, I thought, "Uh-oh, I hope this isn't an Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day kind of book" (I know a lot of people like Judith Viorst's story, but it was a bit too negative to resonate with me and my children - Alexander's a grouch at the beginning and pretty much still a grouch at the end - we read it once and that was enough). But on the contrary, I was pleasantly surprised with Pam Smallcomb's positive outcome to a negative sounding title, and it's a story I think young children will ask for again and again!This book doesn't celebrate being the "best" at everything, it's simply about being the best friend you can be. In the end, Evelyn says she needs a friend - "A friend who is always by her side, through thick and thin, a true-blue friend." She wonders, "Is there anyone in the whole wide world like that?" and our little narrator proclaims, "I AM! I AM! I AM!"
Pam Smallcomb's story made me think of two other sets of storybook characters that are good friends, FROG AND TOAD
(who are also brown and green!) and James Marshall's hippos, George and Martha
,
who bear a striking resemblance to Robert Weinstock's little alligators.
, by William Steig (ages 4-8) A bit of a twist on Aesop's fable of THE LION AND THE MOUSE. Beautiful, poignant text and simple, sweet pictures of the unlikely friendship between a whale and a mouse.
, by Helme Heine (ages 4-8) The text and illustrations in this book are hilarious! It takes these three Friends to maneuver their bicycle on all kinds of adventures...Charlie Rooster steering the handlebars, and Johnny Mouse and Fat Percy on each pedal.
by Bernard Waber (ages 4-8) Ira is excited to go and sleep at his friend, Regie's house, but isn't sure he can get along without his Teddy Bear.
,by Patricia Lee Gauch. (ages 4-8) Tanya, the smallest and wiggliest girl in her dance class, makes friends with the new girl, Emily.
, by Joan Walsh Anglund (ages 4-8) Her adorable illustrations and sweet text have made her books popular for generations.
, by Kevin Henkes (ages 4-8) A story about accepting new people: Chester and his best friend, Wilson, are surprised when Lily moves into their neighborhood and has her own exuberant way of doing things..
, by Arnold Lobel (series, ages 4-8) This beginner chapter book has five stories of Frog and Toad's adventures together. A classic! 
by Joyce Lankester Brisley (ages 4-8) Around since 1928, this collection of 21 adventures (set in England), complete with original art by the author, is a “window to a simpler time,” a classic that still delights all ages.
, by E.L. Konigsburg (ages 8 and up) "They told Mrs. Olinski that they were The Souls long before they were a team, but she told them that they were a team as soon as they became The Souls."
, by Elizabeth George Speare (ages 9-12) The idea for this book came from a factual story that the author heard about: a young boy was left alone for a summer in the Maine wilderness and was befriended by a Native American and his grandson.
series (ages 5 and up), by Maud Hart Lovelace, has to rank right up at the top! (Well, maybe after CINDERELLA, but that's a separate blogpost.) These stories are so endearing and have such a following that there is even a Betsy-Tacy Society! 
(ages 6-8), by Johanna Spyri, illustrations by Ruth Sanderson. Please do not substitute reading this beautiful story by watching the movie or made-for-television-versions instead! The descriptive writing about Heidi's struggle to learn to read, as well as her relationships with her grandfather, the Alps, the goats, Klara, and Peter and his blind grandmother are not to be missed. What touched me most was the underlying story of the stern grandfather ("Alm Uncle") as a prodigal son figure who has his heart softened by his tender granddaughter.
(ages 6 and up), by Noel Streatfeild. The story of three orphaned babies, Pauline, Petrova, and Posy Fossil, who are all adopted by "GUM" - Great Uncle Matthew. (Uncle Gum is an archaeolgist, who brought home lots of fossils to his home in England, until he was injured and decided to travel the world!) The girls are not siblings, but are adopted one by one and raised by Gum's great-niece, Sylvia, and Nana, her old nurse. (There is a whole series of "Shoe Books", but this is the only one we read.)
, by Frances Hodgsdon Burnett, illustrated by Tasha Tudor. (ages 8-12). "Whatever comes," she said, "cannot alter one thing. If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in cloth of gold, but it is a great deal more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it." Was there ever a sweeter, more unselfish girl than Sara Crewe? (Yes - Cinderella!) Again, please do not bypass this book for the movie! (Although there was a very good BBC 
, by Laura Ingalls Wilder (ages 8-12) Wonderful historical fiction, loved by boys and girls alike! Eight books in the series...following Laura and her family, with lots of detail about their life as a pioneer family and it's joys and hardships. The stories start in a cabin on the frontier, around 1870. Well known illustrator, Garth Williams, spent years researching Laura's family and his artwork is a wonderful reflection of that.
, by Louisa May Alcott (ages 8-12) One of the most popular and unforgettable children's novels in American history! Your daughter will never forget Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March and how instead of buying Christmas presents for themselves, they buy gifts for their mother, "Marmee". This quest to be selfless, their antics with Laurie, the boy next door, their deep family loyalty and coming of age experiences, endear us to this family living during the Civil War. The 1994 
and 
, by George MacDonald (ages 8-12). Fantasy story about a young princess (Irene) and a miner boy named Curdie. The princess's great-great-grandmother, who lives high up in the castle turret and appears either as very old or young and beautiful, admonishes Irene to behave courageously and to overcome her fears as Curdie strives to save her from the evil goblin's plan to kidnap her.