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: 2014 Theme: Friendship, First Chapter Book Best for: 5 to 8 "Under the kitchen sink, where the beetles live, there is an art studio just for Marvin. James gives him paper and ink. He can draw and draw. Marvin loves making pictures. But today he just doesn't feel like it." This children's book succeeds on several counts - imagination (the world as seen by beetles), clear simple writing, and a single message: friendship.
Published: 2008 Theme: Friendship Best for: 9 and up "Justice, Fortitude, Temperance, Prudence. If you had to choose one virtue, which would be the most important? Was it better to be wise or brave? Reasonable or fair? Marvin decided that the answer to that question might depend on your situation." Here's a wild combination of elements: art history, mystery, philosophy, and a clever beetle. Add in a plucky young boy of 11, divorced parents, and theft from a New York City art museum, and you have a 'can't miss' children's book.
Published: 2000 Theme: Death and Life Best for: 9 and up "Josie often thought of Sanders and then she grieved. But she had never put that grief in the wardrobe...Her memories of Sanders would be the poorer without grief." This entire book is very much like a dream - hauntingly, melodically beautiful, a long poetic piece of prose about life and death, immortality and love, grief and happiness.
Published: 2014 Theme: Magical Realms Best for: 9 and up "We don't get what we want, life still goes on. We make do. We don't shut down and lie in a corner and cry for the rest of our lives." "Some do," the Apple Tree Man said. "Some people come back and they're never happy again." Aah, the ultimate question... if you glimpsed the world of fairies and magic, would it make you so unhappy with ordinary life? That and many other interesting dilemmas are posed in...
Published: 2011 Theme: Protecting Wilderness Best for: 9 to 12 "Nothing prepared me for seeing her right in front of me. It was as if the lochs and the mountains and the sky were folded deep inside of her, as if she was a small piece of this vast landscape and none of it could exist without her." The combination of ecology, human sadness and triumph, and osprey make up the heart of this unusually beautiful children's book...
Published: 2011 Theme: Threads of Destiny Best for: 9 to 12 "Ben wished the world was organized by the Dewey decimal system. That way, you'd be able to find whatever you were looking for, like the meaning of your dream, or your Dad." After you manage to deal with the sheer size of this children's book (608 pages!), it's pretty easy to settle in to a very poignant and creative story about the intertwining of destiny.
Published: 2006 Theme: Love and Loss of Grandparents Best for: 6 to 9 "'He can only speak French in my journal,', I said. 'I suppose that's what writing is for,' said Grandfather. 'To change life and make it come out the way you want it to.'" This children's book addresses something so precious - preparing a child for the death of the grandparent. I cry just writing those words. Yet there is nothing maudlin or sad about this children's book. It is exquisite.
Published: 1985 - 2006 Theme: Family life on the Plains Best for: 5 - 8 "Sarah loved the chickens. She clucked back to them and fed them grain. They followed her, shuffling and scratching primly in the dirt. I knew they would not be for eating." What captured me in each children's book of this collection was the emphasis on the emotions and feelings of the people. We live through the eyes of each child in turn...
Published: 2006 Theme: New Baby Best for: 7- 9 "What if Mama is too old to have this baby? What if this terrible baby makes Mama die like Caleb's mama died when he was born? I closed the journal as if shutting away the words would make them go away." The very real fears and emotions of the youngest child towards a new baby are presented with care in book 4 of Sarah, Plain and Tall.
Published: 2001 Theme: Reconciliation Best for: 6 to 8 "They are beautiful, the trees and hills and lakes filled with water. But the prairie is home, the sky so big it takes your breath away, the land like a giant quilt tossed out." A profound exploration of reconciliation between father and son, and forgiveness.
Litkidz 