Children's Books

[Deleted]

Yes, well, guess where my online name comes from?
Stargirl, a YA novel by Jerry Spinelli. I only read it once, when it first came out (prob. 5 years ago or so), because I found the ending too bittersweet to want to dwell on it.
I loved "Seventh Grade Space Station" and "Jason and Marceline" when I was a teen. They were just so funny and sweet.
"Maniac Magee" is a book I admire, but don't really love. I don't know why, it just never endeared itself to me like his other books. (It did win a Newbery Medal, so you're not alone in your love!)
"Milkweed" is his most recent (Holocaust fiction), but it was terribly depressing. It's not a book at all that I'd recommend for kids to read, though that's the audience he aimed it for. It kind of traumatized me, and I've read a lot of Holocaust books.

[lyrasilver]

I loved "Seventh Grade Space Station" and "Jason and Marceline" when I was a teen. They were just so funny and sweet.

I love Space Station Seventh Grade. One of my favorite moments in the book is the part where he and Ralphie Smitht (with the "t") start laughing hysterically for no real reason - it reminded me of all the times my friends and I would start laughing over something funny, only to have it spiral into hysteria over nothing. I thought the book did a good job of addressing the painful and confusing moments of adolescence without coming off sounding preachy or condescending, but just relating them through Jason in a believable way. I didn't know there was a sequel, stargirl, so thanks for mentioning it - I'm going to see if my library has it, because I always wondered what happened to Jason and Marceline.

[Deleted]

Lurker said:

Has anyone ever read or heard of a series of books called the Orpheleine books? I used to get these from the library(until it flooded) all the time and cannot remember who wrote them. The main orphan was called Brigitte and the youngest was called Josette and eventually they moved to a castle with a bunch of boy orphans who hated them and plagued them.

I loved the Shoes books by Noel Streatfield, and I think they are reissuing them. I saw Ballet Shoes, Theatre Shoes, and Dancing Shoes with new covers in the store recently.

I totally love Streatfeild - my dad brought back Ballet Shoes and Apple Bough (Travelling Shoes in the US) from a British trip, and I read them so much Apple Bough fell apart. I occasionally pick them up at the used bookstore if I find copies.

I also checked Google for the Orpheline books, and found this Amazon listing - the author is Natalie Savage Carlson. I didn't read them, but maybe I'll see if my library has them.

[Deleted]

Always happy to help out with book recommendations, lyrasilver!

And yes, I remember reading books by Noel Streetfield. For some reason, I was never so into the "shoes" books, but I loved a book she wrote called "Thursday's Child Has Far to Go" (or a title close to that) and I just ordered "Gemma Alone" (from Amazon) for nostalgia. Few of her books are in print anymore (or can be found in libraries).

[lyrasilver]

I loved Ballet Shoes and read it repeatedly. I remember not liking some of the other "Shoes" books so much, either. Both Theater and Tennis Shoes kind of bored me, but that could be because I was more into ballet stories than anything else.

Another children's book series I really like is the Junie B. Jones series. My mother teaches reads them to her kindergarten class, and I think they're so funny and cute. Junie B. Jones is a five-year-old with attitude, and she's very quotable. One of my favorites: "No one can see the secrets inside your head. Not even if they look in your ears."

[schmoosie]

Dino Sailors is currently the book of choice in this house and has been read every morning for the past 10 months..oye! The dino's throw up in this book. Eww but funny too.

Growing up my favorite book was called Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells. I borrowed it from the library when I was in the 3rd grade (many, many moons ago). It came with an audio tape and the whole book was put to music. I still sing the song...but now to my son.

I also loved The Monster at the End of This Book, but mostly cause I loved Grover.

[ladymadonna]

Ok, I need a little help here.

According to my mom, when I was little, my favorite book was about a little dog who gets lost in his neighborhood. The only parts we both remember are:

A. he was a Scotty dog.

B. one of the lines in the book is "Hoot! Hoot! cried the Eyes."

I'd just like to find the book, 'cause according to my mom it was my absolute fave, and I'd just like to have a copy. I've searched and searched, but I'm not hitting the right words or something.

[jennipoo]

I used to tutor this kid and would take him to the library sometimes just to wander around and have free, yet constructive time. I read all the Junie B. Jones books in one sitting. They are addictive.

[Deleted]

ladymadonna, is it The Noisy Book? It's about a little Sottish dog named Muffin who can't see b/c he has a temporary bandage over his eyes. On his way home, he hears all kids of noises in the streets.

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I remember the chapter books I loved in third and fourth grade like Island of the blue dolphins theAmerican girls series. Had the Molly,Kirsten, Addy and Samantha dolls too. Dollhouse Murders and just about any series from Baby sitters club to Sweet Valley high.