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I really like The Polar Express. I enjoyed reading Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli. I worked in a bookstore while in college, and it was in the same town where Newberry Award winner Jerry Spinelli lived. The bookstore owner introduced me to him, and when his wife's book came out (that one), I enjoyed reading it in the bookstore. Great illustrations.

I don't remember being into children's books growing up, especially since my love for reading didn't kick in until about 3rd grade. I loved the Nancy Drew series...read them all at a young age...and now I collect them.

Hi Janet!
I didn't get into young children's books until I had a son...As a child I was really into a series called Encyclopedia Brown and historically based fiction. The Dear America Series books are wonderful...as are the "If You Lived in...(Colonial Times)" series by Scholastic.

Hi Charissa!

I remember Encyclopedia Brown! I loved those books, as well as Trixie Belden, the Alfred Hitchcock series (the 3 Investigators), Hardy Boys, Sherlock Holmes, etc. Anything to do with mysteries, actually.

Come to think of it, that's when I became familiar with most children's books as well: when I had my son. How old is your son, Charissa?

There is truly only one book that stands out in my memory as a child. I clearly remember being in the 6th grade, and my teacher, Mr. Brewton, reading The Phantom Tollbooth to us (by Norton Juster). Geared toward 9-12 year olds, this book is a delight, the storyline a neverending source of puns and word fun (such as jumping to the Island of Conclusions, the rescue of the Princesses Rhyme and Reason, subtraction stew (the more you eat the hungrier you get!), etc., etc. I haven't read this book in over 30 years, but I will never forget how much fun it was!

My son is 6...when he was younger he really liked the books that had lots of descriptive sounds. Right now he's into the Magic Schoolbus and Junie B Jones chapter books(that series is ADORABLE).

I have not read The Phantom Tollbooth, but it sounds like a good one - especially since it has remained so vivid to you after all these years.

Actually, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell made a similar impression on me. I was in 4th grade and my teacher read a chapter every day...I felt like I was there on the island.

I just looked Island of the Blue Dolphins up and read the synopsis and never realized that it was based on a true account...that's obviously why I liked it so much (I am really into fact based stories).

My son is 6, too. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> He enjoys watching Magic Schoolbus videos, as well as playing with his MSB software.

When you said "children's books", I was thinking about books for ages 1-6!

I loved a book by Scott O'Dell (I think it was him?) about the sayings on tombstones, as well as books like:

*Anything by Judy Blume
*The House With A Clock In Its Walls by John Bellairs
*A Wrinkle in Time (the whole series)
*Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
*Assorted classics adapated for youth
*How to Eat Fried Worms
*Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
*Agatha Christie books
*Stephen King books

Just a few off the top of my head. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've been reading Edgar Eager's series of books about kids who have brief runs of magic in their lives. I love them!

Some of my kids favorites (I'll group them by age):

DS, age 8, loves the "Santa Paws" series, as well as the "Stanley" series (like, "Flat Stanley").

DD, age 6, is actually enjoying the old "Dick and Jane" books that have been brought back! And, of course, she likes anything girly, like books about Barbie, My Little Pony, or Care Bears.

DS, age 20 mos., is currently into "The Little Engine That Could", as well as "Goodnight Moon", to name a few. These were also favorites of the older two when they were this age. I never get tired of reading them, either!

When I was a kid, I loved the "Frog and Toad" series, and also the "Sweet Pickles" series.

~Bev~

Hi Bev!
Isn't it interesting that the older books still appeal - that really says something about the quality of those books. "Little Engine" and "Goodnight Moon are very fun to read to little ones.
Charissa

As a kid I couldn't get enough of Ramona Quimby and her sister Beezus! My favorite now is Tacky the Penguin, and my four year old son is into anything he can read-Tiny Goes to the Library, How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon?
Another great one is Animalia.

Ooohh...I remember Ramona Quimby. I loved those books too! What about Amelia Bedelia? DOes anyone remember those? I like the one where she was "pruning" the bushes. Beverly Cleary books were favorites back then. There are too many great books!!!

Janet,
Encyclopedia Brown, Hardy Boys, Nacy Drew, Sherlock! great stuff. I love the mystery adventure sections too.

Just finished a great adventure book with my son called A Treasure's Trove--beautiful story.

And it's real too, not the mythical creatures part but as well as a great book its also a nation-wide treasure hunt for jewels totaling over 1 million dollars! wild right?

never got past the story experience, but its fun to know there is a hunt for the real jewels as well.

www.atreasurestrove.com

There are so many, but just a few are classics like "Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak", "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine Engle, and more recently, I loved the wonderful novel "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli.

The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

All Creatures Great and Small by Alf Wight (real name) or James Herriot as is he popularly known

I'm trying to get hold of "A wrinkle in time" from the library, I'm very keen to read it now as I keep hearing good things about it.

My favourite books are the "Magic Faraway Tree" and "Famous Five" series' by Enid Blyton, Lucy Montgomery's "Anne of Green Gables Series", and "Nancy Drew".

I'm loving Harry Potter at the moment, of course.

My all time favorite is Josephine Scribner Gates "The Book of Live Dolls." Its no longer in production and very hard to get ahold of, but its a wonderful story--especially for little girls! My copy disappeared in my last move and I'm still trying to find a replacement.

Another is the "Oz" series by L. Frank Baum.

Mine is Antoine de saint Exupery's "The Little Prince".

It appears to be a simple childrens tale, but it is actually a profound and deeply moving tale, written in riddles and laced with philosopy and poetic metaphor.

i love nancy drew, hardy boys, sweet valley twins, and the baby sitter's club.

...and the chronicles of narnia

Demigod's post reminded me of A Little Princess by Frances Hodgkin Burnett. It's a better story than The Secret Garden which is her more famous book. The main character is far more sympathetic.

I loved the Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden series because I love mysteries.


Taisha Turner <img src="/images/graemlins/fish.gif" alt="" />
Southeast Asia

I just discovered Terry Pratchett's Equal Rites - a humorous magic fantasy. No more Pratchett on my tiny tropical island though - boo hoo!!!
Anyone able to pick them up at yardsales or Salvation Army or whatnot please email me heyjude71 at hotmail.com THX.

BUT

Let's update this to:
What (do you think) were the best new books in the 2000-2010 decade -
for young children,
for middle grades,
for teens/young adults?