John Senior (1923–1999), a beloved professor at the University of Kansas, was deeply rooted in the Great Books tradition through his studies under Mark Van Doren at Columbia, tracing back to the movement’s founders. He compiled a thoughtful list of “Good Books” for children and young adults, organized by age, which he believed formed the imaginative and moral foundation necessary to truly appreciate the Great Books later in life.

Senior argued that modern education had lost its cultural soil, and that children must first be nourished by timeless stories—fables, fairy tales, and classic literature—before tackling the weightier philosophical works. His list includes around 140 titles still in print, and we’ve arranged them by grade and difficulty as a guide for parents. More than just a reading list, it offers a joyful and formative journey into truth, beauty, and goodness—the heart of authentic classical education.