SO MANY BOOKS OUT THERE! Didnt want to leave out the Oldies but Goodies! So I came up with lists to ensure it doesn’t happen!!!
Classics are classics for a reason. Beautiful prose combined with elements of character and plot that are meaningful to generations don’t just happen over night.
I also believe in reading older books that help children broaden their perspective so as to better understand the present.
However, with the rich variety of modern works out there to be discovered, ignoring modern titles would be a loss!
So I have come up with several reading lists which offer a book from each decade from 1900 to the present, and beginning with an 1800’s (or earlier) classic.
A note about reading the older classics…many of them contain outdated cultural views. I’ve tried to make a note where I felt it is needed. I don’t have an exact way of dealing with them – sometimes I simply skip over the assaulting passages while reading out loud, and other times I use them as a springboard for discussion.
Just so you know…there will be more of these lists to come!
Swans and Kangaroos
1800’s
The Exciting Adventures of Dot & The Kangaroo by Ethel Pedley (1899)
This story is my favorite childhood story and is the reason I care for nature as I do today; it completely fascinated me and left me in a sort of haunted love with all things Australian.
DO NOTE that there are some culturally incorrect generalizations about Aboriginal Australians: rare and easily avoided.
Published in 1986 by Angus & Robertson Publishers
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Exciting Adventures of Dot & the Kangaroo Illustrated by Frank Mahoney from Abebooks
1900-1910
Our Favorite Illustrator: There are so many to choose from! The original illustrations are magical, but we went with the version illustrated by NICOLAS (Mordvinoff) – whimsically colorful, this version might be hard to get a hold of; we were lucky enough to find it at our local library. I’ve done a bit of a study on the illustrators of Just So Stories, which you can see by clicking here:
I found that the first seven stories thrilled my son who was then age 5, made him laugh and entertained him completely. I have since read these stories over and over again with him – especially How the Leopard Got it’s Spots. How the Alphabet Was Made can be a great tool for early readers!
Illustrator Copyright 1952 by Artists and Writers Guild, INC
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ Just So Stories Illustrated by Nicolas from Abebooks
Old Mother West Wind by Thornton W. Burgess (1914)
Our Favorite Illustrator: It was a toss up between the original illustrator, HARRISON CADY and a newer version by MICHAEL HAGUE. Both were so charming and beautifully illustrated! However, in the end, we chose to go original and Cady won out!
Lovely collection of animal tales involving Billy Mink, Peter Rabbit, Reddy Fox, Bobby Raccoon, Hooty the Owl, Old Grandfather Frog, Jimmy Skunk, Johnny Woodchuck and more. Some of the stories are pourquoi stories, others are just sweet stories of the comings and goings in the lives of the characters – some with similarities to Aesop’s Fables– all are charming and sometimes even have a cute little moral message to boot!
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ Old Mother West Wind Illustrated by Harrison Cady from Abebooks
∞ Old Mother West Wind Illustrated by Michael Hague from Abebooks
1920’s
The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne (1928)
Illustrated by: ERNEST H. SHEPARD (colorized versions available).
I feel that every adult should, now and then, put down their life and read this book, and allow it’s simplicity and purity to wash over you and cleanse the soul. We were all children once, and The House at Pooh Corner will remind you of that.
We listed to an audio version while following along in the book and loved it! Look for the version performed by a cast of wonderful actors (two of which are Stephen Fry and Judi Dench). It is well worth the purchase.
Illustrator Copyright 1952 by Artists and Writers Guild, INC
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The House at Pooh Corner Illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard from Amazon
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder (1931)
Illustrated by: GARTH WILLIAMS
Not just for girls! My son loved this book. And, just so you know, many of the chapters center on Pa’s experiences in the wild. Bears and panthers are frequently mentioned! Above all, this book is about family (which is why I stuck with the older version of the cover). Oh, and that final chapter!
If reading to young children be aware there is a good deal of hunting and butchering as the author describes how the family stores food for winter.
Also to beware of: a racially insensitive song Pa plays on his fiddle at the end of the chapter titled “Sundays”. I took it as a common folksong around at that time that the author was reflecting in her story. Pa sings many folksongs throughout such as Auld Lang Syne, Yankee Doodle, Pop! Goes the Weasel, etc. It is the only instance of anything racially insensitive and has no bearing whatsoever on the character or the thread of the story -this is one I just skipped over.
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ Little House in the Big Woods Illustrated by Garth Williams from Amazon
The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (1945)
Our Favorite Illustrator: LAUREN CHILD. There were several to choose from – Mini Grey, Michael Chesworth, Tony Ross and of course the original by Louis S. Glanzman, but Lauren Child’s version just did it for me!
I’ve done a bit of a study on the illustrators of Pippi Longstocking, which you can see by clicking here:
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking Illustrated by Lauren Child from Amazon
The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith (1956)
Our Favorite Illustrator: JANET and ANNE GRAHAM – JOHNSTONE. It’s imperative that whichever version you choose, you select one with ‘The Twilight Barking’, a depiction of the path the message sent out by Pongo from dog to dog took, until it reached the dogs with news of their puppies. Kids LOVE seeing the paths the barks take! The Graham-Johnstone has a wonderful depiction of ‘The Twilight Barking’, as well as wonderful black and white illustrations throughout.
Another version you might consider is illustrated by David Roberts. Think Iggy Peck, Architect. I adore his style! It too has a wonderful ‘Twilight Barking’ and a super cute cover. However, the illustrations are not as numerous as the Graham-Johnstone version. Also, it is a bit difficult to get a hold of it in the USA.
If you have the money to spend and it’s available, the Folio Society does a beautiful version illustrated by Sara Ogilvie. You can find that version here.
This book has charmed the socks off of me. It’s a shame that so many people are unaware that it was a book before the Disney movie! It has heart. It has courage. It has magic!
For a full discussion of the various illustrators of The Hundred and One Dalmatians, click here.
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Hundred and One Dalmatians Illustrated by Janet and Anne Graham-Johnstone from Abebooks
The Little Ghost by Ottfried Pruessler (1966)
Illustrated by: F.J.TRIPP. I cannot get over how wonderful the illustrations are in this book. Unique and cheeky! They are just precious!
This is one of the few post movie reads we have done, but it was the movie which brought us to the book! The magical keys, his connection to the clock, and daylight’s effect on his appearance are fascinating aspects of the story that reeled my son in!
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Little Ghost Illustrated by F.J. Tripp from Abebooks
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White (1970)
Our Favorite Illustrator: This one really is a toss up between EDWARD FRASCINO and Fred Marcellino. They both did such a great job! I ended up going with Edward Frascino due to his version just feeling more original. But with either you can’t go wrong.
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Trumpet of the Swan Illustrated by Edward Frascino from Abebooks
∞ The Trumpet of the Swan Illustrated by Fred Marcellino from Amazon
The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman (1986)
Illustrated by PETER SIS. Black and white illustrations that depict the tone of the book and story wonderfully!
Had me laughing after the first paragraph. My five and a half year old saw me laughing and followed suit, even though he wasn’t quite sure what I was laughing about. I explained it to him, and that was about how this book went for us. He still enjoyed it, but an older kid will enjoy it more. I’ll give it to my son again when he is around 10. Lots of great laughs. I love Sid Fleischman’s sharp writing style, and how the two boys grow in character and change for the better.
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ The Whipping Boy Illustrated by Peter Sis from Amazon
Tashi by Anna and Barbara Fienberg (1995)
Illustrated by: Kim Gamble. Black and white illustrations that are just cheeky and wonderful!
Delightful story. My son wanted to know more about the swan Tashi flew on…was fascinated with the idea of flying on a swan. I ordered the Big, Big Book of Tashi which has a map printed on the endpapers. The later Tashi books seem more for older kids.
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ Tashi Illustrated by Kim Gamble from Amazon
∞ The Big Book of Tashi Illustrated by Kim Gamble from Amazon
Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins (2006)
A little-known treasure! I read this to my son and every chapter extracted giggles. At its completion he said: “Read it again Mommy!”. Characters have just the perfect amount of personality for younger kids to listen to, mix with their schema, and spit out an understanding of their various silly-nesses and quirks. In other words, great humor that kids really get! Bonus – I was laughing too!
Illustrated by: Paul O. Zelinsky. Adorable black and white illustrations! Here’s a peek!
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ Toys Go Out Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky from Amazon
Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny by John Himmelman
Such a cool book. My son (age 5) loved it and retold the stories later to his Dad. A great introduction to martial arts; it is fundamentally fantastic the way it gets across the basic philosophies with simple, clear stories-the solution to problems usually being peaceful . On the final pages it lists the “Bunjitsu Code”.
Illustrated by: The Author. The cover is a great representation of the illustrations inside!
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ Tales of Bunjitsu Bunny Illustrated by the author John Himmelman from Amazon
Pea, Bee, & Jay Stuck Together by Brian “Smitty” Smith
Here we have a pea setting out to prove his worth only to eventually realize that it’s what he thinks of himself that matters, a bee out to find a little freedom from her everyday challenges of life only to realize that she has a role to fill and we all play a part, and a blue jay who cannot fly but pushes himself to try and almost gets it right but ultimately fails and how he deals with his failure. And ultimately, friendship and family are the bonds that bring the story to life.
My almost 6-year old son absolutely loved it. I loved it!
Illustrated by: The Author. This cover is also a great representation of the illustrations inside!
WHERE TO BUY:
∞ Pea,Bee, & Jay Illustrated by the author Brian “Smitty” Smith from Amazon