"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
Meme
Just something I found one someone's blog. The gas price is especially interesting--in the source of the meme's area, the price was $1.95!
1)Did you have to turn your clocks forward one hour this weekend? Yes
2)What is the price of gasoline? Through the area, it ranges from $2.17 to $2.33 and higher. I got it for $2.18, and as I was leaving saw them raising the price sign to $2.23, and then to $2.33. A credit to the free market system, I'd say.
And to all you twitty moms driving great big SUVs with a teeny tiny baby in the back seat, better start toilet training your infants now. You're going to need the diaper money to pay for all the gasoline your big ugly car needs to take your kid to Gymboree, Kindermusik and Starbucks.....
3) Which natural disasters, if any, do you have to worry about? If you're talking about weather, snowstorms and hurricanes, though neither tends to do much damage around here. If you're talking about other things, there's the state of my house. If only I could apply for aid from FEMA......
4)Do you have a local newspaper, and if so, do you subscribe to it? Yes.
I suspect a lot of people will say no. If so, please get yours online and scan the headlines--there's a lot going on out there and ignorance is NOT bliss!
5)Do you subscribe to a local cable company for television viewing? Yes, but if there was another company, I'd switch in a heartbeat.
6)What is the speed limit on your road/street? 35, but most people seem to think it's optional.
7)How far do you have to drive to the nearest post office? About a mile.
8)What is the average high temperature in April? 66 degrees (F)
9)What is the average low temperature in December?32 degrees (F)
10)Are your four seasons drastically different from one another? Hot and humid in the summer, sometimes mild, sometimes cold and sometimes VERY cold in the winter. Spring and fall are gorgeous, except for the incredibly potent pollens. Frankly, I can't imagine living in a temperate climate--the change of the seasons is a miracle to me no matter how many times I witness it.
