Please note, for the links to work you need to click on the title of the book to be taken to the full post. Thanks Tarnya
"The picture book is a peculiar art form that thrives on genius, intuition, daring and a meticulous attention to its history and its various, complex components. The picture book is a picture puzzle, badly misunderstood by critics and condescended to by far too many as merely a trifle for "the kiddies." Children are routinely patronized and thus so are we who spend our creative lives entertaining them and nourishing their spirit" Maurice Sendak
Children's Books
This includes early readers, chapter Books for primary school age children (5-10 years) and intermediate (10-12 years)
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
I read this to my son (11 years). It is the kind of book to be read aloud because there is so much to discuss and the subject matter is difficult: The story is set at the time of the holocaust but when you begin the book you don’t know this. My son... »
Caps for Sale By Esphyr Slobodkina
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina ” Caps for sale, 50c a cap!” As you can guess this is an old book, you certainly can’t buy a cap for 50c and I have not seen a peddler! It was published in 1938. But it is certainly worth including in your children’s library. “This easy-to-read story about a... »
The Hundred Dresses
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes illustrated by Louis Slobodkin is a story about school children teasing a poor little Polish girl. They tease her for her strange name and that she wears the same dress every day. The little girl boasts that she has a hundred dresses at home. How can this... »
The Door In the Wall
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli is a delightful historical fiction book. We purchased it on audio cassette some years ago, the tapes used so often they has to be thrown out. It was my older children’s favourite book to listen to when they were ill in bed. Robin, the son... »
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois
The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pène du Bois was published in 1947. This book has stood the test of time. A retired school teacher sets off on a balloon adventure and ends up of an island secretly populated with families of immense wealth- the island has a diamonds. The author explores what different... »
My Father’s Dragon: Three Tales by Ruth Stiles Gannett
My Father’s Dragon: Three Tales: 50th Anniversary Ed My 10 year loves these books. I read the first one aloud to him when he was about 8. They were one of the first real chapter books that he read to himself. They have lovely illustrations. The type is large for easier reading, the vocabulary is... »
Bread and Jam for Frances Illustrated and written by Lillian Hoban
Have you any fussy eaters in your house? I am not suggesting you try this at home but Frances’ parents cure her with bread and jam at every meal and snack. We have enjoyed the Frances stories including Bedtime for Frances, A Baby Sister for Frances, and Best Friends for Frances. They also made an... »
An Extraordinary Egg By Lionni Leo
Leo Lionni wrote and illustrated more than 40 children’s books. He won the Caldecott Honor prize four times for Inch by Inch, Frederick, Swimmy, and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse. An Extraordinary Egg is one of our favourites. The illustrations are charming, the story is humourous, imaginative and memorable. What makes it memorable for my... »
Big and Small, Room for All by Jo Ellen Bogart Illustrated by Gillian Newland
This book gives us a glimpse of the immense, wonderful universe and takes us on a journey all the way down to microscopic creatures. The book is not specifically Christian but it reminded me of Psalm 8: What is man that You are mindful of him? It is beautifully illustrated in watercolours and makes a lovely picture book to read... »
Beatrix Potter – the Complete Tales By Beatrix Potter
“Peter gave himself up for lost, and shed big tears; but his sobs were overheard by some friendly sparrows, who flew to him in great excitement, and implored him to exert himself.” When I read Beatrix Potter I am surprised by the rich vocabulary. My children love them and the young ones do not find the... »