secular books

A Curated List of Wholesome Pre-1990 Secular Books 

It’s hard to find kosher books among the secular books written today. But it wasn’t like that when we were kids. These are the books you might have read when you were young…and that your child might enjoy today. 

We’re usually very hesitant to share secular books on Between Carpools since everyone has different standards of what they want their family reading. With all the kids home now indefinitely, and hence a need for more books, we put together a list of books written before 1990, as earlier books, in general, tend to be more kosher than books written today. Please as always, do your own due diligence and read reviews and suggested ages for each book. You may recognize some of these books as you may have read them when you were a child. 

Browse our curated list of secular books written before 1990 here.

Reviews on some of these books are available at kosherbooks.org

Between Carpools

Between Carpools is a collaboration between five talented friends who like to get a lot of stuff done “between carpools.” Since 2016, we’ve been sharing home and organizing tips, parenting insights, activities, how-to’s and DIYs, and of course, entertaining ideas, recipes, and inspiring reads both on the site and app.

10 responses to “A Curated List of Wholesome Pre-1990 Secular Books ”

  1. de Avatar
    de

    Love these! Thanks!

  2. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    I love most of these books! I’d steer clear of all but the first in the All-of-a-Kind Family series, and I’m not a fan of Noel Streatfield’s Shoe books because the children tend to speak rudely to each other. Other great books — books by Eleanor Estes – very charming, as well as the Doctor Dolittle books by Hugh Lofting and the first four Betsy-Tacy books by Maud Hart Lovelace. And Carolyn Haywood’s books, if you can get your hands on them!

    1. Sara Avatar
      Sara

      And let’s not forget other classics like Heidi and A Little Princess! Check out bookoutlet.com for some pretty steep discounts.

      1. Rochelle Eissenstat Avatar
        Rochelle Eissenstat

        I had loved Heidi when I read it as a child. But I recently started retreading it before I planned to read it with my kids. I was shocked by the emphasis ion Christianity in it.

  3. Leah Avatar
    Leah

    Don’t forget Frindle and all the rest of Andrew Clemens books, great and fun storyline for the kids and content is really clean. The School Story, Lunch Money, The Report Card, The Landry News etc
    Also Rould Dahl’s Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Matilda and the rest ( the way they talk to the parents are not the greatest but otherwise very clean)

  4. Elisheva Avatar
    Elisheva

    Great list! Just ordered a few! Thank you!

  5. Ss Avatar
    Ss

    What about baby sitters-little sister
    Still love that series

  6. Rochelle Eissenstat Avatar
    Rochelle Eissenstat

    For teenager girls or older, including adults, I must recommend this wonderful, clean memoir by Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman Supreme Court Judge. She grew up on an isolated cattle ranch. It is a beautifully written account of her early life, her family, and the challenges of such a life. I enclose a link to buy it cheaply. https://www.betterworldbooks.com/product/detail/Lazy-B—Growing-up-on-a-Cattle-Ranch-in-the-American-Southwest-9780812966732

    1. Baila Avatar
      Baila

      So interesting, thank you!

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