I've spent some time today on GoodReads trying to figure out what my book club (Goofy Girl, Average Jane, Cagey and me) should read next. It's my turn, and boy, do I love it when it's my turn. I chose Edna O'Brien's The Light of Evening. House of Splendid Isolation was amazing -- I read it for independent study in graduate school at the behest of my Irish-writer loving professor. So all this literary stuff got me to thinking about how so many children's books, well, suck. And since I review them for Cool Mom Picks, I've gotten ridiculously snobby about what I put in front of the little angel. So here are my top 10 favorite kids' books (to which I've been exposed -- here's hoping 2009 brings even more). And friends, all these links made me weary. Pour the wine.
10.
Tenzin's Deer, by Barbara Soros -- The illustrations in this book are beyond divine, and the story of the boy loving his little deer so much and having to let her go bring back all my Where-the-Red-Fern-Grows fat tears every time I read it.
9.
Princess Bubble, by Susan Johnston and Kimberly Webb -- The little angel was getting really stuck on the idea that you had to get married to be a happy princess, and Bubble is happy working for the heirline and dating around. The girl's got game.
8.
Animalia, by Graeme Base -- I met Base at Reading Reptile in Kansas City, and I was so taken with his environmentalism and attention to detail, not to mention his ability to both write and draw. The man is a master, and really anything by him could make this list, but the "V" section of Animalia blows this writer away.
7.
Edwina, The Dinosaur Who Didn't Know She was Extinct, by Mo Willems -- I also met Mo, also at Reading Reptile, and though he is famous for his pigeon books, this one is better. Also, there are three pigeons hidden in this book. See if you can find them. Edwina rocks, right down to her painted claws.
6.
The Lonely Doll, by Dare Wright -- My grandmother Dorothy had this book at her house, and though it features spanking and a weird wife/daughter relationship between the doll and the bear, the live-action photography and the amazing doll dressing up are incredible.
5.
The Tale of Two Bad Mice, by Beatrix Potter -- I can't stand Peter Rabbit, the naughty boy, but the antics of the two bad mice, who are married but have different surnames (so modern!) crack me up. Also, I love that they're just ... bad.
4.
Moosetache, by Margie Palatini --- The moose, he had a body hair issue. And it ruined his life, until he found a female who had, natch, already conquered the problem. A tail of love and whiskers with a very good meter.
3.
Giraffes Can't Dance, by Giles Andreae -- I love the rhythm and goofy pictures in this book. Oh, Gerald, you're so weird.
2.
Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, by T.S. Eliot -- I started reading these poems (that yes, became the musical Cats) to the little angel when she was three and able to deal with more words than pictures. She now knows all that Bella is, indeed, a black-and-white Jellicle cat, and for that, I am proud.
1.
Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak -- I know this may seem like a cop-out, but the copy I read my daughter was given to me when I was three years old. I remember being so fascinated by the illustrations, the idea that Max could turn his room into a bedroom, and the fact he sailed for over a WEEK to get where he was going. A week is a really long time.
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