The Fables of Aesop

Edited by Joseph Jacobs

Softbound

$3.00

I was so pleased to come upon this book -- it is exactly the same edition of Aesop that I grew up with (at about the same price, too!). Seeing the charming pen-and-ink illustrations was like coming home, and rereading the stories, told so simply, yet with such sparkle that there are many that I found I had remembered almost word-for-word even 40+ years after last reading them.

Anyway, this, in my opinion, is simply the finest edition of Aesop's Fables available in English. The animals are all animals, not made to look like humans. The language is straightforward, to the point, and yet packed with an interest of the world and its ways. Share these with a child and I promise that you'll laugh, you'll ponder, sometimes you'll even complain at the outcome -- mostly, both of you will love each and every story and carry them with you long after you've set the book aside.

The Key of the Kingdom
A Book of Stories and Poems for Children

Collected by Elisabeth Gmeyner and Joyce Russell

Softbound, large format

$15.00

This is a collection of much-loved stories, legends, fairy tales, fables, and poems for young children from seven to nine. The authors range from Shakespeare, and Robert Herrick through Blake, Keats, Tennyson, Walter de la Mare, and anonymous authors of folk tales and old carols. All were chosen because of their ability to fill the heart and mind with their rhythms, words, and images.

Whoever opens this book—whether parent or child—opens the door to a new and marvelous kingdom of beauty, form, and imagination. Charming, moving, and delightful, this book has already lifted and warmed the hearts of two generations of readers. Filled with images that can live on in the soul for a lifetime, everyone will want to borrow this book. This is one book you will want to put your name in!

(Ages 7–9)

Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages

Selected by Harold Bloom

Hardbound, dustjacketed

$27.50

I actually don't like the title of this book at all, but I love what's inside it. This is simply one of the very best - perhaps the very best - anthologies of "literature gathered with children in mind" ever to be published. Period. I used the phrase "literature gathered with children in mind" because many of the gems collected here are not what is commonly called "children's literature." Yet all are captivating, imaginative gems that will enthrall and delight children of all ages - the sort of stories and poems that stay in the heart for a lifetime. That convey, almost by osmosis, the joy of language, the delight of word-pictures. As such, I'm quite willing to overlook the one-sidedness of the title in favor of opening the covers and getting on with the reading and telling.

The inside flap of this remarkable book does such an outstanding job of describing both the editor's intent and the contents, that I'm going to share it with you here.

"If readers are to come to Shakespeare and to Chekhov, to Henry James and to Jane Austin, then they are best prepared if they have read Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear, Robert Louis Stevenson and Rudyard Kipling," writes Harold Bloom in his introduction to this enchanting and much-needed anthology of exceptional stories and poems selected to inspire a lifelong love of reading. As television, video games, and the Internet threaten to distract young people from the solitary pleasures of reading, Bloom presents a volume that will amuse, challenge, and beguile readers with its myriad voices and subjects.

Here are old favorites by beloved writers of children's literature, as well as exciting rediscoveries and wonderful works penned by writers better known for their adult classics, such as Herman Melville, Leo Tolstoy, Edith Wharton, and Walt Whitman. Encompassing the natural world and the supernatural; childhood, romance, and death; house pets, wild animals, and goblins; mystery, adventure, and humor, the selections reflect the passion and erudition of our most revered literary critic. Dismayed by the current state of children's literature, Bloom reaches back to the imaginative works of the nineteenth century and earlier, choosing poems and stories that will expand the mind and offer the magical companionship of the best that has been written. Arranged by season, Stories and poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages is a must-have anthology, sure to delight readers young and old for years to come.

There are several stories and lots of poems that are quite suitable as read-to's for ages 4 and up. The rest of this treasure can be read to children 5, 6, 7 or older - or presented to an 8 or 9 year old as an immensely elegant gift for their very own reading adventures - or you could just go off with a cup of tea and enjoy it yourself (though, personally, I'm hoping you'll share with your children, too!).

Stories and Poems for Extremely Intelligent Children of All Ages

Selected by Harold Bloom

Softbound - identical to hardbound edition above except for binding

$16.00

The Little House Books

Laura Ingalls Wilder

Illustrated by Garth Williams

Softbound, all 9 volumes, boxed set

$53.55

When our children were growing up, we read these books together so many times that the pages almost wore out from handling. There is so much about Laura Ingalls Wilder's recreation of her childhood (and that of her husband) that is just exactly right for our very modern children. Her portrait of the warmth her family shared with each other, even in the midst of what to my experience would be extreme hardship, is something that simply feeds our children what they are hungry for (and feeds their parents, as well, I might add). These stories also bring into view how it is possible to grow up stable and strong despise ever-changing homes, places, and circumstances. I don't know many children today who haven't had similar experiences of moving from place to place, and observed with my own children that they found both comfort and strength in knowing that other children before them had also moved rather frequently.

Then, of course, there is the fact that these stories are among the very best depictions of pioneer and farming life available. The life on a prosperous farm tended by an industrious family is described so well that most Waldorf Schools include Farmer Boy as part of the third grade farming block. The rest of the books give such vivid and accurate portrayals of pioneer life on the prairies that historians still reference them as outstanding descriptions of daily life during the mid-1800s.

And did I mention that children love them? They do. A lot.

These books are ideal as read-to's from age 4 upward. Many third graders will be able to read them on their own.

The Wind in the Willows

Kenneth Grahame

Original Illustrations by
Ernest H. Shepard

Paperbound

$5.99

Don't let the price tag fool you - this is the full-sized, unabridged original edition of The Wind in the Willows, complete with all the original Sheperd drawings. Introduce your children to all the wonderful creatures of the Wild Wood: Ratty, the river rat of upstanding courage and practicality; Mole, his loyal friend who's dreamy sweetness will warm your heart; dear Mr. Toad who has much more money than sense but whose generosity and openness of heart redeem everything; and Mr. Badger, the acknowledged authority of the Wild Wood whose gruff, no-nonsense ways are often just the ticket in a pinch. The Wind in the Willows is a treasured classic that will live in your heart always. If I could give children only one book, this would be the one I would choose.

The Secret Garden

Hardbound with Ribbon Bookmark
Illustrated by Tasha Tudor

Frances Hodgson Burnett

$17.99

We felt that this favorite, wonderful story should be available to children in a volume that reflects its joy and wonder. We were delighted to find that the hardbound edition illustrated by the inimitable Tasha Tudor was still available - this is the one our children grew up with. We're sure you'll love it, too. The Secret Garden tells the story of a girl named Mary who has been so "neglected with abundance" (my term) that by the age of 10 she is perhaps the most self-centered child anyone could imagine. Fortunately, she meets two friends, her cousin Colin who may be the one person in the world as selfish as she is, and Dickon, a sturdy, goodhearted lad of the moors. Together, they revive a garden long neglected and in so doing, Mary and Colin find their hearts. A story to grow up with and pass on to the next generation.

The Jungle Book

Rudyard Kipling

Hardbound with Ribbon Bookmark

$14.95

When Rudyard Kipling wrote The Jungle Book, he created a story of such endurance and vitality that more than 100 years later, children are still enthralled with these tales of the boy Mowgli who is raised by wolves in the jungles of India. From the wolves of the Seeonee Pack, who raise Mowgli to manhood and remain his brothers, to Shere Khan, the conniving lame tiger, to Bagheera, the black panther and Baloo the great bear who together educate Mowgli - all the animals of the jungle retain their animal character while giving us a glimpse of the wisdom of creation. Not to mention that as a storyteller, Kipling can keep you on the edge of your seat all the way through this book. Included also are several of Kipling's short stories, among them, "Rikki Tikki Tavi," a personal favorite. As a read-to-me for children 8 and older or for children 10 and older to read to themselves.

The Chronicles of Narnia

C. S. Lewis

Boxed Set - 7 volumes

Paperbound

$45.00

Our children went to Narnia more times than we can remember and lived and played in that realm for years. It is a wonderful, invigorating journey, filled with high adventure, good friends, and the Beauty that is Truth. This boxed set makes it easy to travel the land for as long and as often as you want. Recommended without reservation! For children of all ages, especially ages 5 and up.

Hope for the Flowers

Words and Pictures
by Trina Paulus

Paperback

$10.95

This is truly one of the all-time greatest stories ever. Behind the softly whimsical, inviting illustrations and the engagingly told story is a lifetime of truth. Stripe the caterpillar has been told that the only thing that matters is getting to the top of the caterpillar pile. He doesn’t quite know why, but it’s what everybody’s saying, so it must be true. Right? He notices beautiful butterflies and feels a connection to them, but no one else seems to care. After much struggle, he gains a wisdom born of hard experience and comes to know that butterflies emerge from cocoons made by . . . caterpillars!! But now that he knows what is possible, he discovers himself in the grips of terror - what if his cocoon fails? Wouldn’t he be better off just staying a caterpillar? You can share Stripe’s quest with children from age 3 upward as a read-aloud story, or from age 9 as a book they read themselves. Of course, if you wait until they can read it, you might miss out on the story yourself!

Pooh's Library
Contains: When We Were Very Young, Now We Are Six, Winnie-the-Pooh, and The House at Pooh Corner

A. A. Milne

Original Illustrations by E. H. Shepard

Hardbound, dust jacketed

$48.00
Boxed Set - 4 volumes

Before Disney Studios turned Winnie-the-Pooh into a characature of himself, these stories, illustrated with warmth and love by E. H. Shepard, filled children's and parent's heart with a glowing delight. Fortunately, the originals are still in print and you can discover them, too.

These are the books I grew up on and still love. Whenever I reflect on any of them, I break into a smile and (I'm told) am inclined to begin humming or singing. This is what I hope your children will find, also - a lifetime of delight. Whether they are captivated by such dancing poetry as "James James Morrison Morrison; Weatherby George Dupree; Took good care of his mother; Though he was only three." or whether they giggle their way through Pooh and Piglet's attempts at capturing a Heffalump, it is my belief that such joy will last them a lifetime. "Sing Ho! for the life of a bear!" An essential classic.

The Velveteen Rabbit

Margery Williams

Illustrated by William Nicholson

Original Edition - paperbound

$3.99

A story great enough to last a child a lifetime! A gift of love from a child carries life itself to his favorite stuffed bunny.

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real. It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But those things don't matter, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

The Holy Night

Selma Lagerlöf

Illustrations by Ilon Wikland

Hardbound

$17.00

Of all the tales in Selma Lagerlöf's The Emperor's Vision and other Christ Legends, this one has always been my favorite. It is really a story within a story, and both stories are as near to my heart as any I know.

The one story is about Selma as a very young child who is remembering how loving and deep and kind her grandmother was; and how very empty life became when grandmother died. Before that, though, Grandmother told many, many stories, each ending with "This is as true as that I see you and you see me." And on one Christmas Day, Grandmother and Selma were both left at home because one was too old and the other too young. Both were sorry not to be taken to early Mass to hear the singing and to see the Christmas candles. And as they sat together Grandmother began to tell a story . . .

Thus begins the inner story of this tale, one of the truest of the many legends that have sprung up as humanity tries to grasp the wonder of the First Christmas. A man goes out to find fire to warm his wife and newly born son. He comes at last to a shepherd, who sits by the very fire he is seeking -- but the shepherd has a hard, angry heart and is in no way inclined to be helpful to the father. From there we hear how all the world worked to help that father and soften the heart of the shepherd.

This is a story that still sends tingles of wonder through my body and brings tears to my eyes just to think about it. I hope you and your children come to love it as much.

Christmas Roses
Legends for Each Day of Advent

Includes retellings by such wonderful storytellers as Selma Lagerlöf and Jacob Streit

Hardbound

$39.95

What a find this book is! Everyone who shares these legends with their children (or themselves, should no children be available to give you an excuse) will discover something much more than beautiful stories, bathed in truth and light. I promise you that by the time you close the book on Christmas Eve you will notice that your entire life has been lifted into a rosey realm where Love reigns and peace abounds. Each and every one of these legends has been chosen for it's ability to reach the human heart and retold with a rare grace.

The legends are presented such that there is a tale to be read every evening from December 1 through the 24th. The book was published with the intent that it accompany a special Advent calendar, but it stands beautifully on its own.

Christmas Roses is a feast for the heart - do enjoy!

The Clown of God

Tomie dePaola

$6.00

Tomie de Paola's retelling of the French legend of the clown whose final gift to God is a selfless outpouring of his talents is gloriously sensitive, graceful and ultimately deeply moving and inspiring. His luminous watercolor illustrations are bright, alive and graceful - juxtaposiing the stucco, tile and stone buildings of medieval Europe as a backdrop to the bright costumes of The Clown of God. The result is one that delights the eye as it assures the heart that all shall truly be well. The story culminates on a Christmas Eve of long ago, yet alive in our hearts to this day. The Clown of God remains a family favorite--our teenagers (and their parents) still pull it off the shelf to remind themselves of the truer things in life. Illustrated with Tomie de Paola's characteristic humor, good taste and beautiful use of color. A gift for children ages 6 and older.

The Velveteen Rabbit

Margery Williams

Illustrated by William Nicholson

Original Edition - paperbound

$3.99

A story great enough to last a child a lifetime! A gift of love from a child carries life itself to his favorite stuffed bunny.

"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real. It doesn't happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But those things don't matter, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."