Sunday, March 1, 2020

Book shopping for kids

Did I ever mention that my 6 year old buddy, Little P., has the same birthday as me? Well, he does! I saw him Friday afternoon and we were talking about Leap Day. I said, "P-----, after Leap Day on Saturday, this Sunday will be March 1st. Do you know what that means?" and without even a moment's hesitation he shouted, "It's almost our birthday!!!!!" Indeed!

On the 23rd of this month I will be forty-five and he will be seven years old. Isn't seven a nice age? (I'm not so sure I'd say the same about forty-five). I'm trying to decide on a book or books to buy him for a birthday present. He likes to read, and reads on a third or fourth grade level already, which should make it fun to pick. Here's what I'm considering, and I wonder if any of you would like to give me some input on this.

1. A nicely bound hardcover copy of a volume of children's poetry. Shel Silverstein's books were pure fun when I was his age. Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic are both superb. There are, of course, plenty of other volumes of poetry for children that would be good, too. 

2. A set of good chapter books like the Magic Treehouse series or the ones with nonfiction themes like biographies and historical events. 

3. Classic children's literature, like something shown here:



Then, of course, there's plenty of newer fiction for kids on his reading level that's supposed to be really good---modern favorites, if you will. Whatever I decide, I definitely want to get him a book or books for his birthday.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

34 comments:

  1. pooh, shel, magic treehouse sound good.

    45 - you are still a baby. I am old enough to be yo mama!

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    1. I like hearing that I'm "still a baby"....if only I could believe it! Haha.

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  2. 45 seems young to me. My son will be 45 this year and my daughter will be 47. The books sound good. My son loved Willard Price books and mumsnet reckon they are good from age 7 upward.

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  3. The Wind in the Willows, The BFG, Five Children and It. I would say you 're young. I'm old enough to be your mother.

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  4. Swallows and Amazons, Winnie The Pooh. Try an old favorite of yours and a newer one .
    I have several books that show Kids (Me) what to look for on walks and how to make a Field Guide or a book on Birds. I like Nature and you seem to live in a lovely place.
    Enjoy 45, it is a great age !
    parsnip

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    1. I like the idea of field guides for kids, but I'm not sure it P would like that or not. We do live in a lovely place, though.

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  5. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has always been one of my favorites since it's meant for all ages. I will never forget Dorothy... and Toto too.

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  6. How exciting that you both have birthdays coming soon. Your birthday is close to my youngest son's day. He was born on March 20th. I always loved Spring birthdays. You are at a perfect age now - old enough to know what you are doing and not too old to do it!

    I love children's books and it is exciting to see a young one like Little P. that loves to read. When my grandson was young he loved all the Shel Silverstein's books. Peter Pan is a good one too and it even has pirates.

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    1. Peter Pan! I love that. It's great when little kids like to read.

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  7. Charlotte's Web has my vote. March is good. My month, too.

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  8. The Phantom Tollbooth. I read it around 7yo and it turned me onto reading.

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  9. Pookie by Ivy Wallace (1946). I used to cry every time it was read to me, and would probably do so again if I had to read it to a child. It is probably available from Amazon. Wonderful book.

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    1. Hmmm....never heard of that one. I will look for it.

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  10. And I will turn 52 one day before your and P.'s birthday!
    As for the books, I wasn't into poetry at that age, but I loved (and still do) non-fiction as much as a good story. I am sure P. will love his present, no matter on what book you will decide in the end.

    I read your previous post but did not have occasion to comment. Let me just say that I very much feel for you and your family, Jennifer. Hopefully, your parents will adapt to the new situation; it is not easy, as I know from my own family, now largely revolving about our Dad and his health.

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    1. Thank you Meike. Looks like dad will be headed to Charleston for a procedure at the end of the month. Hopefully that will get him sorted!

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  11. Sorry. No suggestions. But I much preferred 45 to 7. Oh well. Happy day!

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    1. Honestly, when I was 7 my parents were alcoholics who occasionally got physically violent with each other. I was an anxious kid (what a surprise, huh?)....so I didn't enjoy that age, either.

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  12. I know it's a bit of a cop out but can you get book tokens in the USA? Buying P a book token would allow him to visit a book shop in order to select a book of his own choosing. I remember the very first book token I received at that age and I was thrilled. To pick my own book...Wow!

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    1. That is actually a great idea! On the other hand, if you buy a book, you can write in the front something like "To P., Happy 7th Birthday, your friend Jennifer", something he will always remember you for.

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    2. Ordinarily I'd buy a child a gift card to the local bookstore, but I want little P. to have a keepsake of the first shared birthday that we knew each other. As Meike said, I could write something for him in the front. :)

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  13. Isn't it nice that seven is a multiple of 45? (Did I ask that correctly? It's been a long time since I thought about math. I have to get the math muscle going in my brain so I can do my taxes.) I tend to like the classics when it comes to children's literature. At that age, my son and I read Anne of Green Gables; The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe; The Little House books; a lot of Beverly Cleary; and the horse books by Marguerite Henry. I miss the days of cuddling with my children while we read.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. Um....no, actually, Janie...7 is not a multiple of 45. :) But that's okay. I always had a hard time with math, too. Little P., on the other hand, can do 3rd and 4th grade math problems in his head! He's going to be a successful man one day with such intelligence. I loved the Narnia books, too, but I'm conflicted about those now that I'm an adult. I also have an early edition of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with wonderful illustrations, but I'm saving that one for my heart-niece, Carsen, if her mother feels okay about her having it.

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  14. Books are such wonderful gifts. I would give any book by E.B. White. My daughter did enjoy Beverly Cleary books as well.

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