Read on Twitter
Ok by popular demand and also because it is my current Mania, a thread of cool children's books in no particular order
I shall expand as more arrive (more, will Arrive) https://twitter.com/eigenrobot/status/1287814990167072768
I shall expand as more arrive (more, will Arrive) https://twitter.com/eigenrobot/status/1287814990167072768
1. Anything by the D'Aulaires
Beautiful illustrations, wonderful stories. Their _Greek Myths_ are absolutely required--I loved that book more than anything as a six year old.
Somewhat bowdlerized--Zeus "took wives", and the last photo is the ending to Abraham Lincoln
Beautiful illustrations, wonderful stories. Their _Greek Myths_ are absolutely required--I loved that book more than anything as a six year old.
Somewhat bowdlerized--Zeus "took wives", and the last photo is the ending to Abraham Lincoln
2. Madeline, of course!
The story of a cheeky girl who lives in an orphanage (??) and gets appendicitis.
My copy comes with a helpful list of the Parisian landmarks depicted in the illustrations.
The story of a cheeky girl who lives in an orphanage (??) and gets appendicitis.
My copy comes with a helpful list of the Parisian landmarks depicted in the illustrations.
3. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Have you ever wanted a children's version of I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream?
(There is a happy ending)
The author is a sweetheart, his Caldecott Award speech also attached
Have you ever wanted a children's version of I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream?
(There is a happy ending)
The author is a sweetheart, his Caldecott Award speech also attached
4. Winnie-the-Pooh
Sadly I somehow did NOT have this as a child but I will rectify this for the next generation
An excellent introduction to Books with Maps which I understand to be a distinct genre of books, you know exactly what I am talking about
Sadly I somehow did NOT have this as a child but I will rectify this for the next generation
An excellent introduction to Books with Maps which I understand to be a distinct genre of books, you know exactly what I am talking about
5. Make Way for Ducklings
The tragic story of a family of ducks who are forced by circumstance to live in Boston, where local police racially profile them
The tragic story of a family of ducks who are forced by circumstance to live in Boston, where local police racially profile them
6. Beatrix Potter (various)
Stories about anthropomorphic Victorian animals, lovingly illustrated
Samuel Whiskers (last photo) terrified me
Stories about anthropomorphic Victorian animals, lovingly illustrated
Samuel Whiskers (last photo) terrified me
7. The Story About Ping
A dry treatise on the animal husbandry practices of the Han people of the Yangtze basin during the late Qing Dynasty, I don't know why this is marketed to children
A dry treatise on the animal husbandry practices of the Han people of the Yangtze basin during the late Qing Dynasty, I don't know why this is marketed to children
8. The Clown of God
The story of a young boy in Sorrento with a gift. It's an introduction to ageing and death and it is acheingly beautiful.
Catholics beware this is a work of blatant Franciscan propaganda
The story of a young boy in Sorrento with a gift. It's an introduction to ageing and death and it is acheingly beautiful.
Catholics beware this is a work of blatant Franciscan propaganda
9. Russian Fairy Tales
I have no idea who wrote this and it doesn't matter because it was illustrated by Ivan Bilibin and I could look at his work all day
Russian stories are spooky af and kids love scary stuff
I have no idea who wrote this and it doesn't matter because it was illustrated by Ivan Bilibin and I could look at his work all day
Russian stories are spooky af and kids love scary stuff
10. Stone Soup
Superficially a whimsical tale of three buddies running a friendly scam on a group of villagers, Stone Soup also teaches children about how they too can grow up to eat at the trough of the Military-Industrial Complex
Superficially a whimsical tale of three buddies running a friendly scam on a group of villagers, Stone Soup also teaches children about how they too can grow up to eat at the trough of the Military-Industrial Complex
11. Go Dog Go
This book is incredibly stupid
64 pages of this crap
I remember liking it but on a second pass I may burn this before my kids take a liking to it and I have to read it every night
I regret everything about this book
This book is incredibly stupid
64 pages of this crap
I remember liking it but on a second pass I may burn this before my kids take a liking to it and I have to read it every night
I regret everything about this book
12. Magic School Bus books
Ok I'm less angry now. The Magic School Bus books are fun and a compelling-for-a-child explanations about stuff like anatomy and earth science
Also Arthur, dear put-upon Arthur
Wonder how much of this stuff failed to replicate
Ok I'm less angry now. The Magic School Bus books are fun and a compelling-for-a-child explanations about stuff like anatomy and earth science
Also Arthur, dear put-upon Arthur
Wonder how much of this stuff failed to replicate
13. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
Although it is a story of the industrial age, its themes are eternal
You can read this book to your child while you hold back tears thinking about how GPT-5 has rendered your labor entirely without value
Although it is a story of the industrial age, its themes are eternal
You can read this book to your child while you hold back tears thinking about how GPT-5 has rendered your labor entirely without value
14. Look Out For Pirates!
Out of print and hard to find, a rollicking adventure story about a group of sea-boys besting a group of Pirates, stealing their treasure, and pulling a Wickerman (Nic Cage) on the pirate crew
Out of print and hard to find, a rollicking adventure story about a group of sea-boys besting a group of Pirates, stealing their treasure, and pulling a Wickerman (Nic Cage) on the pirate crew
15. YOU WILL GO TO THE MOON
First published in 1959, this book has led to deep cynicism about the rate of technological advances in several generations of children
No Virginia you will not go to the fucking Moon
First published in 1959, this book has led to deep cynicism about the rate of technological advances in several generations of children
No Virginia you will not go to the fucking Moon
16. Wombat Stew
A companion story to Stone Soup, involving more soup, more rampaging violations of the NAP, and more pranking
It's fine. Mostly have for nostalgia.
A companion story to Stone Soup, involving more soup, more rampaging violations of the NAP, and more pranking
It's fine. Mostly have for nostalgia.
17. Pickles the Fire Cat
a somber Diogenetic reflection on virtue, wrath, remorse, and repentence
a somber Diogenetic reflection on virtue, wrath, remorse, and repentence
18. The Velveteen Rabbit
This one is actually extremely good and beautiful and I don't think I can actually remember the details of the story and I'm not going to reread it now because I'm not in a mood to sob uncontrollably
This one is actually extremely good and beautiful and I don't think I can actually remember the details of the story and I'm not going to reread it now because I'm not in a mood to sob uncontrollably
Ok I need to work for a while but this thread is far from over
F a r
from over
F a r
from over
19. Love You Forever
I liked this book as a child (I don't think my parents read it to me) and it made me appreciate their love for me in a very real way. I also learned about growing up, maybe.
I will not be getting it for my kids because it turns out it is heartbreaking
I liked this book as a child (I don't think my parents read it to me) and it made me appreciate their love for me in a very real way. I also learned about growing up, maybe.
I will not be getting it for my kids because it turns out it is heartbreaking
20. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
One of the dumber ways to introduce kids to the alphabet but its got a good beat and you can dance to it
One of the dumber ways to introduce kids to the alphabet but its got a good beat and you can dance to it
21. The Runaway Bunny
A cute book about motherly love for an age when kids aren't really ready to be aggressively independent
A cute book about motherly love for an age when kids aren't really ready to be aggressively independent
22. The Paper Bag Princess
A book that teaches girls about the importance of being brave and clever and not tolerating bums
And boys to appreciate brave and clever girls, and to not be bums
A book that teaches girls about the importance of being brave and clever and not tolerating bums
And boys to appreciate brave and clever girls, and to not be bums
23. Saint George and the Dragon
The author adapted /Spencer/ for kids and Hyman illustrated down to marginalia. We shall see her work again.
Kegan 3 is important for kids because good things are, Good and this book is an embodiment of this precept.
A thing of beauty.
The author adapted /Spencer/ for kids and Hyman illustrated down to marginalia. We shall see her work again.
Kegan 3 is important for kids because good things are, Good and this book is an embodiment of this precept.
A thing of beauty.
24. Bilbo's Last Song
It turns out that you can never introduce Tolkein too early.
I only learned of this a week ago, and wasn't sure what I would get; I rather like it!
A lovely poem, a nocturne, an elegy. Sleep well, kiddo, and dream of Aman
It turns out that you can never introduce Tolkein too early.
I only learned of this a week ago, and wasn't sure what I would get; I rather like it!
A lovely poem, a nocturne, an elegy. Sleep well, kiddo, and dream of Aman
25. The Little Prince
Written by war hero Antoine de Saint-Exupery, needing no introduction, of course you must have known this book would make the list and everyone should read it
BUT
Did you /also/ know that some magnificent bastard made an unabridged pop-up version?
Written by war hero Antoine de Saint-Exupery, needing no introduction, of course you must have known this book would make the list and everyone should read it
BUT
Did you /also/ know that some magnificent bastard made an unabridged pop-up version?
