"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
Here Chick,Chick, Chick
I had an interesting discussion with a patron the other day. She'd come to last week's park program that (because of the heat)had been held indoors at another local library.
Before going any further I want to say that I really like this patron. She's a terrific, intelligent mom who takes her parenting seriously--but she has a good sense of humor as well!
She called me because she was upset at seeing a display of popular books marked "Chick Lit".
For those of you not into books, "chick lit" is the literary offshoot of the sort of film called a "chick flick". Books like "Bridget Jones' Diary". Not Harlequin romances by any means, not Danielle Steele (BLEH), but just humorous romances about 20 (or 30)something single women looking to find Mr Right. A lot of them are pretty good, actually. Nothing that will ever make a 'great books" list, but just plain FUN!!!!
My patron was brought up by a VERY feminist mother. To her, "chick" was a perjorative, an insult, and she was really upset at seeing it listed as a library genre. Particularly since she is raising a daughter, wants to make the world a better place for her, and doesn't want her to see things that belittle women!
I talked with her at length and finally (I hope) got her to see that "chick" in this contents isn't really nastily perjorative. I always think of it in terms of the Yiddish word tsatskelah. Meaning (perhaps) a little bit brainless, but nothing more. That's how I think of "chick lit". And yes, I do read a fair bit of it. In fact, the patron I was talking to admitted she was reading something at the moment that fell into that genre. After all, you can't read serious books ALL the time--especially if you're raising kids. You NEED "brain candy"!
On the other hand, I am confounded by how many women in the blogosphere and elsewhere seem to think that the term "bitch" is something to use proudly. To me that IS a perjorative used by men against women and women against women. It's not a term I'd use to describe anyone unless I really DESPISED them. And I find it tacky that women would call themselves "bitches" and act like it's a badge of honor!
So what's your take on this? The floor is now open for discussion......
