’m a big believer in giving kids ideas that are good and beautiful.
Tip #3: Join online mom’s groups – You can’t do this alone! Especially if your kids read super fast like mine. I recently joined several Facebook groups for Christian moms. Each of the groups is geared toward helping moms find great books for their children to read.
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Where do I find wholesome boys books?
Some of my favorite places to find books are used bookstores, thrift shops, and garage sales! You’ll notice this goes hand-in-hand with my tip to shop vintage books.
You could also shop library sales. Libraries often take old or underused books and sell them as a fundraiser. You can get great quality books – that are still in good shape – for super cheap! I’ve even found some hardback books for a quarter! Be sure to check your local library and the surrounding counties.
Bookmark this blog, follow me on Instagram, or join my email list (heck, you could do all three!) since I regularly share great books for young boys; wholesome books and movies for the whole family to enjoy; and sweet & clean romance books for women!
Is there a quick way to tell if a book is wholesome or not?
Kind of.
Start with basic things like the title and a quick flip through. If that title is something like “Fart Quest” you can guess it’s going to be filled with potty language.
I’ve also found that books published after 2015 are more likely to feature an agenda. This isn’t always accurate, but it’s a good rule of thumb. Most often newer books are a ‘no’ for us. Unless I know and trust the author or publisher.
This rule doesn’t always prove to be true, but it has a pretty high success rate for me. And almost every single time I’ve ignored it proved to be a mistake.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE COMPLETE LIST OF BOOKS FOR BOYS
Wholesome Books for Boys
Now for the list!
I’ve shared my top five options below with a quick rundown of each book. If you’d like a longer list, please click here to join my email list. An entire list of wholesome books for boys will be sent to your inbox right away. I promise I won’t spam you – I don’t have time for that and neither do you!
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder – An excellent addition to Laura Ingalls Wilder classic Little House on the Prairie series, Farmer Boy tells the story of her husband -Almanzo – as a boy growing up on a farm in Minnesota. Almanzo is about nine years old in the book. Farmer Boy is best for boys close to age nine. This book can be read as a stand alone; I highly recommend the audiobook. Some parts detail farm life and might a little hard to read for a sensitive reader, but overall the book is wholesome and fun! A fantastic living book for young boys.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George – An absolute must read for any young boy. My Side of the Mountain tells the story of a young boy who runs away from his crowded New York apartment to live in the woods. The story is adventurous but gentle, telling how he learns to make his own clothes, hunt and gather food, and get along on his own. There is no foul language and nothing that was overly scary or intense. And don’t worry, it has a happy ending plus two more books in the series!
Little Britches by Ralph Moody – This is the title that I will give the most caution for. It has some cowboy language and mild swearing as well as some more intense parts (like on page death). Little Britches is an excellent tale of boyhood and a child’s relationship with his father. It teaches good values and features strong male characters. There are eight books total in this series. When my son came to the parts with the language we simply discussed it and moved forward. It does not overwhelm the story, but it’s something to keep in mind.
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – A fun, adventure-fantasy book, this precursors to the classic Lord of the Rings series is an excellent way to introduce your son to the classic series. My son absolutely devoured this, he couldn’t put it down! There’s an audiobook version as well.
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White – Best suited for boys between ages 8-10, this adorable book tells the story of a young boy and a swan. It’s funny and heartwarming and the audiobook version is an absolute must!
If you want even more titles that are great for boys, click here to join my email list. You’ll get a big list sent straight to your inbox. You can also click on the image below.
What are some of your favorite books for boys? Share in the comments below!