These books are aligned with Waldorf Education curriculum and principles. For more information on what I mean by that, please visit this page: What is Waldorf-Aligned?
Published: 2015 Theme: Trust Best for: 6 - 9 "Marvin sees crumbs under the table, but those are nothing special. The beetles find crumbs all the time. But then he sees something else. Something shiny. Something silver." My criteria for an good children's book for emerging readers is that it is not too daunting, and not too dull. This book meets both criteria.
Published: 2016 Theme: Freedom of Literary Speech Best for: 8 and up "The hover ladders were floating platforms with handrails, book baskets, and ski-boot safety locks that allowed you to float up and retrieve any book simply by entering the book's call number into a keypad." The reason I found this particular children's book compelling is that it offers a very strong message about the importance of books, libraries, and freedom of press.
Published: 1998 Theme: Gentleness and Bravery Best for: 6 to 10 "'A tridrake,' the dragon repeated. 'A three-headed dragon.' Only then did the children notice that the dragon had two other necks, branching off on either side of the first neck, and two other heads... both sound asleep." This book reads like an old fashioned tale, as each head of the dragon tells of an earlier encounter with a child who trusted and helped the dragon.
Published: 1975 Theme: Loyalties Best for: 6th grade "Of all the stupid things he had ever done, this was the worst by any measure. He had completely humiliated his kind father in front of Yoshida - the man upon whom all their livelihood depended." This compelling children's book has so much going for it that the best advice is to read it. In fact, that's what the sixth grade class does in our Waldorf school, and I hope parents read along.
Published: 2015 Theme: Raising Chickens Best for: 9 and up "Mom says she has no intention of ever being a farmer, even though she knows how to drive a tractor and prune grapes.. But if I'm going to live on a farm, I guess I might as well be a farmer..."This is a totally lovable book, and a very likable heroine, who is trying her best to learn all about chickens, one chicken at a time.
Published: 2015 Theme: Friendship Best for: 5 - 8 "Diva was the gardienne's dog, which mean that Diva was practically responsible of the whole of 11 avenue Le Play, including the courtyard. It was a very big job for a very small dog." Hooray! An enchanting first chapter book for children that delights, amuses, is readable, and even stretches our reading muscles to read some French words.
Published: 2015 Theme: Following a Dream Best for: 7 to 9 "Firefly didn't know if she should zoom straight up into the air or take shelter behind Cricket. There was no time to think, because with one step of his huge legs, the miniature giant was there." If you are looking for a message about staying in one place where you belong, this is not the children's book for that. This is adventuring, a la Wind in the Willows.
Published: 1947 Theme: Childhood Behavior Best for: 5 to 8 "Pretty soon down the stairs came a terrible old witch with a long black dress, a tall black hat and a big gnarly black cane. Mary Lou was very scared until she saw the sparkly eyes of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle under the black hat." Everything about this children's book reminds me of Mary Poppins, and a spoonful of sugar with the medicine...
Published: 2015 Theme: Self-confidence Best for: girls 8 to 10 "Sadie imagined Jess and Maya calling from the road and asking what she was up to. 'Oh Nothing much. Just doing magic with a friend. Nobody you know.'" With a little imagination, and the help from the Backyard Witch, "a most magical and mysterious visitor, who always appears just when you need her," Sadie's summer, and her own sense of self-worth is transformed.
Published: 2010 Theme: Fairy Tale adventure Best for: 9 to 11 "It's a Story Book. It's actually pretty rare... My grandfather got this one when he rescued an old woman who used to ride a giant goose... The book writes down any stories you tell it..." First, the recommendation and review by a fifth-grade reader that led me to this children's book: “I liked how funny May was."
Litkidz 