"Classic" Children's Novels I Recommend To Patrons and Friends
All of A Kind Family
by Sydney Taylor
First in a series about 5 little girls growing up at the turn of the century on the Lower East Side of New York. I learned a lot about Jewish culture from these books, but above all they're great family stories.
Anne of Green Gables
and all other books by L.M. Montgomery
They are aimed at children, but the picture of life in turn of the century Prince Edward Island is a delight for adults!
Ballet Shoes
by Noel Streatfield
Very English and very charming.
Betsy-Tacy
First of the series, by Maud Hart Lovelace
My older daughter(10) loves these too.
The Story of Doctor Dolittle
First in the series by Hugh Lofting.
Don't settle for the movie messes made of these wonderful books!
Heidi
by Johanna Sypri
This is not that easy for a kid to read--and some may find it saccharine. But it's always enchanted me...
Little House in the Big Woods
first in the series by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Another series my daughter loves as much as I do!
A Little Princess
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
There's only been one good version of this on film--a BBC mini series. If you haven't seen that one, you don't know this story!
Little Women
and all other books by Louisa May Alcott.
I read this first in 6th grade, but I didn't understand a lot of it until college..
The Moffats
by Eleanor Estes
A family you'd love to belong to.
Pinky Pye
also by Eleanor Estes
You don't have to be a cat lover to love this, and if you're not, Pinky just might convert you!
Mr Popper's Penguins
by Florence Atwater
The tone is deadpan but the humor is pure slapstick.
A well loved read aloud.
The Secret Garden
by Frances Hodgson Burnett
There have been good films of this, but nothing beats the book, especially with the delicate Tasha Tudor illustrations!
The Trumpet of the Swan
by E.B. White
I love Charlotte's Web , but kids should also meet Louis the mute swan who gains a voice and a love. And if you liked Make Way For Ducklings (another favorite of mine) you'll recognize one of the settings......
The Wind in the Willows
by Kenneth Grahame
Not a young child's book at all,but a beautifully written book about friendship, greed, self centeredness and love.
The best illustrations are by Ernest Shepherd. He was also the first (and only REAL!) illustrator of Winnie the Pooh!
Blueberries For Sal (& One Morning In Maine)
and other books by Robert McCloskey
The Nutshell Library
4 book set by Maurice Sendak
The music to go with the books is on:
Really Rosie by Carole King
Where the Wild Things Are
also by Maurice Sendak!
The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge
by Hildegarde Swift
(A beloved NY landmark!)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
and every other book by Eric Carle
Caps For Sale
by Esphyr Slobodkina
Madeline
by Ludwig Bemelmans
Beloved by little girls long before the toys or the movies!
Yes, I Read "Grownup" Books Too--When They're Worth It!
And These Are:
Silver Pigs
(1st of the Marcus Didius Falco mysteries) by Lindsey Davis
Welcome To Temptation
(and all other books) by Jennifer Crusie
Breakup
(Kate Shugak mysteries)by Dana Stabenow
And Ladies of the Club
by Helen Hooven Santmyer
The Cazalet Chronicles
(4 books) by Elizabeth Howard
Poldark
(the whole series)by Winston Graham
The Mitford Years
(series) by Jan Karon
Stranger In A Strange Land
(& just about any other book) by Robert Heinlein
One More From "Chorus Line":The Music and The Mirror (Plus "T & A")
I promise fewer blogs about ballet class, but a few thoughts from last night:
The teacher is a lousy choreographer. Her patterns are jerky and too complex for beginners. We should be working on basic technique of steps on the third class--how to do them CORRECTLY, not worrying about keeping up or moving in the right direction! It's not as interesting, but it allows people to learn to use their bodies right, which is pretty essential, especially in ballet.
I can mostly keep up with what she's doing and I think I'm starting to pull ahead of some of the others. I don't need to be the best, but I don't want to be the worst!!!
There is a young lady who looks like she could have stood in for Talia Shire as Adrian in "Rocky I". Sort of pulled in face, eyeglasses that make her look vague, just generally schlumpy, if you know what I mean. She is very sweet and she's trying hard. I'm cheering for her, but I'm afraid if I say anything I sound patronizing, and I don't want to do that. I just know how hard it can be,and how awful the first class was for me!!!!
Meanwhile Miss "I might now have been good, but I looked HOT!" didn't show up and neither did several of the other cutie pies. One or two newbies have arrived including a <gasp> GUY! No one reacted to his being there, and he seems nice enough.
Next week I am going to wear leotard and tights. I'm not sure they're going to be that flattering, but neither was what I had on this week. I looked like a tank, and it distracts me --the mirror is supposed to be for looking at how you are dancing, not how you look, as did Miss "Hotsie Totsie" !
Actually, I think I looked less like a tank and more like a ship with a large prow forging ahead of the ship! The instructor was saying something about keeping your arms below your chest, and I noticed I have the largest <ahem> mammary glands in the place! Considering that most of the women are younger, a number are Asian American, and only one or two others seem likely to have had children, it makes sense. But it made me giggle all the way home--me, who was flat chested until I was 15 or so, and now I'm the one with "T" if not "A"--I'm underprivledged in that area!! A leotard may make things look more proportional--we'll see.
I'll keep dancing. I do love it--no matter the class. And I feel proud of myself for sticking to it..............................
