Children's Book Requests

[Zeb_Carter]

I really liked reading the Dr. Seuss books to my Grandchildren. They always enjoyed them and when they began to read themselves read them over and over again, giggling all the while.

 

[Trudy_Antone]

Can't believe no-one said "Where the Wild Things Are". Also "Each Peach Pear Plum", and the original AA Milne "Winnie the Pooh" not the crappy disneyworld books. Anything with the Berenstain Bears. Loved "Alice in Wonderland" when I was that age.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Can't believe no-one said "Where the Wild Things Are". Also "Each Peach Pear Plum", and the original AA Milne "Winnie the Pooh" not the crappy disneyworld books. Anything with the Berenstain Bears. Loved "Alice in Wonderland" when I was that age.

I assumed she would already have "Where the Wild tThings Are" on her list. I was going to suggest "In the Night Kitchen" but I am told that parents sometimes get upset that it's too creepy-- and also, Mickey's full-frontal nudity in one illustration. *shrug* My kids loved that book.

 

[glynndah]

I assumed she would already have "Where the Wild tThings Are" on her list. I was going to suggest "In the Night Kitchen" but I am told that parents sometimes get upset that it's too creepy-- and also, Mickey's full-frontal nudity in one illustration. *shrug* My kids loved that book.

In the Night Kitchen was one of my son's favorite books. We had the video, too. I may have to think about that one. I'm not sure how many times I can have children point out the "naughty" picture to me before I snap.

And, yes, we have multiple copies of Where the Wild Things Are.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

I just checked with my local ankle biter and he said the Pigeon books by Mo Willems. Don't let the pigeon drive the bus, the pigeon finds a hot dog, Don't let teh pigeon stay up late etc.

 

[Jagged]

Now that is what a grant is for....

A favorite author in my youth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Scarry

Another one I remember

http://www.amazon.com/Sam-Minuteman-Can-Read-Book/dp/0064441075

A great writer who passed to soon...

http://www.amazon.com/Sir-Cedric-Ri...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273872021&sr=1-1

 

[glynndah]

I just checked with my local ankle biter and he said the Pigeon books by Mo Willems. Don't let the pigeon drive the bus, the pigeon finds a hot dog, Don't let teh pigeon stay up late etc.

Oh, I'd forgotten about the pigeon books. A couple of the teachers have them in their classrooms but I don't have any on my shelves.

A favorite author in my youth

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Scarry

Another one I remember

http://www.amazon.com/Sam-Minuteman-Can-Read-Book/dp/0064441075

A great writer who passed to soon...

http://www.amazon.com/Sir-Cedric-Ri...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273872021&sr=1-1

Sam the Minuteman's on my list. I'll look into the Sir Cedric ones.

 

[cloudy]

Having two daughters, and now two granddaughters, I'm not really familiar with what's available to interest boys in reading. Harry Potter seems to fill part of that niche, but I don't know of anything to equal the Hardy Boys or Tom Swift in exciting boys' imaginations outside of the fantasy genre.

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series comes to mind for boys.

 

[Weird Harold]

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series comes to mind for boys.

I looked into that series when the trailers for the movie started airing on TV; From my perspective, it appeared to be a cheap rip-off of Harry Potter. But then, cheap rip-offs shouldn't be dismissed when trying to get boys to read if the rip-offs get/keep them reading.

A resource for librarians I didn't realize until today I knew about: http://www.unshelved.com/

I've been reading it as an entertaining web-comic without thinking too much about the book reviews and other library related discussions in the accompanying blog.

Today's comic, http://www.unshelved.com/2010-5-14 touts a new graphic novel: Foiled by Jane Yolen; A Junior Library Guild book choice.

I remembered Jane Yolen as a fantasy author I've enjoyed, despite her primary emphasis on "Juvenile Fantasy;" She has been a consistent award winner for the age group you're shopping for, so the link to her site should turn up a few other options.

Unshelved is a good snicker or two most days for me, but for Our Good Witch it also serves as a link to some good sources for book reviews and other library related stuff.

(note: for avid readers, there's a lot of good book suggestions for adults, too.)

 

[Boxlicker101]

I really enjoyed the "Mother West Wind" stories when I was a kid, but they might be a bit too realistic for such young children. The fables themselves are fascinating but the interplay among the animals between the fables might be a bit much. I mean, Reddy Fox wants to catch Peter Rabbit to eat him, and not in a nice way. These are not like your modern, sanitized anthropomorphized tales about animals.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Moon, Sheila. Knee-Deep in Thunder, Guild for Psychological Studies House, 1986. ISBN: 9780917479083

A bit of a creeper for intelligent sixth grade girls with a sixth grade girl as hero.


Babbit, Natalie. Phoebe's Revolt. Farrar Straus & Giroux; 2nd edition (March 1988) ISBN-13: 978-0374457921

Phoebe Penelope Brandon Brown
Lived in very large house in town.
She lived there all alone unless,
You count Miss Trout, her governess,

and so on.

This one is priceless. A little girl in 1904 gets fed up to here with frills, ruffles, lace and such and refuses to get out of the bathtub until she's allowed to wear clothes like her father's. Most reviewers count this as a little girl's introduction to feminism but if you read closely, you discover that the real mover and shaker in the tale is Daddy. I suspect that most serious feminists have supportive fathers, like Phoebe's.

 

[Jagged]

Sam the Minuteman's on my list. I'll look into the Sir Cedric ones.[/QUOTE]



Sir Cedric is good because it helps you learn about dealing with bullies.

 

[bailadora]

I looked into that series when the trailers for the movie started airing on TV; From my perspective, it appeared to be a cheap rip-off of Harry Potter. But then, cheap rip-offs shouldn't be dismissed when trying to get boys to read if the rip-offs get/keep them reading.

I read the Percy Jackson series last year with my son and they're not too shabby. Interesting enough for the boys and it teaches the kids some basic Greek mythology. Rick Riordan just started another series for kids called the Kane Chronicles, focusing on Egyptian mythology.

Other recommendations(based upon my 10 yr old's book shelf):

The Black Lagoon series by Mike Thaler
The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osbourne
The Guardians of Ga'hoole series by Kathryn Lasky (she also started a related series entitled the Wolves of the Beyond).
The Bunnicula series by James Howe
Judy Blume's Fudge series (Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing, etc).
The Captain Underpants books are always good for a laugh
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

 

[English Lady]

My favourite was Hairy Mclairy from Donaldsons dairy by Lynley Dodd when I was little, you can get other ones swith him now and Slinky Malinky is the cat version of Hairy.

My daughter loved The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's child along with A squash and a Squeeze and The smartest giant in Town all by Julia Donaldson. However the American version seems to be 'the spiffiest giant in town' which makes me giggle.

Who else? The Jolly Postman is a hit with my daughter, but all the little letters in it might be prone to getting lost.

Oh, and as a child my favourite stories for my mum and Dad to read me were the series of My Naughty Little Sister books by Dorothy Hughes and I've read them to my daughter since she was 4 or 5 and she loves them too. Especially The Naughtiest story of all (she bites Santa!) Bad Harry's Haircut and My sister goes to a party. I think they're all in different books though.

 

[sadangel]

My grant was approved so I have money to buy children's books for my school library. I'm interested mainly in your selections for early readers, first through third grade. Any suggestions?

Here are some of the old classics and some of the newer ones that are suitable for the age group you have. Hope this helps. I was surprised that no one had said "Good Night Moon" yet. Also included some of the past and new authors with their pages where books they have written or illustrated are listed.

Classics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodnight_Moon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Runaway_Bunny

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scuppers_The_Sailor_Dog

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Color_Kittens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Island_(book)

http://www.amazon.com/Velveteen-Rab...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273916647&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Peter-Rabbit-Potter/dp/0723247706/ref=pd_sim_b_2

http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Mr-Jeremy-Fisher-Potter/dp/0723247765/ref=pd_sim_b_7

http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Tom-Kitten-Potter/dp/0723247773/ref=pd_sim_b_5


Newer Books

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/big-wolf-and-little-wolf

http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Kevin-Henkes/dp/0061363049

http://www.amazon.com/Curious-Garden-Peter-Brown/dp/0316015474

http://www.amazon.com/Purple-Kangaroo-Michael-Ian-Black/dp/1416957715/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_3

http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Cheeks-Michael-Ian-Black/dp/1416948643/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_2


Authors and a list of their books

http://www.amazon.com/Arnold-Lobel/e/B000APNG74/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

http://www.amazon.com/Beatrix-Potter/e/B001HCRWI8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Brown/e/B001HCWRDI

http://www.amazon.com/Don-Freeman/e/B000AP9B7S/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

http://www.amazon.com/Margaret-Wise-Brown/e/B000AQ1NIM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_ath...earch-alias=books&field-author=Bill Martin Jr.

http://www.amazon.com/Crockett-Johnson/e/B000APG8L0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

A few years ago the principle of Mark Twain Middle School, near Washington, removed HUCK FINN from the school library. The principle called it racist trash. And it occurred to me the man never read HUCK FINN.

But HUCK FINN is on no one's list these days. Nor is TOM SAWYER. Nor is HEIDI.

I mean, when was the last time any child watched an old Shirley Temple theme movie like HEIDI or REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM? The present generation prefers its junior sluts, and the school libraries load up on them.

THE YEARLING by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings is a classic. She based the child characters on kids she knew in her community.

 

[Niriate]

I don't have a lot of good tips, since I'm from the other side of the pond (ya know).

But one story that I loved reading to my twins was "The Big Friendly Giant" by Roald Dahl. Also the animated movie of it is a classic.
Some of the Disney books are also decent, but your kids will have to like that kind of stuff. (Mine were addicted to them, still are )

 

[glynndah]

I read the Percy Jackson series last year with my son and they're not too shabby. Interesting enough for the boys and it teaches the kids some basic Greek mythology. Rick Riordan just started another series for kids called the Kane Chronicles, focusing on Egyptian mythology.

Other recommendations(based upon my 10 yr old's book shelf):

The Black Lagoon series by Mike Thaler
The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osbourne
The Guardians of Ga'hoole series by Kathryn Lasky (she also started a related series entitled the Wolves of the Beyond).
The Bunnicula series by James Howe
Judy Blume's Fudge series (Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing, etc).
The Captain Underpants books are always good for a laugh
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

I don't have the Percy Jackson series on my shelves, but my older boys {fourth and fifth grades} have been passing them along. When they were finished reading a book, each one of them asked for a book about Greek myths so they could learn more. Fortunately I have several copies of D'Aulaires' Greek Myths which they devoured.

They love the Captain Underpants books, as well as the Magic Treehouse ones. The Black Lagoon books are already on my list. They wait in line for those!

The sixth grade reads Where the Red Fern Grows together in class, does a research paper on some aspect of it {usually a breed of dog or a tree} and then watches the movie together and discusses the differences in the book and the movie. The fifth graders do the same thing with Night of the Twisters and Bridge to Terebithia.

Here are some of the old classics and some of the newer ones that are suitable for the age group you have. Hope this helps. I was surprised that no one had said "Good Night Moon" yet. Also included some of the past and new authors with their pages where books they have written or illustrated are listed.

Classics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodnight_Moon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Runaway_Bunny

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scuppers_The_Sailor_Dog

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Color_Kittens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Island_(book)

http://www.amazon.com/Velveteen-Rab...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273916647&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Peter-Rabbit-Potter/dp/0723247706/ref=pd_sim_b_2

http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Mr-Jeremy-Fisher-Potter/dp/0723247765/ref=pd_sim_b_7

http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Tom-Kitten-Potter/dp/0723247773/ref=pd_sim_b_5


Newer Books

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/big-wolf-and-little-wolf

http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Kevin-Henkes/dp/0061363049

http://www.amazon.com/Curious-Garden-Peter-Brown/dp/0316015474

http://www.amazon.com/Purple-Kangaroo-Michael-Ian-Black/dp/1416957715/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_3

http://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Cheeks-Michael-Ian-Black/dp/1416948643/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_2


Authors and a list of their books

http://www.amazon.com/Arnold-Lobel/e/B000APNG74/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

http://www.amazon.com/Beatrix-Potter/e/B001HCRWI8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Brown/e/B001HCWRDI

http://www.amazon.com/Don-Freeman/e/B000AP9B7S/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

http://www.amazon.com/Margaret-Wise-Brown/e/B000AQ1NIM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_ath...earch-alias=books&field-author=Bill Martin Jr.

http://www.amazon.com/Crockett-Johnson/e/B000APG8L0/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Scuppers was my one of my son's most requested bedtime stories. Yes, Goodnight, Moon's already on the shelves, as are most of your list.

A few years ago the principle of Mark Twain Middle School, near Washington, removed HUCK FINN from the school library. The principle called it racist trash. And it occurred to me the man never read HUCK FINN.

But HUCK FINN is on no one's list these days. Nor is TOM SAWYER. Nor is HEIDI.

I mean, when was the last time any child watched an old Shirley Temple theme movie like HEIDI or REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM? The present generation prefers its junior sluts, and the school libraries load up on them.

THE YEARLING by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings is a classic. She based the child characters on kids she knew in her community.

Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer are a little too advanced for the age group I'm dealing with. They're reading Cat in the Hat and The Runaway Bunny.

I do have the Great Illustrated Classics versions of those, as well as Heidi, Little Women, The Wizard of Oz, Moby Dick and many others. They are very popular and well-read throughout the school year by my older students.

I don't have a lot of good tips, since I'm from the other side of the pond (ya know).

But one story that I loved reading to my twins was "The Big Friendly Giant" by Roald Dahl. Also the animated movie of it is a classic.
Some of the Disney books are also decent, but your kids will have to like that kind of stuff. (Mine were addicted to them, still are )

I have a small collection of Roald Dahl books. I'll have to look for The Big Friendly Giant. Right now I'm not sure if it's among them or not. Each year someone "discovers" The Twits and giggles their way through the book and then passes it on to the next one.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

WITCHY WOMAN

I know plenty of college educated adults who arent beyond FUN WITH DICK & JANE

Back in 2nd grade I was fortunate to have a teacher who's bent was classical compositions for children, so we got PETER AND THE WOLF, HANSEL & GRETYL, BABES IN TOYLAND, and others.

JOHN MARTIN'S BIG BOOK was another favorite of mine; all the stories were liberally illustrated with silhouettes of the action. My teacher made silhouettes of us.

But I was always an advanced reader and reading books by Kenneth Roberts in the 3rd grade.

 

[glynndah]

Thank you.

Your comments and suggestions have been very helpful.

A from the good little witch.

 

[Austin8]

I asked my son, and the response was *The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly* by Simms Taback

 

[Saucyminx]

Just a few I used to recommend for the younger bunch:

Nicholas Cricket by Joyce Maxner
Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock - Eric Kimmel (Any of the Anansi stories are a riot.)
Silly Sally - Audrey Wood (Most of hers are pretty good too.)
The Cow that Buzzed - Andrea Zimmerman
Skippyjon Jones - Judith Byron Schachner (series, but the 1st is the best)

You may want to check out School Library Journal, they have really helpful reviews by real librarians, and school teachers and they are up on current stuff while I am not.

One you may want to check out for fun, Monsieur Saguette and His Baguette by Frank Asch. I would not recommend it because I think as a kid's book it is wretched but with an appropriately dirty mind, it is the filthiest childrens book ever written. I read it out loud to my daughter's class when she was in 1st grade with such relish, that the teacher had to leave the room to laugh in the hall.

 

[glynndah]

Just a few I used to recommend for the younger bunch:

Nicholas Cricket by Joyce Maxner
Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock - Eric Kimmel (Any of the Anansi stories are a riot.)
Silly Sally - Audrey Wood (Most of hers are pretty good too.)
The Cow that Buzzed - Andrea Zimmerman
Skippyjon Jones - Judith Byron Schachner (series, but the 1st is the best)

You may want to check out School Library Journal, they have really helpful reviews by real librarians, and school teachers and they are up on current stuff while I am not.

One you may want to check out for fun, Monsieur Saguette and His Baguette by Frank Asch. I would not recommend it because I think as a kid's book it is wretched but with an appropriately dirty mind, it is the filthiest childrens book ever written. I read it out loud to my daughter's class when she was in 1st grade with such relish, that the teacher had to leave the room to laugh in the hall.

Skippyjon Jones is definitely on my list. In addition to asking adults, I've been asking the kids for their recommendations.

 

[john-the-author]

Books that I treasure still:

"The Book House Books" -- Olive Beaupré Miller. These are older and have to be obtained as used books, but they were a classic series of 12 books.

"Old Mother West Wind" -- Thornton

"The Wind in the Willows" -- Kenneth Grahame

"Rutabaga Stories" -- Carl Sandburg

"Just-So Stories" and "The Jungle Books (v1 & 2)" -- Rudyard Kipling

I'd also recommend any good collections of Greek, Roman, Norse, Native American, and African mythologies. Any other mythologies, for that matter.

For non-fiction, find stuff on making string figures (cat's cradle and so on), origami & kirigami, simple magic tricks, and math games.

Bookfinder.com is the best book search site. It's got all the others--Alibris, ABE, 2000+ others--feeding into it, so you get to see EVERYONE'S listings.

 

[Saucyminx]

Oooooh, Frog and Toad are Friends is a good one too.

(And I can admit. . . i still love to read Skippyjon Jones.)
Magic School Bus series
Thomas' Snowsuit and The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch