Children's Classic Books discussion

Please tell us a little about yourself and what about this group interests you.

Hi All! My name is Loretta. I’m so excited to have found this new and exciting group as I love classics and children’s books!

Looking forward to reading the books that Cleo has lined up for us and to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones!

Happy reading all! 😊

Hi Loretta,

So glad to have you! Thanks for your patience with the process as I set everything up. I have grand plans so you'll see new books on the bookshelf regularly and new threads in the group. Eventually I hope to set up reads and/or buddy reads.

I hope you find lots of books to capture your interest!

Hi, everyone!
I'm a retired teacher with two daughters and two grandkids. I love reading children's books-and pretty well everything else!

Thanks for the invitation, Cleo!

Rosemarie wrote: "Hi, everyone!
I'm a retired teacher with two daughters and two grandkids. I love reading children's books-and pretty well everything else!

Thanks for the invitation, Cleo!"

Hello Rosemarie! So happy that you’ve joined! 😊

Rosemarie wrote: "Hi, everyone!
I'm a retired teacher with two daughters and two grandkids. I love reading children's books-and pretty well everything else!

Thanks for the invitation, Cleo!"

Hi Rosemarie! I'm so happy that you've accepted my invitation. Keep checking in while I fill up the bookshelves and soon hopefully we can get some reads going. Your copious reading is very inspiring!

Thank you!

Hello Cleo, Loretta & Rosemarie! I’m Nick and I’m a librarian. While I don’t work in a children’s library, I have always had an interest in children’s literature and classic literature. I seem to read a few children’s or YA books each year! Often when I feel like a change of pace and to get away from it all. Looking forward to seeing and enjoying what we read.

Nick wrote: "Hello Cleo, Loretta & Rosemarie! I’m Nick and I’m a librarian. While I don’t work in a children’s library, I have always had an interest in children’s literature and classic literature. I seem to r..."

Hi Nick! Nice to meet up with you again! I also like classics but I missed out on so many while in school because I thought they were so boring! Obviously with age that changed! Children’s classics eluded me as well and that’s why I’m so happy to have joined this group.

Happy reading!

Hi, Nick!
I missed out on a lot of children's classics when I was a lot younger because I grew up in a small town with a very small library.
I've made up for that since then!

Nick wrote: "Hello Cleo, Loretta & Rosemarie! I’m Nick and I’m a librarian. While I don’t work in a children’s library, I have always had an interest in children’s literature and classic literature. I seem to r..."

A librarian! That's great! Hopefully you'll find some ideas here to fill the shelves. I'm thinking of eventually getting monthly reads in primary, elementary, junior and senior levels or perhaps I'll start out with one read and rotating the four levels and see how it goes. In any case, glad to have you here!

Hi, everyone!

I always have really good intentions of participating, but then I often fizzle out, so I apologize in advance if I just fade away!

I'm here because I have known Cleo forever (or at least, it feels like forever at this point) and I also love classic kid lit, so this group sounds like a lot of fun!

Christine PNW wrote: "Hi, everyone!

I always have really good intentions of participating, but then I often fizzle out, so I apologize in advance if I just fade away!

I'm here because I have known Cleo forever (or at ..."

🎼 Forever is a long, long time! 🎹 But yes, it's been quite awhile and many books ago. You usually fade and come back, sort of like a strobe light, lol! I'm still filling the bookshelves but I'll probably start with the monthly read in a month or so. Stay tuned! And I'm so glad to see you here, so welcome to the group!

Cleo wrote: "You usually fade and come back, sort of like a strobe light, lol!.."

Not a bad analogy, Cleo, lol!

Hi, Christine! Nice to see you here!

Cleo wrote: "Christine PNW wrote: "Hi, everyone!

I always have really good intentions of participating, but then I often fizzle out, so I apologize in advance if I just fade away!

I'm here because I have know..."

Hi Christine! I seem to have the same problem. Try to start out strong but then… oh well! I do keep up with daily posts though, so I guess that’s something and do post comments when I feel I have something to say but those are usually ignored because I don’t participate much and other members don’t know who I am. I hope we both don’t fizzle out!

Happy reading to you! 😊

Loretta, I feel the same way when my posts aren't answered, or completely ignored.
I know you, and I know that you can do it! That is, not fizzle out!

Rosemarie wrote: "Loretta, I feel the same way when my posts aren't answered, or completely ignored.
I know you, and I know that you can do it! That is, not fizzle out!"

I’m going to try my darnedest Rosemarie! And thanks for the words of encouragement! 😊

I love reading children's books-and I can read them over and over again!

Rosemarie wrote: "I love reading children's books-and I can read them over and over again!"

I’ve probably missed out reading many children’s books (just like I didn’t read many classics while in school). I know I was brought to the library as a kid to get my first library card and obviously I took out books to read but what books? I can’t say. That’s why I’m really excited about this group!

I remember the first book I read in school. It was called Flip the Story of an Otter. I loved that book. The library card (remember those?) was filled with my name. In fact, I still have the book. Hmmm ..... I wonder how that happened ??? 🙀

Cleo wrote: "I remember the first book I read in school. It was called Flip the Story of an Otter. I loved that book. The library card (remember those?) was filled with my name. In fact, I still have the book. ..."

I don't remember the first book I read in school, but I very distinctly remember checking The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe out of the public library as a child and falling in love with Narnia. I still often reread TLTWTW around Christmas - not every year, but probably 1 out of 3 years.

I also really loved reading aloud to both of my kids. Children are so naturally story motivated, that they could listen to me read all day, if my voice and patience would have held out! My son, who isn't much of a reader at 23, still loves listening to audiobooks.

Rosemarie wrote: "Hi, Christine! Nice to see you here!"

You, too, Rosemarie!

Rosemarie wrote: "I love reading children's books-and I can read them over and over again!"

Me, too. Do you have some faves to share?

I went through an Anne of Green Gables period as an adult, where I read the entire series, and the, once I closed the cover on Rilla of Ingleside, went back to AoGG and started again. I still love the entire series, but my favorites within the series change from reading to reading.

I also stumbled on The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and The Children of Green Knowe about ten years ago when I went through a kidlit phase, and love them both.

If you like a bit of light horror/suspense, I read The House with a Clock in Its Walls as a child myself, and then read it out loud to my son when he was maybe 10. We both loved Lewis Barnavelt, but it's the house that is the real star of that book. What child hasn't imagined living in a giant old mansion full of secret rooms and wizardry with a doomsday device hidden in the walls?

E. Nesbit has written many books that I've enjoyed, especially The Railway Children.
Another favourite is Heidi, maybe because it was originally written in German, and German is my first language.
And I loved The Little House on the Prairie books as a child.

Ah, The Railway Children! It's been so long! I remember loving that book and really have to read it again.

My favourites were Finn Family Moomintroll, My Father's Dragon, The Wind in the Willows and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

How many languages can you read in, Rosemarie? I know that you can read in English and German, but I think French too???

That's correct. I studied German and French literature in university.
Since then, I've taught myself to read other languages as well-Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch.
One of the main reasons is that my husband and I love to travel to Europe-and I really want to be able to read all the signs.
I qualified as a French teacher, so I used the same methods on myself. But I was a lot more motivated than most of the kids I taught!

Since we are speaking of favourites ... I love all of Tove Jansson (not so big on her adult works), the later Moomintroll books are so good; Narnia, of course; Wind in the willows; Watership Down and most works of Richard Adams. There would be more of these classics, too, but I’ve just woken up and can’t think of them ATM. Recently I re-read Theodore Taylor’s The Cay, I’ve read the first Little House book in January and plan to get through them all, I’ve read The Railway Children (given to me as a present many years ago). As a child I went through a Swallows and Amazon’s stage, but I’m not sure how these would stand up now ... I still have them if we decide on reading one. Random thing: I recently passed through the town in Queensland where P.L. Travers was born, there is a bronze statue of her! But I have never read any Mary Poppins!

I have a book titled “1001 children’s books you must read before you die”, it’s a great resource. (I’m sure you all know of the 1001 books series, they are useful.) It contains classics and also lesser known works.

Cleo wrote: "Ah, The Railway Children! It's been so long! I remember loving that book and really have to read it again.

My favourites were Finn Family Moomintroll, [book:My Father's ..."

Are you a podcast person, Cleo? Because the podcast Backlisted did a lovely Christmas podcast on The Railway Children.

https://www.backlisted.fm/index

They also did one on The Dark is Rising, which was wonderful as well.

Rosemarie wrote: "That's correct. I studied German and French literature in university.
Since then, I've taught myself to read other languages as well-Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch.
One of the main reasons ..."

I can read children's books in English (of course!), French, Spanish and a few sentences here and there of German. I can also read a very little Latin and ancient Greek. However when it comes to adult books, I can only manage in English. Well, perhaps Spanish and French with a dictionary and taking a looooonnngggg time!

Nick wrote: "Since we are speaking of favourites ... I love all of Tove Jansson (not so big on her adult works), the later Moomintroll books are so good; Narnia, of course; Wind in the willows; Watership Down a..."

I'm so glad to hear that you don't care for Jansson's adult writing, Nick, because I don't either and usually people can't understand why. I tried her The Summer Book and it was so average, at least for me.

I started reading the Swallows and Amazons series as an adult (I think I've read about 5-6 books) and I absolutely LOVED them so hopefully the magic would still be there for you.

Was the Travers' statue carrying an umbrella, lol?!

I started reading the Ransome books as an adult as well and found them enjoyable reads.
I didn't care for The Summer Book either.

Christine PNW wrote: "re you a podcast person, Cleo? Because the podcast Backlisted did a lovely Christmas podcast on The Railway Children. ..."

Thanks, Christine! I'll definitely mark it and listen to it after my re-read. I still have to read The Dark Is Rising series. I own them and was all set last summer but just didn't get around to it. Perhaps in the second half of this year.

Cleo wrote: "Christine PNW wrote: "re you a podcast person, Cleo? Because the podcast Backlisted did a lovely Christmas podcast on The Railway Children. ..."

Thanks, Christine! I'll definitely mark it and list..."

Over Sea, Under Stone is set during a summer holiday, and The Dark Is Rising is perfectly timed to read right before Christmas (it begins on the winter solstice), in case you want to read them in their season.

Christine PNW wrote: "Over Sea, Under Stone is set during a summer holiday, and The Dark Is Rising is perfectly timed to read right before Christmas (it begins on the winter solstice), in case you want to read them in their season. ..."

Thanks! I suspect that's why I was going to start it in summer but I didn't know the setting of The Dark Is Rising. Now I just have to make time for it!

Hi Cleo! The statue of Mary Poppins (not PL Travers as I mentioned) was at the small town of Maryborough in Queensland. I have posted this on my photos on GR of anyone wishes to take a look ... umbrella and carpet bag included!

I’m not sure if I remember any children’s books that I read when I was a child. I remember reading books by Dr. Suess and enjoying them.

Present day I started reading a few children’s books and some of my favorites were:

The Family Under the Bridge: A Newbery Honor Award Winner

The Yearling

Where the Red Fern Grows

The Velveteen Rabbit

A Little Princess

The Secret Garden

War Horse

These were all five star reads for me. Have more on my shelf but didn’t want to bore you all too much! 😂

I also read The Railway Children but found that I probably would have gotten more out of it if I had read the book as a child.

Cleo wrote: "I remember the first book I read in school. It was called Flip the Story of an Otter. I loved that book. The library card (remember those?) was filled with my name. In fact, I still have the book. ..."

I still have my original library card! Now my library just puts my name in their computer and like magic I’m ready to go! 😊

Christine PNW wrote: "Cleo wrote: "I remember the first book I read in school. It was called Flip the Story of an Otter. I loved that book. The library card (remember those?) was filled with my name. In fact, I still ha..."

That’s great Christine that you read to your kids! You will probably instill that reading is fun! 😊

Thanks everyone for posting your favorites! These are great recommendations.

Loretta wrote: "That’s great Christine that you read to your kids! You will probably instill that reading is fun! 😊

My kids are 27 & 23, so my reading to my kids days are long over. My daughter is still a reader, and we have a two person book club, where we are reading books together. So far, we've read the Bronte sisters - Jane Eyre by Emily and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne (all but Tenant were rereads for me). We get together on Sunday & go out for coffee/tea & talk about the books.

My son is a musician and video gamer, and so, although he is very creative and story-motivated, books are not his jam. He enjoys listening to audiobooks, though (as does my husband), so I keep an audible account for the two of them, and my local library has a great audiobook catalog.

Your son sounds like my 12 year old grandson, Christine, except that he doesn't do audio books.
Both my daughters are readers, and my younger daughter is a big fan of The Dark Is Rising series, just like me.

Rosemarie wrote: "Your son sounds like my 12 year old grandson, Christine, except that he doesn't do audio books."

Does he enjoy being read to? Nick, my son, always loved it when I would read to him. When he was around 10, we started a reading streak where we read together every night for 1001 days. We only skipped a few days when he was at sleep away camp - if we knew he would be gone for the night, I would read a couple pages to him before going to work, so we could maintain the streak.

I started with the entire Harry Potter series out loud to him, which took about 11 months, and then moved on from there.

My daughter used to read him books when he was younger, as I did to my daughters. During covid virtual school he basically got hooked on video games, etc. He used to read a lot more before that. He's really into music now and writes his own songs.

Thanks for the invitation. Relevant to this group's focus, I am a university librarian, former public school teacher (both high school and elementary), and a passionate homeschooling parent. I have loved children's books since I was a kid and continue to discover (and rediscover) the rich legacy. It's a joy to pass this along to my own kids.

A great deal of my attention in this area is devoted to finding the best books for my children, both for "free reading" and for tying in to academic work. There is essentially no distinction between our home life and schooling. It's all intertwined. After identifying what (English language) books are out there, I then get to figure out how to integrate them into own self-designed curriculum. And of course, I get to read a good chunk of these books - either to myself so that I know what I'm recommending, or as read-alouds to the family.

My wife is also a children's librarian - so our kids can't get away from great books. And they are all voracious readers - even those who can't yet read. Due to the wanton destruction of public libraries here in the U.S., we have to maintain our own large collection, often acquiring what the libraries have discarded. Acquisition has slowed due to space constraints, but the walls of three large rooms are covered with shelves. In terms of publication dates, I would estimate 75% "old" and 25% "new."

I'm very happy with how things have gone so far in terms of my children's reading. Just the other day one found references to The Famous Five as well as Swallows and Amazons in a 2014 historical fiction book. They are starting to see that there is a huge interconnected body of children's literature - not to leave out the connections of historical, mythological, religious, scientific, etc. natures.

Hi, Michael! Welcome to the group!

Hi Michael, it’s no exaggeration to say “wanton destruction” has occurred in libraries. The same has happened in Australia. I have witnessed the weeding policies in public libraries, and “special” libraries where I work now, and this is nothing short of vandalism. So many classics tossed out!

Welcome, Michael! I'm so glad that you're here. Your life sounds like a paradise .... surrounded by books everywhere; what could be better!

I can't even talk about libraries without feeling sad. I actually call my library an "entertainment centre" now. Rarely do they order a book I request but any DVD requested, is ordered right away. And even though my system is part of 26 other libraries, I often have trouble finding classic reads. Like you, I've been collecting books. I suspect there will come a time when a physical book is very rare. Which brings into it another whole bunch of complex and rather alarming issues. I'm sad to hear that it's happening in Australia too, Nick. Very disappointing.

In any case, I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of the bookshelf .... I'm still adding to it and have been encouraged to find that there are still many good books out there!

Michael wrote: "Thanks for the invitation. Relevant to this group's focus, I am a university librarian, former public school teacher (both high school and elementary), and a passionate homeschooling parent. I have..."

Welcome Michael! 😊