Children's Literature

It is so important that we read to our children and provide books for them to have. As a parent of young children I have learned that it is important that the books we choose for our children be books that we enjoy because we will be asked to read them over and over, sometimes in rapid suggestion, "Read it again, Daddy!" Another thing I have been concerned with is the content of these stories, looking for those having strong female role models.

This page is a summarization of the some of the more useful resources I have come across as well as recommendations of the better books that we have come across. The focus of this list is enjoyable books that represent nature in a realistic way, that present positive female characters, and most of all that are fun.

Resources

• Don't overlook the children's section of your local library. The Boston Public Library
• Odean, Kathleen Great Books for Girls © 1997 Ballantine Books
• Boston Book Review of Children's Literature
• Index to Internet Sites: Children's and Young Adults' Authors & Illustrators
• Children's Literature Web Guide

Book recommendations:

• Barrett, Peter Don't Wake The Animals Random House © 1992
  Young children love to lift the flaps of this board book to find the sleeping animals.
• Henkes, Kevin Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse Greenwillow Books © 1996
• Harper, Isabelle and Illustrated by Barry Moser My Cats Nick & Nora © 1995, The Blue Sky Press, an Imprint of Scholastic Inc, New York, New York.
  The vibrant watercolors of Barry Moser come alive in Isabelle Harper's story of two girls and their afternoon with their cats. The story is nice, but it is the illustrations that make this book so enjoyable.
• Olson, Arielle North and illustrated by Elaine Wentworth The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter © 1987 Little Brown
• Benjamin, Cynthia and Illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers Footprints in the Snow© 1994 Scholastic Inc.
  As the winter snow falls, this well illustrated "Hello Reader - Level One" book shows a variety of forest animals make their way home.
• James, Simon Dear Mr. Blueberry © 1991 Alladin Paperbacks, an Imprint of Simon & Schuster.
  This story, told in the form of letters exchanged over the summer between Emily and her teacher, is a wonderful reminder of the rich imagination that children have and the frustration that adults sometimes feel in response. Emily is thrilled to discover that there is a whale living in the pond behind her house. She seeks Mr Blueberry's advice in caring for this whale and learns a bit about whales in the process. One only hopes that Mr Blueberry learns as much about imagination.
• Lasky, Kathryn; Illustrations by Mike Bostock Pond Year Candlewick Press © 1995.
  Kathryn Lasky is a wonderful author and has written many fantastic books. Pond Year is the story of two young girls who enjoy playing in a small pond and tells of the differences in the pond from month to month during the full year.
• Munch, Robert N. Paper Bag Princess
  What is a young princess to do when a dragon kidnaps the prince she intends to marry after burning everything that she owns including her clothes? Why of course she picks up the nearest suitable attire which happens to be a brown paper bag and heads off to outwit the dragon and rescue her prince. She suceeds in her mission only to learn something about him. Very well written and a truley good role model for young girls.
• Weller, Frances Ward and Illustrattions by Ted Lewin I Wonder If I'll See A Whale Sand Castle Books © 1991
  A young girl tells of going out on a boat in search of whales. Frances Ward Weller manages to slip in many facts about whales without affecting the flow of the story. The watercolor illustrations are incredible. The author includes additional facts about whales that may be seen in the waters off the New England coast at the end of the book.
• Jeunesse, Galllimard and Sylvaine Perols The Human Body, A First Discovery Book Scholastic Press © 1995
• Peters, Lisa Westberg Illustrated by Lauren Stringer Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story Harcout, Inc © 2003

  This ividly illustrated narrative presents young children with the idea that life on earth began as tiny round c cells in the deep, dark sea with the same kind of spiraling genetic code for life we have today. Slowly, over time we have changed much on both the inside and the outside and this book introduces children to some of the more dramatic changes.

• Minahan, John A. with illustrations by Robert Quackenbush Abigail's Drum© Pippin Press, New York, New York.
  This small chapter book of 64 pages tells a story based on historical fact of two young girls during the war of 1812. The story takes place in Sicuate MA. Robecca and Abigail are the daughters of the lighthouse keeper. After listening to the local militia they learn to play "Yankee Doodle" on their own fife and drum. They will put this to good use when they encounter the sailors from a British warship.
• Pallotta, Jerry with Illustrations by David Biedrzycki Dory Story© 2000 A Talewinds Book Published by Charlesbridge Publishing, Watertown MA.
  Jerry Pallotta an local author is known for his alphabet and counting books. Among our longtime favorites is his first book, Ocean Alphabet (Charlesbridge Publishing © 1986). Recently we were given a copy of Dory Story (Thanks Mom!). This is a wonderful story of a young boy rowing his dory out into the bay. During this journey he encounters first the smaller members of the food chain and then increasingly larger. In the pursuit by these predators the dory is capsized. The resolution to this catastrophe is very well done and realistic. And we have learned a bit about the creatures of the sea as well. The illustrations are vivid and lifelike.
• Polacco, Patricia The Bee Tree © 1993
  When Mary Ellen says that she does not want to read, Grandpa decides that the time is right to pass on a family lesson. He leads her on an adventure to collect some honey from a bee tree. Then "He spooned the honey onto the cover of one of her books. 'Taste,' he said, almost in a whisper.

  "Mary Ellen savored the honey on her book.

  "'There is much sweetness inside of that book too!' he said thoughtfully. 'Such things... adventure, knowledge, and wisdom. But these things do not come easily. You have to pursue them. Just like we ran after the bees to find their tree, so you must also chase these things through the pages of a book!'

  Then he smiled and hugged her."

  Choosing a book written by Patricia Polacco is sure to be a sucess.

• Schanzer, Rosalyn How We Crossed the West: the Adventures of Lewis & Clark© 1997 National Geographic Society, Washington DC.
  The story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition is told in the words of the explorers themselves. The numerous illustrations and maps provide an excellent context.
• George, Jean Craighead and Illustrated by Christine Herman Merrill There's an Owl in the Shower © 1995
  Borden sets out to shoot the spotted owl's thinking that will allow his father to get his job back logging in the town of Fresta in the Pacific Northwest. Instead, he finds what he thinks is an orphaned barred owl. His father, Leon, develops an attachment to the owl although he keeps telling his family that he will wring its neck after it servers its purpose. In the mean time, Leon and the reader learn a lot about how "the people of Fresta were suffering for something that never should have happened - the ravaging of the old-growth forests." We learn a fair amount about the interelation between the clear cutting and the various ways it causes loss of habitat. There are no bad guys in this story.
• L'Engle, Madeleine A Wrinkle in Time © 1962 Crosswicks, Ltd.
  Meg's father is a scientist who disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government. The neighbors, including Meg's school principal, are wondering when the family will recognize that he isn't coming back. Meg's brother Charles Wallace has an unusual sensitivity and can almost read people's mind. Calvin, a high school student has another special talent. Meg also has a talent that she is unaware of. Three unearthly women send Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin to rescue not only their father but the universe from an unspeakable evil. It is almost a classic science fiction plot told so well that this 1962 Newbury Award winner keeps the reader riveted, reading "just one more chapter" before going to sleep.