The Best of the Books

A friend asked me for some advice the other day about what books to buy her nephew for his birthday. After working in elementary education for almost 10 years (yikes!) and spending several years working as a youth librarian as well, I've picked up some good knowledge about good books and authors over the years. I thought I would put together a little list of my favorite authors for kids up to and including the teenage years. There are a few classics in there, as well as some little known or new up-and-coming authors. Robert Munsch failed to make my list. I find him a little "lowest common denominator" and heavy on the potty humor, although we do have a few of his books on Lexi's shelf (if I had to pick one I liked, I've had to go with the Paper Bag Princess, because I at least like the message at the end - a simplified version of "sometimes your knight in shining armour is just a retard in tin foil.")

1) Mo Willems - author of "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" (and sequels) and the "Knuffle Bunny" books. He spent years writing for Sesame Street. Great for little ones all the way up to elementary aged.

2) Jon Scieszka - author of the "Stinky Cheese Man and other Fairly Stupid Tales," the "Time Warp Trio" (cool books about moments in history), and some other modern spins on fairy tales such as "The Frog Prince, Continued" and "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolfe." His books are especially great for boys. I have used the Stinky Cheese Man in all grades from Kindergarten all the way to high school.

3) Eric Carle - classic children's author and illustrator. My favs include "The Tiny Seed," "The Grouchy Ladybug," and "The Foolish Tortoise" (great story about learning to appreciate what you have already in life). His artwork is stunning. Perfect for the preschool set.

4) Lois Ehlert - author and widely known illustrator who has won a Caldecott honor for her book "Color Zoo." Her easy reading style and colorful graphic drawings are a big draw for little ones. She illustrated one of Lexi's favorite books "Chicka Chicka, Boom, Boom" (great for learning the alphabet).

5) Gordon Korman - another classic (and Canadian!) author who writes for the slightly older crowd. I'm sure you've heard of the "Macdonald Hall" series and "Go Jump in the Pool." He also has recently written some awesome adventure series that are a big hit with late elementary/middle school tweens (especially boys) such as "Everest," "Dive," and "Island."

6) Doreen Cronin - how could you NOT love a book called "Giggle, Giggle, Quack" or "Dooby, Dooby, Moo?" Fun, animal centered books that are helpful for emergent readers by using repetition and onomatopoeia. Lexi's favorite is "Click Clack Moo - Cows that Type."

7) Geronimo Stilton - easy to read chapter books that have been quite popular with 8-10 year olds over the last few years. Geronimo is a mouse who lives in New York and goes on adventures and solves mysteries all over the world. Geronimo is the name of the title character and he is listed as the author.

8) Mike Leonetti - what good Canadian doesn't enjoy books about hockey? He specializes in sports writing, mainly focusing on hockey. Selections include "The Goalie Mask" (about Jacques Plante), "Number Four, Bobby Orr," and "My Leafs Sweater."

9) Kevin Henkes - a Caldecott and Newberry award winning author and illustrator who does his lesson teaching in a subtle and hilarious way. "Lily's Purple Plastic Purse" and "Wemberly Worried" are my two favorites. A must in any elementary teacher's classroom library.

10) Dr. Seuss - I couldn't NOT include Seuss. The rhyming, nonsense words and crazy, made-up characters appeal to kids (and adults) of all ages, and I again love the fact that the lessons he is trying to get across are not blatant. "The Lorax," (beautiful story about learning to care for our planet) "Oh, the Places You'll Go," and "The Sneetches" are my favorites, not to mention "The Grinch" (or "The Bitch that Stole Christmas" as a little boy I used to babysit referred to him as once upon a time).

So many parents come to me and say "He/she doesn't like to read for fun." I always tell them let them read whatever they want. While I sometimes cringe at some of the titles my students have in their desks (Captain Underpants is the bane of my existence some days), if they are reading, who cares! Magazines, comic books, graphic novels (check out Jeff Smith's "Bone" series if you know kids who are into those), whatever. Just READ.

Doodle Doll Delight

So I'm a SUCKER for books in case you didn't know. When I hosted a Scholastic Book Fair at one of my schools back in February, I knew I wouldn't be able to make it out without a purchase or two (and hey, I was helping my school earn free books, so it was for a good cause). Along with the Olympic Mascot book I got because I was feeling all patriotic and such, I also could NOT resist this book of paper dolls.
This is the sort of thing I would have gone mental for when I was a child. I loved Barbie's, dressing my dolls, and would ask my mom to draw me pictures of make-up that I could colour and cut out myself. I bought the book with the idea to tuck it away until Lexi was older, but she recently found it and I thought 'what the hell.'

I knew the pictures would get scribbley. In my anal retentiveness I thought about photocopying the book first before I gave it to her, but I'm learning to just let go. She loved it. Here is the first outfit she coloured for "Myah."


It's a bit tarty for my taste (um, where's her TOP), and I'm not quite sure what kind of fashion statement she's supposed to be making with a horse purse, but it's pretty cute nonetheless.

My Little Book Lover

There are so many things you as a parent can be grateful for - that your child is healthy, thriving, happy. I'm also grateful that Lexi LOVES books. I will admit that sometimes this love of hers goes a little too far and she bites the corners off her board books, but hey, I'll take it.

Books have been part of our daily routine since Lexi was just a few weeks old. We would lie on our backs together on my bed and I would read Lexi Dr. Seuss, Little Critters, Robert Munch, and her favorite, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. Books were also part of our bedtime and nap routines for as long as I can remember. She gets several stories before nap time and bedtime. Now she likes to take a book or two into her crib with her when she goes down. Mommy has learned that cloth books are better as you can't bite the corners off (and library books in the crib are a definite no-no. As a librarian myself I could only imagine the looks of digust I would get bringing back a chewed up copy of Whose Knees are These?)

I had Lexi to the library this morning to pick out a few "new" books. As much as I love "Yummy Yucky" it's getting a bit old. I always have a few library books on the go so I figured it would be a good time to start getting some books for her too. Our local library has a decent selection of board books for kids and lots of comfy places to sit. We got a few gems including "Grumpy Bird" and a board copy of our old favorite "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom." Starting in a couple of weeks, they will be doing a weekly story time for toddlers. It's half an hour and at the perfect time for a morning activity - 10:30am (and it's FREE). Hope to see some of my fellow local mommy friends there!