We get questions all the time in Children’s Services about “Children’s Classics.” Sometims people will make suggestions – like Alice in Wonderland or the Boxcar Children. These are the easy ones. Often parents will wonder if we have The Incredible Journey or Finn Family Moomintroll, because their mother or father read these wonderful stories to them. Still others just want a list. When creating lists like our current two, Enter the World of Family Classics and Enter the World of Family Classics, 1960-2000, we ask ourselves questions like these. How old does a book have to be to be a “classic?” What characteristics should it have? Does it need to be a great read aloud?
We’ve recently added to our reference collection a title that will help us as children’s librarians, and all of you as our patrons identify familiar and unfamiliar quality titles, that if not “Children’s Classics” are at least “must reads.” It is 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up edited by Julia Eccleshare and selected and reviewed by leading international critics. The international is important, especially in our community where many of members hail from far away, but also to make sure we United States natives don’t miss some excellent books for children published elsewhere in the world.
It is divided by age levels and includes titles like Elmer and Mr. Gumpy’s Outing for ages 0-3. For children ages 3 and up Jamela’s Dress and Sleep Well Little Bear are among the offerings. And so it continues from The Paper Bag Princess (English) (Spanish) for ages 5 and up through My Friend Flicka for ages 12 and up. Each page includes a brief summary of one or two of the titles. Many pages have a box listing other similar reads or other great books by the author listed. Take it home and peruse; it is a real treasure. Barb L.
We’ve recently added to our reference collection a title that will help us as children’s librarians, and all of you as our patrons identify familiar and unfamiliar quality titles, that if not “Children’s Classics” are at least “must reads.” It is 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up edited by Julia Eccleshare and selected and reviewed by leading international critics. The international is important, especially in our community where many of members hail from far away, but also to make sure we United States natives don’t miss some excellent books for children published elsewhere in the world.
It is divided by age levels and includes titles like Elmer and Mr. Gumpy’s Outing for ages 0-3. For children ages 3 and up Jamela’s Dress and Sleep Well Little Bear are among the offerings. And so it continues from The Paper Bag Princess (English) (Spanish) for ages 5 and up through My Friend Flicka for ages 12 and up. Each page includes a brief summary of one or two of the titles. Many pages have a box listing other similar reads or other great books by the author listed. Take it home and peruse; it is a real treasure. Barb L.
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