Forever Books

You know you have them. I am speaking of books you like so much that you must own a copy. Ones that you'll save to share with your children, and then share with your grandchildren. Maybe they are temporarily forgotten on your shelf, but you'll remember them sooner or later. I have a list of books I recently rediscovered. I mean, I have the actual books in a stack, right here, beside me. I have been carrying them around so I can read them over and over and over. Let me tell you about them.
All Year - A Child's Calendar, by John Updike, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. This collection has a poem for each month. The author's lines, along with the expressive pictures, aptly captures each season. The March poem begins, "The sun in nervous, As a Kite, That can't quite keep, It's own string tight..."
January - All In A Day, by many authors and illustrators. It follows several people and cultures all around the world in one day - January 1st. It broadens your horizons and expands you mind to understand how many, many people there are on earth and how even though we have differences, we are the same.
February - Snowflake Bentley, by Jaqueline Briggs Martin, iillustrated by Mary Azarion. This book is about a remarkable man who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He loved snow so much he studied it and discovered many intricate and delicate qualities of snowflakes. He photographed much of his work and shared this with the world.
March - The Happy Day, by Ruth Krauss, illustrated by Marc Simont, a Caldecott Honor Book. This is a joyous, welcoming book about the first signs of spring.
April - Grandpa, by John Burningham. I want to write like this author. His book is clear, simple and beautiful. This book never fails me.
May - The Gardner, by Sarah Stewart, illustrated by David Small. This is a lovely book, set in the 1930's, written in short letters back home, from a lonely farm girl who has moved to the big city. It shows how she adjusts to a very different life and learns hoe to bloom no matter where she is planted.
June - Scrambled States of America, by Laurie Keller. This is hilarious and a good vacation book, since all the states decide to go on trips to trade places. They are tired of where they are at and want to see what it's like on the other side of the fence.
July - United Tweets of America, by Hudson Talbott. This is another state book and another funny book. This one gives facts about each state and each state's birds, as well.
August - The Relatives Came, by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Stephen Gammell. Cynthia Rylant is one of my favorite authors. She and the illustrator make a great team with this book about a summer visit. It really takes you back to an era when you seemed to have forever in front of you and were surrounded with love on all sides.
September - To Market, To Market, by Anne Miranda, illustrated by Janet Stevens. You know that rhyme "To market, to market, to buy a fat pig?" This book adds volumes to the simple talk. The lady who takes care of all the animals she unintentionally collects, reminds me of my granny from Florida.
October - Five Little Pumpkins - Any and All Versions
The Spider and The Fly, illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi. This is a famous 1829 poem written by Mary Howitt. It is always a must read for our spooky season.
November - Thank You, Sarah, The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving, by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrated by Matt Faulkner. I love this book because it is about a real woman who wouldn't give up. Her persistance, persuasiveness and her pen finally triumphed, when Abraham Lincoln agreed to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. Our hero, Sarah Hale, also wrote books, for important magazines of her time, and the "Mary Had a Little Lamb" poem.
December - The Nativity, illustrated by Julie Vivas. Julie Vivas is my favorite illustrator, because she captures funny, quirky humanity, in her bright, optimistic, artwork. This is the BEST nativity book, in my opinion.
Going Home, by Eve Bunting, illustrated by David Diaz. It is such a poignant story, and it is part of most of us. Any of us who have immigrant ancestors or who have traveled far from home will identify with this book.
I hope you check some of these books out. And I would love to hear about some of your favorite books. Happy Reading!