|
 Recommended Books
By Fred Hilton
Although any book may increase children's vocabulary, I like the books that engage kids with concepts.
On the one hand, the books that stress on the visual appeal are generally looked through, sometimes as passively as watching TV and less intently than surfing a website. Some of these books have appealed to Hollywood directors or producers--example of which is the Polar Express-- although I am still baffled to think how they have missed out on Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are."
On the other hand, there are those children's books that challenge their mind. These are the books I loved to read for my kids--and enjoy it myself too.
Without drum rolls and much commotion: Here are a few examples of timeless books for all ages that are in English: 
*The House in Sunflower Street, by Gunter Spang
*Rum Pum Pum, A folktale from India, retold by Maggie Duff
All Winnie the Pooh stories, by A.A.Milne
The Little Engine that Could, by Watty Piper
Humpty Dumpty Sat on the Globe, by Fereydoun Kian
Abiyoyo, as narrated by Pete Seeger check this site for my favorite story
 Encyclopedia Brown series
 All Frog and Toad series and everything Arnold Lobel has written
All Bill Pitt's Books
All Dr. Seuss Books. Particularly "Sneeches on the Beaches," Zax, and the magnificent "Lorax"
The Happy Lion, Louise Fatio
 Caps for Sale, By Esphyr Slobodkina
- Everything Hans Christian Andersen has written. My favorite is the Ugly Duckling and Thum Tomb.
-
-
- *Lord of the Rings, and as you know Tolkien is well spoken in every way.
Florence Atwater's Mr. Popper's Performing Penguins
Issun Boshi, the Inchling, retold by Momoko Ishii
Little Bear series by Elsa Holmelund Minarik
Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf
*Ruth Krauss' A Hole is to Dig
Pelle's New Suit by Elsa Beskow
*The Funny Thing by Wanda Ga'g
Curious Georg Series by H A Rey
*Play with Me, by Marie Hall Ets
Old Wind and Liu, by Li-San
 Amos and Boris by William Steig
The Tomten, Adopted by Atrid Lindren, and of course Pippi Longstocking while we are there. 
The Bridge on the River Clarinette, by Pierre Gamarra (Ivan in this picture is collection of his poems)
I know there are perhaps a hundred more that I have not read because we need more books translated. It's our loss is we don't seek books from Africa, Asia and South America. I just imagine 40 years from now, when I can read things for my grand children, there will be a great balance of books from every culture. I can't wait!
|
