"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
Do Y'All Dislike Spinach As Much As You Do Brussels Sprouts?
SPECIAL NOTE: Please read "Picky, Picky, Picky--Can We Help This Mom?" and add your advice to the comments!
Boy, everyone keeps making nasty comments about poor old "petit chou-chou"!
"Tunia"(The Nice Librarian) said yuck when I posted my recipe for Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Garlic. My friend Beth comented that it's weird that her beautiful daughter likes them. And the Tiny Little Librarian uses them as a negative rating in her book journal!
I'd say it was a northern thing, but I'm a Northerner myself,even if I do live in Virginia and say "y'all" on occasion!
<SIGH> I give up. More for me and the Man, I guess.
But still, I'm trying again with this recipe for one of my favorite side dishes.
This is a delicious, EASY spinach dish. It's usually serves as a banjon/panchan/panchon, all English language spellings of a Korean term for various little nibbles that are served with your food at a Korean restaurant.
The key ingredient here is sesame oil, rich and smokey. It is also used in bulgogi (recipe HERE) and we like this as a side dish with that. Tonight though we had it with country pork ribs made in the crockpot--I'll post that recipe later this week.
The base ingredients are in equal proportions and you can double or triple them if you like. One bag of spinach cooks down, so if there are more than 2 people eating this and you want more than a small nibble, make more than one bag of spinach!
During last year's spinach scare, the Washington Post did an article about other greens, and ran a very similar recipe using kale. I tried it, and it's just delicious, so I'm giving you the recipe for that variation as well.
My kids don't eat this--yet. But since SC likes spinach in other dishes, I expect she will eventually.
And I don't know if Popeye ever tried his spinach Korean style, but I think he'd have adored it.
You never know--you might too. Even if you don't like brussel sprouts....
KOREAN SPINACH (SIGUMCHI NAMUL)
1 bag triple washed spinach OR 1 large bunch of kale, well rinsed to remove any dirt or grit
1 1/2 T soy sauce
1 1/2 T sesame oil (look in the Asian foods section of your supermarket)
1 1/2 T chopped garlic (jarred is fine)
3/4 t sesame seeds
(You can buy them already toasted in some ethnic markets. Otherwise put them in a small frying pan and heat over a low flame until they begin to "pop!" and turn a nice deep brown)
Put up a large pot (4-6 qt) of water to boil. While the water is boiling mix the soy, sesame oil, garlic and sesame seeds in a small bowl.
Put the spinach or kale into the boiling water (it wilts in the water so don't worry, it WILL all fit in!) Return it to a boil.
For spinach, let it cook for 1-2 minutes . For kale, give it 4-6 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Squeeze water from the spinach/kale--you can use a salad spinner or just use your (clean) hands. Place in a serving bowl. Add the dressing and mix gently. Serve.
