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As vocabulary broadens and more abstract concentration kicks in, yet another level of shared pleasure comes available—stories with few or no pictures, chapter books, books of wonder. Long after kids can read simple (or not so simple) material themselves, there’s still pleasure and bonding in sharing it out loud – inflection, voices in character, little sung ditties, a few sinister noises… Longer books, series, and anthologies of tales extend the delight beyond a single session, adding anticipation and suspense to the mix. And stories read aloud suit several sets of ears at once, snuggled on a couch or hammock, or stacked in bed.
- William Steig – Picture Books
| Steig savored the rhythm and flavor of words even more than illustrating them, and explored conceits often subtle and deep. His books are an adult’s dream to read as much as a child’s delight. Yellow and Pink (1984) presents two characters pondering how they could possibly have come into existence complete and full of feeling. The Amazing Bone (1976) entails kinship between newfound friends, overflowing with tenderness in the face of deadly distress. An almost Zen-like kindness obtains in Dr. Desoto (1982) as the mouse dentist and his wife place themselves in the teeth of danger to release a fox from pain. Shrek (1990), the real Shrek not the filmic pale ghost of a version, is one of the great contrarian delights of children’s literature. These are my very favorites of Steig’s prolific picture book outlay. |
- William Steig – Chapter Books
| These two tales will charm their way deep into your hearts. Dominic (1972) is a pooch of valor, good will and panache, who encounters and helps animal folk of richly human dimension. Abel of Abel’s Island (1976), is swept away by a rushing torrent from his mouse beloved to an island where he grieves, imagines, yearns, copes, and from which he finally fights his way back to rejoin her. |
- Fairy Tales and Myths
| These are grand to open at random and read one a day. Italo Calvino’s Italian Folktales (1956) is one of the best collections, juicy and rich (sleeping Beauty wakes up pregnant!). Also have at hand a set of Irish tales, such as The King of Ireland’s son by Padraic Colum (1925), D’Aulaires’ Book of Greek Myths (1962), the 1001 Nights, Hans Christian Anderson, Aesop’s Fables, and an all purpose trove such as The Violet Fairy Book (Andrew Lang 1901). |
- The Oz books by Frank Baum
| Beg or borrow some of the lovely old versions if you possibly can. Favorites include The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), The Lost Princess of Oz(1917), and Glinda of Oz (1920.) |
- The BFG (1982) and Matilda (1988) by Roald Dahl
| Scatological, goofy Big Friendly Giant might cause an adult to blush but delights young folk. Matilda, the gallant young reader, has terrific drive and presence. |
- The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken (1963)
| Brave young girls held captive by their scheming governess in a British manor, break free to a happy denouement. Elegantly crafted and detailed period adventure which one hates to have end. |
- The Secret Garden (1909), The Little Princess(1905) by Frances Hodgson Burnett
| Classics are classics for a reason— warm, fuzzy, richly affectionate. |
- Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (1908)
| Much more beautiful in detail, subtlety and tender comraderie than you might imagine from the stripped down filmic versions. |
- Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling (1902)
| Who can forget the dear elephant child’s ‘satiable curiosity by the great grey-green greasy Limpoppo River |
- Peter Rabbit
| The whole series of 23 Beatrix Potter books (1902-1930) has been reissued in its original tiny format of 4 x 6 inch slender individual volumes. Kids love to cradle this one or that in their little hands, and sink deep into its lovely drawings, both color and black and white. Why wait to this age? Well, the little store of Ginger the tom cat and Pickles the terrier, where animal folk flock to buy their groceries and notions but could never pay, takes a certain sophistication to adore. |
- Rube Goldberg vs. the Machine Age
| I happen to have grown up with the original from the 40s(?), which we pored over with hilarious delight: page after page of zany sequential solutions to mundane predicaments like moving a sundae away from a fat man’s reach. |
- Charlotte’s Web (1952) and Stuart Little (1945)
| Some years ago I heard E.B.White as an old man reading Charlotte’s Web. The announcer confided that they had to re-record the final portion again and again, because each time the author had broken into tears trying to voice the ending. Hugely enduring stories. |
- Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery (1908)
| A wonderful romp to read to girls, set in timeless, old fashioned innocence on Prince Edward’s Island. |
- The City (1974), The Way Things Work (1988) by David Macaulay
| Fascinating explanations with crystal clear diagrams that explicate the complex underpinnings of a metropolis, or how all sorts of contraptions and machines do their job. |
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865)
| The real thing that Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) made up for his Oxford colleague’s daughter, Alice Liddell. (Should the adult reader’s curiosity be peaked regarding exactly what particular references, word play, or mathematical allusions mean, there’s always the Annotated Alice by Martin Gardner, the Scientific American columnist.) |
- The Redwall series by Brian Jacques (1986-2008)
| Ongoing adventures of animal heroes and villains, monks and pretty maids set in medieval times and garb, charmingly observed. |
- Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (1719)
| Find a copy with the memorable N.C. Wyeth illustrations. |
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (1937)
| Deliciously memorable when read with different, sibilant voices for each persona. |
- Tintin by Hergé (1929-1983) and The Adventures of Asterix by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo (1961-1977)
| Classic French series in comic book format, irresistible to generations of kids. Tintin, the bright young reporter, scouts trouble and intrigue all over time and space, be it Tibet or the ancient pyramids or the moon. Asterix prowls and goofs around among the menhirs in Gaul during the Roman period. |
- The Princess and the Goblin by George Macdonald (1872)
| I can still hear, terrified, the goblins scratching the rocky walls of their underground chambers. |
- Hieronymus Bosch by Charles de Tolnay (1966)
| Your kids will gaze with wonder at the detailed bizarre world of this consummate 15th-16th century artist. [Any lavishly illustrated edition of his paintings will do.] |
- Songs and poetry
| Imaginary Gardens: American Poetry and Art for Young People, Charles Sullivan, editor (1989), and Going In and Out the Window: An Illustrated Songbook for Young People by Don Fox (1987) are my two favorites, both for their elegant presentation and choice of music and verse respectively, and for the exquisite quality, diversity, humor and dignity of the museum objects and paintings that illustrate them. |
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