30 Of The Best Parents in Literature
It’s hard to find good parents in fiction. A lot of books deal either with the lack of a parent or a parent’s complete unsuitability for the role. But there are a few good ones out there, parents who make you think, “Gee, I wish my parents were like that.” Behold: Parents (or parental types) we wish were ours—or that we wish we could be.
1. ATTICUS FINCH // TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD BY HARPER LEE
2. AND 3. ALEX AND KATE MURRY // A WRINKLE IN TIME BY MADELEINE L’ENGLE
4. AND 5. THE WEASLEYS // HARRY POTTER SERIES BY JK ROWLING
6. MARMEE // LITTLE WOMEN BY LOUISA MAY ALCOTT
7. AND 8. MR. AND MRS. LITTLE // STUART LITTLE BY EB WHITE
9. AND 10. MA AND PA INGALLS // LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE BY LAURA INGALLS WILDER
11. AND 12. MR. AND MRS. QUIMBY // RAMONA SERIES BY BEVERLY CLEARY
13. - 16. BALOO THE BEAR, BAGHEERA THE BLACK PANTHER, AND THE WOLVES // THE JUNGLE BOOK BY RUDYARD KIPLING
17. AND 18. THE GILBRETHS // CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN BY FRANK BUNKER GILBRETH, JR., AND ERNESTINE GILBRETH CAREY
19. AND 20. THE CUTHBERTS // ANNE OF GREEN GABLES BY LM MONTGOMERY
21. AND 22. CARACTACUS AND MIMSIE POTT // CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG: THE MAGICAL CAR BY IAN FLEMING
23. CARSON DREW // THE NANCY DREW MYSTERY SERIES BY CAROLYN KEENE
24. AND 25. BEN MOORE AND CILLIAN BOYD // THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO, CHAOS WALKING SERIES BY PATRICK NESS
26. SAM GRIBLEY’S DAD // MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN BY JEAN CRAIGHEAD GEORGE
27. MAME DENNIS // AUNTIE MAME: AN IRREVERENT ESCAPADE BY PATRICK DENNIS
28. KATIE NOLAN // A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN BY BETTY SMITH
29. MRS. FRISBY // MRS. FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH BY ROBERT C. O'BRIEN
30. THE MAN // THE ROAD BY CORMAC MCCARTHY
Who else belongs on this list?
Dallin would be thrilled that you have "The Man" from the road on here.
ReplyDeleteI love the Ingalls! Have you heard of the new autobiography they published of Laura Ingalls Wilder? The one thing I've read about it is that Pa isn't so angelic. I don't think I want to read it, I don't know if I can handle Pa being anything but perfectly wonderful.
I haven't heard about that LIW autobiography! I loved those books growing up. But if it makes the characters out to be anything other than how they're portrayed in the Little House books, I don't think I could handle it either.
DeleteI love that Atticus is #1 on this list! I love this list and the idea about great parents in literature! Great choices as well!
ReplyDeleteGood parents are so often missing in literature, especially in YA, so it's nice to see where some good examples can be found.
DeleteGreat list! And, I'm happy to see Atticus is first. He's my favorite as well. :D
ReplyDeleteI love Atticus. :)
DeleteFrom the ones I've read and can have an opinion about I totally agree!
ReplyDeleteCool! Literature has some great examples of parenting, if you know where to look.
DeleteJust finished "The Road" and HOLY COW. Crazy good, I loved it. And yes, yes, yes. The Man is an incredible parent. I'm also glad that Harry Potter World is adequately represented as well, of course :)
ReplyDeleteI've heard someone say that Atticus is brought down a several pegs in Harper Lee's, "Go Set a Watchman." Several have been frustrated by his depiction. This may be bad but that almost (but not quite) makes me want to avoid it because I hate it when characters I pedestalize are all of a sudden moral, fallible, stupid humans! But if you follow Dave Fife's reviews on goodreads, his explanation of Atticus and his depiction in GSaW is encouraging. Have you ever avoided reading a book because it may "ruin" a character for you?