Great Books for Kids

"So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away. And in its place you can install, A lovely bookshelf on the wall." -Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (www.inspiremykids.com)



I agree with Dahl...books are much more important than any electronics. We have allowed modern technology to strip us of much of our creativity. But there are many of us still out there, people who love a good story and appreciate the low cost of reading as well as the convenience. When we read words, we create a picture in our minds, and no two pictures are exactly alike. Books are also advantageous because they bring families together. When a parent reads to a child, he/she isn't just reading a great story to be enjoyed - the parent is also spending quality time with the child and helping to form the child's character.

As a teacher of English as a Second Language, I know the importance of reading. But I have always valued books and I've been able to pass on this passion to my two adult children. I remember some of the special books from my own childhood, books like Robinson Crusoe by Defoe and Charlotte's Web by E.B. White. I'm sure I must have read Peter Pan and Gulliver's Travels as well. I remember my mom reading to us before we could read these books, and I thought they were great. When we were home-schooled while living in Brazil, we read stories from mythology. I don't think I knew what to make of all of those strange stories but they were part of the curriculum. I remember reading some Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse comic books in portuguese, a task that my dad said helped him to learn the language. Because our parents were readers, we became readers as well, and my sister and I are still avid readers to this day. This leads me to another important point: GET THEE TO THE LIBRARY. My mom took us to the library when we lived in the U.S. and I have always had my own library card. As soon as our son was old enough, I signed him up for a library story time for 3-year olds. I got there early because I knew there would be a line on the first day of registration. Fortunately, he got in. Nowadays I can reserve books, DVDs, and CDs online, and the library sends me a friendly automated call when my items are ready The best part about it is that it's all FREE.

Our children had a lot of great books when they were children. Benjamin had a little plastic bathtub book called I Am a Little Fish, or something like that, and he loved it. It goes something like this, "I am a little fish. I like to get all wet. I have a little octopus and he's my little pet." We still have that once well-loved book. I like the rhyme in this simple little story, and so did our kids. Repetition is another important element of a good book for young children. When a book has rhyme, repetition, a fun story, and great illustrations, young children will love it. Here is a list of some of our other favorites:

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and the others in the series
Is Your Mama a Llama?
Are You My Mother?
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
The Legend of the Candy Cane
Small One
All of the Bearanstain Bear books (always teach a lesson - great for parents!)
Dr. Seuss books
Amelia Bedelia stories (she's so absurd that kids enjoy pointing out her faults)
The American Girl books (in our case, we read about Molly & Kaya in their historical times)
Brown Bear, Brown Bear
The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Older children might enjoy the Goosebump books, books by Judy Blume, the Lemony Snicket books, or Little House on the Prairie books.

I'll probably expand on this discussion in another post, but I will now change direction and discuss what I just finished reading and what I plan to read next. I recently finished reading Doc, the novel about Doc Holliday and his Wild West days. It went along with my previous read, Epitaph, both by Mary Dorria Russell. I enjoyed both books, and I'm glad that I learned about a time in history that I knew very little about. If you like old western movies, you will enjoy these books. As I said before, there is a lot of legend intertwined with the truth of the O.K. Corral, the people of Dodge, and the people of Tombstone.

I recently read a short article in a AAA magazine about three books that are recommended for people who enjoy travel. I've already read the first two books discussed, Paris: The Novel, and Turn Right at Machu Picchu. Now I plan to read the third one that was discussed, A Year in Provence. I ordered a used copy and look forward to reading it soon. Do you keep a stack of books nearby that you plan to read eventually? Funny...I don't do that. I only have one book chosen at a time. But I did get crazy one time and kept one book in the car and another book at home. So, I was reading two at once. It worked out, but I think I prefer my one-book method.

Here are the next ten books from my card catalog:

1. Review and Expositor, "Peacemaking and the Church"
2. Christ the Lord byAnne Rice
3. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
4. Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts
5. Are You Hungry, Dear? by Doria Roberts o Everybody Loves Raymond
6. The Villa by Nora Roberts
7. Sarah's Key by Tatiana DeRosnay
8. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson (it's a classic!)
9. Gilead by Marilyn Robinson
10. Home: A Novel by Marilynne Robinson

What are some of YOUR favorite children's books? Why do you enjoy them? I hope today's discussion generates some dialogue. Until next time...

Melissa Hill
Book Blogger
www.onegoodbookblog.blogspot.com
Amazon book seller: MCH Seller