Posts Tagged ‘Classics’

We need more books like this!  Wonderful Earth! celebrates the wonder of God’s creation, with excellent writing, hilarious illustrations, and the most integrated, well-done use of pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, and mirrors I have ever seen. Truly a joy to read and re-read.

What to watch out for: A pop-up lion might startle younger readers. The book describes life on Earth as created by God, but the book is not hostile to either an evolutionary or creationist viewpoint. This book will provoke some discussion of environmental problems (e.g. pollution, global warming).

This recent hardback collection of eight Curious George stories take George on a train, to the city, camping and more. A wide selection of stories will make this a popular book for kids and parents.

Watch Out For: As always, George gets into a good deal of trouble including emptying a dump truck and acting like a ghost. But everything always works out in the end, and children might learn a lesson in trying to fix their mistakes.

Probably the world’s greatest children’s book, and possibly one of the best for adults, too.  Memorable characters, intriguing adventures, and some of the more advanced philosophical thought of the 20th century.  Readers will learn about friendship, resourcefulness, moderation, sacrifice, and of course, the East Pole.  Highly recommended.

Watch out for:  You may have to remind younger children that woozles, wizzles, and heffalumps are not  real.  The one negative theme in the book comes when Kanga and Roo come to the forest — despite the whimsical story, you may want to discuss with your children the right way to treat new people and new situations.

53 years old and still inventively ridiculous, The Cat in the Hat reminds young and old of the need for responsibility and the perils of disobedience.  In the words of the Cat himself, “It is fun to have fun, but you have to know how.”  Indeed.

Watch out For:  The Cat and his crew are quite the bad example.  The unnamed narrator and his sister, Sally, remain responsible throughout — a good example for children (and adults) everywhere.  You might want to ask your child how s/he would respond to the question posed at the end of the book: “Should we tell (mother) the things that went on there that day? … What would you do if your mother asked you?”