Once upon a time, you were a child, and you loved a book. It was a classic, one that perhaps a beloved aunt or teacher had shared with you. You cherished this book, and now as an adult you want to share this joy with the child in your life ... but then something unexpected happened. To your adult eyes, this classic has stilted, old-fashioned language, teaches a worldview that belongs in the past, or is just plain uninteresting. What will you do to share that wonder you remember loving?

Never fear, the Children’s Department librarians are here for you!

 

Picture Books

 

Classic: The Cat in the Hat by Dr Seuss

What You Loved: Simple language for beginning readers, playfulness, and fun illustrations

We Recommend: The Doghouse by Jan Thomas

 

 

Classic: Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Pfister

What You Loved: A simple story about sharing with colorful illustrations

We Recommend: Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson

 

 

Classic: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein 

What You Loved: A spirit of generosity

We Recommend: Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett and The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates

 

 

Classic: Babar by Jean de Brunhoff

What You Loved: A sense of wonder about the marvels of everyday life with bright, simple illustrations

We Recommend: The Maisy series by Lucy Cousins

 

 

Classic: Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel

What You Loved: Introduction to a bit of Chinese culture, appearance of authenticity.

We Recommend: Ten Little Dumplings by Larissa Fan

 

Novels

 

 

Classic: The Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder 

What You Loved: The feeling of stepping into a time in history; the simple, clean sentences; and the mundane and fascinating details of daily life

We Recommend: Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

 

 

Classic: The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

What You Loved: Playful exploration of character, toys coming to life

We Recommend: The Winter of the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz and The Robber Girl by Franny Billingsley 

 

 

Classic: A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

What You Loved: A down-on-her-luck protagonist finding friendship and family again

What We Recommend: The Gilded Girl by Alyssa Colman

 

 

Classic: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

What You Loved: A grim, brooding house full of old family secrets that the protagonist must uncover

We Recommend: The Carrefour Curse by Dianna K. Salerni

 

 

Classic: Heidi by Johanna Spyri

What You Loved: Found family, friendship, and healing in a new home

We Recommend: Heidi: A Graphic Novel by Mariah Marsden and The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

 

 

Classic: Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

What You Loved: Whimsy alongside an exploration of what it means to grow and change

We Recommend: The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon and The Happy Shop by Brittany Long Olsen

 

 

Classic: Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

What You Loved: A protagonist who survives in the wilderness against all odds

We Recommend: Across the Desert by Dusti Bowling

 

 

Classic: Roald Dahl’s books

What You Loved: Quirky characters, zany plots, and very blunt individuals

We Recommend: Leeva at Last by Sara Pennypacker, The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln, Grimwood by Nadia Shireen, and The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

 

 

Classic: Redwall by Brian Jacques

What You Loved: Brave animal protagonists fighting epic battles

We Recommend: Warriors by Erin Hunter

 

 

Classic: Johnny Tremaine by Esther Forbes

What You Loved: An immersive fictional take on a historical time period

We Recommend: Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

 

 

Classic: Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

What You Loved: A magical world you could get lost in, and a protagonist caught in the center of a mysterious prophecy

We Recommend: Nic Blake and the Remarkables series by Angie Thomas, or another book series from this list

 

 

Classic: The Borrowers by Mary Norton

What You Loved: Seeing the world from a tiny perspective

We Recommend: The Mossheart’s Promise by Rebecca Mix

 

 

Classic: Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

What You Loved: Navigating a topsy-turvy world and meeting strange eldritch characters

We Recommend: The Labyrinth of Souls by Leslie Vedder

 

 

Classic: The Dark Is Rising series by Susan Cooper

What You Loved: Thrills and chills as the main character has to survive an adventure with a strong folktale influence

We Recommend: The Blight Harbor series by Lora Senf

 

 

Classic: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

What You Loved: A fun-loving main character who creates her own reality

We Recommend: Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon

 

 

Classic: The Hobbit/The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

What You Loved: An immersive fantasy world with a strong sense of history, legend, and royal politics, with a side order of epic battles

We Recommend: Wings of Fire by Tui Sutherland

 

 

Classic: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

What You Loved: Feeling immersed in the goings-on of a loving family

We Recommend: The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

 

 

Classic: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

What You Loved: The ordinary daily adventures of animals who act like people

We Recommend: Skunk and Badger by Amy Timberlake

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