"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
The Foolish Librarian--A Cautionary Tale
Once upon a time there was a foolish librarian who was afraid of blood tests.
You see, many years ago, when the librarian was expecting her first child, she had blood tests and got news that she might have a serious medical problem. The problem never showed up, and she and the baby were fine. The problem didn't show up during her second pregnancy either. But after that, the librarian was afraid of such tests, and avoided them at all costs.
But the librarian had a very wise physician, who knew that she should get such tests. The librarian was stubborn, but he was even more so, and he made her keep coming in every 6 months to get the new prescriptions for her asthma medicine and telling her to get the tests. Still she resisted.
Finally, she screwed up her courage and had the tests. She spent a hellish 4 days waiting to go to the appointment and hear the results. She spent an even more hellish extra hour waiting in an exam room because the doctor was behind on his schedule.
And then it was time to look at the tests.
Most things were fine. Oh, her cholesterol was too high--she'd expected that--and she especially needed to try to get her triglyceride level down.
Don't tell her mother about that, please. She doesn't intend to if she doesn't have to. The librarian may be foolish, but she's not THAT foolish...
There WAS one thing though. Her thyroid levels. The doctor said they were off. Wayyy off.
That's why she got so tired. That's why she was so sensitive to cold. That's why her skin was so dry--and it might explain those hives she kept having. AND that might be why she's had such a hard time losing weight!
So the foolish librarian thanked her doctor and went to get her prescription for thyroid hormone replacement medication. And she promised to come back for blood tests to check and see how the medication is working.
Now she is taking her medication and hoping that soon she will be able to do 2 hours of story times without feeling that she has to take an afternoon nap. She might feel up to running amok with her kids on the weekend. She might even come home from work and not want to go to bed right after she gets her kids down from the night.
Best of all, she's stopped worrying about the unknown quite so much.
The moral of the story?
GO TO THE DOCTOR!
Don't neglect your health. Especially if you're a mom. Remember, you've got those kids to take care of. And it's a hard enough job even when you ARE feeling healthy.
That's all the story we have time for today, children.
Goodbye and until next time-- abei gezunt.
Stay Healthy.................................................
