Classic Children’s Books

Sometime last month, I received an email from Copperfield’s about a sale on some classic, beautifully illustrated children’s books. I browsed the email and decided I should go check it out, particularly when I saw this one:

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

This is a book that I have always wanted to read. I never was introduced to it as a child but have heard about it most my life. So I purchased a copy and read it. And it’s a very beautiful book.

At the time I bought this book, I also picked up a copy of another classic that I had never read:

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

I don’t know why I was never introduced to these books as a child, but I honestly don’t remember very many children’s books at all from my childhood. I believe that I was mostly given religious books to read (sadly). And I was not aware of these books when my son was young either. But I did find many, many wonderful books to read to my son and I have kept a number of them.

One thing that I particular noticed in reading these two books is that the language used in these older books is considerably more sophisticated than is generally found in more modern children’s books. I found it actually refreshing to read children’s books that weren’t “dumbed down” as is so often the case these days. And why should we not expose our children to the richness of our language; how better to give them a good vocabulary and an appreciation of good writing? I personally never “talked down” or “babytalked” to my son. When he didn’t understand a word – or a concept – I would simply explain it to him. Is that not why we read to our children in the first place? They can enjoy language that is slightly above them; it is how they learn and they learn it from us, their parents.

Sadly, however, it isn’t only children who are not getting the benefit of good language and vocabulary these days. I believe that people in general (at least in this country) are gradually losing language and vocabulary skills. Everything is getting more “dumbed down” from what I have observed.

Here is an article that confirms my beliefs: The Incredible Shrinking Vocabularies of Today’s Students. And here is one that states that America is getting dumber in general: Anti-Intellectualism and the “Dumbing Down” of America. But it isn’t just America that is losing vocabulary. Here is an article from the UK which voices similar concerns: Vocabularies Shrinking (dailymail.co.uk).

In any event, as long as good books stay around, hopefully not everyone will become illiterate. Some of my (and my son’s) favorites, that I have kept, are as follows:

*Where the Wild Things Are* by Maurice Sendak	*Goodnight Moon* by Margaret Wise Brown
*The Runaway Bunny* by Margaret Wise Brown	*Harold and the Purple Crayon* by Crockett Johnson
*The Big Red Barn* by Margaret Wise Brown	The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper	*Winnie-the-Pooh* by A. A. Milne (This is actually my sister’s)
*Elmer* By David McKee	Curious George by H.A. Ray
Dr. Seuss (any and all of them)	Little Golden Books (many)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle	*Madeline* by Ludwig Bemelmans (This was also a loan from my sister)

My son’s most favorite book from the time he was a baby was
Go, Dog. Go! by P. D. Eastman. He used to ask for this book every single day for quite a long time. By the time he could talk, I swear he had it memorized! This book is definitely a keeper!

And an interesting thing: When browsing for books for my son, I came across a book that I distinctly remember liking as a child. It is the exact same book and I remember it well. I loved this book!

Another favorite of mine (that I did not know about until an adult), is Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince. This is, of course, a very special book.

The story that I remember being my most favorite story of all growing up was one that I have tried to find for many years unsuccessfully – until recently. Someone finally decided to independently publish it. I now am pleased to own a copy. I was thinking recently that it might be really cool for someone to re-illustrate this book and republish it (hmm….).

And finally – I must mention some children’s books that I have kept for their incredibly wonderful illustrations – I just love these books, by author-illustrator David Wiesner:

Sector 7