1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up discussion
List Recomendations
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I really enjoyed The Witch of Blackbird Pond and I Am Not Esther,
John Green certainly belongs there, probably either Looking for Alaska or Paper Towns, for the oldest age section
I can't believe the Trumpeter swan isn't on there. I loved that book as a kid. Ones that are on the list that are really great: the Giver, Bridge to Terebithia, Holes, the Narnia series, and Tuck Everlasting. Among many others.
Kristen wrote: "I can't believe the Trumpeter swan isn't on there. ..."I think you meant "The Trumpet of the Swan", by E.B. White. One of my favorites, also, along with Charlotte's Web, The Giver, Holes, James and the Giant Peach, and the Little House books.
I'd like to post some discovered treasures as I go through the list - if everyone's ok with this. ie. not books that are already our favourites
I'm still mostly in the Picture Books but of these I will rave about:
Flotsam
Humphrey's Corner
Window
The Arrival
The Alfie books
The Keeping Quilt
My Place (brilliant for 8+)
Everything Leo Lionni
Each Peach Pear Plum
Drac and the Gremlin
Happy reading gang.
Linda! Excellent choice in the picture book category!Flotsam was the first one I read because I knew where it was on the shelves at the elementary school I volunteer at as I had just reshelved it! Drac and the Gremlin is absolutely wonderful! I read that one to my kids without showing them the pictures and then had them describe the illustrations as they saw them in their heads! It was grand fun! My Place has now become required reading in my home!
One of my favorites in the picture book category tho is The Boy Who Grew Flowers. Check it out!
Garsy
Oh Garsy - I would if I could find locally. I've been going through Trove, (which is a terrific Australian resource, bringing together all the libraries of Oz) and have found it across town at local and private libraries. I think I'll ring them to hold it for me and dash across after school drop-off with Dalida for a look. Thanks for the recommendation. Linda
Oh I'm having the same trouble here in the States. Locating some titles will be a major challenge.
I really loved The Changeover by Margaret Mahy
Hi all - new to the group! Avid reader, children's librarian and mommy so I have a long list!Anne of Green Gables
Harriet the Spy
Pippi Longstocking
Charlotte's Web
Phantom Tollbooth
Wolves of Willougby Chase
Tuck Everlasting
Bridge to Teribithia
The Polar Express
Anything by Mo Willems!
I'll think of more.
Arlene
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards.So wonderful!
Favorites...I have too many!If we're sticking to this list:
Picture Books:
Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel
Where The While Things Are
Stellaluna
Green Eggs and Ham
Madeline
Novels:
Any of the "Little House" books
Number The Stars
Curious Incident
Northern Lights
Because of Winn Dixie
Harry Potter
I Am Not Esther
Arlene,Great choices. I'm also new to the group and am having a little difficulty navigating to see what the 1001 books are. You chose some of the ones I would recommend - loved Tuck Everlasting and Bridge to Teribithia!
Christine
Arlene wrote: "Hi all - new to the group! Avid reader, children's librarian and mommy so I have a long list!
Anne of Green Gables
Harriet the Spy
Pippi Longstocking
Charlotte's Web
Phantom Tollbooth
Wolve..."
Oh I loved Hunger Games, Double Identity, Red Kayak, A series of Unfortunate Events, Dork Diaries, %00 middle names, Among the Hidden, Welcome to camp nightmare and many many more! My favorite author is Margaret Haddix and I will definitely read any book by her!
Hello again everyone - the boyz and I have travelled through 186 books now and are still having terrific fun.Wanted to highlight a couple more 'discoveries':
Lavender's Blue (what a fab gift for a new baby)
Katie Morag
Duck in the Gun (looking for our own copy)
A balloon for Grandad
Leonardo the Terrible Monster
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Hi everyone, I'm new here. I've got two children two years and 8 months.
My two year old loves "Good Night Moon" and "The Little Engine that Could" so I'd definitely recommend those.
I'd also recommend:
"A Bear Called Paddington"
"I love you forever"
"Charlottes Web"
"Black Beauty"
"Little House in the Big Woods"
"Harriet the Spy"
"Superfudge"
"Little Women" (This one is on my top ten list)
"Around the World in 80 Days"
Jennifer
I'm interested by why people are drawn to "Love you forever". I still feel it's a parents book, and not really for children - and when I read the blurb in 1001- about the author, the book's context made more sense, and only confirmed for me that I wouldn't be reading it to my kids, only 'enjoying' it for myself.
Linda: I have loved "Love you forever" since I first read it as a teen. At the time I think I loved the unconditional nature of the love the parent showed to the child and how simply and beautifully it was expressed. Now that I'm a parent it is even more powerful. I haven't read this to my two year old yet. I'm not sure if she would get it.
I first read Love You Forever when I was pregnant with my now 16 year old. After that each one of my children were purchased this book as babies, but I don't think they really understood it til they were much older. I just wasn't sure when it would make sense to them. My boys figured it out before the girls did, but they all understood by the time they were 7 or 8 years old. And really that's about the age range for the language in the book anyway. For me reading to my kids early on during their preschool years is more about just building their love of the written and spoken word. Occasionally tossing something in that they don't really fully comprehend yet, sometimes just fuels that love! I can remember reading gardening magazines to my youngest when she was a baby. I can assure you she didn't comprehend a lot of what I was reading, BUT she knew the words Zucchini, carrot, squash, pumpkin and many others WAY before my older children had learned them. I don't believe tossing a book in from time to time that is above their comprehension level is going to do any damage as long as it is appropriate in language and content. Love You Forever is one of those books.
Hello all, I am new here so I would like to thank you for letting me join your group. I have read many of the books mentioned here and heartily agree with the recommendations. Another one that I love is Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce. In fact this is one of my favorite books. I have read it several times and it just gets better.
Siobhan: I've never read "Tom's Midnight Garden" I'll have to move it up the list.
Woo Hoo - found 'The Boy Who Grew Flowers'. Not alas at my library, but in a quirky book/gift store in Mornington (close to Melbourne) - very naughtily read it right there in the store and didn't even buy it. Tempted true, because it is just a lovely creative story. A subtle story of differences and acceptance that makes for a really lovely parent/child read together.Tonight's read of 'The mouse and the motorcycle' takes my list count to 220. So many new exciting discoveries and surprises too (consider well if you want to tackle the original Dr Dolittle tho!)
I am so glad I have a five-year old. Now I have need and time to reread all the books I loved so much growing up. On our list:Karlson on the Roof and The Children of Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren,
Just Stories by Rudyard Kipling,
anything we can find by Jan Brett and Eric Carle (they were not part of my childhood, but I can hardly imagine better books for children)
I was thrilled to find on alibris.com The Adventures of Dunno and His Friends by Nikolai Nosov and Margaret Wettlin.
Also The Adventures of Pinocchio by C. Collodi illustrated by Attilio Mussino is a real jewel.
Well my recommendations wont be much but i think the kids should be read Black Beauty,
No way of Telling,
stuffs like Famous Five,
Pinocchio,
The Wind in the Willows,
Toms Midnight Garden,
Gulliver's Travels,
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn :)
I have to recommend Adventures of Maya the Bee. I found it online at Project Gutenberg and also downloaded a free version to my ipod. Just a wonderful little book!
Where the Sidewalk Ends - one of my all time favorites :)
Some of my favouties are:
Holes, The Messenger, Walk Two Moons Jacob Have I Loved.
I liked Tomorrow when the War Began when I read it as well.