"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
Sorry? Yeah, Right..........
Contrary to a lot of nonsense that is floating about the Internet (and one major comic strip) liberals generally do NOT blame George Bush for Katrina any more than they would blame him for not having snow at Christmas!
But as I've been pointing out over and over again this week is that George Bush, as POTUS, is the top link in a chain of command that seems to be as solid as a paper chain my kids would make for Christmas, snowy or otherwise.
And as POTUS, he should admit things went wrong and take some of the blame.
Which brings me to this photo:
George Bush doesn't look apologetic.
He doesn't look ashamed.
He looks like one of my kids being forced to apologize for something that they really don't feel sorry for doing because they really don't feel like they did anything wrong.
But they want to get out of trouble, so they do it.
Georgie Boy is pouting because his advisers made him say "sorry".
Except he hasn't said sorry. All he's said is that he "accepts responsiblity" for what happened with Katrina in terms of the federal governments role in the matter.
And his speech was carefully worded, so he can wiggle out of it later if necessary....
Tonight he's planning on making a speech from NO. He's trying to climb atop another pile of rubble with a bullhorn and watch his approval ratings soar.
Sorry, Georgie. I think even a lot of the people who bought your song and dance for so long are starting to catch on.
It doesn't matter how many media moments you stage, how many times you pose with African-American victims of Katrina.
It doesn't matter if you get down on your knees in the middle of the Superdome in a hair shirt and beat your breast.
Actions speak louder than words, George, no matter how slick the speechwriters.
Especially when the world got to watch you, to use your dad's inimitable words "recreating" while other people's dads were drowing in nursing homes and sitting out in the sun waiting to be rescued by buses that didn't come for days............
