"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
The Bed,Other Goings On Of the Week & A Muffin Recipe
Naturally it arrived on Friday, and we couldn't even get ahold of anyone until after the 3 day weekend. AND they're on the West Coast, while I'm here on the East.
The service associate has been nice and helpful, and I THINK we may actually get the part by the weekend. In which case, we can get the bed up and SC can end TWO WEEKS of sleeping on her mattress on the floor! Acckkkkk!
On the bright side, she has now passed both her multiplication and division skills tests AND her teacher noted on her end of the week sheet that "testing went well". I just hope that means she has passed all of her dratted state Standard of Learning tests.
"No Child Left Behind"---PHOOEY!!! I guarantee you that if the moron in the big white mansion on the other side of the river from me had had to pass such tests when HE was a boy, he'd still be trying to get through kindergarten, never mind having gone to Yale!!
Can you tell I'm a registered Democrat?
I am home with JR this week, though she has decided she doesn't really want to nap so I am not really getting much down time. I am enjoying going out and about with her, and just hanging out at home--except for the fact that she is currently hung up on "The Little Mermaid" Not only does she want to watch the tape at least 2x a day when possible, she is singing the music and now it's sticking in my head. She does sing it nicely though....
She has inherited my blueberry fetish--when I was two they were one of my prime summer food groups. SC is less enthusiastic, but she does love blueberry muffins.
JR and I baked a batch of these today. They are derived from the so-called "Jordan Marsh" recipe, though I substituted oil for butter.
( I actually saw one recipe that called for shortening--bleah! Not in MY family....)
These are great when fresh blueberries are about, but also work with frozen:
BIG BLUE MUFFINS
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees and line muffin cups with paper liners.
Mix in a large bowl: 1/2 cup canola or corn oil with 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy
Add: 2 eggs. Beat well.
In a separate bowl combine 2 cups flour w/2 teaspoons baking powder.
Slowly add flour mix to the oil/sugar/egg mix until blended in.
Add: 1/3 cup skim milk. Mix until blended--don't overblend or you'll have tough muffins!
Add: 2 cups blueberries--fresh or frozen. Mix just enough to get the berries in the batter. If they do break a little, don't fret--they'll be okay.
Fill muffin cups about 1/2- 3/4 full.
Bake at 450 degrees for 5 minutes. Reduce oven to 375 degrees. Bake 25-35 minutes more until done.
Cool on a rack. You can brush melted butter on the top if desired.
