"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
Household Accomplishments--Update
The Salvation Army came Tuesday and picked up my cedar chest. We were all home, and headed out to Ikea where we bought a six drawer dresser.By the next day, it was assembled and set up where the chest had been.
We have put together a LOT of furniture, Ikea and other, in our time. The Man should probably advertise to do such work for all the thumb fingered legal types that infest our neighborhood. He could probably make enough money to pay for more furniture for us!
The chest looked really good. What made it look even better was that the Man started clearing out all the flotsam and jetsam he'd had stacked on the floor near it, so the whole area is MUCH neater.
While in Ikea we'd discussed my getting a second double drawer chest to go next to the first one. It would replace a desk we've used to hold our TV and our old stereo, as well as some of the Man's records.
Records as in phonograph records, none of which he's listened to in years!
So on Thursday, the Man and SC went back to Ikea to purchase the dresser. Instead they bought me a 3 drawer dresser AND a dresser with 4 regular drawers and 2 small drawers on top!
I am going from having little or no drawer space to having 15 drawers. And they are in my bedroom where I can reach them! Heaven!!!
I now longer open up my eyes to a view of clutter. Unless one of the cats is birdwatching through the window, the dresser is clear. Seeing that nice clean space makes it a little easier getting up in the morning. Not much, but a little!
My clothes are right where I need them. There is still stuff in JR's room, but the things I wear most days are within easy reach.
Things are getting done for a change. And that really feels good!
Now if I can just get the Man back to working on his closet...................................
