As the father of 6 chidren (29-9yrs old) one of the very best parts of my days have been reading with my children at bedtime. Some recommendations;
Children under 5 - Because I Love You, or almost any book by Max Lucado (we have 6)
Children under 10 - Charlotte's Web, Tom Sawyer, Where the Red Fern Grows, A Wrinkle in Time, Night Driving, The Children's Book of Heroes, The Family Under The Bridge, How To Win Friends and Influence People
Children under 15 - Captain's Courageous, The Book of Virtues (several of my children have memorized George Washington's Rules of Civility during timeouts)

Although my mom and dad did not read to me from books, my mom constantly made up stories! If we were in a parking lot lot waiting for Dad, she and I would create stories from the people walking by us. I grew up loving all kinds of stories. I read voraciously. I loved the Just so Stories. I told stories to my children when they were in utero. My daughter loved Stories for Free Children. When our own children were growing up we made weekly forays into the library and came home with bags of books. Poetry like Shel Silverstein was also a favorite! As our children got older they loved The Phantom Tollbooth. One year our family was featured in the local newspaper because we read 1,000 books in one year! Even today we exchange titles of favorite books read with each other. I am currently getting back to fantasy at the suggestion of my son in Rochester, MN. For about 25 years I have done storytelling professionally because I love listening to stories so much. I continue to read to my granchildren, sometimes just by recording as they all live far away.

There were so many. I was lucky enough to live within walking distance of two libraries. Every morning in the summer we'd play ball, and in the afternoon when it got too hot on the asphalt, I'd head for the cool, quiet of the library. Wonderful places where the librarian ladies would put stars up next to our names for each book read. Those women educated so many of us in so many ways. Thanks for all they did for us.

Some favorites:

Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel. The Childhood of American Heroes series. Of course, The Hardy Boys.

The books I remember best as making me think about how the world was put together and how one should take a stand for right and justice, were books by John R. Tunis, e.g., Iron Duke; The Kid from Thomkinsville; My Enemy,My Friend) and my all time favorite as a kid, Johnny Tremaine.

My favorite books as a child included Heidi, Robin Hood, King Arthur, Tom Sawyer, Wild Animals I Have Known (Ernest Thompson Seton), Le Petit Prince, Alice in Wonderland, The Saturdays (Elizabeth Enright) and so many more. How fortunate I was to have a home filled with books. Though I loved to read, and still do, being read aloud to by my mother and by teachers stands out as an especially treasured memory. Mother read Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe, among other books on winter evenings...how we looked forward to the next chapter each night! Two of my teachers read to our class after lunch each day: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and some of the Dr. Doolittle series. I hope to encourage teachers and parents to try to do this for children. It is worth the time and effort and creates some of the best lasting memories.

My all time favorite Advent story for children (of all ages!) is Spinner McClock and the Christmas Visit by Richard Dacey and Hallie Gillett. I happened upon this book in a retreat center bookstore several years ago and have given away countless copies!

Spinner McClock and the Christmas Visit is a wonderful story of a young boy, a letter from God, and an unforgettable Christmas visit. Rich in meaning and filled with the enthusiasm of children, Spinner and his Christmas tale will leave you wondering how you missed this book for all these years!!!