Books I'm saving for my grandchildren
November 12, 2010Children's books floor me. The well-written ones, that is. Boy, are there some crap kid's books out there. But the good ones--they're like magic. They seem so simple and effortless, and yet they're such a pleasure to read out loud. Damn it, I wish I could do that.
I love some of Henry's books more than he does. And even now that he's (maybe) outgrown these, I will be keeping them. Forever and ever.
Hondo and Fabian
;)
Hondo is the dog. Fabian is the cat. Hondo goes to the beach. Fabian stays home.
I not only want Hondo and Fabian to be my dog and my cat, I want to live in this world. Look how peaceful it is! Nothing bad ever happens in Hondo and Fabian's home. You can tell. There is always tidiness and order and turkey sandwiches.
I bought Hondo and Fabian when I was pregnant with Henry. One look at the pictures, and I was hooked. We read it together pretty much from the time he was born, and even though it's way too babyish for him now, he'll still deign to let me read it to him, if only to humor me. He is a patient and understanding boy. While I'm reading it I try not to cry into his hair.
Cars and Trucks and Things that Go
;)
All the Richard Scarry books are so charming and magical and witty, but I especially love this book. It's like ten books in one. Henry has loved it since he could sit up, and he'll still spend an afternoon flipping through it, when he thinks I'm not looking. It's incredibly weird, like all excellent children's books are.
;)
Ferdinand is a gentle bull. He doesn't want to fight in the bullring, like all the other young bulls do. All he wants is "to sit just quietly and smell the flowers."
I love that "just." The first thing I was told in my first writing class was to remove the word "just" from all of my stories, but that is one hell of a perfect "just."
And check out this line [the italics are my own]: "His mother saw that he was not lonesome, and because she was an understanding mother, even though she was a cow, she let him just sit there and be happy."
Even though she was a cow. Come ON.
Also, is she not the best mom ever? I wish I could be as sanguine about my kid when he refuses any and all opportunities to get some fresh air. She leaves him alone, and Ferdinand ends up being happy and content with himself! Some of the best children's books are also excellent parenting guides.
Toot and Puddle
;)
There are a bunch of Toot and Puddle books, but I'm partial to the first, which was gifted to Henry by my friend Lexie. (I've also heard that there's a Toot and Puddle cartoon, but I have never seen it and hope to never have to. Don't ruin the Toot and Puddle who live in my head! Yes, they live in my head! Don't judge me!)
The watercolor illustrations are stunning. And I never stopped snickering at the name "Woodcock Pocket," because I am a child. Also, what is this relationship between Toot and Puddle? They've got some kind of Boston marriage going on, here. And yes, I realize that's a term reserved for two women, but you tell me what you'd call this Bert-and-Ernie living situation going on between two pigs. You tell me!
So! I'm sure you have some favorites, too. And now you're going to share them with me and the rest of us. Yes, you are. Go on.
Reader Comments (112)
Two lists.
Favorite picture books (which seemed like what you were going for):
1. Zoom at Sea by Tim Wynne-Jones (Author), Eric Beddows (Illustrator)
2. Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
3. The Library by Sarah Stewart
4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
5. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
6. Walk With Me by Naomi Danis (Author), Jacqueline Rogers (Illustrator)
7. Laura Charlotte by Kathryn O. Galbraith
8. This Quiet Lady by Charlotte Zolotow
9. Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant
10. Weslandia by Paul Fleischman (Author), Kevin Hawkes (Illustrator)
Honorable mention:
Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Ed Emberley
Favorie chapter books:
1. Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright
2. A Wrinkle in Time
3. The Diamond in the Window
4. Tom’s Midnight Garden
5. The Children of Greene Knowe
6. All of a Kind Family
7 Swallows and Amazons
8 Seven Day Magic
9. From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler
10. Voyage of the Dawntreader
Honorable mention: The Wicked Enchantment by Isabel Benary-Isbert.
I'm 38 without children and just read a fairy tale book this past week that's now my favorite. Depending on Henry's taste, he might like this. Regardless, I recommend YOU read it. It's called "Modern Fairies, Dwarves, Goblins, and Other Nasties" by Lesley M.M. Blume. http://www.lesleymmblume.com/new/modern_fairies. It's mostly about fairies in NYC. I suspect it's also for adults because I first heard about this on NPR. It's magical and effortless.
I forgot to add that I read it out loud to my husband while he drove us out of town this weekend. I'm not a very good out loud reader, but it's easy to do with this book. And HE loved it. He asked me to read it because he had started a chapter and wanted to hear the end.
I love all the Elephant and Piggie books by Mo Willems, with I AM INVITED TO A PARTY being my number one favorite, especially to read out loud.
Already mentioned, but I love Miss Rumphius! That last line kills me. And I have to agree with Bridgid, Maurice Sendak must have been high when he wrote In the Night Kitchen. And what's up with the full-frontal nudity?
Other favorites are all the books by Robert McCloskey - One Morning in Maine, Blueberries for Sal, Make Way for Ducklings. Love the detailed drawings, love the stories, and all the Maine/New England references.
And I can't forget Corduroy.
No kids, but many fond memories of children's books from yore. Some of my favorite picture books are:
Blueberries for Sal
Rotten Island
Millions of Cats
The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses
And there are so many more...
Yes to what other folks already said and
Ira Sleeps Over
Olivia
Caps For Sale
The Little Prince! :) . I still love it. Am considering getting a tattoo of either it and/or Ferdinand.
You are so incredibly funny even when being poignant. "I try not to cry into his hair" made me both awwww and LOL.
Goldbug!!!!! Oh, we loved that book growing up! And Ferdinand was another classic too. I love that these books are still going strong.
My 4 year old's current favorite is The Scrambled States of America. It's funny, it's educational; it's kept him occupied for hours. My favorite growing up was Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine.
I have a "memory box" - ok, SEVERAL memory boxes - for Declan in the basement. I am sure to add books along the way as well as come clothes, toys etc. Richard Scarry was big for me as a kid, so there is at least on I know in there, maybe two. Books have been SOOOO important for him, I can't imagine not saving them.
P.S. Your site did finally came up today but it took like 45 seconds at the office! What the?
Another great children's book is the Math Curse (http://www.amazon.com/Math-Curse-Jon-Scieszka/dp/0670861944/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1289852780&sr=8-1) and it's fun for adults, too. I really like how they slip math facts in and make them fun. The illustrations are gorgeous, too.
Seconding many of the books already mentioned. Also:
- The Owl and the Pussycat, the edition with the wonderful Hilary Knight illustrations
- Russell Hoban, The Rain Door
- Eric and Lucy Kincaid, Riverboat Adventures
- Irene Haas, The Maggie B
- Ann Herbert Scott, On Mother's Lap (though the illustrations aren't the ones I remember)
For older kids, I'm currently rereading L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time series. The first two books especially are just as strange and beautiful as I remembered.
I'm amazed that no-one's mentioned The Gruffalo yet. I, I mean my son also really enjoys Bear Snores On.
A few not mentioned yet...
For Christmas stories, just about anything illustrated by Jan Brett... her work is breathtaking. Start with "The Mitten."
Boyton: "Moo, Baa, La-La-La" is why my son learned to read. Seriously.
Dr. Seuss: "Fox in Sox" because it's one of the most challenging read-alouds ever (making it fun for the adults too).
Jeez, I had to check the spelling on Dr. Seuss. Time for bed!
I am so with you on The Story of Ferdinand and the "just." It's my all-time favorite. I also love "City Dog, Country Frog" which is kind of a sad/happy perfect story. "Are You My Mother?" is another classic. Also any of the Elephant and Piggie books, but most especially "Can I Play Too?" My kids think it is hilarious, and their giggles are well worth the repeated readings.
"You Can Do It, Sam" is another one I love to read aloud.
"An Awesome Book" by Dallas Clayton ranks up there as well.
Kids' books are the BEST!
Too many! But the Giving Tree, the Story About Ping, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Harry the Dirty Dog, Harold and the Purple Crayon, Corduroy, and Elmer top the list. Also Sandra Boynton books. And we are getting into the Frog & Toad books now. And the Gruffalo and the Gruffalo's Child! Sigh. I really could go on and on.
A word about Robert Munsch's "Love You Forever." I didn't really "get" this book until i heard Robert read this himself. He writes fantastic, unbelievable stories and then reads them with this "Can you BELIEVE they did this?" expression in his voice. The whole scene with the son creeping in to see his mom etc. is read in this unbelieving voice and now I get it and love the book! Get the CD.
I am also a lurker, but I can't resist posts about books.
I love to share "Scaredy Squirrel" by Melanie Watt, and the three follow up books. They are hilarious and adorable. In each, we learn things that Scaredy is afraid of. Then Scaredy is confronted with one or more of his fears, and eventually realizes it's not so scary after all. I read them to 10-11 year old students, and they LOVE Scaredy Squirrel. I have no doubt that younger kids would love him too.
I also love the Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, as well as Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole. The Giving Tree is a classic that still makes me cry.
I can't believe no one has mentioned the Virginia Lee Burton books. I always loved Mike Mulligan and the Steamshovel and there's The Little House. My son loves all of her books.
Also, Goodnight Moon
My son is super in to Richard Scarry right now as well.
Just now stumbled upon this wonderful blog (thank you, Babble!) and this was the first post I saw. You had me at the word "books" ;-) First, a comment on "I'll Love You Forever"-- as a wishy washy mom of extreme intensity (at least, I claim that title while pregnant or during a certain time of the month), this book makes me sob uncontrollably. Watching the child grow, the mother age, the mother breathing her last breath...I just can't take it. I eventually had to retire this one from the bookshelf. Then one of my kids happened to pull it out and I happened to catch a glimpse, and (I must have been in a feisty mood) it occurred to me that the mom has serious attachment issues and is scarily intrusive. Cut the cord already. I mean, driving to the grown man's house in the middle of the night, climbing into his window via a ladder...what if he'd had a lady friend over to visit? Just sayin'.
Anyhow, here are a few I don't believe have been mentioned yet:
Fancy Nancy. The new girlie classics. LOVE her. I want to be her.
William's Doll (not sure of the author; would sneak in and check but can't risk waking the little 'uns). This is about a little boy who wants a doll to care for, which disturbs his father. His dad buys him a bunch of boyish things like basketballs and trains, which he likes, but "they have nothing to do with wanting a doll. He wanted a doll all the same." He begins to feel misunderstood, until he tells his grandmother and she grants his wish. She explains to the boy's father that he needs a doll to love and care for so he can grow up to be a caring, loving father one day. Especially great is that this book was written in the 40s, when gender-specifics were so cut and dry. An excellent story for little ears to take in.
Dahlia, by Barbara McClintock
Dandelion, by Don Freedman
ANYTHING by Mo Willems (already mentioned, but had to reiterate. His books are awesome!)
...and Dr. Seuss.
the Sweet Pickles series from the 70s and 80s. I read these as a child and read them to my kids now, and it's remarkable how timeless they are (well, aside from Vain Vulture's disco-esque getups). If you're not familiar with this series- there are 26 characters with standout obnoxious traits (Accusing Alligator, Temper tantrum Turtle, etc) and each book centers around a different animal succumbing to its own ridiculousness. Sometimes they overcome, sometimes they don't, but each story is an absolute riot and everyone is bound to recognize themselves in at least a couple. Such a shame that these aren't still in print.
Berenstain Bears are a definite household favorite. I love how each story teaches a lesson in such a relatable way. Their family life is messy and their kids aren't perfect. Mama strives to keep order and does a terrific job, but she does lose her cool when pushed to the brink (unlike some storybook mothers whose constant cool collectedness make the rest of us feel bad about our parenting!) Papa tries, but more often than not ends up being one of the cubs. That super familiar dynamic is refreshing to see played out in a kids' series.
...and there are endless more. I may love children's books more than my own kids. :)
"Rain Makes Applesauce" was my absolute favorite book as a kid and it still is. You don't see or hear about it very often and it is great! The story has that kind of silly kid humor and the pictures are just insanely detailed.
oh, my favorite book as a child was "Mr. Dog: The Dog Who Belonged to Himself". it was the weirdest book ever and i remember almost all of it. and the voices my dad gave to each character of course.
I love "Seven Silly Eaters" too, and "I Am a Bunny" is a big favorite of mine. I'm not nuts about the whole series, but my 2 year old is loving the original "Madeline." My odd favorite is "The Golden Egg Book" -- a bunny and a duck and lovely pictures. We just got "The Happy Day" which is very short but so lovely -- it has a recurring 'sniff' which my daughters both love. "A Birthday Cake is No Ordinary Cake" is a lovely ritual for us now on birthdays. And I definitely think I like "Kitten's First Full Moon" more than they do, although they do love it.
Thanks for the chance to share!
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. It will floor you.