"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
"Mon Petit Chou" Likes These and You Will Too--Especially If You Love Garlic
I am planning my garden and this year I intend to plant Brussels Sprouts.
Before you say "yuck" (and you could at least say "feh") let me tell you that most Brussels Sprouts in the US are raised in California and don't get the cold weather they need to be properly sweet. Which is why, if you live in areas with a hot summer, you really need to plant Brussels out so that they mature in fall, preferably after the first frost.
Brussels sprouts are really fun to grow in the garden, because they grow up a tall plant that looks kind of like a palm tree with bumps all over it:
I bring all this up partly because it is the start of gardening season here--truthfully I should have already started my early garden seeds--and because the Washington Post had a great article in a recent food section about sprouts titled "Green and Loveable" that contains 4 recipes for sprouts.
The Man is generally not a sprout fan. But his ears pricked up when I mentioned the magic word--which as many of you know for him is "garlic".
Brussels sprouts roasted with garlic don't get THAT garlicky, but the sprouts lose most of that bitter flavor you get with store bought sprouts. And if you let them chill, the garlic flavor does become more pronounced--and it's great with the sprouts.
The Man ate them and enjoyed them. I made some more tonight and he is wolfing them down even as I write this.
Here's a simplified version of the already simple recipe:
Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Garlic
Wash and halve 1lb of brussels sprouts--about 20-25 nicely sized sprouts. Discard the outer leaves and place in a pan big enough to hold them all in one layer.
Add 5-10 cloves of garlic. I like thinly slicing it, but you can leave it whole if you prefer.
Toss with 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil. (I like to use an olive oil spray as well) Add salt and pepper to taste.
Roast at 375 degrees F for about 30 minutes. Toss the sprouts at the 10 and 20 minute marks.
Sprouts are done when they are beginning to brown and carmelize.
