"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
Reasons to Make Your Own Pesto--And A Recipe
1)Homemade tastes far, far, better than any you can buy in a jar!
2)It's isn't hard to make--all it takes is 5 minutes with a blender or food processor. Magically, your basil leaves, oil and garlic turn into a smooth green paste.
3)It's endlessly useful. Add it to anything tomato based, to pasta,to pizza, to summer veggies.The list goes on and on......
4)It will keep well in your fridge in a tightly sealed jar. Or it freezes well. You can put small dabs into an icecube tray, freeze them, and keep the cubes for anytime use.
5)Fresh basil is in season right now and you should be able to get it at most supermarkets. And if tomatoes are in at your local farmers market, chances are there will be big bunches of basil there too.
(Make sure you get "Genoa Green" type basil for your pesto. There are many types of basil, and flavors differ greatly)
6)Homemade pesto can be adjusted to your taste. Like it smooth? I don't add pinenuts or walnuts to my recipe--it's fine that way. Add tons of garlic if you're are lover of the "stinking rose" (or married to one!) or make it mild as can be. Your kids may even eat it--SC tried mine recently and wolfed down a big bowl's worth!
So try my recipe, tinker with it, and enjoy it. And if you need another recipe to use it in, I'll have one of our favorites later this week....
PESTO (Oringinally adapted from Jane Brody's Good Food Book)
This can be doubled if you have lots of basil, though make sure your food processor/blender is big enough to hold it all. You can add walnuts or pinenuts as you like--we prefer ours smooth. Salt can be added if you want it--but with all this flavor,who needs it?
3 cloves chopped garlic (about 1Tbs, and the jar garlic works fine)
1/4 - 1/2 cup olive oil (extra virgin if you're feeling like a gourmet, but the regular oil is fine for this)
2 cups (packed) fresh basil leaves (remove stems where possible)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (again, if you're a gourmet you can fuss, but the green can stuff will be just fine here)
Combine 1/4 c oil and the garlic in your processor/blender and mix to combine.
Add some of the basil leaves and process. As the basil leaves blend into the oil, add more and continue to process until all the leaves have been blended into the sauce. Add more oil if you think it needs it. Pesto can be as smooth or as chunky as you like!
Blend in the parmesan.
Refrigerate any unused pesto in a tightly sealed jar. The top may brown, but you can just stir it in--it's fine. Yields about 8 oz of pesto.
