"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
This Week's Story Time: "Rabbit Season"
It's spring, it's almost Easter, and therefore it has to be: "Rabbit Season!"
A Boy and His Bunny
by Sean Bryan
This is almost Seussian in its humor and simplicity of style. Having woken up to discover a bunny on his head, the boy names him Fred and heads down for breakfast. His mother is horrified, until the boy and Fred point out to her "you can do anything with a bunny on your head!". From making a peanut butter sandwich, to diving underwater, it's all here. The rhymes are excellent, this reads beautifully and the ending punch line is PERFECT!
Zomo the Rabbit
by Gerald McDermott
An African trickster tale, retold and illustrated by a Caldecott winning author. I have an oversize book of this, which is wonderful for groups, but I have often just told the story, using the opening lines as a chant with gestures, which can be repeated throughout the story.
Tales Around the Hearth (CD)
by Heather Forest
I owe a huge debt to storyteller Heather Forest, because some of the best stories in my repetoire come from her recordings. Most of her stories are classic favorites, such as "The Little Red Hen" and "Stone Soup" and work beautifully with preschool children. We have turned several of her stories into puppet shows, including this week's "Who's In Rabbit's Hole?"
(You will find several book versions of this with the title "Who's In Rabbit's House?")
Usually I tell this with puppets, but it works as a straight telling as well.
Of course, we did "Little Bunny Fu-Fu" as well.
What? You don't KNOW "Little Bunny Fu-Fu" or "Little Rabbit Foo Foo? Or some such?
Tisk, tisk, tisk!
Go here immediately and you will get a pretty standard version, plus a midi file of the tune.There's also a book version that should be out there in your neighborhood library.
(And if you are lucky enough to have access to a copy of Shari Lewis's "Lambchop's Play Along Action Songs" on video, don't miss HER version, with Lambchop as the Good Fairy. It's hilarious!)
There are a LOT of variations on this song. I learned it as "Little RABBIT Fu-Fu", the "Good Fairy"'s line was "I don't like your attitude", and the field mice were always "banged" not "bopped" on the head.
Your version may vary. But do NOT have the Fairy threatening to turn FuFu/Foo Foo/Phoo Phoo into a duck, a mouse or any other such tame variable.
It has to be a GOON!!!
Without the goon, how can you have the kids make scary faces and pretend they are scaring YOU?
And without the goon, how can you have the moral, one that is truly for the ages:
Hare today......goon tomorrow!
And I'm goon too-- at least as far as story time is concerned. Next week is Easter break....
