Books to Read: Children

“The true University of these days is a Collection of Books.”
— Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881), The Hero as a Man of Letters

Children's Books: delightful tales that bring us back home...
	*Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince* (1943), Harcourt Brace, ISBN: 0152465030*— Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince*is one of the most loved books by both children and adults. A fable in the most classic sense, this wise story offers layer upon layer to be peeled away with each reading. The narrator runs across the little prince while repairing his airplane in the desert. The elfin prince asks the narrator to draw a picture of a sheep, then proceeds to tell him about his beloved rose and the volcanoes on his asteroid home. In his galactic travels, he meets a variety of archetypal characters— a king, a tippler, and a geographer, all of whom possess particular absurdities seen all too clearly through the eyes of the little prince. The bewildered prince visits Earth, which appears just as strange and alien as the other planets, until he meets a small fox who shows him what he has been looking for. I recommend the hardcover edition which has the author's ink colored drawings which are simply delightful! Avg. Review (121):
	*Madeleine L'Engle, A Wrinkle in Time(1962), Yearling Books, ISBN: 0440498058— My niece introduced this well-loved classic to me and it's been one of my favorites. A Wrinkle in Time*won the 1963 Newbery Medal for children's books. Combining theology, fantasy, and science, it is the story of travel through space and time to battle a cosmic evil. With their neighbor Calvin O'Keefe, young Meg Murray and her brother Charles Wallace embark on a cosmic journey to find their lost father, a scientist studying time travel. Assisted by Mrs.Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which— the children travel to the planet Camazotz where they encounter a repressed society controlled by IT, a disembodied brain that represents evil. Readers will feel a sense of power as they travel with these three children, challenging concepts of time, space, and the triumph of good over evil. Learn about the tesseract, the fourth dimension, angelic witches, the warriors of light, and the saving power of love. Avg. Review (227):
	*George MacDonald, The Golden Key,Illustrated by Maurice Sendak (reissue 1992), Sunburst, ISBN: 0374425906— A boy's great-aunt tells him that where the rainbow ends he would find a golden key. Follow the boy's search as he finds out— What is the key for?, What is it the key of? What will it open?” George MacDonald (1824-1905) was the great 19th-century innovator of modern fantasy, whose works influenced C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams. The Golden Key* tells the adventurous wanderings of a boy and girl to find the keyhole which fits the rainbow's golden key. This fairy tale satisfies on many levels, reawakening and entertaining the imagination and the senses. Here is a spiritual coming-of-age tale, a story of love, nature, and triumph over adversity. In MacDonald's magical world, we regain the wonder and innocence of childhood. Avg. Review (1): . More MacDonald's stories to cherish: *George MacDonald, The Princess and the Goblin* (reissue 1997), Puffin, ISBN: 0140367462 George MacDonald, The Light Princess (reissue 1992), Sunburst, ISBN: 0374444587**
	*Valerie V. Lewis, Walter M. Mayes, Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children: A Lively, Opinionated Guide(1998), Avon Books, ISBN: 0380794381*— This is your sure-handed guide through a world of books for children. Lewis & Mayes have been in the children's book industry for a combined 35 years. With wit, candor and boundless enthusiasm, they have selected more than 2000 wonderful books for children from birth to age 14. Here is the most useful, candid, and convenient guide to children's literature ever published. It features in-depth reviews, concise ratings, handy cross-references by theme and interest, a family reading journal, and mountains of essential hints and advice to help you pass along the gift of reading to the next generation. The appendix has a theme index of nearly 1000 topics, so if you wish to find a book on courage or color or community, you'll find it. This is the first book a parent should buy. It's the last word on children's reading. Avg. Review (1):
	Ultimate Visual Dictionary(1998), DK Publishing, ISBN: 0789428741— When this stunning visual dictionary was first published, Library Journal named it one of the best reference works of the year. From the smallest cells to the largest planets, this ambitious book presents more than 30,000 subjects and their parts, with clear labels and annotation. Comprehensive coverage of the natural world, physical sciences, technology, transportation, the arts, architecture, music, and sports is given in graphic detail. Using more than 6,000 color illustrations and photos, each annotated in detail, this dictionary has become a children's favorite. Parents report that their kids spent more time with this volume than their children's books. Avg. Review (1): Ultimate Visual Dictionary 2000(Sept. 1999), DK Publishing, ISBN: 0789446197
	*Russell Ash, Factastic Book of 1001 Lists(1999), DK Publishing; ISBN: 0789434121*— 1001 lists of amazing facts & figures informatively and humorously written and extensively researched by best-selling author Russell Ash, this is a fascinating book that will amuse and enlighten kids and adults alike. The lists are grouped by subjects ranging from nature to science, space to sports, countries to culture. Short lists of ranked facts and statistics stand alongside longer narratives of the bizarre and unusual, and comprehensive factfile lists provide quick reference. You'll learn that about 15 million burgers are consumed every day in the United States, the wingspan of an adult albatross is greater than the length of a small car, the world's heaviest person (Jon Minnoch, 1941-1983) at one time weighed 1,400 pounds. Each double-page spread is neatly designed with colorful charts and generous illustrations, making this dense collection of information easy to browse and digest. Avg. Review (2):