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)
Also, get your Kleenex and read Someday by Alison McGhee. It is much more for the mom than the child, it will take you 5 minutes to read, and when you are done sobbing, you will officially give it to every mother you know as a gift.
Lovely selection and ideas!
Read Aloud Dad
It's tough to whittle it down to ten! Littleonebooks.com has a tight selection of kiddos books for ages birth to five, including some of those oft-forgotten classic like Ferdinand the Bull. My son enjoys smelling the flowers too.
Our products are 100% natural, safe, without harmful side effects. It has
been proved to be very premature ejaculation, poor or infrequent
erections, to effectively prevent loss of libido (from the drug
treatment, age, stress, diet, etc.) and many other men's sexual health
impairment.
sex drugs
sex
pills wholesale
sex pills
sex pills for women
female sex pills
woman's sex drive pills
male sex pills
sex delay spray
sex toys
adult sex toys
best sex toys
condom
female condom
condom sex
best condoms
Pilatory
weight loss products
best weight loss products
sex
drive pills
best sex
pills
top weight loss products
male sex endurance pills
best male sex pills
herbal sex pill
herbal sex pill for men
herbal sex pills for women
sex drugs
sex for
drugs
sex and
drugs
sex
drugs Supplier
female sex drugs
sex on drugs
hippies drugs sex
drugs for sex
male sex drive reduction drugs
girls having sex for drugs
Herbal Sex drugs
herbal sex drugs for men
herbal sex drugs for women
Sex Delay Spray
sex toys
robot sex toys
big sex toys
Condoms
female condoms
used condoms
best condoms
Pilatory
Weight Loss Product
weight loss products
best weight loss products
top weight loss products
cialis 20mg
cialis
Sex
Blue Pill Supplier
Sex Blue Pill Manufacturer
Sex
Blue Pill Wholesaler
Male Sex Pills Wholesaler
Male
Sex Pills Suppliers
Male Sex Pills Manufacturer
Herbal Sex Pills Wholesaler
Herbal Sex Pills Suppliers
Herbal Sex Pills Manufacturer
I love this post. Why am I always so late to the party? Just the other night I was reading my own childhood copy of LIttle Runner of the Long House, my favorite book, to my daughter. I love that my mom saved it for all these years. It's well-thumbed, scribbled in, and, yes, I think I even found a 40-year-old booger fossil. Sorry. But that still doesn't dissuade me from wanting to save so many of our favorite picture books. Forever.
I think a great book for kids is The Little Prince. I remember my parents reading it to me and then I picked it up again when I was pregnant and realized how much I still loved it so I read it to my daughter early on. It tells a wonderful story and my daughter (now 9) is very passionate about reading now. I just bought her her own bookshelf from AnnaBean so she can start her growing collection. And of course, I'll probably sneak in and read a few of the good ones too =)
I am late too but here we go...
The Mercer Mayer "Little Monster" books are awesome!
"LIttle Blue Truck" is a new favorite which my mom got for me since I'm pregnant with my first.
Also, these are for kids a little older (I think I read them in 1st and 2nd grade) but Merilee Heyers' books are amazing!!!! The illustrations are to die for - "The Weaving of a Dream" and "The Forbidden Door" were my favorites.
Very late to the party, but I have a couple that weren't mentioned.
The Alphabet Room by Sara Pinto. Only twenty-six words in the book. We love that you can tell your own story with the items that are added to the room with each letter. It is a book that I give as a first birthday present.
From my childhood, I like My Mama Says by Judith Viorst. It let's you know mamas aren't infallible.
Бери здесь... "порно фото молодые брюнетки " http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=201&ved=0CBUQFjAAOMgB&url=http%3A%2F%2F140.uz%2Fvideo%2F&CBUQFjAAOMgBDimaImparyprory
Do seek out a copy of Possum Magic - it was written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Julie Vivas in 1983 - a tender, ethereal and very Australian children's book. (Australian possums are gorgeous little creatures, and I still think of this book every time I see them in my garden)
I'm off to find a copy of Hondo and Fabian - thank you!
As a result of you - this is exceptionally constructive !
לימוד C
Love is ever the Love is ever the beginning of knowledge as fire is of light.-Fendi sunglasses wholesale