Chatting about children's books

I adore children's books, probably because I discovered them when I read to my daughter for the first time. I was like a kid reading them to her. I did not come from a family of readers but my mother did humor me by buying Nancy Drew books and Seventeen magazines (it was much different back then...believe me!). So my earliest memories of reading were mystery novels and magazine articles, which I still enjoy today.

When I began collecting books for my baby daughter, I was enchanted by the selection. I did what I always do when facing something new, I read everything I could about children's literature and discovered what is good and what is "twaddle" (my all purpose Charlotte Mason word for books I don't care for).

I think I may have mentioned before her delight with Goodnight Moon. So much was it a part of our family that the words were printed and placed in a silver frame at our table during her wedding reception. We delighted in I Am a Bunny, Peter Rabbit, Pooh and Curious George, loved the tongue tied Green Eggs and Ham, held our breath when Aslan died and realized Whom he was representing when he arose from the dead. As she got older, she introduced me to Anne of Green Gables and the Bodie Thoene books (which led us to a continued interest in Israel all these years later). I know these were only a tiny fraction of the books we read back then but they are what come to mind now. Only a few years ago, I read A Wrinkle in Time at her recommendation and wondered where it had been all my life. I purchased the Time Quartet and read all of the sequels within a few days. I know there is some controversy with these books but I'm pretty conservative about children's reading and I didn't find anything wrong with them (unless you don't care for fantasy books, then I'd stay away from them).

My son also enjoyed the usual classic preschool books. I remember he loved Ben and Me, which was read many times. The first book we read for school that he became very excited about was Carry On Mr. Bowdith, which he talked about for months after reading it. Mr. Popper's Penguins, was another favorite which led to his penguin collection. He continues to receive a penguin in his Christmas stocking each year even though the collection is in a box in his closet, set aside for his children someday. Today he loves books about history and politics but his all time favorite is The Count of Monte Cristo. Since we used a lot of books as our curriculum, I'm sure I'm missing even more favorites. One year we used the Sonlight Curriculum about other cultures which contained (or so it seemed) dozens of books he enjoyed.

We also enjoyed listening to Hank the Cowdog books on tape, read by the author in his deep Texas accent. Our friend, Brown, has all the Hanks books now after we suggested he'd like them. He certainly did! They are not deep, you don't really learn anything, you just laugh a lot...which is a good thing now and then.

When a new generation of little readers was born four and a half years ago, I was thrilled to begin looking for children's books again. I had discovered the beautiful Brambly Hedge books by Jill Barklem when my son was too old to read such books. So it was great fun for the first couple of years of my granddaughter's life to hunt for the out of print Brambly Hedge books (mostly on Amazon.com). Since that time, they have come out with a book that has all or most of the stories in one edition (pictured above) as well as some of the stories in paperback. I recommend it highly, especially for little girls...although little boys will enjoy the adventures. If you love all things English, lovely illustrations, and charming stories...you will find yourself reading these stories during your own tea time.

Speaking of which, there are "children's books" I still enjoy pulling out and reading although no young children live here, anymore. I like to read the Little House books (especially love The Long Winter). One of my all time favorite books is The Wind in the Willows. Someday I plan to reread all of the Chronicles of Narnia (straight through) in the book I own which has all of them in one huge edition. I read The Magician's Nephew for the first time last year when my son had to read it for a Cornerstone Curriculum class. I don't know how I missed that one but I absolutely loved it, especially the part about Aslan singing the universe into existence.

I am embarrassed to say I have not read all of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, although I have it in one big edition, too. I started it a few years ago and then just...got too busy. It is one of the few times I loved a movie so much that I didn't go on to read the remaining books...hmmm...the only time I can think of at the moment.

My son and I did read The Hobbit together about the same time. The scene where the Hobbit House is being described is wonderful. Not to leave out another favorite, the C. S. Lewis Space Trilogy! It's on my mental list to reread someday, too. Those three books were stuck in my mind for a very long time. They still come back once in awhile, when something I read or see reminds me of them. I am always amazed at the mind of C.S. Lewis and how he can bring deep theological issues into novel form.

These are some of our favorites, just "off the top of my head" (with the help of a couple Charlotte Mason lists to help me remember the books for small children). I'd love to hear the favorite children's books that make your heart sing.