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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Classic Books to Enjoy

I love to read when I can and I loved reading books to my children while they were (and are) growing up.

I still have the remnants of my oldest son's favorite Mickey Mouse board book. It finally just wore out. My littlest boy loved to have me read Goodnight Moon to him over and over. He always laughed at the page that read, "Goodnight, nobody." I could see his anticipation building as we approached that particular page. Sweet memories!

courtesy Google



If you are just starting out reading books to your child then  The Little Engine That Could and Winter Barn  are two books that kids have loved forever. I love books that illustrate the four seasons.








The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton is a sweet story about a little house out in the country and all that it sees and experiences as the city grows up around it. You can see how worn my copy is.




My First Little House Books are beautifully illustrated. This scene is from Winter Days in the Big Woods.  I love the detail that go into these pictures.














The Arthur books by Marc Brown always caused my kids to laugh out loud. (Give me a rainy day and a blanket and I can be happy as a clam engrossed in an Arthur episode on PBS. I like the older episodes best).







When I was about eleven years old, I discovered Nancy Drew.  I read as many as I could get my hands on. I like to think that Nancy Drew is timeless. I wonder if young girls still read them?  I also read the Robin Kane mysteries. I don't think those were as well known, but I loved any kind of girl detective/mystery. I also remember finding The Happy Hollisters at the library. They were a fairly old set of mysteries at that time, so I'm not even sure libraries have them anymore. If I remember correctly, the Hollister children all had red hair and loved solving mysteries together.



Images Courtesy Google



Two of my very favorite books during junior high were The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle. In case you're wondering, the first book is not about witchcraft or witches, per se.  It always amazed me when people were reluctant to read it based on the title alone. It is a story of a misunderstood Quaker woman and a young woman whose life becomes connected to hers. It is also a Newberry Award winner.  A Wrinkle in Time is a story about a family whose scientist father has disappeared. His children and their friend meet three ladies who help them travel through the fifth dimension to rescue him from a distant planet.



courtesy Google


Finally, for you or your older readers, there is the classic story To Kill a Mockingbird. If you've never read the story of Scout, her brother Jem, and their father, Atticus, you are in for such a literary treat! These characters walk off the pages and become real living people that you'd like to know.

courtesy Google



These are just a few of the books I've loved sharing with my kids and even love re-reading myself. I don't think you're ever to old to re-read A Wrinkle in Time. During this winter hibernating season, going to the library for a book is one of the things we enjoy doing. I'd love to hear some of your favorites!

P.S. I almost forgot one of the best books ever...Hinds Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard. It is a life changing story about a girl named "Much Afraid" and her journey to the high places.


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12 comments:

  1. This looks like you were poking through my bookshelf! These are all my favorites! I gave a copy of "The Little House" to a City Council member years ago as a reminder of what could happen.

    Have you seen the new "Goodnight iPad?" It is a hilarious take - off of the original Goodnight Moon.

    Such a happy blog post - Thank you!

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    1. Thank you, and no I haven't seen Goodnight ipad. I'll have to check it out:) Interesting idea about giving that book to a City Council member!

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  2. Hi Kathy, I also love to read although I am ashamed to admit that I do not read as much since I started blogging. I only recognize The Little Engine That Could from your favorites but I am sure I would have loved the Winter Days in the Big Woods book. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving the nice comment. Have a wonderful weekend! Shanno

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  3. These are wonderful choices, Kathy! Thank you so much for creating this beautiful list. I featured this post in today's Grace at Home! :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Richella. I probably forgot a few, but these are some of my most favorite:)

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  4. Kathy,
    I am the librarian in an elementary school and I can attest that children DO still read these books. I believe we have all of them in our school library. I have the privelege of reading to children from Kindergarten thru 5th grade and must admit I enjoy it as much as the children do. Thanks for sharing.
    Betsy

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    1. You have a great job, Betsy:) Thank you so much for writing!

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  5. Ahhhh, A Wrinkle in Time! I LOVE that book. I also love Nancy Drew.

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    1. Me too! I don't think I'll ever tire of re-reading that book. I read some of my kid's library books from school from time to time, but these books are just classics. Thank you so much for writing!

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  6. You've listed some of my very favorites. Do you know The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown? Love it!

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    1. Hi Stacey! No, I don't think so. I'll have to look for it at the library.

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