I ADORED Rabbit Hill (1945) and the Twenty-One Balloons (1948) as a child, and while I haven't reread them as an adult I think they would hold up. I think there would be some very interesting things to say about Hitty, Her First Hundred Years (1930) and The Voyages of Doctor Doolittle (1923), both of which I read and enjoyed as a child but have seem some more recent discussion of their appropriateness for today's kids due to racism. Most of the rest I either haven't read or read and don't remember.

Among medal winners, I've only read The Witch of Blackbird Pond and The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle. Both great.

Among honor books, I'd recommend Mr. Popper's Penguins (which I still have) and, obviously, the Little House books.

I'd recommend Mr. Popper's Penguins (which I still have)

We did a performance of this at my library when I was in like 3rd grade! I loved that library and the totally indulgent librarian. My best friends and I spent hours and hours of (unsupervised except by the librarian) time there, in the summer especially.

My coworker suggested I do a book to movie thing with Dr. Dolittle -- and I said may be if my book club was high school aged. But I have 4th thru 6th graders

Dr. Dolittle the book is definitely pitched at 4-6th graders, maybe even younger. I don't know about the movie.

obviously, the Little House books

megan beat me to it!

Also, Johnny Tremain, Strawberry Girl, any of the Marguerite Henry horse books (especially Misty of Chincoteague), Charlotte's Web, and The Witch of Blackbird Pond are all favorites from my childhood.

I re-read The Twenty-One Balloons about a year ago, and it holds up beautifully, and enchantingly.

Actually, now I may have to go home and re-read it yet again this very night.

I love so many Newbery winners. From those time periods, there are, of course, the Little House and Marguerite Henry books. Roller Skates, Gone-Away Lake (honor) and Johnny Tremain are among my favorite books period. I really liked The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Rifles for Watie, the wonderful Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, The Wheel on the School, Miss Hickory, Strawberry Girl, Adam of the Road, Blue Willow (honor) and Caddie Woodlawn. I think most of those would be suitable for middle schoolers, except perhaps The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Rifles for Watie, mostly because they're about older teens and they have kissing in them.

I think most of those would be suitable for middle schoolers, except perhaps The Witch of Blackbird Pond

I know I read this well before high school. And that was back in the innocent days.

I was using a "Books for Girls" book as a reference for gift-giving to my niece and I gave Blackbird to her when she was 10 (based on whatever age range they had).

That was a good guide; I almost wish I hadn't given it away in the move.

I think I was 9 or 10 myself, but my reading was so eclectic that I don't really know what age group reads what.