The Golden Treasury of Children's Literature
This was one of the books my parents read to me as a child, and we occasionally read stories from it. Please note that some of these stories may be considered too scary for young children.
 | author: bryna untermeyer rating:  asin: B000QYDNG8 binding: Hardcover |
Russian Fairy Tales (Everyman's Library Children's Classics)
This collection of classic Russian fairy tales is fascinating. Expect this book to be as violent as other classic fairy tales, complete with witches that threaten to eat you if you don't do her chores, heros that get cut up in pieces but somehow come back to life, evil step mothers and step sisters are burnt to ashes from a glowing skull, and so on. There aren't too many pictures, but the ones they do have are exquisite. This was a favorite of our (then) 5 year old, who was particularly fond of the tale "Vassilissa the Beautiful and the Witch Baba Yaga", which I think I've read over a dozen times.
 | author: Gillian Avery Ivan Bilibin rating:  asin: 0679436413 binding: Hardcover list price: $14.95 USD amazon price: $14.95 USD |
Notable for their magnificent, jewel-like color illustrations by Bilibin, these traditional tales include "The Frog Princess," "Vassilissa the Beautiful," and "The White Duck." Though Russian Fairy Tales in the Pantheon Folklore Library is a book for adults, it has sold over 30,000 copies.
A Little House Christmas Treasury: Festive Holiday Stories
I bought this book for our Christmas Collection and I am so grateful I did. I love to hear these stories of the simple Christmases long ago, when children were thrilled to get a penny in their stocking. Each story if from a different time in Laura's life and paints such a beautiful picture of their lives.
 | author: Laura Ingalls Wilder rating:  asin: 0060769181 binding: Hardcover list price: $12.99 USD amazon price: $27.15 USD |
Celebrate the holidays with Laura and her family with stories from the beloved Little House books!
Lives of the Musicians: Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought)
As I was looking ahead in our history reading recomendations (to order them from thelibrary) I noticed that we were going to be hearing about the life of Bach. So I also ordered Kathleen Krull's book Lives of the Musicians: Good Times,Bad Times (and What the Neighbors Thought). We love this series of books from Krull, all of which are short, interesting biographies. We read the 3 pages about Clara Shumann several times this week, and laughed about it later at dinner. Clara Shumann was considered the Queen of Piano and her husband, Robert Shuman who was also a brilliant composer, but back then, he was known as "Clara Shumann's husband." Laurel declared Brahms to be her favorite composer because she is just learning to play his song Lulabye on the piano. We laughed as we read " 'It does not just come to you!' Brahms would say of composing, 'It is torture!' " One of the many potential careers Laurel is exploring is a musical composer. As you read this book be prepared to edit or discuss things like blackmail, suicide, and being a homosexual.
 | author: Kathleen Krull rating:  asin: 0152164367 binding: Paperback list price: $12.00 USD amazon price: $9.41 USD |
It's no secret that Beethoven went deaf, that Mozart had constant money problems, and that Gilbert and Sullivan wrote musicals. But what were these people--and other famous musicians--really like? What did they eat? What did they wear? How did they spend their time? And--possibly most interesting of all--what did their neighbors think?
Discover the fascinating and often humorous stories of twenty famous musicians--people of all shapes, sizes, temperaments, and lifestyles, from various countries and historical periods. Beginning with Vivaldi and ending with Woodie Guthrie, Lives of the Musicians brings musical history to life!
Sword of the Samurai: Adventure Stories from Japan (Trophy Chapter Books)
A collection of folk tales from Japan.
 | author: Eric A. Kimmel rating:  asin: 0064421317 binding: Paperback list price: $4.99 USD amazon price: $4.99 |
The way of the Warrior
The samurai warriors of ancient Japan were taught to fight with their hearts and minds as well as with their swords. But even the best of training doesn't prepare a samurai for every situation...
- A lone samurai is attacked by two Ronin--can he keep his head and come out of it alive?
- Can a samurai with a reputation for being unlucky to defeat a ferocious dragon and regain his honor?
- A brave girl fights tradition to learn swordmanship, but can she master the arts of the samurai?
Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame (and What the Neighbors Thought)
These biographies are fascinating, sharing the Presidents favorite meals, quirks and pastimes without going into the political side too much. There is no mention of if they are Republican or Democrat, and barely mentions any wars that happen during each presidency. We read sections of the book and enjoyed so much we bought the audio book, which we have listened to many times - especially around the 2008 election.
 | author: Kathleen Krull rating: asin: 015200808X binding: Hardcover list price: $20.00 USD amazon price: $13.60 USD |
Every U.S. president is the focus of public scrutiny, but how well do we know these men? What kind of fathers do presidents make? Husbands? Neighbors? Other books focus on the historical achievements of those who have occupied our country's highest office; Lives of the Presidents looks instead at their bad habits, silly nicknames, and strange pets. Every president--from George Washington to Bill Clinton--is included, with an emphasis on those who have had the greatest impact on history. Discover their high points, low points, and the times in between. In this stunning addition to their acclaimed series, Kathleen Krull and Kathryn Hewitt take us beyond politics and photo opportunities, revealing the entertaining, complex, and very real lives of the presidents.
Franklin's Friendship Treasury
Since Laurel (then 9) has been enjoying hearing the Franklin stories so much, I got another in the series, Franklin's Friendship Treasury. As soon as the girls saw this book they wanted to hear all 4 stories right away. Part of me finds these stories boring, but I must admit I really love how the parents talk to thier kids. Franklin is a good role model, even if he doesn't always do the right thing, he makes it right in the end.
 | author: Paulette Bourgeois rating: asin: 1550748726 binding: Hardcover list price: $15.95 USD amazon price: $10.85 USD |
Franklin learns about the meaning of friendship in these four classic stories, now available in one volume. Franklin Has a Sleepover, Franklin's Bad Day, Franklin's New Friend and Franklin's Secret Club are gentle stories that have helped make the lovable turtle one of the world's best-known and most endearing children's book characters.
Franklin's Classic Treasury, Volume I
Gentle stories about how Franklin gets over being afraid of the dark, being bossy, and telling fibs.
 | author: Paulette Bourgeois rating: asin: 1550747428 binding: Hardcover list price: $15.95 USD amazon price: $10.85 USD |
Now, for the first time, four of the most beloved Franklin stories are available in one volume. The complete text and illustrations for Franklin in the Dark, Hurry Up, Franklin, Franklin Fibs and Franklin Is Bossy have been combined in a beautiful hardcover edition that is sure to become a family favorite. Perfect for gift giving or as an introduction to the best-selling series, Franklin's Classic Treasury will delight old fans and new.
The Sneetches and Other Stories
Includes The Sneetches, The Zax, The Green Pants (with no one inside them) and Too Many Daves. Classic Dr. Suess.
| author: Dr. Suess [ Theodore Seuss Geisel] rating: asin: B000HFBGII binding: Hardcover |
Hardbound Book - Raggedy Ann Stories By Johnny Gruelle
Each page has a small/large color illustration, so this is the perfect beginning chapter book - though we just read one story at a sitting and never went in any particular order. These are the classic stories (written roughly 80 years ago) about Raggedy, the endlessly cheerful doll and her adventures.
 | rating: asin: B000SOVW3W binding: Unknown Binding |
Synopsis: A collection of Raggedy Ann stories, including "Raggedy Ann Rescues Fido," and "Raggedy Ann and the Kittens."
Publisher's Note:
Among the well-loved stories in this volume are how Marcella discover Raggedy Ann, the tale that explains the origin of her candy heart, her adventures on the rivers with a kite, and the dolls' rescue of Fido.
Raggedy Ann Stories includes the tale of Raggedy Ann's arrival in Marcella's nursery, the origin of her candy heart, the rescue of Fido, and other stories in which Raggedy Ann leads the dolls by her generous example. Full-color illustrations.
