Our business is to give him mind-stuff, and both quality and quantity are essential. Naturally, each of us possesses this mind-stuff only in limited measure, but we know where to procure it; for the best thought the world possesses is stored in books; we must open books to children, the best books; our own concern is abundant provision and orderly serving. Charlotte Mason
We love to read. The Library Card is one of the most important supplies in our our little schoolhouse. For the past seven years we have worked our way through simple board books like Goodnight Moon to pictures books like Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel to chapter books like Winnie-the-Pooh. We read about people and places, the world and how it works, joke books and how-to's.
I remember the look of utter disappointment on my eldest son's face when he was told he wouldn't be able read all the books in the world...there's simply not enough time. At the tender age of 4 he was crushed. He has rebounded nicely, however, and I believe he is attempting to prove me wrong.
My hope is to provide a record of books we've enjoyed throughout the stages of childhood, a list of the go-to authors that can be pulled off the shelf without worry.
Toddler
Caulstrom, Nancy White & Bruce Degen: Jesse Bear stories
Carle, Eric: numerous titles
Crews, Donald: numerous titles
Hoban, Tana: numerous titles
Martin, Bill Jr.: Chicka, Chicka Boom Boom; Happy Hippopotomi; others
Numeroff, Laura: If You Give A....
Potter, Beatrix: numerous titles
Rey, H.A.: Curious George; Pretzel; Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys
Scarry, Richard: Busytown books (check the date - the old ones are the best)
Preschool
Awdry, Rev. H. W.: Thomas the Tank Engine
Burton, Virginia Lee: Mike Mulligan; The Little House; Katy and the Big Snow; Maybelle the Cable Car
de Brunhoff, Jean: Babar stories
Cooper, Elisha: Building; Farm; Ice Cream
McCloskey, Robert: Make Way for Ducklings; One Morning in Maine; Blueberries for Sal; Lentil
Leaf, Munro: The Story of Ferdinand
Pallotta, Jerry: The Construction Alphabet Book; The Beetle Alphabet Book; The Underwater Alphabet Book
Rylant, Cynthia: Mr. Putter and Tabby stories; Henry and Mudge stories; Poppleton stories
Early Elementary
Brink, Carol Ryrie: The Pink Motel
Cleary, Beverly: Ralph S. Mouse; The Mouse and the Motorcycle; Ribsy; Henry and Ribsy
Cole, Joanna & Bruce Degen: Magic Schoolbus stories
Estes, Eleanor: The Moffats; Rufus M.; Ginger Pye; Pinky Pye
MacDonald, Betty: Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
Konigsburg, E.L.: From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Lawson, Robert: Rabbit Hill; Ben & Me; Mr. Popper's Penguins
Lindgren, Astrid: Pippi Longstocking
McCloskey, Robert: Homer Price
Milne, A.A.: Winnie-the-Pooh; The House at Pooh Corner; When We Were Very Young; Now We are Six
Nesbit, Edith: The Enchanted Castle
Selden, George: The Cricket in Times Square
Sharp, Margery: The Rescuers; Miss Bianca; The Turret
Osborne, Mary Pope: Magic Treehouse stories
Warner, Gertrude Chandler: Boxcar children (books 1-19)
White, E.B.: Stuart Little; Charlotte's Web; The Trumpet of the Swan