Ten on Tuesday

Ten Favorite Children's Books

1. Where the Wild Things Are. This has been Taz's favorite book since he could express a preference, and for quite a while now Grant, Miss B and I have all been able to recite the text verbatim, singly or in combination.
   
2. Winnie-The-Pooh. I much prefer the original books, which are quite different from the Disneyed-up videos and stories. I can see why Disney made some of the changes, since some things work much better in print than on film, but that doesn't prevent me from yelling at the screen, "No, that's not how it goes!" every time I see a video.
   
3. Heidi. To this day I cannot read Heidi without a tissue handy, especially the part where she gets back home to her grandfather. Yes, I am a sentimental idiot. (It doesn't help that on first reading it I immediately identified a candidate for the role of Fraülein Rottenmeier.)
   
4. Anne of Green Gables and its sequels.
   
5. The Nutshell Library, another Sendak masterpiece, or rather set of four small masterpieces, Alligators All Around, Chicken Soup with Rice, One Was Johnny, and Pierre. Such is Sendak's genius that I didn't notice the educational content, which usually sticks out like a sore thumb hey I am teaching you something and you will like it until I reread them to my sister.
   
6. The Tailor of Gloucester, imho the best of all the Beatrix Potter books. NO MORE TWIST
   
7. Click Clack Moo! Cows That Type. While you will have gathered by now that I prefer the classics, or at least books that have survived a couple of generations, I make an exception for this one: it's a newie but a goodie.
   
8. The Phantom Tollbooth. If you don't know this one, get it out of the library and read it to your kids, or someone else's kids. Or to yourself.
   
9. A Little Princess and The Secret Garden. Yes, they are hokey and full of, um, antiquated attitudes. I will confess to loving them anyway, passing over the attitudes with a quick wince.
   
10. Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants. Yes, really. The rest of the CU books are fun too, but this one involves audience participation. Go here, follow the directions, and then come back and tell me your silly name. Booger Wafflefanny, at your service.

What are yours?