"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
Pumpkin Day
My parents wimped out on us and left early Sunday after spending Saturday with us. I'm sure it's because I told them we wanted to go out of the city to a beautiful farm to get pumpkins, and they didn't want to do that much traveling, even if the Man and I were doing the driving!
<SIGH> Oh, well. It did mean we could go to a restaurant up there that we like that my mother would NOT have liked. For one thing, (any) religion makes her uncomfortable, and not only does this place have a plaque with "The Lord Is My Shepherd" at the dining room entrance, the table mats feature "grace" in a number of different versions. One IS Jewish, but my mother just isn't comfortable with religions, period!
Then there is her other religion--healthy food--and this place is a temple of all things UNHEALTHY. The buffet is loaded with macaroni and cheese, pies, mashed potatoes and other starches, and other such stuff. There IS a salad bar, but there are lots of fatty salads and such there as well--very little greens.
The Man burst out laughing because I pointed out to him that this was one of the only places in the world where I was just about the thinnest woman in the room! That wasn't saying much, but it's like when I walk in Chinatown and feel TALL.......
Anyway, the girls behaved beautifully, and then it was off to the pumpkin farm. It's really a dairy farm,but they grow pumpkins there and take you down to the field in a haywagon pulled by a tractor. The area is a mountain valley and just a beautiful place. I sent some of these photos to my parents with the greeting: "See what you missed!"
SC didn't take long to find her pumpkin!
JR wants to find her pumpkin too!
Now if we can keep the squirrels from eating them till it's time to carve them, we'll be all set!
It really was a wonderful day.
I just wish my folks would've stayed.......
