I’m always excited to search for new books that eventually become favorites, scan titles, and recognize the best of newly published books. Nothing beats reading-aloud and turning the pages of a book.
Yet, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that older books, titles that have been forgotten by many, are often the best of the best. I guarantee that most authors who write award winning books today would smile, knowingly, and heartily agree.
I am fired up to share some of these books with you and their importance, because a few years ago I read this ad which was marketing Goodnight Moon:
“Goodnight Moon is now available in e-book. The perfect solution for parents on the go.”
Pardon me while I pull my heart back up from my stomach. For the very young child, touching a book and turning the pages is essential.
I read-aloud the words to this book every single day in my classroom. Every day, just before chapter reading. Three and four-year-olds need to hear the words, not just see the illustrations. I simply read the words- and oh, how I read those words! A favorite is adding the names of the children, something like this:
“In the great green room there was a telephone, and Sarah’s red balloon, and a picture of Paulo jumping over the moon.”
Children wait to hear their name and then shriek with laughter! There is much to be said about this; the listening and focus is intense. Children are getting a big dose of language and rhyming words. Best of all, they have to make the pictures in their heads, a necessary skill for chapter reading. It is wonderful!
My own library of books at school is a treasure trove of new and old, from Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag written in the 1920’s
I learned math placement with this book,
“Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats,
millions and billions and trillions of cats.”
to Evergreen by Matthew Cordell, written last year,
The best book about bravery, family, and adventure.
and If You Come to Earth, by Sophie Blackall.
Describing everything about Earth,
from all kinds of people, to houses, weather,
clothing, feelings, and how we all are very different,
yet much the same.
A teacher’s budget allows for only the best. I have discovered that many teachers and parents are unaware of children’s books written in the past. For example, I used to assume that everybody knew The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg was a book– not just a movie! I also assumed the whole world had read The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton (one of the best books to teach history). Not true!
So, now I make it a point to include them and a host of older picture books in my read-aloud. These books are so good; rich in story-line and words and illustrations.
My mission is to keep great books alive! Recently I pulled out an old book, Ox Cart Man, by Donald Hall.
This classic story follows the life of a New England farmer and his family throughout the course of a year. The illustrations, perfect for this book, are beautifully done by Barbara Cooney. Even I was surprised when I opened the book and was reminded of this:
Here are a few books (beyond what I have mentioned) that have “been around the block”, lived up to the test of time, and are loved over the years by children. They are in no particular order. I read these books again and again:
The Story of Little Babaji, by Helen Bannerman
Doctor De Soto, by William Steig
Jumanji, by Chris Van Allsburg
The Seven Silly Eaters, by Mary Ann Hoberman
Library Lion, by Michelle Knudsen
Blueberries For Sal, by Robert McCloskey
Captain Cat, by Inga Moore
Apple Tree Christmas, by Trinka Hakes Noble
Circus, by Peter Spier
Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell
Clay Boy, by Mirra Ginsburg
Harry the Dirty Dog, by Gene Zion
Of course this barely scratches the surface. There are fairy tales and wordless books… stay tuned as I highlight some of the best older children’s books, from those on this list and more. I’ll also be highlighting an exceptional new book, hot off the press.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
I love to mix the new with the best of the old as well – great choices. I recently found a copy of ‘the fire cat,’ and I love that book.
The Fire Cat was one of my daughter’s favourite books.
it is so sweet
Okay, I am ordering that book!
I knew you would like this, great books and mixing new and old. I do not know The Fire Cat! Thank you!!
I remember LOVING Millions of Cats! Thank you for reminding me od such a precious memory.
I’m so glad you remember this book! Thank you, Annette! ❤️
it’s fun to see which books they fall in love with! My grandson loves tuggy the tugboat and I can’t said the ant.
I love those books, too! Does he know Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo? It really is fun to see what books children love.
no i don’t think so, I’ll try it!
😀
My daughter loved a book called Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni and we read it over and over when she was little. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/513828.Fish_is_Fish
I agree, children need to feel the book in their hand and not on a screen.
This is a great book! Did you know Leo Lionni was Eric Carle’s first contact and first friend when he arrived in America? The rest is history. Thank you, Darlene. Yes, feel that book and no screen!
I didn’t know that. I learn so much from you! Thanks.
Awww…😍
I had two compendiums when I was a child, The Tales of the Brothers Grimm, and The Tales of Hans Anderson Christian. Amazing stories but possibly well out of fashion now.
I have both of those books. Actually, they were my mother’s books as a child. Do you remember Cinderella with the tree (not a fairy godmother) and the birds from the tree pecking out the eyeballs of the evil stepsisters? Still, the stories are well told, even if they’re out of fashion.
Can’t beat reading aloud to kids!! It excites that campfire racial memory.
Yes!
I remember some of these from my children’s preschool days (Goodnight Moon). They are timeless.
I never want to forget the timeless books. Children still love them today. I’m glad you remember some of these books, Jacqui.
Hi Jennie,
This is a wonderful list!
Best,
Charles
Thank you, Charles!
Even from the long distance in time (1939-45 due to disrupted peace and evacuation) I still remember Grimm and Hans Christian stories, which I read by candlelight, while some were quite frightening, I lapped them up! I was always in the library…Good for Jennie!
Hi Joy, children today still love adventure and scary stories. I remember having a conversation with my mother about the Grimm fairy tales. She thought I was a softy, and reminded me I liked those stories as a child. She was right. If I taught third grade, I would read the stories aloud to children! I’m glad you had these stories in WWII, even when everything was disrupted. Thank goodness for the library!
Go, Jennie, Go! 😀 The world needs people like you to fight the corner for these timeless and wonderful books! Which should of course be read to children in their hard back / paperback form – I agree, an e-reader is just NO good! An inspiring post and your passion for literature for the young shines strong. xx
Thank you, Annika. Reading those hardback and paperback books makes a world of difference to children. I will fight the corner!
My favourites? Aesop’s fables, Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm and Pyewacket by Rosemary Weir, a book that was important to me. Oh, of course The Hobbit by Tolkien.
You chose wisely, Pam, and you are among company. Good books are timeless. I must check out Pyewacket!
This is a great list to keep on hand for gift giving books to kids! Thanks Jennie!
I’m glad you liked these books. Pick my brain anytime, Deborah!
Reading was really, really important to me when I was young, and it is great to see new and old children’s books alike continue to be a big part of growing up, Jennie.
I feel the same way, Bruce. Reading the old and new keeps the best books alive, and makes a big impact for children. Interestingly, I wasn’t read to as a child, so the books I remember are priceless.
HI Jennie, I always read to my children from physical books when they were small. Some parents can’t afford the high price of physical books now. An ebook can work if you read it aloud and share the pictures.
Hi Robbie, you are the poster parent for reading aloud to your children. Many parents can’t afford to buy books, that’s where libraries come in. Honestly, they’re the saviors and carriers of books. I just cannot endorse an ebook for the very young. Third grade and above, okay.
🌈⭐️
Love these book recommendations. And the way you personalize Good Night Moon is so good. Thanks for the idea!
Thank you, Wynne!
My daughter checked out bags of books from the library to read to my grandkids. They have great appetites for books. Library is a way to go. Thank you for sharing, Jennie!
That’s wonderful to hear, Miriam. Library is definitely the way to go.
I loved all those old books and hundreds more. The Five Chinese Brothers is another of my favourites, and of course all the Lobel books (the Owl stories and the Frog and Toad stories). And how about The Wolf’s Chicken Stew?
Yes, yes!! I loved the sideways page in The Five Chinese Brothers where the brother is standing in the ocean. Your books are among the best. Thank you, Anneli!
Those were wonderful times, reading to my kids at school.
I liked this walk through time. You are right about barely scratching the surface. I remember a bunch from my childhood. Thanks for sharing, Jennie.
Thank you, John. Yes, there are so many great books. I’m glad you remember a bunch!
😊
I completely agree with you about e-books. Children need to ‘touch and see’. Turn over pages, turn back to favourite pages, and close the book at the end of the story. E-books might be fine for busy adults, but children need to feel the pages, and smell the newly-opened book too! It is an essential part of development, as far as I am concerned.
Best wishes, Pete.
I couldn’t agree more.
wonderful, Jennie!
Thank you, Ritu! 🥰
“For the very young child, touching a book and turning the pages is essential.”
I must be a very young child because, I have to touch and turn and see the vista of a print book layout. See more than the one page at a time – heck even have the freedom to flip pages at random and start reading from there. It’s more relaxing and easier for me to ‘learn’ as well as enjoy. I suspect many of us in the wider population are inclined this way. Unfortunately it appears an essential style of ‘teaching/learning’ (out of many) has been relegated to the bottom of the heap.
😦
For the record, I believe digitizing books, magazines, etc is also an important vehicle for disseminating info, etc – just not to the exclusion or elimination of others ways!
Spot on, Laura, and beautifully said! Yes, yes!!
Good Night, Moon in ebook “for parents on the go”?! For young children, the most important part of the book is listening to a parent read it to them!
Yes! I knew you would be as shocked as I was. I feel like my mission is to get the ‘real’ book message across to parents and teachers.
Shout it from the rooftops!
Yes, shouting away! 😀
😀
We have our favorites when it comes to older titles. There were some books that I read every year because it would seem a disservice not to share them with a new group of kids.
I know literary agents want us to compare our manuscripts to books that have been out less than five years (preferably three). Yet, some agents give examples of ones they liked in their childhood, which may give an indication of whether we’re a good match.
Yes! I have to read aloud Charlotte’s Web every year, yet I add new(er) books like The Wild Robot. The same holds true for picture books. It would definitely seem like a disservice to children otherwise. I like your point about agents and the books they liked as children. Thank you, Pete!
A wonderful list of book, Jennie. My grandson now reads ebooks (he’s ten), but there was nothing quite like the joy of watching the little-him grab a real book, crumble the pages, and chew of the cover. Lol. I’m being serious! Books are visceral experiences. 🙂
Well said, Diana. That’s exactly how it is! Many thanks. 😀
Lovely and so many great choices of children books. It is so nice to read to them when they are young. Remember reading few books as a child. Thanks Jeanie.
Many thanks, Kamal!
Always welcome 🤗
Thank you for sharing your tip on how you read to children and also for sharing so many book names.
You are welcome.
Even if I already grow older, I don’t why I still love reading children’s book secretly 😀🤦
Because they are so good!
I am totally in agreement on the book/eBook thing, Jennie. There’s no comparison in my mind.
None whatsoever. Thanks, Dan.
Wonderful 😊
Thank you!
My pleasure. 😇
I have a lot of older books on my shelves and my grandchildren love me to read books that I used to read to their dad. Great list. I have to say some of these are not familiar to me, which is surprising. I will have to see if my library has them when I get home and read them to my grands.
The new ones are excellent, and you already know how good the old ones are. I love going to the library! Happy reading to your grands, Carla.
My kids (all grown now) loved Goodnight Moon. It was one they wanted read every bedtime story.
It is the best! I read it aloud every day at school before chapter reading.
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Thank you.