When asked for a favorite subject, my ten year old homeschool son always chooses reading. For him, reading anything is enjoyment. Books are a wonderful gift for homeschool students, especially books in a favorite series. While many homeschoolers utilize the library and book swaps, receiving a new book for Christmas will put a smile on any child's face. There are some great book choices for your homeschoolers this holiday season, from mysteries to adventure series. I have selected some super books that your homeschoolers will get enthusiastic and joyful about reading. These book choices are "vampire free", as I wanted to showcase other options for literary choices!

Preschool students develop their love for reading during these formative years. Having a well stocked home library full of interactive books will create an excitement and love for books. A wonderful book called "Pat the Bunny" will quickly become your child's favorite. Perfect for kinesthetic, or hands on learners, this book appeals to a child's senses. It is also a fun story to read! While "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" is a classic preschoolers love to read, there are several other books in this series. "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do you Hear?" as well as "What do you See?" books about both "little bear" and "panda bear". These are wonderful choices to add to this collection. Don't forget about the beloved Dr. Seuss when choosing books for your younger child. Many of his books, like "Hop on Pop" and "Cat in the Hat" are tried and true classics every child loves to read. There is a fantastic beginner book set as well, which offers five of these time honored treasures.

The younger elementary years are a perfect time to introduce a chapter book series. Junie B. Jones is a funny and likable character for boys and girls in the younger grades. Subjects like losing teeth and keeping secrets appeal to all children, and the easy flow of the chapter books makes this series one to get. There are several boxed sets to pick up, along with additional books featuring Junie, like "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells". Marc Brown, creator of the Arthur character, has written many fabulous books based on this kind hearted aardvark and his family. Books like "Arthur's Mystery Babysitter" and "D.W.'s Perfect Present" are not only funny, but they are also wholesome reading for the younger crew. Another humorous classic is the Curious George series. The mischievous behavior of this cute monkey takes the readers on a wild adventure! "The Complete Adventures of Curious George" is a book to read over and over again. "Merry Christmas, Curious George!" is a holiday themed delight.

Older elementary and middle school homeschoolers will enjoy an exciting and interesting book during their winter break. An alternative to the latest vampire craze is a wonderful series by John Flanagan. "The Ranger's Apprentice" follows the adventures of a boy named Will, who must use stealth and courage to protect his kingdom. The series begins with "The Ruins of Gorlan" and continues through to the sixth book in the series, "The Siege of Macindaw". This fantasy series is a thrilling adventure! Young ladies will enjoy the American Girls series of stories. "Kirsten" and "Samantha" are wonderful young women to read about, and their stories come in nifty book sets. Long time classics by Beverly Cleary are always in style, especially with the release of the new Ramona movie to premier in Spring 2010.

Middle and High School homeschoolers would love to find books under the Christmas tree too! The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan is an exciting book for Mythology lovers. This series is set to be a movie, premiering in February 2010. There is a hardcover treasury set of the series of books thus far (1-5) that would make an amazing gift. Lois Duncan writes incredible mysteries that young women will enjoy. Books like "Killing Mr. Griffin" and "Locked in Time" are truly books your teenage homeschooler won't want to put down! "Jacob I Have Loved" is an award winning book that transends time. The author, Katherine Patterson deals with sibling rivalry and other teen topics in a respectable way. Finally, the Anne of Green Gables is a kindhearted series of books that are must reads for any teen girl. "Anne" is a character made to stand the test of time!