As an educator, I make it a point to read as many Children and Young Adult books as I possibly can. As an avid reader, it's an obsession! I am currently working on reading a list of the 100 Best Children's Chapter Books from Children's Books Guide but I'm only on number 12 (Huckleberry Finn is kicking my booty.) I have ALWAYS loved reading and I attribute a lot of that to my mom who shares this with me and read to me constantly while she was pregnant with me. My dad tells me that all of the time, and so I tried to read aloud to Aria while I was pregnant as well. It is one of my greatest hopes that Aria will share my and her father's passion for a good book!

So without further ado, here are my top 5 books that I am dying to read with Aria when she is finally old enough. (Some of which are already on her book shelf!)

5. Holes: Stanley and his bad luck sure do make for a good read. Although this may seem like a very "boyish" choice for Aria, it's one of my favorites and I think that her adventurous spirit will love it as well.  I can't wait to see her face when Stanley and Zero are stuck in the hole with the yellow-spotted lizards or when she realizes the connection between Stanley and Zero's families. 

4.Out of My Mind: Aria will certainly be considerably older when we read this, and she may be past the love of mommy reading to her, but this is a book that I really want to share with her. I really want Aria to grow up with a respect for all people and with compassion for those around her. I want her to understand that everyone has a voice and everyone is special. In this book, Melody overcomes the stigma of being "dumb" or "less of a person" that comes with her disease. Smarter than most, she works hard to find her voice and make everyone hear it. I can't tell you how many times I cried reading this awe-inspiring book.  I can't think of a better book to help Aria see the beauty in those around her, no matter their disability.  

3. Inkheart: Who doesn't love a good father-daughter story! What a girl wouldn't do for her daddy. This book had me on the edge of my seat page by page. I mean, who couldn't love a book about books!!  Oh to have the power to read characters into life. A power I wish I had. I'm sure Aria will wish for it too. Who wouldn't? Maybe Aria will relate to Meggie and her sense of bravery and strength.Whatever the case, this is a must read!

2. Anne of Green Gables: This series was one of my favorites as a young girl. I remember my dad buying me the remaining set of books while we were on vacation from a small hole in the wall used book store. I remember the smell of old books and how excited I was to see these books in the window. I wanted to be more like Anne. More adventurous and imaginative. Not afraid to be myself in a world full of peer pressures. I learned a lot from Anne and her adventures as well as from her many mistakes. I was equally as heartbroken as Anne when Diana became drunk from the raspberry cordial and they were no longer allowed to be friends. My imagination was alive as"Elaine" floated down the pond and her flat began to leak. And I cried like a baby as Anne and Marilla watched Matthew take his last breath. Anne quickly became one of my favorite characters of all time. I can't wait for the day when Aria can let her imagination run wild as I read this to her!  

1. The Harry Potter Series: OK, I do realize that series is not a single book but to save us from having each Harry Potter book be each number in this list, I'll bunch them all together. If you know me, you know that no other chapter book even comes close to HP. As I said before, I've always loved to read, but the Harry Potter series really made me fall in love with reading. Fall in love with getting lost in a book and transported to another world. No other series has captivated me like this one. Harry, Hermione, and Ron are forever my favorite group of friends. I cannot wait to share their adventures with Aria: the bond of friendship and family, overcoming evil and the path of a hero. The day that she is old enough to start these books will be one happy day for this Momma!! 

Well, there you have it folks. My list of must reads with Aria. Let me hear about your faves in the comments below. Night y'all!