"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
L'Shanah Tovah, George Allen
("L'shanah tovah" is the equivalent of "happy new year!" at Rosh Hashanah. Which I'll get to tomorrow......)
Dear George,
Now that your mother has finally let you in on her little secret, let me welcome you to our tribe.
Now don't think, George, that coyly telling reporters that you had a ham sandwich for lunch, and that your mom makes great pork chops is going to turn you back into a gentile. Heck, Jews have been eating pork in Chinese restaurants for decades--and there always were shrimp in those eggrolls too. Besides, plenty of Jews don't keep kosher. I grew up eating ham and bacon--my mother would still serve them if she wasn't so health conscious these days!
It always comes back to the mothers, doesn't it? And having a Jewish mother officially makes you Jewish. Just like my kids are Jewish because I am, while my brother's boys are not because his wife is a (very nice) shiksa.
Hey, while we're thinking about mothers, Jesus had a Jewish mother! So that means something else you can profess to have in common with him. Right along with those other views you share, like "love thy neighbor" regardless of race, creed or color and all those bits about taking care of the poor and needy. I mean, you've never SHOWED you have those views, but I'm sure now they'll all come out into the light.
So cheer up, cowboy. You may not be quite so popular among those good old boys at the shad planking events, but I'm sure B'Nai Brith and Hadassah and the rest would love to have you come and have gefilte fish with them.
Sadly though, I've got to say this, George. As far as I'm concerned, you'll never be a landsman of mine. You remind me of my Uncle Alex ( may he rest in peace) who was a loud, ignorant, prejeudiced bully. It was an embarassment to have him for an uncle and it was an embarassment to have you in Richmond as our governor.
And if it's a choice between having you, a minion of that other George across the river (you've voted 96 percent of the time along with him) or a Reagan Democrat , I'll go with the Reagan Democrat any day of the week. Especially if he's someone who's actually served in the military, has a son serving in Iraq and still has the guts to say we're in this war for the wrong reasons.......
So l'shanah tovah, George. And my Rosh Hashanah wish is that you (and many of your fellow travelers) will be packing up your cowboys boots (and your office) and riding into the sunset out of DC when the January 1 version of New Year's Day comes around.
Shalom,
The Library Lady
