"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
Thursday Thirteen#26:They Can Share the Date With the REAL Superstar, Or:Happy Birthday, Dad!
Thursday Thirteen
I'm not much of an Oprah fan. I think she's in love with herself, that all her do-gooding is designed to show how wonderful she is, and that her book club picks tend to be the same tear jerkers over and over again.
But occasionally if I'm home I'll surf over to see if Dr Mehmet Oz is on. And if he is, I smile.
Because on April 23, 2006, Dr Oz saved my dad's life by performing a quadruple heart bypass.
We only met him briefly. But he really was as sweet in person as he is on TV.
I didn't know he would soon be famous. All I knew was that it was my father's 81st birthday and that he was going to be okay.
Today is my dad's 87th birthday. Despite asthma, COPD, the defibrillator he got back in 2006 and a host of other small annoyances, he is still going strong. His mind is as sharp as ever--perhaps even sharper. He still drives--and I'd far rather he was driving than my mom--she's 11 years younger but a VERY nervous driver!
I went on Wikipedia to find out who else was born on Dad's birthday. I knew he shared it with two famous people, but it turns out that there are dozens of famous people born on April 23 . They range from royalty to television stars. So here, in approximately reverse birth order are:
My Dad's Birthday
1)Valerie Bertinelli VALERIE BERTINELLI? Hmm. Well she IS a brunette like Dad used to be...
2)Michael Moore Now this I can see. My Dad is a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, passionate about what's being done to our country and hates W even more than I do
3)Roy Orbison I'm not sure Dad's familiar with him. He prefers classical guitar--real CLASSICAL guitar that is. Stuff like John (not the Star Wars guy)Williams and Angel Romero
4)Sandra Dee Dad's more into dark haired women--Mom's hair was jet black when she was young. But I bet he saw lots of her movies!
5)Lee Majors Yup, the Six Million Dollar Man himself. He wouldn't have needed glasses for that bionic eye, but if he did, Dad would have written him the perfect eyeglass prescription--he's an optometrist.
6)Herve Villechaize A.K.A. "Tattoo" on "Fantasy Island. NOT a show my dad would've watched.
7)Halston The fashion designer. Dad's never been a fashion buff, but I remember how debonair he looked in a full tux at my brother's wedding!
8)Shirley Temple You might've know this one already. I'd bet my dad might have seen some of her films as a kid, but my guess is he and his brothers went to the gangster movies instead. And his favorite actor of the period was Al Jolson!
9)Michel Fokine One of the greatest ballet choreographers, from the time of Diaghilev and the Ballet Russe. My dad never danced ballet, but when I was little he liked to clown around and pretend to dance. And he is very proud of his granddaughters' ballet talents--I just wish he was up to coming down in June for their recital!
10)James Buchannan One of our most mediocre Presidents, though W is giving him a good run for his money. Hope Dad doesn't know about sharing a birthday with this guy...
11)Stephen Douglas As in the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Dad will like this-- I get my deep interest in history from him. His favorite historical figure to read about is Benjamin Franklin,but I think he's read a fair amount about Lincoln too.
12)Max Planck Father of quantum physics. But he did nothing to save Jewish colleagues in WWII Berlin. Considering that we lost whatever relatives remained in Poland to the Nazis, I don't think my father would be proud of this any more than I am of sharing MY birthday with the Bush twins!
13)William Shakespeare This is the one most people would know. Being a Shakespeare buff, I'm tickled by this myself!
Happy birthday to my dad. I'm prouder to be his daughter than I would be to be related to anyone listed here.And I hope he'll keep going strong for many birthdays to come....
