Generally best enjoyed by children between five and eight years old; but every child is unique, so only you know best.
Published: 1954 Theme: Wonder and Hope Best for: 8 to 12 "We can't think much when we don't know much. But we can wonder!..For sometimes, when we wonder, we can make things begin to happen." With a wise teacher at their helm, five young children in the Netherlands begin to wonder, and act. And through that, the town changes, all for the better.
Published: 1948, republished 1998 Theme: Imagination, Kindness Best for: 5 to 8 "He's got a long tail and yellow and blue stripes. His horn and eyes and the bottoms of his feet are bright red, and he has gold-colored wings." This children's book is all about imagination, with a capital I. Just trying to picture the vividly-colored dragon takes all of my imaginative skills! There's nothing scary about this book...
Published: 1958 Theme: Early Reader Best for: 5 to 8 "If you can count," said the big, hungry alligator, "maybe you will count my teeth. I have always wanted someone to count my teeth. I will open my mouth wide. Then you two can get in and count all my teeth. All the way to the back of my mouth." In this easy reader, a young girl has the ideal way to deal with her two young cousins who are pinching, and fighting, and biting. Tell a tale about crocodiles...
Published: 1961 Theme: Early Reader Book Best for: 5 to 8 "One spring day, when Mother Bear was little, she found a baby robin in the garden. A baby robin, too little to fly. "Oh how sweet you are," she said, "Where did you come from?" "From my nest," said the robin..." When a child can pick up a children's book and read it on their own, it's as big as learning to ride a bike. The "I Can Read" series is perfect for new readers...
Published: 1911 Theme: Animal Myths Best for: 3 to 5 "Danny Meadow Mouse sat in his doorway and looked down the Lone Little Path across the Green Meadows. Way, way over near the Smiling Pool he could see Old Mother West Wind's Children, the Merry Little Breezes, at play." Here's a must-have children's book for Waldorf parents of young children (3 to 5). Perfect short bed-time stories, this classic collection unfolds little stories about why the mouse has a short tale, or why the chipmunk has pockets in his cheeks...
Published: 1996 Theme: Express Yourself Best for: 8 and up "But who says that d-o-g means the thing that goes 'woof' and wags its tail? Who says so?" And Mrs. Granger took the bait. "Who says dog means dog? You do, Nicholas. You and I and everyone in this class and this school and this town and this state and this country. We all agree." Thumbs up to this fast-moving, easy reading children's book that is sure to delight parents, teachers, and hopefully kids, about language, education, and self-confidence.
Published: 1974 Theme: Imagination, Perserverance Best for: 8 to 11 "Some people consider me an eccentric. I specialize in imagination. I imagine things most people wouldn't even dream of." "Like DNA and RNA," said Ben." "Precisely. And the Whangdoodle." The mystical lands are always there; it’s up to us to believe in the yearning of our hearts to visit them. The heart of this book is believing in our dreams...
Published: 1964 Theme: Overcoming Bullies Best for: 8 and up The Pushcart War started on the afternoon of March 15, 1998, when a truck ran down a pushcart belonging to a flower peddler. Daffodils were scattered all over the street. The pushcart was flattened, and the owner of the pushcart was pitched headfirst into a pickle barrel. The theme of standing up to bullies comes in a NYC setting of pushcarts versus trucks, with humor all the way through.
Published: 2012 Theme: Death of a grandparent Best for: 6 to 9 "I sleep with Lucy [the dog] in Billy's bed because I promised. She sleeps next to me, sometimes lifting her head to peer at me as if to say 'You're not the one I love. You're all right. But not the one I love.'" In Kindred Souls, once again MacLachlan addresses the journey of a young child dealing with the death of an elder, offering humor and compassion..
Published: 1963 Theme: Historical Fantasy Best for: 8 and up "The only thing a cat worries about is what's happening right now. As we tell the kittens, you can only wash one paw at a time." This time-travel, historical fantasy stands out through the heart-felt and accurate portrayal of cats and their behavior, sharing traits that are often missed by non-cat lovers.
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