We do not shy away from controversy…with good reason. How, tell us, how can you publish a list of recommended books for six- to eight-year olds and omit all-time Booksquare favorite Where The Wild Things Are? We believe Wild Things is so critical to a child’s development that we helpfully provide a copy to every parent-to-be we encounter. We are very popular at baby showers and first birthday parties.
Eight. We believe eight coincides roughly with third grade. That was the time of Helen Keller and Katharine Lee Bates. Clara Barton. Florence Nightingale. Red Shoes. The Boxcar Kids. Caldecott winners (the curse of being the child of a librarian). Probably we wouldn’t have gone with Alice in Wonderland. Far too adult, but that’s us (we shy away from recommending Inuyasha to wise-beyond-their-years kids). Where is Ramona? Where is Beezus? Where is Charlotte?
This is not a list for objective thought. Trust us.
1 response so far ↓
The Happy Booker // Apr 7, 2005 at 11:50 pm
I don’t know about this list. I live in close quarters with an avid 7 yr. old reader who swears by the Droon sci-fi series, Capt. Underpants (did I mention it’s a “he”–and he loves anything with a high gross-out factor!), chapter books based on anime characters, and Phantom Tollbooth (which made the list!). Maybe by 3rd grade I can coax him toward some of his mommy’s faves, like E. Nesbit or Edward Eager, but I am not counting on it.
Thanks for the list–let the wild rumpus begin!