"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
My "Day Off"
The kids had school today, but I had the "day off".
Ha!
What I've done today:
Gone grocery shopping.
Done 9 loads of laundry.
Sorted through numerous bags of clothing SC has outgrown, some of which is going to JR, some to storage, some to Salvation Army and a few pieces to the dump.
Made 5 pints of Grandma's Pink Applesauce.
Cooked Sweet and Sour Chicken for dinner.
And last, but not least, baked a batch of these muffins. They were originally on AllRecipes.com as "Autumn Muffins" or some such, but I omitted an ingredient or two and substituted "Lighter Bake" fat substitute for the butter in the recipe, so now I call them "Apple/Cranberry Spice Muffins". Hope you'll try this recipe and enjoy it.
As for me, I am off to bed, ready tomorrow for 2 story hours and all the other fun a day at work will bring.
One thing is for sure, it'll be more restful than being home today was.....
Apple/Cranberry Spice Muffins
INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup *"Lighter Bake" fat substitute or 1 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 cups milk
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup chopped, peeled apple
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease muffin pans or line with paper muffin liners.
In a large bowl, stir together the brown sugar, white sugar, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Make a well in the center, and add the melted butter, milk and eggs, mix until smooth.
Stir in the cranberries and apples. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin pans.
Cups should be at least 3/4 full.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven or until a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean.
*"Lighter Bake" is a fruit puree based fat substitute that works very well in recipes like this. You should be able to find several versions of it (made by various jam companies) in your supermarket. Make sure to read the package directions for the correct amount per substitution.
