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You know...I've searched a while on the net and I haven't found anything satisfying. Then I realized I trust the opinions of the majority of the posters I've seen here.
So...the dilemma...
I'm bored with the stories I'm reading my children ( a boy 5, and girl 2). Sure Fox in Socks and the Three Little Pigs are great and I know kids appreciate the comfort of a story they know the end to. It may be too early to start introducing them to 'story arc' stories with a 'wait until tomorrow to see what happens' cliffhanger. Still...I remember my parents reading me "Where the Red Fern Grows" "Freckles" "The Hobbit" and other stories of that ilk. Sure i was in 3rd or 4th grade at the time...but i loved every minute of it.
So have any of you come across a list of books that are recommended for a guy in my position? Maybe something chronological along the lines of "by the time they are (age x) kids should have been exposed to (story y)?
I know that there are bound to be differences of opinion "What?!! You read Ulysses to your 6 year old???" but I hope I can pick up some ideas and/or pointers here and I promise no judgement will come from me.
Posts: 3 | Registered: Jun 2006
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My neices and daughter, who are in that age category, love made up stories that involve themselves. I remember liking those at that age, too. My father used to tell us "Ralph Q. Puppydog" detective stories that always involved whichever children were listening. Mom always used "Twinkle, twinkle, the little star," but sort of the same principle.
As for written stories, you might try some of Lang's fairy books (contents online here). I didn't know them as a child but have been thinking about buying them to read to my 2-year-old daughter. Some are a little scary (as fairy stories are wont to be), but I think many are age appropriate.
Posts: 2926 | Registered: Sep 2005
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My dad used to read to me a book called "Emerald Fairy Tales." It has many classic fairy tales, but in their original format. It has REALLY good illustrations, and though its a mite scary for the younger viewer I enjoyed the unedited versions of the story immensily as a child.
Example would be the story of Jack and the beanstalk becoming "Jack The Giant Slayer." Where the business of the beanstalk was merely Jack's beginnings as a hero, he went on to slay much more difficult foes down the road
I still remember in the books version of Snow White that the evil queen tries to kill Snow White through several different strategies, and one involved a corsset.
You can get it at amazon or several other bookstoes, I believe the copyright was 1983 so that its a bit easier to locate.
My dad had a REALLY strange sense of story telling. He would tell common fairy tales and often add his own character called "Mr Froggy." into the story. Of course Mr. Froggy while not the focal point of the story was a strong supporting character.
He would also just as soon tell us stories about children doing everyday things like building snowman, and then introduce the reoccuring villain "Bully Girl." Bully Girl would try to harass the children in his stories and Bully Girl was never totally beaten, merely chased off by some magical intervention i.e the snowman might come alive and chase bully girl away.
ALOT of his stories had strong moral lessons at the end. I still remember one with a parrot where an old woman is selling her parrot and 3 seperate girls want it (we will call them Alice, Betty, and Casey). The old woman says that each girl may care for the parrot one week and the one who does the best job will get to keep the parrot. Alice gets the parrot one week, Betty gets the parrot one week and Casey gets the parrot one week. At the end of the 3 weeks all 3 girls gather around the old woman who announces that she has made a decision.
The old woman says to the parrot "Alice Alice!" and the parrot respons, "Not now wait awhile! Not now wait awhile!" then the old woman says "Betty Betty!" and the parrot says, "Leave me alone I'm busy! Leave me alone I'm busy!" then the old woman says to the parrot, "Casey Casey!" and the parrot says, "Coming mother! Coming mother!"
The old lady announces that Casey will get the parrot and the other 2 girls walk away sadly having learned their lessons.
Thats just one example, but my dad always had tons of stories like that, and he often allowed characters in his stories to face the horrible results of their decisions without any quick fix way to solve everything. Some opportunities were lost forever, whilst others had a glimmer of hope yet.
This post is probably not what you wanted but hey it was fun for me to remember the bed time stories I got from my dad before he became so busy at work he would often get home after I had gone asleep.
Posts: 14316 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Super K and LiteBrite are much more interested in stories of my childhood than in books. Probably because I tell embarassing stories about myself and my brothers.
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999
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My Dad used to read Thornton Burgess stories to us. When he ran out, he just made up more. I knew Old Mother West Wind and her Merry Little Breezes and Reddy Fox, almost as well as I knew the kids down the block.
Posts: 1167 | Registered: Oct 2005
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quote:Super K and LiteBrite are much more interested in stories of my childhood than in books. Probably because I tell embarassing stories about myself and my brothers.
::nods:: When I was little the stories my dad would tell about growing up were always my favorites.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Speaking of fairy tales, Andrew Lang's coloured Fairy Books (Pink, Blue, Green, etc.) are great. He basically collated what must amount to hundreds of stories from around the world. They're probably more suitable for, say, a 6 year old and up, but something to keep in mind. Their age makes them more literary, which is a nice change from modern stuff.
Sadly, most of the books I can think of that are suitable for this age group (2-5) are British and therefore difficult to get your hands on over here. Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Also, The Rainbow Goblins is a fantastic story with some of the most beautiful artwork I have ever found in a children's book, and very nearly anywhere.
Posts: 2596 | Registered: Jan 2006
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My littler kids love the "pigeon" stories by Mo Willems (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Truck, The Pigeon Has Feelings Too, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog).
I've been reading longer books to my older kids (8 & 7) for a while now ... I think I started when the oldest was in first grade and his sister was in kindergarten, so it's not too long away for you. Some of the books we've read are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, The Wizard of Oz, The Indian in the Cupboard, and the entire Narnia series (we're on The Last Battle now). When we're done we're going to read The Tale of Despereaux.
My 2-year-old generally has to be taken out of the room during the reading; she's just too impatient to be quiet. But my 4-year-old really likes to be in the room while we read. I don't know whether he's getting anything out of the stories or whether he really just likes to be in the group or likes my voice, but he's been listening.
Posts: 1522 | Registered: Nov 2005
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I haven't thought about that book in so long! Thank you! I absolutely loved that book when I was younger. Isn't there a sequel too? I am goign to have to go out and buy this book and read it again. I absolutely second this recommendation.
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Mine loved Peggy Rathman stories. Goodnight Gorilla is good for little ones. Officer Buckle and Gloria is side-splittingly funny. Ruby the Copycat is another one we really liked.
When they get a bit older, the Great Brain books are wonderful. They are chapter books, but each chapter is somewhat self contained, so they make great bedtime reading, one chapter per night.
Posts: 6246 | Registered: Aug 2004
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I loved reading Tyrannosaurus Was a Beast, by Jack Prelusky to my kid. I just got it for my nephew, and his parents are enjoying reading it and the kid is enjoying hearing it.
Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
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It makes me a little sad to think that I don't have any stories about growing up that I might consider telling Sophie. My childhood isn't full of many heartwarming or amusing anecdotes. I'm not saying it was horrific, either -- but just that I can't think of anything offhand that'd make an interesting and/or suitable bedtime story.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: It makes me a little sad to think that I don't have any stories about growing up that I might consider telling Sophie. My childhood isn't full of many heartwarming or amusing anecdotes. I'm not saying it was horrific, either -- but just that I can't think of anything offhand that'd make an interesting and/or suitable bedtime story.
From what you've shared, Tom, your childhood *was* pretty horrible a good bit of the time. That you emerged from it a good person is an incredible testimony to...I don't even quite know what. Your strength of character?
In any case, I'll bet that there are stories from it that Sophie would enjoy, and that it wouldn't be harmful to tell her. I don't know you well enough to know what they are, but even the tiniest slip of an anecdote can make for a good story.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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LOL... I han't even noticed the "...and I don't care" logical progression that my handle calls for. Thanks JT. Nope...not Jimmy.. my handle's a maladroit smooshing of my location and name.
These suggestions are EXCELLENT. Amazon here I come!
And yes...I've seen that the kids enjoy a made up story with them as the protagonists. I always feel self-conscious telling them though...I expect a Monty Python-esque story police squad to burst through my door and clap me irons for impossible story lines and deus ex machina endings.
Posts: 3 | Registered: Jun 2006
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quote: And yes...I've seen that the kids enjoy a made up story with them as the protagonists. I always feel self-conscious telling them though...I expect a Monty Python-esque story police squad to burst through my door and clap me irons for impossible story lines and deus ex machina endings.
And then the kids rescue you. Perfect story!
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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Roald Dahl is great for reading out loud. My sister and I loved "fantastic Mr Fox" when we were six and four respectively. Winnie the Pooh is also great fun.
Posts: 1550 | Registered: Jun 1999
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If you like funny, whimsical, beautifully illustrated picture books, one of my all-time favorites is Pish, Posh, Said Hieronymus Bosch.
Edited to say: Oh, by all means do get Uncle Shelby's ABZs for yourself--just don't read it to your kids! (well, not till they're old enough to get sarcasm, anyway.)
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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Continuing the the Roald Dahl recommendations: The BFG may be the greatest young reader chapter book of all time. That book is hilarious, adventurous and thoughtful. I think it was the first time I learned what it means to be open minded and accept people that appear different than me. Definitely, by all means, everyone, young and old, should read this book.
Posts: 2596 | Registered: Jan 2006
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Also, "The Monster at the End of This Book" Featuring Sesame Street's Grover.
A classic which we cannot find anywhere is called "I'm Coming to Get You!" and it's about a scary monster coming after this kid, but then at the end he's about 1/78 the size of the kid. It's a good "dealing w/monsters" book.
"The Boxcar Children" series is also great and I think maybe you could read them to your 5 year old. I'm no expert tho. Posts: 1236 | Registered: Mar 2002
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The Black Stallion and Island Stallion books by Walter Farley Anything Margurite Henry (Especially Misty of Chincoteague) Anything by Beatrix Potter (they aren't chapter books, but they're good once your kids start reading.) Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny The Secret Garden and A Little Princess
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