Holiday Gift Ideas: books books books

[annaswirls]

I have been reading two children's books that celebrate the coming into art, and celebrating poets. I love them so much, I want to advertise. These are things I want to pass to my children, and I wanted to pass them to you too


First:

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

I still cry when I read this book. Every time. In fact, I am choked up right now thinking about it.


Amazon.com
A frustrated grade school artist, Vashti sits slumped over her blank piece of paper at the end of art class. "I just CAN'T draw!" she tells her teacher. Her teacher first uses wit, then subtle yet clever encouragement to inspire her student to go beyond her insecurities and become, in the words of a younger boy who "can’t" draw either, "a really great artist."


Fredrick by LEO LIONNI

Okay this is the first ever book I have read that celebrates a poets contribution to society. My kid came home with it from the school library, and it will become a part of my "little swirls" home library too.


Product Description:
"While other mice are gathering food for the winter, Frederick seems to daydream the summer away. When dreary winter comes, it is Frederick the poet-mouse who warms his friends and cheers them with his words."--Wilson Library Bulletin.




Please share your gift suggestions.....


and if you have your own books published out there, or poems/articles in print, please let us know so we can buy ourselves some gifts as well!

 

[Angeline]

What a wonderful idea for a thread!

Here are links to my favorite children's books. I read them as a kid and loved them.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. It's wonderful (as is the whole series about the family that is the subject of the books). My son read it when he was 9 or 10--a good chapter book to read to a slightly younger child, too. Here's a review from Amazon.com:

Everyone in town thinks Meg Murry is volatile and dull-witted, and that her younger brother, Charles Wallace, is dumb. People are also saying that their physicist father has run off and left their brilliant scientist mother. Spurred on by these rumors and an unearthly stranger, the tesseract-touting Mrs Whatsit, Meg and Charles Wallace and their new friend Calvin O'Keefe embark on a perilous quest through space to find their father. In doing so, they must travel behind the shadow of an evil power that is darkening the cosmos, one planet at a time. This is no superhero tale, nor is it science fiction, although it shares elements of both. The travelers must rely on their individual and collective strengths, delving deep within themselves to find answers.

A well-loved classic and 1963 Newbery Medal winner, Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time is sophisticated in concept yet warm in tone, with mystery and love coursing through its pages. Meg's shattering, yet ultimately freeing, discovery that her father is not omnipotent provides a satisfying coming-of-age element. Readers will feel a sense of power as they travel with these three children, challenging concepts of time, space, and the triumph of good over evil. The companion books in the Time quartet, continuing the adventures of the Murry family, are A Wind in the Door; A Swiftly Tilting Planet, which won the American Book Award; and Many Waters. Every young reader should experience L'Engle's captivating, occasionally life-changing contributions to children's literature. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

**********

Another one I love is Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield. This is a great "girl's book." It follows the adventures of three adopted sisters in London, each pursuing her dream to make it in the arts world and discover her own talent. The book has to be around 40 years old, but the girls in it are bright and independent.

**********

Dragons, Dinosaurs, and Monster Poems by John Foster and Paul Korky. A wonderful selection of poetry that is appropriate for young kids (say 4-8), but oddly sophisticated. Terrific illustrations, too.

**********

The Four-Story Mistake by Elizabeth Enright. Another oldie but goodie. Follows the Melendys (a quartet of city siblings) in their adventures following a move to a big old mansion in the New England countryside. Good for the 9-12 set. It's smart and arty but very low-key and written with a lot of love and warmth. I wanted to be Miranda Melendy.

**********
And for grownups--

Want to read some great poetry yourself? I've recently read The Fact of a Doorframe by Adrienne Rich and fallen in love with it.

And if you want to read a wonderful series of essays on reading and writing poetry, check out On the Level Everyday: Selected Talks on Poetry and the Art of Living by Ted Berrigan/ He has wonderful observations and he's accessible and fun to read.

Again, great idea Anna. I had fun posting! Happy shopping everybody.

 

[BooMerengue]

Oh hell... I'm sooo frustrated. All my 2500 books are in storage and I have some great ones to share and can't remember titles. grrr... old age sucks big time!! But I WILL find them cuz I think this post is a terriffic idea. There used to be another like this with some great info but of course I've lost the link!

Ange- I LOVED The Wrinkle In Time books- but read them as an adult.

Off the top of my head my fav book to read aloud is Hiawatha by Longfellow. Don't groan... try it! (You can read some from this site- then go buy one you like.) My kids, and grandkids LOVE to hear it. There are a zillion editions of this work; my copy is the 1924 Edition (I think) w/ Frederick Remington drawings- it was given to my Dad when he was 8.

I don't remember having all the wonderful choices in books kids have today. Go here to see...Narnia The books are Classics, and there's a movie in the works. My Mom never censored our reading- at least not so we'd know it, so at 12 I was reading Erich Maria Remarque and Frank Slaughter. I wouldn't reccommend those...LOL

My kid (BR from here on) liked Island Of The Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell- based (purportedly) on a true story. I think an 8 yr old good reader could read this.

I'll ask her to tell me her fav's- we both read so much I just can't remember.

Please, y'all... keep this thread goin too! It's a keeper! Thanks, Anna!

 

[Reltne]

For those who like fantasy with a sci-fi bent, Anne McCaffrey writes some captivating books. Written for mid-teens through young adults, her books are enjoyable for anyone with a sense of wonder and "what if. . .".
Her "Pern" series is already a classic, but she has quite a few others, from "Crystal Singers" through teleportation, space pirates, dinosaurs, unicorns, and a lot more. a bibliography can be found at:
Anne McCaffrey

As long as I am on a soft sci-fi kick, I would recommend that everyone try to find and read anything by Zena Henderson. She had such a wholesome, gentle style, and never was as widely read as she deserved to be. Her "People" stories are how it should be. It won't surprise you, after reading her work, to learn that she was a schoolteacher.
I think she is out of print now, but there are at least three novels in the "People" series, and two collections of short stories. - You can skip William Shatner's performance in the movie of "The People". He is even worse than he was in Star Trek (or subsequent commercials).

I agree about the pleasure of reading "Hiawatha" out loud. The rhythm of the metre when read aloud truly enhances the poems. Other poets who benefit greatly from being spoken include Rudyard Kipling, Robert Burns, and of course Charles Lutwidge Dodgson.
This is not meant to diminish most other poets who have meant their words to be spoken "trippingly from the tongue", including this humble poetser.

 

[flyguy69]

A wonderful children's poetry book is Polka Bats and Octopus Slacks by Calef Brown. Simple, clever rhymes and colorful illustrations. I have heard that Calef Brown has another book out, but that it is not as good as this one.

Here is a sample:

Funky Snowman
Funky Snowman loves to dance
You'd think he wouldn't have much chance
without two legs
or even pants.
Does that stop Funky Snowman?

No!!

Turn up the music with the disco beat,
when you're in the groove, you don't need feet.
Crowds come out and fill the street.
Kick it, Funky Snowman!

 

[DeepAsleep]

I see that the Narnia books were already mentioned as required reading for children. I'll throw in "Where the Red Fern Grows," by Wilson Rawls and "Hatchet" by Gary Paulson. Island o the Blue Dolphins has also already been mentioned, so I'll just second that one, too.

Shel Silverstein, anyone? A light in the attic? Where the sidewalk ends?

 

[Cerriwiden]

I see that the Narnia books were already mentioned as required reading for children. I'll throw in "Where the Red Fern Grows," by Wilson Rawls and "Hatchet" by Gary Paulson. Island o the Blue Dolphins has also already been mentioned, so I'll just second that one, too.

Shel Silverstein, anyone? A light in the attic? Where the sidewalk ends?

I love Shel. A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends. Wonderful stuff.

And there's always Roald Dahl. James and the Giant Peach, The BFG, etc.

 

[BooMerengue]

I see that the Narnia books were already mentioned as required reading for children. I'll throw in "Where the Red Fern Grows," by Wilson Rawls and "Hatchet" by Gary Paulson. Island o the Blue Dolphins has also already been mentioned, so I'll just second that one, too.

Shel Silverstein, anyone? A light in the attic? Where the sidewalk ends?

I just discovered the Gary Paulsen books and I LOVE them!! For ME!! But I bought them for my 13 yr old G'son. Yeah, right!

 

[annaswirls]

Thanks for these great ideas!

Have you ever seen Shel Silverstein's bad alphabet book! Very naughty! In a naughty little boy way. But seriously, every page recommends doing something that you would certainly get grounded for, not a kids book.

 

[Guest]

Beatrix Potter's

Peter Rabbit

 

[HomerPindar]

The debate still goes on if my inability to relate to kids books vs adult books stems from me not having kids, or from me not having grown up. As such, this might be a bit mixed - hey, if your kid don't like it, read it yourself

Pullman, Philip. His Dark Materials There are three books in the series, I've read the first two. The Golden Compass is an amazing, very engrossing world to get into, and since it's the first book I recommend starting there.

Saramago, Jose. The Cave Loved this novel, my favorite of last semester, likely of the year. We are them...

Lethem, Jonathan As She Climbed Across the Table so I can sound all clever like and debate its Magical Realism vs Science Fiction with someone. Ok, that and it's a great book, short and easy read.

Brooks, Max The Zombie Survival Guide Cause it just might come in handy to know how to deal with the walking dead. Remember, blades don't need reloading!

In non-fiction,

Censored 2004 the top 25 news stories you won't see in the news. This is not a feel good read, but worth every page. And worth checking out the last 18 years worth of these installments.

Wilson, Robert Anton Cosmic Trigger, I, II & III This is not fiction, but you've got to wonder what world RAW lives in that it's so damn different from the one outside.

HomerPindar

 

[DeepAsleep]

Roald Dahl is indeed aazing. Loved all those books when I was a kid. "Peter Rabbit" got mentioned and it reminded me of a book I need to go back and re-read, when my books get unpacked and I find a new place to live. "Watership Down" by Richard Adams. It's a little long for some younger readers, but it was one of my favorites forever.

~d.a.

 

[BooMerengue]

Roald Dahl is indeed aazing. Loved all those books when I was a kid. "Peter Rabbit" got mentioned and it reminded me of a book I need to go back and re-read, when my books get unpacked and I find a new place to live. "Watership Down" by Richard Adams. It's a little long for some younger readers, but it was one of my favorites forever.

~d.a.

Wow!! Watership Down is an excellent book! If y'all haven't read it, go do it now! And theres a movie/cartoon of it out thats really good, too, tho a bit graphic for the very young. He also wrote Plague Dogs that is heart breaking. I loved them both!

For older kids and grown ups Mary Stewart's
4 books about Merlin and Arthur can't be beat!

I'm sure everyone already knows about Half.com but if not, try it. I always go there first!

 

[Cordelia]

Pullman, Philip. His Dark Materials There are three books in the series, I've read the first two. The Golden Compass is an amazing, very engrossing world to get into, and since it's the first book I recommend starting there.

Lethem, Jonathan As She Climbed Across the Table so I can sound all clever like and debate its Magical Realism vs Science Fiction with someone. Ok, that and it's a great book, short and easy read.

HomerPindar

ohhhh, Homer. I am halfway through The Golden Compass and my 12-year-old son is chomping at the bit to read it when I'm done. I have the other two waiting. Awesome books.

And the Lethem book is one of my favorites. I wasn't as thrilled about the others he's written, though he's a good writer. Maybe I was expecting them to be more like As She Climbed Across the Table...

Anyhow. I got on here to recommend the Pullman books. I also recommend the Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer. The main character is a 12-year-old criminal mastermind. Amazing books for kids.


Merry Merry!

Cordelia

 

[postobitum]

How about some more sci-fi from back in the day? I loved anything by Heinlein but especially Tunnel in the Sky, I was reading it when I was probably 8 and I'm still reading it, over and over and over.

Another awesome piece of sci-fi that should never be ignored would be the entire Dune series by Frank Herbert. While these are probably for adults only I was reading them in the fourth grade and loving them. Also books that I have been reading over and over and over!

And my children's poetry pitch would be A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson. I not only loved the poetry but also the artwork in this cute little book.

Ya'll enjoy!

 

[DeepAsleep]

I own plague dogs, but haven't gotten around to reading it. Shardik, by the same author, is also a stellar novel.

A.A. Attanasio is another writer I just remembered. His take on the Arthurian legends in the series that starts with the book, "The Dragon and the Unicorn" is so immensely good, I can't even begin to describe it. The book "Wyvern" by him is also better than words. He's an amazing writer, all around.

 

[annaswirls]

sleeping with one eye open

Sleeping with One Eye Open

Women Writers and the Art of Survival

Edited by Marilyn Kallet and Judith Ortiz Cofer




"How do women writers cope with changes and juggle the demands in their already full lives to make time for their lives as artists? In this antyhology, noted female novelists, journalists, essayists, poets and nonfiction writers address the old and new challenges of "doing it all" that face women writers....."




My husband brought this book home for me-- so fitting. He often comes home to find me half asleep, half awake typing away as the children sleep...

writing poetry with one eye open-- sleeping with one eye open....

 

[annaswirls]

And my children's poetry pitch would be A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson. I not only loved the poetry but also the artwork in this cute little book.

Ya'll enjoy! [/B]

there is also a CD of these poems put to music, an amazing gift for any child, and also their parents as the songs are very beautiful, tolerable especially when compared to Barney and Elmo.

 

[annaswirls]

oh is it that time again?

Gift Ideas from the poet of the family:


Scholastic Book Fair time, for those of you with little guys in school, if not, surely you can find this gem elsewhere:

If Not For The Cat.

Haiku by Jack Prelutsky
Paintings by Ted Rand

Gorgeous illustrations. Gorgeous.
The Haiku are wonderful.

Here are two samples:

I am slow I am
Slowest of the slow I am.
In my tree I am.

(Painting of Mom and baby sloth)


one for T if he is lurking in these waters:

Raucously we caw.
Your straw men do not fool us.
We burgle your corn.

 

[BooMerengue]

Anna

I'm so glad you woke this thread up. I couldn't remember the name of it. Thanks!

 

[Angeline]

Gift Ideas from the poet of the family:


Scholastic Book Fair time, for those of you with little guys in school, if not, surely you can find this gem elsewhere:

If Not For The Cat.

Haiku by Jack Prelutsky
Paintings by Ted Rand

Gorgeous illustrations. Gorgeous.
The Haiku are wonderful.

Here are two samples:

I am slow I am
Slowest of the slow I am.
In my tree I am.

(Painting of Mom and baby sloth)


one for T if he is lurking in these waters:

Raucously we caw.
Your straw men do not fool us.
We burgle your corn.

Jack Prelutsky is way cool, isn't he? My son had a dino/godzilla/dragon obsession from around ages 2-8 (the result of which is I know way more on the subject--including Godzilla movie plots AND the theme song to Gamera--than I ever wanted to know). Anywho when he was around four, I got him Tyrannasurus Was A Beast, which is dino poems by Prelutsky. Great stuff, and a marvelous intro to poetry for a young child.

Tyrannosaurus was a beast
that had no friends to say the least.
It ruled the ancient out-of-doors,
and slaughtered other dinosaurs.

That made him laugh. Oy.

For prose on the subject, there's Matthew's Dragon, which is a sweet story and beautifully illustrated. It's a great read-aloud book for little monster lovers.

For slightly older kids (say 5-8) into being read chapter books there's the My Father's Dragon series by Ruth Stiles Gannet.

Shel Silverstein writes wonderful poetry for kids, but everybody knows that.

And I can't remember the title, but there's one by Seuss that's all stupid questions (How long can you play stare eyes without blinking? How long can you play stare eyes without laughing? that's interactive and really funny. I used to read that one to both my kids a lot.

I was gonna recommend adult books on poetry, but I realized they're the same ones I recommended last year. lol.

 

[Guest]

Lemony Snicket's series is great for kids as an alternate for HP.

Julie Andrews writes some interesting kids books too, yes, that Julie Andrews.

I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith was my first "adult" book. I recommend it for 11 yr olds and up.

 

[wildsweetone]

i have to add...

Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien. A wonderful series that can be read to younger children and older ones. *smile*

cool thread! i know a teen who wont pick up a book. it's hard work finding reading material to suit.

 

[flyguy69]

Lemony Snicket's series is great for kids as an alternate for HP.

Julie Andrews writes some interesting kids books too, yes, that Julie Andrews.

I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith was my first "adult" book. I recommend it for 11 yr olds and up.

Yes, Julie does! In contrast (for cross-over celebrities writing children's books), John Lithgow writes crap.

 

[flyguy69]

i have to add...

Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien. A wonderful series that can be read to younger children and older ones. *smile*

cool thread! i know a teen who wont pick up a book. it's hard work finding reading material to suit.

That's just because you had hobbits scurrying about your garden during the filming!