My Favorite Books for Children

THE LITTLE PRINCE (A HARVEST BOOK)

by: ANTOINE DE SAINT-EXUPERY

Amazon Price: $34.84 (as of 02/17/2012)

This is one of my all-time favorites. I first read it as a kid, it was a nice hardbound edition. The paper had a nice texture that made the illustrations look as if they had been actually painted on the page instead of being just printed on. I know the author liked his boa-constrictor-and-elephant drawing, but I loved the baobabs! I've read this over and over and never get tired of it. This book has been a huge influence on me. I wish they'd put out a hardbound, nice paper, expensive edition instead of the cheap glossy paperbacks in the stores.
Note, there are two translations. The first by Katherine Woods, the other by Richard Howard. Make sure you get the Woods translation! Compare:
Woods:
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.
Howard:
One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.

Highlights For Children

Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 02/17/2012)

This is a great magazine for kids. Lots of stories, puzzles, jokes, articles and more. The stories and articles are clearly written and engaging. There is a wide variety of article topics from sports figures to classical music. The puzzles are challenging but not overly difficult. Each issue contains a Hidden Pictures puzzle, which is a big favorite. The Headwork section at the end of each issue poses a series of questions that encourages independent thinking. Every month we'd eagerly await each issue, then fight over who got to read it first! A nice feature for parents is a guide that shows which section helps with certain skills and and is geared towards certain age groups

Zoobooks

Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 02/17/2012)

Another great magazine. Each issue features a different animal group or species. My favorites were the Big Cats issue and the Seals issues. The text is fun and informative, and the photographs and illustrations are beautiful. I was fascinated and absorbed, I still remember a lot of what I read. For example I remember that otters love to play in the water and so do tigers! I remember the pictures and illustrations too. These magazines instill a love for the natural world.

The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Potter)

by: Beatrix Potter

Amazon Price: $3.97 (as of 02/17/2012)

What I like most about this book is the drawings. Those vegetables look so tempting! Who can blame Peter for wanting a little bite? Other favorites are the ones of the cat and Peter hiding in the watering can. All the illustrations bring this wonderful story to life.

The Graveyard Book

by: Neil Gaiman

Amazon Price: $3.98 (as of 02/17/2012)

A favorite book from a favorite author, Neil Gaiman. This is a really interesting story with a unique premise: a boy, Bod Owens, raised in a graveyard, by ghosts! I finished reading this book in a matter of hours. I literally could not put it down. Like other works by Neil Gaiman, this book offers a wonderful internal mythology, pulled from a variety of sources and spun into a coherent whole with his own magic. More than that, this is a story of a boy growing up. As I read, I celebrated Bod's triumphs, big and small. We also felt his angst as he grew into adolescence. I wanted the story to end a little differently, but nevertheless I feel it could not have ended any other way.

Juliet Dove, Queen of Love: A Magic Shop Book

by: Bruce Coville

Amazon Price: $1.95 (as of 02/17/2012)

When I first saw this I thought it was a cheesy love story for kids. I was wrong and very happy about it too! Juliet Dove is a shy middle school girl, who suddenly finds herself in the middle of a story of mythological proportions. I really enjoyed this book, there's lots of adventure, humor and excitement. The book was well written, especially the inclusion of elements from mythology. Readers young and old who like adventure will enjoy this book.

The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig

by: Eugene Trivizas

Amazon Price: $4.11 (as of 02/17/2012)

An interesting twist on the classic fairy tale. Very nice, appealing artwork and a very well-written story. I was genuinely surprised and delighted by the ending. This is so well-drawn you will really feel for the poor wolves! It's also a lot of fun to look for interesting details in the drawings. Kids and adults in our family love this book. I won't spoil the ending! Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury

Anne of Green Gables, 100th Anniversary Edition

by: L.M. Montgomery

Amazon Price: $4.63 (as of 02/17/2012)

Very funny and heartwarming. This book made me laugh. Anne (with an E) is a well-rounded character, she seems like a real person instead of just someone in a book. Another reason I like this book so much is that I identify with Anne: hyperactive imagination, always daydreaming, and feeling every emotion so strongly. The Anne story is filled with the highs and lows of the human condition. Children and adults will enjoy reading about her many (mis)adventures.

Macmillan Treasury of Nursery Stories

by: Mary Hoffman

Amazon Price: $27.95 (as of 02/17/2012)

This is a charming collection of fairy tales, fables and other stories for children. There are forty-two stories in all. I was pleased to find not only old favorites but new ones as well. I'd never heard of Clever Gretel nor Kate Crackernuts before. I love stories so these were a pleasant find. There are also beautiful color illustrations on every page. This book is a perfect gift to introduce or to foster a love of reading in young children. Illustrated by Anna Currey.

Coraline

by: Neil Gaiman (Author) Dave Mckean (Illustrator)

Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 02/17/2012)

This is the story of a little girl who discovers another world almost, but not quite like her own. She soon discovers that things are not what they seem. This is a fantasy-horror novel. Though it is written for children, I liked it and got a good scare too. The story may be a bit dark for some, but I think it's okay for kids around 10 or older.