"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
Monday Weigh In #3: I Was Grumpy Anyway
You'll notice, if you've been watching, that there is no additional loss this week. I'm still where I was last week.
I'd be grumpy about that--I AM a bit grumpy about it, but I can attribute it to normal monthly bloat, and I am just thanking my stars that I've been able to keep my chocolate cravings in check. I'm just going to stay on track for my eating this week, go to ballet class (and exercise really DOES help cramps, BTW) and I really believe that next week the scale will move again--downwards, that is!
I am more grumpy because my back hurts from a muscle pull last week (though ballet seems to soothe that too), because of the aforementioned cramps, and because I had 60 billion kazillion things to do this weekend and got next to none of them done.
Instead, we took a water taxi trip along the Potomac into DC on Saturday and I took JR to see "Nim's Island" yesterday--she really wanted to go. Both were fun outings, but not what I NEEDED to be doing....
And did I mention I have to get all the stuff to to the consignment sale next Monday, that it all has to be checked and tagged and priced and I haven't had time to do any of it? Or that the Man was supposed to get even more stuff from storage--I've asked him three times at least and he STILL hasn't done it?
Or that JR got her second absolutely mediocre report card in a row (after honor roll first quarter) and a letter from the school because she's been late 15 times? And that the social worker probably thinks I'm a frimpin' loon now because I left her a lengthy message telling her that I'd LOVE to have JR to school on time, but the child futzes around and doesn't seem to get the word LATE, and sorry, I'm not one of the SAHM crew who permeate the place these days, I'm just a working mom doing the best she can?
She didn't return my call. I wonder if she was startled because our last name is Spanish and she expected I didn't speak English.I've never had a reason to deal with the social worker before and don't plan to again!
Meanwhile JR is ticked today because I said she can't do "Take Your Daughter To Work Day" this week. Not only does she KNOW durned well what I do, she needs to be in school. And she's doing "Turn Off the TV Week" this week, you betcha!
And it's been raining for 2 days.Truthfully, all I want to do right now is go home, crawl into bed with the cats and eat a large bar of CHOCOLATE!
But instead, I've taken the coward's way out and canceled my morning program--it's pouring anyway, which should scare most people off. And I'll get on with my Monday..........
