What's In My Bookcase?
Note: There are thousands of books that fascinate me, so I will choose the more pertinent ones to my interests and upbringing, including a few books for the older clientele.
Picture Books (and their Creators) From My Childhood:
Beatrix Potter - No library is complete without Beatrix Potter's child sized books. I am very fond of her stories and have the whole collection (with some doubles) lined up on the top shelf of my window bookcase.
Elsa Besckow - Of the forty odd stories Elsa Beskow created, I am most fond of Peter in Blueberry Land, Pelle's New Suit, Christopher's Harvest Time, Children of the Forest, and The Sun Egg.
The Tomten and The Tompten and The Fox by Astrid Lindgren - Another set of books from my infant days. They are very quiet, soft spoken books with lovely night scenes of the Tompten, who watches over farms in return for a bowl of porridge.
Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban & Lillian Hoban - I think Frances embodies the whims and reasonings of a kid rather well. Most children would agree with this little badger, in that bread and jam are the only staples in life that are worth eating.
Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy World - Back in the day (before laptops, constant media & iPones), if you wanted to "plug in" a child's imagination... one of Richard Scarry's books would do the trick nicely. This was a book that would keep me busy for hours.
Harry The Dirty Dog by Margaret Bloy Graham - Mom's family knew Margaret Bloy Graham, so I have a bit of a soft spot for her work.
Angelina Ballerina Books written by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig - I only grew up with three of the Angelina books: Angelina's Baby Sister and Angelina's Christmas were the books I had at home. . . then, in my school library, I found Angelina Ice Skates.
Orlando the Marmalade Cat Books by Kathleen Hale - These books were introduced to me by a dear friend, Joanna, whom my mom house cleaned for when I was little. Joanna would read these stories to me on her couch or let me borrow one to read at home. The writing is witty and the characters, charming; I adore that Orlando keeps a watch on his tail at all times.
The Church Mice by Gram Oakley- Another series of books introduced to me by Joanna, these books made for excellent "lap" reading.
Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien- A collection of Father Christmas's letters to his children. It is yet another book that Joanna once lent me.
The Voyage of the Bassett by James C. Christensen - Believing is Seeing
Cecily Mary Barker - When I was young, I believed (and still do, to some degree) in fairies. Cecily Mary Barker's little books of Flower Fairies were a wonder to behold, and I spent hours drawing my own versions of flower fairies.
Tatterhood and the Hobgoblins by Lauren A. Mills. - A tickling movie plot... I'm still curious why Disney or DreamWorks hasn't snatched it up yet.
Sandra Boynton - These kept me busy for hours when I was a tot. . . they still do.
Picture Books (and their creators) that I've Found on My Own:
Julius the Baby of the World and other Kevin Henkes Books - Kevin Henkes was the first author/illustrator that made me think "I WANT TO BE A CHILDREN'S BOOK CREATOR"! When I was about six or seven, Dad and I started to read Henkes's mouse books, devouring each story as we could get our paws on them.
Tomie dePaola - Tomie's work, I've known my whole life. . . but not until around the age of twenty-two, did I realize what a master he is. Tomie is the one who taught me to compare a book to a theater's stage, letting the characters and design draw your eye to different areas of the page.
Maps by Aleksandra Mizielińska and Daniel Mizieliński - Hands drawn, this is a one of the best atlases of the world.... a must for the adventurous types and art/culture intrigued.
Lane Smith - For my "clear - the - head" moments.
Jon Klassen - This is Not My Hat and We Found a Hat .... for my other "clear - the - head" moments.
Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis - My mother pointed this book out to me in our local bookstore. We were glued to the full color spreads each time she turned the page and marveld over the growth of the story as it followed one flower (and the insects interested in it) as it moved through its growth cycle. The language spoken by the insects is completely made up, which it's fun to follow and invent what's being said!
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña / illustrated by Christian Robinson - Clear, bright and one of my favorites.
Corgiville Fair by Tasha Tudor- A delightful look at a proper New England country fair, Corgieville style.
Eric Carle - Pieces of his books have stuck in my head like posters from childhood... but almost more the texture of his hand painted papers than the stories. In studying his books more intently, I find them quite compelling. I'm very fond of a griffin & an elephant god from his book of Mythology... and adore his silent cricket.
Books to Read Aloud or To One's Self:
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg - This was a book my first grade teacher read aloud to us in class. I had always thought well of this book, but I had not truly read it until I was thirteen or so... and even then, it was as an audio book format (the narrator they chose did a stunning job). As it is set back several decades, the adventure is rather refreshing to our new age technology.
The Secret Garden, Little Lord Fauntleroy and A Little Princess - My dad read these books to me when I was little. We would rotate between all three, year round, as well as a few other books. Dad did his best to emphasize Frances Hodgson Burnett's philosophy to me; I learned quite a bit from her stories... and still do. The Secret Garden has a bounty of great excitement & magic to its pages, but I prefer to read A Little Princess when I'm traveling.
The Adventures of Perrine (also titled Nobody's Girl) - Written by french author, Hector Malot, this book was translated into english text in the 1890's and is a tad difficult to find these days. This is another book Dad read to me. It has, perhaps, one of the finest plots I've ever come across and a lovely voice, even with the text translated. The story follows an orphaned girl as she travels through France to the town where her estranged grandfather owns and runs a factory. Without her grandfather knowing who she is, Purine works hard to gain his trust... and a slow bond grows between them. The first part of the story is sad and worrisome (Perrine almost starves in her attempt to travel (on foot) to her grandfather's town) but once you read past that point (or flit through it like I do) the book becomes difficult to put down.
(For the following titles I won't go into depth, but suffice it to say, I'm very fond of them... and still exploring.)
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahm
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
PAX and the Clemintine series. . . both by Sara Pennypacker
The Penderwicks Series by Jeanne Birdsall
Tru and Nelle by G. Neri
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
The Redwall Series by Brian Jaques
The Wildwood Chronicles by Colin Meloy & Carson Ellis
The Mysterious Bennedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
The Inheritance Cycle by Chrisopher Polini
The Inquisitor's Tale (Or the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog) by Adam Gidwitz
Paddington Bear Series by Michael Bond
Books for Matured Cheeses:
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - I do not follow in the steps of the lovestruck Mr. Darcy worshipers, but I admire Jane Austen's books and enjoy listening to most of them on audio CDs... Pride and Prejudice being my main go to when I have a long project to work on. The humor and good nature in this novel is very soothing, and I know most of it by ear, thus letting me concentrate on my drawing without fuss.
P.G. Wodehouse - This is an author that I've known since I was three or four. Back in the day, a dear old friend had given Dad ten (or so) of P.G. Wodehouse's books on tape cassettes. Dad would pop them into his truck's stereo and, laughing hysterically, would explain them to me on our long drives up to New Hampshire. How Dad was able to get a little kid to understand light adult humor is still a mystery to me. Perhaps it was his enthusiasm that sold me. Wodehouse's inventive phrasing still sets me in stitches. . . "Vapid Wastrel" is one of my favorites.
Georgette Heyer - Her works are of my favorite audiobooks... I think I own seven mp3's by now.
A Leg At Each Corner by Norman Thelwell - Pure wit and a sharp eye on the social behaviors of horseback riding (umongst other things). . . He's had me rivited since the age of three.
The Third Plate (Field Notes on the Future of Food) by Dan Barber - A compelling way of looking at the garden & field with perspective.
Cooked by Michael Pollen - Never quite looked at food the same way since... especially bread, curries, sauerkraut and chocolate.
(One last "Hurrah!")
Peanuts Comics - I loved perusing the paperback collections at Grandpa's house and would constantly beg to sit on his knee and have them read aloud to me.
Picture Books (and their Creators) From My Childhood:
Beatrix Potter - No library is complete without Beatrix Potter's child sized books. I am very fond of her stories and have the whole collection (with some doubles) lined up on the top shelf of my window bookcase.
Elsa Besckow - Of the forty odd stories Elsa Beskow created, I am most fond of Peter in Blueberry Land, Pelle's New Suit, Christopher's Harvest Time, Children of the Forest, and The Sun Egg.
The Tomten and The Tompten and The Fox by Astrid Lindgren - Another set of books from my infant days. They are very quiet, soft spoken books with lovely night scenes of the Tompten, who watches over farms in return for a bowl of porridge.
Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban & Lillian Hoban - I think Frances embodies the whims and reasonings of a kid rather well. Most children would agree with this little badger, in that bread and jam are the only staples in life that are worth eating.
Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy World - Back in the day (before laptops, constant media & iPones), if you wanted to "plug in" a child's imagination... one of Richard Scarry's books would do the trick nicely. This was a book that would keep me busy for hours.
Harry The Dirty Dog by Margaret Bloy Graham - Mom's family knew Margaret Bloy Graham, so I have a bit of a soft spot for her work.
Angelina Ballerina Books written by Katharine Holabird and illustrated by Helen Craig - I only grew up with three of the Angelina books: Angelina's Baby Sister and Angelina's Christmas were the books I had at home. . . then, in my school library, I found Angelina Ice Skates.
Orlando the Marmalade Cat Books by Kathleen Hale - These books were introduced to me by a dear friend, Joanna, whom my mom house cleaned for when I was little. Joanna would read these stories to me on her couch or let me borrow one to read at home. The writing is witty and the characters, charming; I adore that Orlando keeps a watch on his tail at all times.
The Church Mice by Gram Oakley- Another series of books introduced to me by Joanna, these books made for excellent "lap" reading.
Letters From Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien- A collection of Father Christmas's letters to his children. It is yet another book that Joanna once lent me.
The Voyage of the Bassett by James C. Christensen - Believing is Seeing
Cecily Mary Barker - When I was young, I believed (and still do, to some degree) in fairies. Cecily Mary Barker's little books of Flower Fairies were a wonder to behold, and I spent hours drawing my own versions of flower fairies.
Tatterhood and the Hobgoblins by Lauren A. Mills. - A tickling movie plot... I'm still curious why Disney or DreamWorks hasn't snatched it up yet.
Sandra Boynton - These kept me busy for hours when I was a tot. . . they still do.
Picture Books (and their creators) that I've Found on My Own:
Julius the Baby of the World and other Kevin Henkes Books - Kevin Henkes was the first author/illustrator that made me think "I WANT TO BE A CHILDREN'S BOOK CREATOR"! When I was about six or seven, Dad and I started to read Henkes's mouse books, devouring each story as we could get our paws on them.
Tomie dePaola - Tomie's work, I've known my whole life. . . but not until around the age of twenty-two, did I realize what a master he is. Tomie is the one who taught me to compare a book to a theater's stage, letting the characters and design draw your eye to different areas of the page.
Maps by Aleksandra Mizielińska and Daniel Mizieliński - Hands drawn, this is a one of the best atlases of the world.... a must for the adventurous types and art/culture intrigued.
Lane Smith - For my "clear - the - head" moments.
Jon Klassen - This is Not My Hat and We Found a Hat .... for my other "clear - the - head" moments.
Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis - My mother pointed this book out to me in our local bookstore. We were glued to the full color spreads each time she turned the page and marveld over the growth of the story as it followed one flower (and the insects interested in it) as it moved through its growth cycle. The language spoken by the insects is completely made up, which it's fun to follow and invent what's being said!
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña / illustrated by Christian Robinson - Clear, bright and one of my favorites.
Corgiville Fair by Tasha Tudor- A delightful look at a proper New England country fair, Corgieville style.
Eric Carle - Pieces of his books have stuck in my head like posters from childhood... but almost more the texture of his hand painted papers than the stories. In studying his books more intently, I find them quite compelling. I'm very fond of a griffin & an elephant god from his book of Mythology... and adore his silent cricket.
Books to Read Aloud or To One's Self:
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg - This was a book my first grade teacher read aloud to us in class. I had always thought well of this book, but I had not truly read it until I was thirteen or so... and even then, it was as an audio book format (the narrator they chose did a stunning job). As it is set back several decades, the adventure is rather refreshing to our new age technology.
The Secret Garden, Little Lord Fauntleroy and A Little Princess - My dad read these books to me when I was little. We would rotate between all three, year round, as well as a few other books. Dad did his best to emphasize Frances Hodgson Burnett's philosophy to me; I learned quite a bit from her stories... and still do. The Secret Garden has a bounty of great excitement & magic to its pages, but I prefer to read A Little Princess when I'm traveling.
The Adventures of Perrine (also titled Nobody's Girl) - Written by french author, Hector Malot, this book was translated into english text in the 1890's and is a tad difficult to find these days. This is another book Dad read to me. It has, perhaps, one of the finest plots I've ever come across and a lovely voice, even with the text translated. The story follows an orphaned girl as she travels through France to the town where her estranged grandfather owns and runs a factory. Without her grandfather knowing who she is, Purine works hard to gain his trust... and a slow bond grows between them. The first part of the story is sad and worrisome (Perrine almost starves in her attempt to travel (on foot) to her grandfather's town) but once you read past that point (or flit through it like I do) the book becomes difficult to put down.
(For the following titles I won't go into depth, but suffice it to say, I'm very fond of them... and still exploring.)
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahm
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
PAX and the Clemintine series. . . both by Sara Pennypacker
The Penderwicks Series by Jeanne Birdsall
Tru and Nelle by G. Neri
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
The Redwall Series by Brian Jaques
The Wildwood Chronicles by Colin Meloy & Carson Ellis
The Mysterious Bennedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
The Inheritance Cycle by Chrisopher Polini
The Inquisitor's Tale (Or the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog) by Adam Gidwitz
Paddington Bear Series by Michael Bond
Books for Matured Cheeses:
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - I do not follow in the steps of the lovestruck Mr. Darcy worshipers, but I admire Jane Austen's books and enjoy listening to most of them on audio CDs... Pride and Prejudice being my main go to when I have a long project to work on. The humor and good nature in this novel is very soothing, and I know most of it by ear, thus letting me concentrate on my drawing without fuss.
P.G. Wodehouse - This is an author that I've known since I was three or four. Back in the day, a dear old friend had given Dad ten (or so) of P.G. Wodehouse's books on tape cassettes. Dad would pop them into his truck's stereo and, laughing hysterically, would explain them to me on our long drives up to New Hampshire. How Dad was able to get a little kid to understand light adult humor is still a mystery to me. Perhaps it was his enthusiasm that sold me. Wodehouse's inventive phrasing still sets me in stitches. . . "Vapid Wastrel" is one of my favorites.
Georgette Heyer - Her works are of my favorite audiobooks... I think I own seven mp3's by now.
A Leg At Each Corner by Norman Thelwell - Pure wit and a sharp eye on the social behaviors of horseback riding (umongst other things). . . He's had me rivited since the age of three.
The Third Plate (Field Notes on the Future of Food) by Dan Barber - A compelling way of looking at the garden & field with perspective.
Cooked by Michael Pollen - Never quite looked at food the same way since... especially bread, curries, sauerkraut and chocolate.
(One last "Hurrah!")
Peanuts Comics - I loved perusing the paperback collections at Grandpa's house and would constantly beg to sit on his knee and have them read aloud to me.