"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
Recipe: Sponge Bob's Brain (Turkey Meatloaf)
OK, OK,by popular demand, the picture is gone!
(But this really is delicious, and if my occasionally prissy little girls weren't grossed out by it, I don't think any of you should be either)
(And if THAT grosses you out,stay away from parenthood--it's full of things that not only LOOK worse than that--they STINK!)
This is my mother's recipe and has always been a favorite of the girls, but having seen an episode of "Sponge Bob Squarepants" on Saturday in which Plankton attempts to control Sponge Bob's brain, we were inspired to rename this dish, which when cooked in the round, does resemble a brain.
When the meatloaf was still steaming a bit after I took it from the microwave JR (age 5) commented:"Look--Sponge Bob's brain is on fire!"
It may look a bit bizarre, but this goes together in minutes, cooks in 20 minutes in your microwave, and is kid friendly. And, like all my mom's current recipes, it is VERY healthy--though unlike many of her current recipes, it is also delicious!
SPONGE BOB'S BRAIN/ MICROWAVE TURKEY MEATLOAF
Combine: 1 1/3 lbs ground turkey
3 Tbs bread crumbs
3 Tbs chopped onions (the dehydrated ones work fine for this)
3 Tbs ketchup
2 Tbs water
1-2 tsp chopped garlic (I use jarred, and I use a heaping tablespoon!)
1/8 tsp black pepper
Mix ingredients well and shape into a round loaf. Place on top of a microwave safe bowl--I use a pyrex glass dish that is sitting inside a second, larger dish--mine is a square glass cake pan.
(You can also use two rectangular dishes and make a more traditional shape, but the round one is fun)
Cover loaf with more ketchup. Cover with a microwave cover or microwave safe plastic wrap or wax paper.
Cook on HIGH for 20 minutes. Check with a thermometer for doneness--inner temperature should be about 180 degrees F.
Slice and serve, after giving everyone a chance to admire "the brain"!
Note: This serves 4 at our house, but if you have 4 adults, or older kids, you might want to adjust the recipe to cook a larger amount, or cook 2 loaves!
