Children’s Books — by Guest Mom Jane Maynard
How can I not share my favorite children’s books on Design Mom? I think it would be a crime!
Don & Audrey Wood books are so wonderful. The stories are fantastic, the illustrations even more so. Here’s a quick list:
King Bidgood’s In the Bathtub
Heckedy Peg
Elbert’s Bad Word
The Napping House
Chris Van Allsburg is my other favorite picture book author. Again, beautiful stories & illustrations. And seriously, why does The Polar Express make me cry EVERY TIME? It’s killer.
For your adolescent daughters out there, the Anne of Green Gables series is a must read. I read all of these books when I was young and loved every minute of it. (Yes, I wanted to be Anne. I even memorized the Lady of Shalott by Tennyson. Geeky, yes. But cute, too.)
Okay, I’m not trying to be clichéd or trendy here, but the Harry Potter Books are my most favorite EVER. For those of you who HAVE read Harry, you can just stop reading here. For those of you have have NOT read Harry…please bear with me.
I know how you feel. I was reluctant, perhaps beligerent, in the beginning. I finally gave in and read Book 1. To be honest, I wasn’t much impressed. But I thought Book 2 was worth a second chance. Again, not so into it, but it did make me want to see what would happen next. By the end of the 3rd book I was HOOKED. I had to go to the bookstore THAT DAY to get number 4. They were that awesome and only got better.
So, go buy the books and get busy. In fact, here are the links so you don’t have any excuses: Books 1-6 & Book 7.
Don & Audrey Wood books are so wonderful. The stories are fantastic, the illustrations even more so. Here’s a quick list:
King Bidgood’s In the Bathtub
Heckedy Peg
Elbert’s Bad Word
The Napping House
Chris Van Allsburg is my other favorite picture book author. Again, beautiful stories & illustrations. And seriously, why does The Polar Express make me cry EVERY TIME? It’s killer.
For your adolescent daughters out there, the Anne of Green Gables series is a must read. I read all of these books when I was young and loved every minute of it. (Yes, I wanted to be Anne. I even memorized the Lady of Shalott by Tennyson. Geeky, yes. But cute, too.)
Okay, I’m not trying to be clichéd or trendy here, but the Harry Potter Books are my most favorite EVER. For those of you who HAVE read Harry, you can just stop reading here. For those of you have have NOT read Harry…please bear with me.
I know how you feel. I was reluctant, perhaps beligerent, in the beginning. I finally gave in and read Book 1. To be honest, I wasn’t much impressed. But I thought Book 2 was worth a second chance. Again, not so into it, but it did make me want to see what would happen next. By the end of the 3rd book I was HOOKED. I had to go to the bookstore THAT DAY to get number 4. They were that awesome and only got better.
So, go buy the books and get busy. In fact, here are the links so you don’t have any excuses: Books 1-6 & Book 7.
Labels: children's lit, guest mom
posted by Gabrielle of Design Mom at Thursday, July 17, 2008
19 Comments:
some great books for little girls is the "Fancy Nancy" series... The author is Jane O'conner I beleive.
Jane, I agree with you and can't wait to share both Anne and Harry with my girls (3 & 2). What ages do you think these are appropriate for? I started reading Anne in 4th or 5th grade, and Harry when I was 25, so I'm not sure.... ;-)
Jane, I LOVE the Harry Potter series and agree that you must make it to book 3 to really "get it". I believe that parents are starting their children too early on the series (I taught children's literature). They get much darker as the series continues. They are such great books it is a shame to read at such a young age when it's impossible to understand all of it! The children who "grew up" with the series are fortunate because they had ten years to develop as the story did!
the nixons - I will definitely check out fancy nancy!
sara - I've thought about this myself. I think I started reading anne pretty young...4/5 grade sounds about right. as for harry...I am so curious how that's going to go down. I don't want my kids to see the movies first, but don't know if I'll be able to control that! my friend's daughters started reading Harry when they were around 8...the books were not all out at that point, so they had to wait for the later books, at which point they were older. it will be different with our kids...it's tough, because once you start it's hard to stop, but those later books get scary...
SOOO....I'm thinking maybe start around 8 or 9, and try to just do 1 book a year or something...if I can regulate it like that.
anyone else who has kids who are older than 3 reading the harry books have advice on this?!?!
anonymous...I saw your comment after I posted my comment - you are hitting the nail right on the head! it is so hard now that all the books are out to keep your kids reading them at age-appropriate levels. anyway, your comment is spot on.
wonder if any moms out there have advice...
My boys love the King Bidgood n the Bathtub book and the Napping House comes out from time to time still (they are 3). My boys "spotted" the Polar Express on my bookshelf in my room tucked away (I hadn't read it to them yet) and it has become one of our summertime favorites...
Great selection!
I can't think of anyone who doesn't love Anne. Great pick!
We love Heckedy Peg, Anne series...and another shout out for Fancy Nancy ... my daughters adore Fancy Nancy. My 3 and 1 year old are often using the fancy words... like iridescent or spectacular... which leads to us teaching them melancholy and extravagant. It is so fun hearing them use fancy words in everyday situations.
We also adore Martina the Beautiful Cockroach... a cuban folktale. The author - if you ever get a chance to hear her weave a story in front of you... is magi.
Love the Don and Audrey Wood books! Piggies is my children's favorite.
Hegedy peg was THE FAVORITE book of my family. A great book for doing "voices" and a very creative fairytale type story! It tends to be a forgotten book, and I am SO glad you mentioned it as a favorite too!
Polar Express is definitely a childhood Christmas favorite. I think my all-time favorite children's books are, The Monster at the End of This Book and Quick as a Cricket.
I totally agree, Book 3 is still my favorite! My first date w/ my husband was to a Harry Potter book party and it's still a bonding tool for us today!
Happy to see you here Jane!!
Napping House and King Bidgood are two of my all time favs. Great list!
Melissapher - The Monster at the End of this Book!! My mom keeps my old copy at her house, along with all my old books, and I've read the Monster to my oldest - she gets scared because mommy is way too convincing.
It's the 100th anniversary of the publishing of Anne of Green Gables this year. I just finished reading it aloud to my 2 youngest daughters. It is truly a book meant to be read aloud.
Yes, King Bidgood is a favorite at our house! Very Clever!
i love love love love loooove anne!!! i actually recently came back from prince edward island for the 100th anniversary of the book! its a wonderful vacation spot for families. that and nova scotia! suggested to all! =)
Anne of Green Gables was my favorite childhood book series, I even get misty eyed about it. My daughter wants nothing to do with it, she is a tween and really into the Stephanie Meyer books right now. She loved the Olivia books when she was younger. She only reads books when she can identify with the character so it's tough.
Love your blog, but I might go broke looking through your ads.
finally back from all my travels and catching up on your comments...so glad you all liked the list and I can't wait to try the books you mentioned.
anna - prince edward island is WONDERFUL!!! I agree with you. how fun to go for the anniversary! nate and I decided we want to retire there...ah, I love that place.
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