"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
Pre-School's BAD For Kids?
But that's just what a brief bit on NPR said this morning. That studies show that kids in preschools show increased signs of bullying and inability to share.
Please tell me which preschools they studied for this, because my immediate gut reaction was: "Bull-cookies"
Well, not COOKIES. But we ARE talking about the tiny tots, so I'm keeping my language nice and clean......
If anything, what I've observed both as a parent and as a librarian tells me that kids who go to preschool LEARN to share. I mean, how can you learn how to share if you are home alone with Mommy and never have to take turns on things on a regular basis?
Yes, I know. They go to playgroups, etc. But I have seen MOMMIES pushing their kids ahead of other kids in line. There's nothing like having a nice impartial teacher to awaken your kids to the fact that they are not the only kids on the planet!
The same for bullying. A kid who has never learned to share and take turns and has never been told they are NOT the only fish in the pond strikes me as a far bigger risk for turning into a little bully. And any preschool teacher worth her (or his) salary will watch for such behavior and gently but FIRMLY correct it.
Ironically, this piece was on the "Morning Report" edition of "Marketplace" that comes at the end of "Morning Edition". And "Morning Edition" had just run a lengthy piece on the great success of the public preschool programs in Oklahoma. Teachers are required to have DEGREES and are paid an average salary of $35,000. Elsewhere, the national average elsewhere is $24,000, and many schools do not require degrees or certification!
Hmm. Could it be that if we provide a QUALITY education with teachers who are really TRAINED to work with young children we get kids who succeed socially as well as academically? And could it also be that if we DON'T pay preschool teachers what they are worth and don't expect extensive training in CHILD DEVELOPEMENT that we are not going to get good results?
Bad parenting is bad for kids. Bad education is bad for kids.
It seems to be a pretty simple idea to me.
Child's play, in fact.....................
