Generally best enjoyed by children between five and eight years old; but every child is unique, so only you know best.
Published: 2013 Theme: Curiosity Best for: 5 - 8 "Suddenly he knew there were mysteries in the word, hidden and silent, unknown and unseen. He wanted, more than anything, to understand those mysteries." Here's a treasure - an authentic story about Albert Einstein, written with very young children in mind, accompanied by absolutely magical illustrations. I am so in love with this one...
Published: 2005 Theme: Wonder in Daily Life Best for: 8 and up "Sit down now, Eben McAllister, and pay attention to what I say," she ordered me. So I sat. Because when folks in Sassafras Springs start to tell a story, it's likely to take a while." It's hard to believe this is a contemporary children's book, as it reads and feels like something from another time and place.. the style is slow, rambling, and filled with stories of ordinary people's little miracles...
Published: 1986 Theme: Courage, Destiny Best for: ages 8 and up "Mattias cut a comical little figure as he wobbled his way along the cloisters, with his large sandals flip-flopping, and his tail peeping from beneath the baggy folds of an oversized novice's habit. He paused to gaze upwards and tripped over the enormous sandals." I have to admit I was hooked on this children's book with the opening lines even before I realized this was a book about mice and small animals. One of the amazing features of this fantasy children's book is that it is so real...
Published: 1963 Theme: Imagination Best for: 4 and over "Dolls are not like us; we are alive as soon as we are born, but dolls are not really alive until they are played with. 'I want to be played with,' said Holly... 'I wish! I wish!'" It is utterly entrancing in each story to be inside the heart and mind of a doll, or the little girl or boy who is taking care of the doll. Each story is unique, each doll is different, and yet ...
Published: 2010 Theme: Friendship Best for: 5 - 8 "Bink,"said Gollie, "the brightness of those socks pains me. I beg you not to purchase them." "I love socks," said Bink. "Some socks are more lovable than others," said Gollie." This quirky and fun book is a perfect easy reader. It moves fast, has funny lines, and great pictures...
Published: 2001 Theme: Valuing Grandparents Best for: 6 - 9 "Next Wednesday is Grandparents Day." Calliope dumped all her candy on the table. "And I don't have any grandparents to bring." I love this children's book, because it addresses the precious relationship between grandchildren and grandparents. It reminds us to cherish our past...
Published: 2003 Theme: Celebrating Differences Best for: ages 7 and up "It's very easy to accept and love those who are like us, but to love someone different is very hard, and you have helped us do that. You are a seagull, and you must follow your destiny as a seagull. You must fly." What a beautiful piece of children's literature this book is. Hopefully no one else in the gym noticed the tears in my eyes...
Published: 1998 Theme: Loyalty and Courage Best for: Boys 6 and up "He had promised Joseph he'd protect him. But he didn't. They were best friends. Best friends were supposed to stick together. Even if it meant being called names...Even if it ruined the sport you loved more than anything in the world. Even then." This first chapter book delighted me from beginning to end. It places the dilemma of friendship front and center...
Published: 1898 Theme: Co-operation Best for: ages 5 and up "Look here, father, you know we've each of us got our line. You know about sheep, and weather , and things; I know about dragons...Now, please, just leave this all to me...I'll go up and have a talk with him, and you'll find it'll be all right." Kenneth Grahame is best known for Wind in the Willows, and this children's book has the same touch of brilliance. Everything is just on the edge of believable, even though it is surely make-believe.
Published: 1996 Theme: Letting Love In Best for: ages 5 and 6 "So she began to name things. But she named only those things she knew she could never outlive. Her car, Betsy, had more get-up-and-go than anything around. Her chair, Fred, had never sagged a day in his life..." Finally, a book that made me reverse my somewhat arbitrary policy of not reviewing picture books! This little illustrated children's book totally stole my heart...
Litkidz 