The Giver: Lois Lowry
There's something to be said for adults going back and reading a children's book. Apart from the fact that it gives you an oppurtunity to make a connection with your own children, it also gives you a chance to find the subtle implications often found in well written childrens fiction. I think any person of any age would enjoy reading Raold Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, or The Witches. If you're a Christian, C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia (especially the last one) are an excellent allegory of Biblical principals. For non fiction books, just about anything Dorling Kindersley publishes is worthwhile reading -- I have 4 Star Wars books, as well as an Illistrated Family Bible. And finally, what is probably the saddest book I have ever read, The Giver.
Strangely enough, the main character in the book is not The Giver, he is a 12 year old boy named Jonas. He belongs to a small community in some unnamed place and time. It is a very regimented society, and when the rules are broken, the most severe punishment is to be released from the community. For the most part folks are happy, but Jonas is different, he has the ability to see beyond. So when the children of his age group are given thier life work assignments, Jonas is honored with the position of Reciever Of Memories. In thier quest for safety, for happiness, for sameness, the people had to give up many things, including memories of things that lead to differences. Pain, music, color, hunger, hot, cold, love -- all are lost to individuals, so the society could exsist happy and secure. But one person must remember about hunger, to warn the community should it be in danger of it, to remember the pain and destruction of war, so the community avoids it. And that person is to be Jonas.
Well, in an uncommon occurance for me, I'm not going to spill the rest of the story. Suffice it to say, as an adult I found it a truly sad and kind of creepy book. It's kind of like 1984 for a younger crowd. For a childrens book, it can be a very adult read at times -- if you have a little human in the house, this could be a good book for you and them to read.