Navigating the World of Classical Education: A Book List for the Modern Learner

Classical education offers a time-tested approach to learning, emphasizing virtue, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of the Western canon. Whether you are a homeschooling parent, a teacher, or simply someone interested in exploring this rich educational philosophy, a well-curated reading list can serve as an invaluable guide. This article presents a comprehensive list of books, drawing from experts in the field, to help you embark on your classical education journey.

The Essence of Classical Education

Classical education is more than just a curriculum; it's a philosophy of learning that seeks to cultivate wisdom and virtue. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of knowledge and the importance of engaging with foundational texts. Leigh Bortins, a pioneer in homeschooling and classical education, emphasizes that literature in this context is not merely a subject but a "guiding light" that leads to virtue and a well-rounded understanding of the world.

Foundational Texts and Core Principles

The journey into classical education often begins with understanding its core principles. Several books offer insights into classical pedagogy, with varying degrees of accessibility. However, it is important to remember, as one philosophy professor noted, that "there is no such thing as philosophical reading, only philosophical re-reading." This underscores the importance of revisiting these texts over time to deepen one's understanding.

Essential Books for Understanding Classical Pedagogy:

Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition by Karen Glass: This book provides a concise and accessible overview of classical education through the lens of Charlotte Mason's philosophy. Mason, an influential British educational reformer, re-envisioned classical pedagogy for the modern world. Glass summarizes Mason's extensive works into a single, easily digestible volume, making it an excellent starting point for educators seeking a quick yet robust understanding of the classical model. Key takeaways include Glass's exposition of synthetic versus analytic learning and the interconnectedness of all sciences.
"The Lost Tools of Learning" by Dorothy Sayers: This essay, freely available, offers a thought-provoking perspective on classical education. Sayers's work is often interpreted as aligning with stages of a child's growth, though this interpretation has been critiqued.

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Awakening Wonder: A Classical Guide to Truth, Goodness, and Beauty by Stephen R. Turley: This book delves into the philosophical pillars of classical education, exploring the transcendentals of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. Turley guides the reader through a historical approach to the classical movement, drawing on ancient philosophers like Plato.
Norms and Nobility: A Treatise on Education by David V. Hicks: Published in 1981, this book sets a high standard for classical education literature. Hicks argues that education should shape character and critiques models that claim to teach only "facts" while subtly influencing a child's moral outlook. He emphasizes how classical education offers a solution to modern educational challenges.
The Trivium: The Liberal Arts of Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric by Sister Miriam Joseph: This book provides a detailed exposition on the trivium and liberal arts. While it reads more like a manual and assumes a strong background in classical education, it is a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding.
The Abolition of Man by C. S. Lewis: This seminal work on education is considered a "classical education apologetic." It is a challenging but essential read for all classical educators, exploring the importance of objective values and the dangers of moral relativism.

Classical Education Book List

Educator, mother, grandmother, and daughter of the King, Leigh Bortins is best known for creating lifelong learners through her educational support program, Classical Conversations, which organizes classical academic communities for homeschooling families. Leigh founded Classical Conversations (or CC) in 1997 to know God and to make Him known through the power of community. CC supports classical, Christian homeschoolers in all fifty states and thirty foreign countries, with well over 45,000 families enrolled in the program. After receiving a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan, Leigh went on to write her Doctor of Ministry thesis on church-based global education for Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She has written several books, including The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education, The Question: Teaching Your Child the Essentials of Classical Education, and The Conversation: Challenging Your Student with a Classical Education, a series which explores the classical trivium from a parent’s perspective. She has also authored curriculum and guides for parents and students, including The Math Map, a complete math curriculum for classical students of all ages. She enjoys speaking at conferences, to organizations, and on radio shows and podcasts to promote free-market education, and she also enjoys encouraging parents to take ownership of their children’s education. Leigh engages thought leaders, institutions, and families through her enthusiasm to develop both minds and souls. There are hundreds of thousands of books written for children. The challenge is discerning what is best for them to read, given so many options. I’m a sucker for good reading lists, so I’m grateful for the folks at Calvary Classical School-a classical Christian school in Hampton, Virginia, who have given me permission to reproduce this list below. For outside reading, the books are divided into three levels. I’ve done my best to link to the paperback or cheapest version at Amazon. The following books constitute some of the greatest works in the Western canon. The 100 works listed above are preparation for these works that follow. If you’d like further insight into this list, we have a conversation with Leigh Bortins and Yvette Hampton. It explores how your family can build up to reading the greatest works of literature.

Level 1

Leaf, Munro.
Leaf, Munro.
Lloyd-Jones, Sally.
Taylor, Helen.
Leithart, Peter.
Brown, Jeff.
Dalgliesh, Alice.
Silverstein, Shel.
Bulla, Clyde.
Changler, Edna.
Frasconi, Antonio.
Graham, Margaret.
Hoff, Syd.
Hoff, Syd.
Krauss, Ruth.
Lionni, Leo.
Littledale, Freya.
Lobel, Arnold.
Offen, Hilda.
Seuss, Dr.
Seuss, Dr.
Tabak, Simms.
Wood, Audrey.
Carle, Eric.
Davoll, Barbara.
Daugherty, James.
Duvoisin, Roger.
Flack, Marjorie.
Freeman, Don.
Galdone, Paul.
Galdone, Paul.
Hoban, Russell.
Hunt, Angela.
Keats, Ezra.
Marshall, James.
McGovern, Ann.
Minarik, Else.
Numeroff, Laura.
Parish, Peggy.
Rey, Margaret & H.A.
Richardson, Arleta.
Sharmat, Marjorie.
Zion, Gene.
Buckley, Helen.
Burton, Virginia.
Coerr, Eleanor.
De Regniers, Beatrice.
Ets, Marie.
Gramatky, Hardie.
Hader, Berta.
Keats, Ezra.
Lewis, Kim.
Lowry, Jannette.
McCloskey, Robert.
Piper, Watty.
Potter, Beatrix.
Sendak, Maurice.
Turkle, Brinton.
Ward, Lynd.
Wilder, Laura.
Williams, Vera.

Level 2

Andersen, Hans C.
Brown, Marcia.
Burton, Virginia.
Burton, Virginia.
Cauley, Lorinda.
Cleary, Beverly.
Cleary, Beverly.
Dalgliesh, Alice.
Lewis, C. S.
McCloskey, Robert.
Steig, William.
Warner, Gertrude. The Box-Car Children (vol.
Williams, Marjorie.
Cannon, Janell.
Galdone, Paul.
Galdone, Paul.
Galdone, Paul.
Kessel, Joyce.
Roop, Peter and Connie.
Slobodkina, Esphyr.
Yolen, Jane.
Anderson, C. W.
Bemelmans, Ludwig.
Bontemps, Arna & Conroy Jack.
Calhoun, Mary.
DeBrunhoff, Jean.
Flack, Marjorie.
Gag, Wanda.
Gauch, Patricia.
Haywood, Carolyn.
Hope, Laura Lee.
Leaf, Munro.
Loveless, Maude.
Milne, A. A.
Milne, A. A.
Politi, Leo.
Steig, William.
Taha, Karen.
Warner, Gertrude.
Ziefert, Harriet.

Level 3

Aardemas, Verna.
Harness, Cheryl.
Le Gallienne, Eva. Seven Tales by H. C.
McCloskey, Robert.
McCloskey, Robert.
McCloskey, Robert.
Mowat, Farley.
Nesbit, E.
Sobol, Donald.
Sproul, R. C.
West, Jerry.
Williams, Jay.
Atwater, Richard. Mr.
Barrie, James.
Farley, Walter.
Fleischman, Sid.
Gannett, Ruth.
Grahame, Kenneth. The Wind in the Willows (Scholastic Jr.
Kipling, Rudyard. The Jungle Book (Scholastic Jr.
Lewis, C. S.
Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver’s Stories (Scholastic Jr.
White, E. B.
White, E. B.
Winterfeld, Henry.
Bulla, Clyde.
Bulla, Clyde.
Cleary, Beverly.
Dalgliesh, Alice.
Gardiner, John.
Hall, Donald.
Kellogg, Steven.
MacGregor, Ellen.
MacLachlan, Patricia.
McSwigan, Marie.
Scieszka, Jon.
Sobol, Donald.
Stanley, Diane.
Warner, Gertrude. The Box-Car Children (excluding vol.
Collodi C.
Edmonds, Walter.
Henry, Marguerite.
Herriot, James.
Hope, Laura Lee.
Hurwitz, Johanna.
Lindgren, Astrid.
Milne, A. A.
Nesbit, E.
Richardson, Arleta.
Roddy, Lee.
Rupp, Rebecca.
Wilder, Laura.
Bailey, Carolyn.
Bond, Michael.
Butterworth, Oliver.
Cleary, Beverly.
D’Aulaire, I. E.
Estes, Eleanor.
Fritz, Jean.
Holling, H. C.
Jackson, Dave & Neta.
Kipling, Rudyard.
Lawson, Robert.
McCloskey, Robert.
Nesbit, E.
Peretti, Frank.
Reece, Colleen.
Streatfeild, Noel.
Blackwood, Gary.
Burnett, Frances Hodgson.
Carroll, Lewis.
Dahl, Roald.
D’Aulaire, Ingri & Edgar.
Daugherty, James.
de Angeli, Marguerite.
Du Bois, William Pene.
Estes, Eleanor.
Henry, Marguerite.
Green, Roger Lancelyn.
Konigsburg, E. L. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basel E.
Lewis, C. S.
Norton, Mary.
Prum, Deborah M.
Rebsamen, Frederick.
Sis, Peter.
Stanley, Diane and Peter Vennema.
Stanley, Diane.
Vernon, Louise A.
White, E. B.
Alexander, Lloyd.
Armstrong, William.
Babbitt, Natalie.
Burnett, Frances H.
Carlson, Natalie.
Estes, Eleanor.
Knight, Eric.
L’Engle, Madeliene.
Lenski, Lois.
Lenski, Lois.
Lowry, Lois.
McSwigan, Marie.
Seredy, Kate.
Speare, Elizabeth.
Taylor, Sydney.
Thurber, James.
Verne, Jules.
Wilson, N. D.
Farley, Walter.
Funke, Cornellia.
George, Jean C.
Grahame, Kenneth.
Hanes, Mari.
Jacques, Brian.
Lofting, Hugh. The Voyages of Dr.
Morey, Walt.
Peretti, Frank.
Riordan, Rick.
Smith, Dodie.
Street, James.
Travers, P. I.
Wilson, N. D.
Adamson, Joy.
Alcott, Louisa May.
Burnford, Sheila.
Field, Rachel.
Lawson, Robert.
Robertson, Keith.
Robinson, Barbara.
Sewell, Anna.
Sidney, Margaret.
Defoe, Daniel.
Forbes, Esther.
Lathan, Jean. Carry On, Mr.
Lewis, C. S.
Lewis, C. S.
Speare, Elizabeth.
Swift, Jonathan.
Beatty, Patricia.
Brink, Carol.
Byars, Betsy.
Cleary, Beverly. Dear Mr.
De Jong, Meindert.
Enright, Elizabeth.
Gates, Doris.
Gipson, Fred.
Hanes Mari.
O’Brien, Robert. Mrs.
Rawls, Wilson.
Selden, George.
Cameron, Eleanor.
De Jong, Meindert.
George, Jean Craighead.
Montgomery, Lucy.
O’Dell, Scott.
Pearce, Philippa.
Porter, Eleanor.
Rawks, Wilson.
Spyri, Johanna.
Wyss, Johann.
Alcott, Louisa.
Burnett, Frances.
De Jong, Meindert.
Dodge, Mary.
Grahame, Kenneth.
MacDonald, George.
MacDonald, George.
North, Sterling.
Seredy, Kate.
Stevenson, Robert Louis.
Terhune, Albert.
Tolkien, J. R. R.
Verne, Jules.
Verne, Jules.
Adams, Richard.
Bishop, Claire.
Crane, Stephen.
Doyle, Arthur Conan.
Lewis, C. S.
Lewis, C. S.
Orwell, George.
ten Boom, Corrie.
Alexander, Lloyd.
Bradbury, Ray.
Kjelgaard, James.
Lester, Julius.
Rawlings, Marjorie.
Sorensen, Virginia.
Speare, Elizabeth.
Van Leeuwen, Jean.
Baum, Frank L.
Bradbury, Ray.
Dickens, Charles.
Eareckson, Joni.
Fisher, Dorothy.
Irving, Washington.
Irving, Washington.
Jacques, Brian.
London, Jack.
Marshall, Catherine.
O’Hara, Mary.
Sterling, Dorothy.
Taylor, Theodore.
Trapp, Maria Augusta.
Twain, Mark.
Twain, Mark.
Field, Rachel.
Henty, G. H.
Henty, G. H.
Kipling, Rudyard.
London, Jack.
Orczy, Emmuska.
Stevenson, Robert Louis.
Taylor, Mildred.
Tunnell, Michael.
Twain, Mark.
Verne, Jules.
Wells, H. G.
Yates, Elizabeth.

Seventh Grade Reading Program

The following is a list of adopted titles used for the seventh-grade reading program. Although certain titles are assigned to specific grades, when necessary, teachers may use a list of titles above or below their grade. It is desired that at least 5 adopted books are read each year. Some books will be assigned and read in class, and others will be assigned for outside reading. Every effort has been made to pick the best available literature. As with everything, each book must be read with scripture as our final standard.

Aldrich, Thomas.
Brother Andrew.
Bunyan, John.
DeJong, Meindert.
DeKruif, Paul.
Dickens, Charles.
Dickens, Charles.
Dumas, Alexandre.
Dumas, Alexandre.
Eaton, Jeanette.
Field, Rachel.
Forester, C. S.
Freedman, Ben. Mrs.
Grant, George.
Henry, O. The Best Short Stories of O.
Henty, G. A.
Henty, G. A.
Hugo, Victor.
Kipling, Rudyard.
Latham, Jean Lee.
Lewis, C. S.
Lewis, C. S.
Lewis, C. S.
Little, Paul.
Little, Paul.
MacDonald, George.
O’Dell, Scott.
O’Dell, Scott.
Orczy, Baroness.
Seredy, Kate.
Speare, Elizabeth George.
Stevenson, Robert Louis.
Stevenson, Robert Louis. Dr. Jekyll and Mr.
Thomson, Andy.

This year in history the students will be studying Explorers to 1815. Students will be reading numerous books from this time period in class. Outside reading is also encouraged, especially historical fiction which engages the imagination and makes the time period come alive. We encourage you to read aloud with your children from books that may be above their reading level. Suggestions for reading are offered below.

Bliven, Bruce.
Blos, Joan.
Bond, Douglas.
Bond, Douglas.
Calabro, Marian.
Carter, Alice.
Collins, David.
Cooper, James Fenimore.
Cousins, Margaret.
Cox, Clinton.
Cox, Clinton.
Dafoe, Daniel.
Daugherty, James.
Daugherty, James.
de Trevino, Elizabeth.
DK Eyewitness.
Forbes, Esther.
Forbes, Esther.
Foster, Genevieve.
Freedman, Russell.
Fritz, Jean.
Fritz, Jean. Why Not, Lafayette?
Hamilton, Alexander, et al.
Haugaard, Erik.
Jackson, Shirley.
Lasky, Kathryn.
Lawton, Wendy.
Lawton, Wendy.
Mansfield, Stephen.
McPherson, Joyce.
Murphy, Jim.
Newman, Shirlee.
O’Dell, Scott.
Roosevelt, T. and Lodge, H.
Savery, Constance.
Schanzer, Rosalyn.
Severance, John.
Speare, Elizabeth. George.
Speare, Elizabeth George.
Speare, Elizabeth George.
Stevenson, Robert Louis.
Stevenson, Robert Louis.
Vaughn, David.
Yates, Elizabeth.

Eighth Grade Reading Program

Following is the list of adopted titles used for the eighth-grade reading program. Although certain titles are assigned to specific grades, when necessary, teachers may use a list of titles above or below their grade. It is desired that at least 5 adopted books are read each year. Some books will be assigned and read in class, and others will be assigned for outside reading. Every effort has been made to pick the best available literature. As with everything, each book must be read with Scripture as our final standard.

Austen, Jane.
Austen, Jane.
Austen, Jane.
Braithwaite, Edward.
Chesterton, G. K.
Chesterton, G. K.
Colson, Charles.
Defoe, Daniel.
DeKruif, Paul.
Dickens, Charles.
Dickens, Charles.
Douglas, Lloyd C.
Forester, C. S.
Gilbreth & Carey.
Gilbreth & Carey.
Henry, O. Best Short Stories of O.
Herriot, James.
Herriot, James.
Herriot, James.
Lee, Harper.
Lewis, C. S.
Scott, Sir Walter.
Shakespeare, William.
Shakespeare, William.
Shakespeare, William.
Shakespeare, William.
Shakespeare, William.
Shakespeare, William.
Sheldon, Charles.
Swift, Jonathan.
ten Boom, Corrie.
Twain, Mark.
Twain, Mark.
Twain, Mark.
Wallace, Lew.
White, T. H.

This year in history the students will be studying 1815 to Present. Students will be reading numerous books from this time period in class. Outside reading is also encouraged, especially historical fiction which engages the imagination and makes the time period come alive. We encourage you to read aloud with your children from books that may be above their reading level. Suggestions for reading are offered below.

Abernathy, Alta.
Ambrose, Stephen.
Beatty, Patricia.
Bierman, Carol.
Bliven, Bruce.
Bradley, James.
Brown, Dee.
Catton, Bruce.
Cornelissen, Cornelia.
Crockett, Davy.
Derry, Joseph T.
De Vries, Anne.
Doswell, Paul.
Frank, Anne.
Freedman, Russell.
Grant, George. Carry a Big Stick: The Uncommon Heroism of T.
Hemingway, Ernest.
Henty, G. A.
Hersey, John.
Hunt, Irene.
Ingold, Jeanette.
Irwin, James.
Kantor, MacKinlay.
Lester, Julius.
Levitin, Sonia.
Linnea, Sharon.
Mansfield, Stephen.
Marrin, Albert.
Marrin, Albert.
Marrin, Albert.
Marrin, Albert.
McMurdie, Jean McAnlis.
McMurdie, William.
Murphy, Jim.
Nolan, Peggy.
O’Grady, Captain Scott.
Prins, Piet.
Raven, Margot.
Reynolds, Quentin.
Serraillier, Ian.
Sperry, Armstrong.
Steele, William.
Steele, William.
Taylor, Theodore. Air Raid-Pearl Harbor!
Taylor, Mildred.
ten Boom, Corrie.
Trapp, Maria Augusta.
Van Leeuwen, Jean.
Velde, Vivian.
Wilkins, J. Steven. Call of Duty: The Sterling Nobility of Robert E.
Winik, Jay.
York, Alvin.

St. John's College Reading List

St. John’s College is best known for its reading list and the Great Books curriculum that was adopted in 1937. While the list of books has evolved over the last century, the tradition of all students reading foundational texts of Western civilization remains. The reading list at St. John’s includes classic works in philosophy, literature, political science, psychology, history, religion, economics, math, chemistry, physics, biology, astronomy, music, language, and more. Learn more about classes at St. The reading list presented on this page may not accurately reflect the current reading list due to recent changes, works that are read only on one campus, works that are read in part, and works that are read by some students as junior and senior elective classes.

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Work(s) “Letter to Professor S. J.L. J.J.
Work(s) St.
Work(s) “Remarks on the Preceding Papers by Mr. G. H. V.S. Elective
Work(s) A House for Mr. W. E. B. T. S. G. H. J. J. Booker T.
Work(s) Mrs. G. H. V.S. Elective Work(s) A House for Mr.

The Classical Education: Cultivating Wisdom and Virtue

By Andrew Kern & Dr. Edited by Dr. Whether you are a parent anxious about your child’s education, a family considering homeschooling, or a young person contemplating a career as a teacher, this book will help you think through what a true education involves. “Classical education,” they explain, “cultivates wisdom and virtue by nourishing the soul on truth, goodness, and beauty.” Succeeding chapters sketch how this approach has been applied by a wide variety of educators, including Christians (Protestant and Catholic), Great Books enthusiasts, and social entrepreneurs who serve the poor and minority students at home and abroad. Chapters are also devoted to homeschooling and higher education. “This is a perfect little book on a vast subject: lucid without being simplistic, opinionated without being dogmatic, comprehensive yet to the point. “Classical Education reminds us that every achievement of humankind is valuable, and every child’s soul is damaged when we fail to demand that they achieve. Our children don’t need tags, measures, inkblot tests. St.

Starting a Classical School: A Guide to Essential Reading

HCAJan 18, 20225 min readStarting a classical school--whether it be a public-charter, private, co-op, or homeschool--is an exciting undertaking that I encourage everyone to consider. The idea might sound daunting or even terrifying, but that’s only because most people are not aware of the many available resources. In my almost twenty years of “classical” work (first as a student, then as a teacher, and now as a school leader), I’ve picked up a few tricks of the trade that make starting your own classical school easier. I’d like to share some of these insights, particularly focusing on one question I am often asked: “What books should a person read to prepare to open a classical school?”There are several books that teach classical pedagogy. However, not all of them are equal. Some lack clarity, others are so basic that they barely offer any insights. And a vast majority of books are so pretentious that most readers put the book down after a page or two (and rightly so, no one likes a pedant).Considering all these things, I have put together a list that I consider to be the best when it comes to learning and understanding classical. I have arranged this list in order of difficulty - from the most accessible to most challenging (yet still very rewarding). In my humble opinion, if you are looking for a survey of the classical worldview and its underpinnings, these are by far the best sources available at the moment.Now one quick caveat before we jump into the list: Many years ago when I was working towards my B.A. in philosophy, my professor introduced me to a life-altering truth that I now want to share with you. He would say, “There is no such thing as philosophical reading, only philosophical re-reading.” In other words, however accessible (or easy to follow) this list of books can be, I recommend you read them many times over--and over many years. With this, I begin with the first book on my list:

Building a Foundation for Great Literature

This curated list is designed to help families gradually build up to reading the greatest works of literature. It is a valuable resource for those familiar with the trivium and those new to the classical model. The collection aligns with classical education principles, covering everything from grammar to persuasive writing.

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