Honey for a Child's Heart Updated and Expanded: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life

by Gladys Hunt, Charity Spencer (Narrator), Mark Hunt - contributor

A modern classic with over 250,000 copies sold, Honey for a Child's Heart is a compelling, essential guide for parents who want to find the best books for their children ages 0-12. This updated and expanded edition includes a new preface, an updated list of recommended reads for each age group, and audiobook suggestions.

A good book is a gateway into a wider world of wonder, beauty, delight, and adventure. But children don't stumble onto the best books by themselves. They need a parent's help. Author Gladys Hunt, along with her son, Mark, discusses everything from how to choose good books for your children to encouraging them to be avid readers.

Honey for a Child's Heart Updated and Expanded includes completely updated book lists geared to your child's age and filled with nearly one thousand longtime favorites, classics, wonderful new books, and audiobooks that will enrich your child's life. It will also show you how

Understand the importance of being a read-aloud family, enjoying books together by reading aloudGive your children a large view of the world, of truth, and of goodnessEncourage each child's imagination and good use of languageFind the best books for your childrenThousands of parents have used this guide to furnish their children's inner spirit with the wonder and delight of good reading. Updated and expanded to keep pace with the ever-changing world of children's literature, it is sure to enrich the cultural and spiritual life of your home.

The reading lists are included in the audiobook companion PDF download.

Genres: Parenting, Education

Audible Audio

Published November 2, 2021

Reviews

[Bethany Witzig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not surprised I loved this book, there are few topics I geek out about more than the types of books we read to/with kids!!! (Blame the classical teaching background).

This book was an awesome overview and explanation of why reading with your kids and WHAT you read with them is so important. It also provided so much grace and flexibility for differences in families, personalities, etc. I also love that she includes literal lists of books by age she recommends so you have somewhere to start!

A few quick quotes I liked:

“Good books are about the stuff of life. Every child needs to see the possibilities of being human, watch the consequences of choices, and have their hearts stretched by goodness and courage in action.”

“It is better to acquaint your child with a book of quality than with second-rate writing where the plot is only a thin disguise for dumping a message.”

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feb 14, 2026 * 3.5 to 4 stars
Updated and expanded by author's son.

[Kaity Tomlinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad I will have this reference book on my shelf for years to come! What a rich resource of booklists curated by authors who passionately care and evaluate each book. You get the sense that they are talking about old friends. If you want to develop good taste in literature for your child (and yourself!), start here.

[Emily Piszczek · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s an easy read. The author does a great job sharing the importance of reading—Both reading together with our kids and encouraging them to read. These are things I’ve obviously considered, but after reading this I’m encouraged to really cultivate a culture of reading and consider the stories I’m choosing to read with my kids. The book list at the end is also so nice!! Broken down by age!

[Rebekah Barcelo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was SUCH good read, and I honestly wish every parent was able to read it early on in their parenting journey, whether they plan to homeschool or not. Gladys Hunt goes into detail about not only the importance of good literature in the lives of our children, and the family culture as a whole, but also what to look for when when picking a book, and qualities to keep in mind as you build a family library.

[Mariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a mother constantly trying to soften the noise of screens in my home, this book was a major reminder of how important stories and books are. Gladys draws from her own experiences as a mother and reader to guide and often remind families of the transformative power of books.

The book is divided into sections that blend practical advice with literary wisdom and wonderful book recommendations. She explores the "why" behind reading aloud, emphasizing how books build family bonds, foster empathy, and instill values. Her approach is gentle yet persuasive, urging readers to prioritize quality literature over fleeting entertainment.

As a book lover myself, I found myself getting choked up multiple times while reading this book. I agreed wholeheartedly with the way she implores parents to introduce their children to beloved characters, stories, adventures, and timeless books. Thanks to this book, I now have an even longer list of must read books. Not just books for my children to read, but myself as well. I want to join them on these adventures and discuss them long after they have ended.

This book reminded me of how so many stories and books impacted my life and built my character. It left me inspired to dust off old favorites and ensure my children join me on many new adventures.

As Reading Rainbow said... "take a look, it's in a book... reading rainbow!"

[Tiffany Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

You might expect a book about books to be dull but this was both enjoyable and encouraging. It explains and emphasizes the importance of reading, offers ideas for introducing and cultivating a love of books in children, suggests ways to incorporate reading into family life, and includes around 1,000 book recommendations for a variety of ages. Very helpful

[David Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two part book. The first part a wonderful overview and logical insight to the world of books in family life. I appreciated the authors worldview. The second part is an easy to understand well organized book list.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provided so many things to consider when instilling a tradition of reading and building a family library. Such an easy listen (audiobook) and the physical book contains wonderful lists to work with based on age / reading level. Highly recommend!!

[Becky Carlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A valuable resource. Also good tips on choosing good children’s literature and why it’s important.

[Abigail Wingard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic resource.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about the benefits of reading books and an extensive book list? sold.

[C]

this is my favorite book of all time!

[Jamie Goss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for parents, grandparents, teachers...basically any adults that are looking for high quality books for kids. Honey for a Child's Heart is basically a huge reference list of children's books, from pre-K picture books to high school novels. I did read the beginning of the book where Gladys Hunt writes about the benefits of reading and how to inspire your kids to read, but I didn't find that part particularly useful or necessary. It was well written, though, and would probably be beneficial to a new homeschooler or teacher. The real value of this book is as a reference for finding good reads for kids. Great book to have permanently on your shelf.