Some Books for a Children’s Library
This is an updated version of a post I wrote some time ago, when two people were thinking of starting an NGO in Calcutta for underprivileged children and wanted recommendations for children’s books.
We lived in a tiny flat for most of my childhood and it overflowed with my parents’ papers (they are both in professions that require the use of a lot of paper) and their books. If they were interested in something they bought the book.
While my father was the one who made up stories to tell us every night, I owe my love of books to my mother. My mother would receive cheques in the mail for her work, paltry sums, but the cheques would cause much excitement, because they meant a visit to the bookshop. Mum would open the envelope, do a little jig around the room with me ( I would already be hopping and down with excitement) and a couple of days later we would be off to Strand Book Stall whose redoubtable owner, Mr. Shanbag, recently passed away. My mother would give me a free run at the book shop and I would place a little pile on Mr. Shanbag’s desk to take home. I think she cut down on her selections to accomodate mine. Sometimes we would go to Book Point, a shop near Ballard Pier.
There is nothing I like better than telling people which children’s books I have enjoyed. A and I still do read a fair amount of children’s literature and though we aren’t up to speed with a lot of the newer authors, the authors mentioned below should still find a place in a child’s library. The list below concentrates on non-Indian writers and books available in English and is not at all comprehensive. Hopefully one day I will be able to do a list that includes Indian literature.
Many books I read fervently and occasionally re-read now, but do not consider essential, have been left out, such as the Chalet School series. Aishwarya blogs about this series as well as children’s writers and the pitfalls of such advice as giving your hair a good, hard brushing until your scalp tingles.The more recent and well-known series such as Harry Potter do not feature in this list either.
I haven’t mentioned what age which book is appropriate for-that research can be left to the parents who can decide what they think is appropriate. Also, deciding on “age appropriateness” is often a highly subjective process, both for parents and children.
Here are some books/authors I think a children’s library MUST have:
1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. If you’re an adult and haven’t read it, read it now. My sister R2 identified strongly with Scout, as she also used to sit on my father’s knee, behind the newspaper.
2. ALL of Diana Wynne-Jones. She was around much before JK Rowling and really understands magic and the way it works-without wands. In particular I’d recommend the Chrestomanci Series (start with The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 1: Charmed Life / The Lives of Christopher Chant), Dogsbody, Archer’s Goon, Howl’s Moving Castle and The Merlin Conspiracy.
3. Noel Streatfield who wrote wonderful books about children on the stage. I think her most popular book is Ballet Shoes, but my favourite is Curtain Up (later published under the not so appealing title of “Theatre Shoes“).
4. Gerald Durrell-for a love of animals, nature, and his sense of humour.
5. James Herriot-essential for the same reason as above, but told from the point of view of a vet or a naturalist.
6. The Moomin series.
7. The Lord of the Rings. I am not a fan but A would be very unhappy if I did not include it on any “must have” list.
8. Asterix comics. I prefer those by Goscinny, i.e. the older ones.
9. Tin Tin comics(not a fan again, but appreciate it from a distance).
10.The The Anne of Green Gables series (Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne’s House of Dreams, … Rainbow Valley, Rilla of Ingleside) by L.M Montgomery is well known and well recommended but the Emily of New Moon series is well worth reading too.
11. Everything by Garth Nix. His books have a lot to do with death, especially the The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Setseries, and can be quite frightening, but ultimately they are about overcoming fear. I think you should be over ten or eleven to read them. Start with Sabriel, she’s lovely.
12. Everything by Philip Pullman, though you/your child needs someome to hug after reading the The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials, Book 3), the last book in theHis Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass). They are available in one volume or separately.
13. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. Was delighted when I met Chox recently for all of twenty minutes and her two precious girls and the elder one had her nose buried in this book. Please READ THE BOOK FIRST before watching the film! I received a second-hand copy from friends of my parents who lived in the US, whose son had read it. Read it ’til the pages fell out. It’s all about a bored little boy called Milo, who gets a magic tollbooth as a present and enters a world that isn’t so boring after all. This is a book that reveals something new after each re-reading-it’s full of puns and wordplay and mathematical fun.
14. All of Astrid Lindgren. My favourite from the ones I read was Ronia the Robber’s Daughter. The most popular is the Pippi Longstocking series, my favourite is Ronia the Robber’s Daughter.
15. Roald Dahl. I’ve gone off him but he is a phenomenon.
16. Philippa Pearce wrote gems like TOM’ S MIDNIGHT GARDEN and The Way to Sattin Shore.
17. All of Nina Bawden. My favourite is Carrie’s War. The context is the time during WW2 when children in London were evacuated to the countryside. But Bawden has a way of understanding how a young person might see the world, an understanding that many may find universal.
18. All of Jane Austen, of course.
19. The Bronte sisters-particularly Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and perhaps Agnes Gray as well.
20. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women , Good Wives, Little Men, Jo’s Boys.
21. Edward Lear’s The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense.
22. T.S Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Essential to understand the feline mind.
23. All of E. Nesbitt, in particular The Railway Children.
24. Jane and the Kenilwood Occurrences. This book was picked up for me by my mother at Book Point, for Rs. 20. Loved it deeply. Some years later, someone borrowed it and never returned it. Fast forward to several years later, when A tracked it down second hand and gave me a copy for a birthday along with my first laptop. Now no one is allowed to borrow it. It’s out of print now, but I’ve seen it on ebay and Amazon. Buy it now if you can, before it disappears and becomes totally out of reach. It’s about a very special relationship between a girl, Jane, and her eccentric grandfather, who can make things happen with his “thoughts.” What these “thoughts” do to a quiet English village and Jane and her family forms the substance of the book, hilarious and tender at the same time.
25. Playing Beatie Bow, by Ruth Park an Australian writer. It is a romance but suitable for those aged around 12+. Very tenderly written book about growing up and friendships, but also includes time travel. I still read it often-there’s something about it that just stays with you, a certain warmth, that makes you want to keep going back to it.
26. Carbonel: The King of Cats The Kingdom of Carbonel and Carbonel and Calidor by Barbara Sleigh. Carbonel is a talking cat and “belongs” to a girl named Rosemary (or is it vice-versa? With cats one can never be sure). Written a long time ago, but magical even today.
27. Books by Helen Cresswell. I was much taken by the Bagthorpe Saga , but I don’t know how well that would go down today. The Piemakers and Lizzie Dripping remain perennial favourites. I wrote to Cresswell from India as a child, and she made my day (and year) by replying.
28. Betsy Byars: Haven’t kept up with all her books, and she’s written some new ones. She writes for all ages.
29. Margaret Storey’s (not the mystery writer) Melinda Farbright series. Melinda Farbright is a witch, and a very special part of the life of two children, Timothy and Ellen. The books are absolutely wonderful, haunting, scary and of course magical, but not too scary, because Melinda is a safe reassuring presence throughout.But they are out of print. Some are available second hand. I’d snap them up.
30. Another Margaret-Margaret Mahy from New Zealand. Lots of books to choose from.
31. Susan Cooper-The Dark Is Rising Series (The Dark Is Rising, Greenwitch, Over Sea, Under Stone, Silver on the Tree, The Grey King) is her most famous work.
Please do add your own favourites in the comments, especially if they aren’t Enid Blytons and Roald Dahls. Might feel inspired to do another post based on your recommendations (please add a few details about the books if you can), or feel free to take it up as a tag.
I would add the Billy Bunter series and the Dr Who series to the list of fabulous books for children.
what about enid blyton and alistair maclean? and rex stout and arthur conan doyle?
- s.b.
SB-Yes, those are good additions. Perhaps, I didn’t include EB because everybody knows of her, and in India a lot of shops tend to stock just a lot of her books and very few others-usually Roald Dahl. Anyway, books can be added to the list all the time!
THANK YOU!
was rattling my brains over which to get next as the next two weeks are school hols. chrestomanci series being re-read for the fifth time – everywhere she goes, the entire bundle trundles along.
btw michael morpurgo is also up there in her list. for a taster check out ‘singing with mrs.pettigrew’. he’s done loads of other books, each has been a hit with your (she insists on this) friend.
My nieces love Morpurgo. Haven’t read him myself, but I think A has. Will check out Pettigrew.
Of course she is MY friend
. You can be too, if you want 
1) Charlotte’s Web
2) Heidi
Of course. Love Charlotte’s Web, and hopefully lots of people know about Heidi already.
lovely post uttara…. i am booking this to refer to ojas starts reading
i love dahl myself
Thanks! Start him off as early as you can!
Oh what a lovely list….I’ll add the following:
- The William series
- Jennings series
- Heyer – for older kids especially – I always tell friends to start kids on romance novels via Heyer – you can’t go wrong, and the girls (it’s always girls!) get used to heroines with minds of their own!
- School stories – I adored the Merry series by Clare Mallory, an author from NZ – the books are all out of print now, of course, but the Bettany press has been reprinting some of them. These really have held up well – I read them recently and they were as delightful now, unlike the Mallory Towers/St.Clare’s series.
- Rosemary Sutcliff
- Rumer Godden
M
Thank you so much-can’t think why I didn’t include Sutcliff. One of my closest friends used to love Heyer…
what about dick king-smith?!
See now, I’m old and losing my memory, and that’s what the comments section is for-suggestions. I LOVE Martin’s Mice by DKS!
Lovely post! So many old favorites in the list. I will add Frances Hodgson Burnett (an old favorite) and Markus Zusak (my find of the year) to the list.
I loved Burnett too! A Little Princess and The Secret Garden and ?
came over from sujatha’s link. lovely compilation, I would add judy blume to the list I think.
Excellent post. I came here via blogpourri and I am not disappointed. I am book marking this page (both for me and for my son). Who is Heyer??(from the above comment?)
Will be back for more.
Lavs, that’s Georgette Heyer, who wrote romances.
It was hard coming up with something not already on the list
It is also hard to create a list that both boys and girls will enjoy. Some authors my brother and I both liked (probably the only ones) were Dahl and Beverly Cleary (Henry Huggins series, Ramona, Dear Mr Henshaw and Strider.
While I discovered the majority of Indian authors only after I grew up, I loved RK Narayan and I read and read the Ramayan and Mahabharat (Narayan’s versions and others) I’d be interested in knowing of more authors who write books for a young Indian audience.
I love Beezus and Ramona
fantastic post. thank you.
mine are still young – 6 and 4, but I want to make a list for always.
Thanks Chitra! there are some here that might work on them-Also try Dick King Smith and Where the Wild Things Are, if you haven’t already! Betsy Byars…
A series of books I read when I was just turning into a teenager was a series called “Tomorrow, When the War Began” by James Marsden (Australian author).
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomorrow_series)
It was probably one of those books that stayed with me long after I read them and I just found out that they are planning to start production on the movie as well….
What an enchanting post!! To add to your list: R.K. Narayan – particularly the Swami books were wonderful. I loved the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome; the William books by Richmal Crompton are must-reads; the Billy Bunters – I know children in India who still enjoy them; the Chalet School books; I remember liking some of Rumer Godden’s books. I’m sure more will come to mind once I hit “submit comment”.
Gosh, I’m really dating myself here! These are all from long, long ago, but they really kindled a love of books and reading in me, so they must have been good, I guess!
Don’t worry, I’m pretty dated too-I read the Chalet School series as well!
Hi uttara, you were very well-read even as a kid! And is that you in the photo? You looked so cute
I think I was never a voracious reader, and could read only slowly, taking a number of days to finish a book, though after reading a book, and if it was sad, i would weep for days! I like Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The little Prince. I read it while doing MA. As a kid I also used to enjoy magazines like Children’s World, Amar Chitra Katha, Suman Saurabhs and Nandans.
Best wishes,
Anjali
Yes that is me, thanks! The Little Prince is Lovely. There are many happy children’s books, why not try them now?! One is never too old for the really good books!
Just remembered – Arthur Ransome!
Excellent choice of books, I have all of these waiting for my children to read when they are ready.
Wonderful suggestions, uttara. Thank you. Im so stuck with the board books and below age 4 books that I ve no clue about books for the older ones.
My suggestions – black beauty, Narnia, brother Grimm.
The one book which Im really fond of from my childhood is, The Secret Garden. I think I was a pre teen when I read it and wanted to find a secreat garden of my own for a long, long time! Still do, in fact!
oh and Heidi. I loved it.
Suzanne collins, eoin colfer of artemis fowl fame, tamora pierce
What a great list! I was quite inspired to write about some of my old favorites too.
Sujatha
(F-n-S)
Lovely list and have many of my favorites except that I never ever related to 10,18,20! Other than that I’d add The William Series, The three investigators series , Rudyard Kipling’s Just so stories (The dingo and the Kangaroo etc are so sing-songable) Today however when it comes to picking booksI always try to add some contemporary books to the mix – one of the fun ones we enjoyed reading was John Lithgow’s The remarkable Farkle Macbride about a kid who tries out a variety of musical instruments, gets bored with each of them and then ends up becoming a conductor – Many of John Lithgow’s books are enjoyable! Vandana Singh’s Young uncle series, Manjula Padmanabhan’s Unprincess etc These I think, complement the classics and allow them to break certain modes of thinking.
Montgomery and Alcott are too “sweet” for many-but they were fascinating women. The Anne series became too sugary for me, but there were parts of it I really enjoyed. Thanks for the suggestions, would love to try them out.
hi uttara,
great blog you have here…hopped from suj’s. wonderful list! well…a group of us who are passionate about kids’ books write on a website called – http://www.saffrontree.org – reviewing books our kids have enjoyed reading…please do check it out.
to add to this list here – ruskin bond’s books – a fav in our household!
i am going to pick up th
Ha that’s funny! I’ve seen Saffrontree, it’s very nice. And do pick up the tag and leave a link here.
well, pick up the tag…that’s what i wanted to say…
)
(of course my 3 yr old wouldnt let me complete my thought and there she goes hitting the submit button!
thanks for this!
p
Hi uttara,
Loved this post, which I discovered thanks to my friend Chandni. Have noted down many of the names, and would like to explore at least some.
I have a couple of additions to share. Firstly, Shel Silverstein whose poems for children are awesome. Many many collections. Some of his poems can be accessed online.
I love Totto chan: The Little Girl at the Window by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. Available in English translation. And many regional Indian languages.
Then there’s Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter.
And some beautiful Indian books by Tulika, Pratham, Children’s Book Trust and National Book Trust. My favourites include: Hina in the Old City, Granny’s Sari, Mrs. Wolly’s Funny Sweaters, Mallipoo Where are You? and Ismat’s Eid.
Another book that comes to mind is Mr. God this is Anna. Not a book intended for an audience of children perhaps. But some very interesting observations about children and how they look at the world.
And since you meant to offer suggestions for a children’s library, I’d like to share a related piece I once wrote for a magazine called Teacher Plus.
http://chintangirishmodi.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/libraries-can-be-fun/
Best,
Chintan
Bookmarked. Thanks a ton, uttara. hope you’re well.
Remembered some more:
Geoffrey Trease (out of print for the most part, but school-children books from non-privileged setting -coed grammar school – very refreshing) Also love his WW2 books.
Meg Cabot – appeals to a lot of modern girls
Her writing is “cute” but works for the most part.
If into mysteries, Christie, Sayers (may need to be older), Ellis Peters.
And don’t diss the Chalet school books – I adored them and have the whole set (in paperback alas, else I’d be rich!)
They’re dated, but I have fond memories of them (at least the early Tirolean ones, before Joey turned psycho!)
Laura Ingalls Wilder – The little house series – I don’t like the continuations (there seem to be several) just the original set written by LiW.
Most boys seem to enjoy the Biggles series despite the colonialism etc. in it…I found them somewhat boring, but planes and missions were never a passion
M
I have almost the whole Chalet set in paperback as well
. Not dissing them-though they do infuriate me at times! Read them avidly!
Wow! Simply Wow! Thanks a LOT.
You’re welcome!
Thank you,uttara for the list..I’ve just started reading Panchatantra stories to Namnam and she seems to be enjoying them.To Kill a mocking bird is something I had in mind for my li’l one.Have noted down your recommendations too.
This post is surely going to help me as a reference point.
Thanks again
Which version of Panchatantra?
its an illustrated version by Children’s Book Trust,New Delhi
My (Late) Dad preferred reading novels only during periods of Holidays.On a normal day , I was not supposed to be home , but out , playing in the fields !
So, as soon as the exams were over ( mid term or year end ) , the first morning-after, was dedicated to getting the huge black trunks down , from the attic.He would slowly get the books out , dust them one by one , and decide our “Syllabus” for the Holidays.
There would be a sermon on how great authors (of classics) make the reader struggle with the storyline (in terms of advancing through the book) till the halfway mark and how the Book would hold us spell bound , after that.
It would be three to five novels everytime .
I even remember his moving books like Lolita carefully away from our gaze
Hence the Virtual Library ( in my consciousness) got built up steadily in this fashion, somewhat.
1.”How Green was my Valley ” – Richard Llewelynn- Dad himself was not a sentimental guy during occasions of parting for long periods.He was also not the kind who would romanticise the past.But he made an exception… with this book.And it remains one of a kind.Watch the movie too, if you can get hold of it.It will make everything that you have around you , very very dear and affectionate.
2.”The House that Nino built ” by Giaovanni Guareschi and then later his Don camillo series of books.These gave us an idea of an imaginary town much before RK Narayan’s Malgudi.
The House that Nino built is true to its blurb , which said – If you have a family you will enjoy it immensely . If you dont, You will feel like starting one.
The Don Camillo series has been an addition to my own moral pillars like The Bhagavad Geetha,Meditations ,Gibran’s works etc , for its philosophical import.The humorous converstaion between the chief protagonist, The Priest and Lord Christ – at the end of every chapter -ripened into deeply philosophical ones , as I grew and matured.
3.Sometime later he gave us Sholokhov’s “And Quiet flows the Don’ as the first test to handle a masterpiece.With its simple language and story line that switched directions quickly, as a river in its early rapid phase down the mountains, I was glad to be introduced to the bigger issues of Life through this.
Books Books Books- What a fine time I had- as a child.Thanks for reminding me of those days , with this thread.Will get back with more books .
BTW Dad and myself would always have a problem of finances , while acquiring these books.It was always a tough decision.We would walk away from the store, check at the old Book house for weeks and then one day , he would make up his mind.
Justifying the decision by quoting :
After all , No one ever paid the Price of a book.
Only the price of printing it
I loved 84 Charing Cross Road-thanks for reminding me about it.
What about Enid Blytons.. you didnt add her to the list. She has scores of books for kids The Faraway tree series, Famous Five, Malory tower etc..
Priyanka, I specifically didn’t include her because she is already very well known-as stated above
More memories
84 Charing Cross Road.-Helene-Hanff,
The Book sections of Readers Digest which was such a treasure always .
Our introduction to AJ Cronin’s easy style which helped us in the art of reading bigger novels)
The Screen Play version of Pygmalion (My Fair Lady ) which was as delightful as the movie.
And then the Wodehouse Years
I’m a little late here, but stopped by to say that this is an amazing list of children’s book. Came by since I just turned down the offer to work at a children’s bookstore since my knowledge of the area was almost zero. This place seems like a great place to start learning about all the reading I didn’t do as a kid. Thanks
My husband would love to be a children’s librarian. He had a very good one when in school as a kid and since he loves children’s literature, that’s his dream job!
Laura ingalls wilder, you missed out on this one. The little house series about the pioneers in America. very larger than life and dreamlike.
Love the list. Some i read as a child, rest im going to try and read now.
oh yes he does read some small little story books
and he loves them
i hoping the love continues when he grows tooo