Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with books and children

How to tell children about death book suggestions for a single dad

spec80 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:15:12 -0800

A friend's father passed away suddenly and he is having difficulty formulating a way to tell his daughter. What books would you recommend? I have no experience with the death of a parent or being a parent. I don't know how to help other than lending a sympathetic ear.

Friend was pretty close with his dad and is using work to distract himself. He is a single dad and his two daughters live with their mom. He is concerned about how to tell his eldest daughter (ten years old) and help her cope/mourn because she knew and had a close relationship with her grandfather. She is aware of the concept of death and knows people that have died, but Friend says she's never had a relationship with those people. (Her mother lives in an area of NYC where violence is still prevalent.)

I searched previous questions and I am thinking of printing out this thread and maybe getting this book? Googling gives an overwhelming result and I was hoping someone could personally suggest a book. I cannot give a website, only printouts of a website because they don't have an internet/computer at home. Daughter might have access to one at school, but I am presuming.

Does anyone know this children's book about racing telephone conversations?

mprove — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:29:19 -0800

I'm trying to remember the name of a book I read as a kid in the early '80s. I believe it was published in the mid-to-late '70s. It was about some children watching telephone wires and thinking they could actually see the conversations as they were transmitted from home to home. It culminated with the kids trying to race their own conversation between two homes. I think it's called something like "The Spaghetti Telephone Race" but google offers zero in the way of help with that. Does anyone know what book I'm talking about?

I'm hunting for monsters...

Kabanos — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:31:25 -0800

Help me find the title of this children's book about a boy building a cage/trap for a monster. I'm trying to find an illustrated children's book that I enjoyed in the early '80s. I don't know if it was published in the US, or only in Canada.

It's about a young boy who sets out into the woods to catch a monster (or dragon?). His friend, or brother, tags along. They start by building a small wooden cage (trap?) for the monster, but keep adding larger and larger extensions onto it as they discuss the probable size of the monster's legs, neck, wings, horns, etc. The resulting wooden cage is enormous – the size of a house. In the end, however, they only catch a rabbit.

Help me out!

Libraries are awesome

serazin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:11:52 -0800

I've taken responsibility for a very small children's library and I'd love your ideas for making it awesome. My kid is going to a tiny little school where every parent takes a volunteer job. I chose the job of managing the small library. I'm supposed to keep it organized and accessible, and to create displays and possibly events. I'm also supposed to coordinate a Scholastic book fair (I'm sure everyone would be open to some alternative to Scholastic - so suggestions welcome on that score as well.)

I don't have a ton of time, and the school doesn't have a ton of money. Given those limitations, I'd love to hear any ideas you have for making the library useful, attractive and vibrant.

(Note that I admire and respect librarians, and recognize that I am not one! I wish all schools had a paid librarian, but this school doesn't - it only has two paid staff people all together - so I hope to do my best with what's available.)

What are your favorite books to read aloud to young children?

palliser — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:13:12 -0800

What are your favorite books to read aloud to young children? I have an almost-three-year-old son who seems like he'll be ready soon for listening to chapter books read aloud, a few pages at a time.

I have my own favorites from childhood -- not necessarily when I was that young: the Little House books, the Anne of Green Gables books, Five Little Peppers, All-of-a-Kind family. (Just typing that out -- parents apparently heavily into meaningful deprivation.)

But I'm sure there are gems out there I don't know about. Also, I think my list might be a little more appealing to girls. (My sister and I were the ones being read to.)

So -- what are your favorite chapter books to read aloud with children? The ones from your childhood, or the ones you've read with your child(ren)? I'd like to refer to this list in the future, so please don't feel constrained by his young age. I'd be happy to have some to save for when he's older.

Finally, I saw this question, but (a) it's been years since it was posted, and (b) the suggestions seem more for six-year-olds to read themselves, as opposed to have read aloud.

What made-up names does your child use for favorite media?

Mo Nickels — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:51:00 -0800

What made-up names does your very young child call favorite movies, books, games, or television shows? I'd like to compile a list of some of the names that toddlers or other very young children have made up for their favorite entertainment: books, movies, television, games, whatever. I am interested in seeing if there are patterns there of sufficient interest to write about.

For example, my 26-month-old son calls Elmo in Grouchland "Elmo Blanket." Elmo Visits the Firehouse is "Elmo Firefighter." (Firefighter is his name for a fire truck, not for the people who fight fires.) The Muppets were, for a long time, The Puppets. All the Lion King movies are "Baby Lions." Richard Scary's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go is "Goldbug Book." The Wizard of Oz is "Dorothy Dog" (since Elmo has a goldfish named "Dorothy" my son feels the need to say that he's talking about the Dorothy who has a dog). The video game Pacman on my phone is known as "Ducks" (they're yellow and they quack, right?).

Can you identify this old children's book?

Joe Beese — Fri, 08 May 2009 16:32:41 -0800

Can you identify this old children's book? Mrs. Beese has a birthday coming up. I'd like to get her a children's book from her youth that she's never been able to track down.

It's a picture book about a half-puppy/half-kitten named Puppacat. (She wasn't sure of the spelling, but that was her best guess.)

She read it in an early elementary school grade on Long Island in the mid-60s, if that's any help. She describes it as popular with all the children.

What is this book?

kumonoi — Fri, 08 May 2009 15:28:54 -0800

Please help me identify this comical children's adventure story book from the 80s... From what I remember, the plot featured 2 boys who leave their house through the bedroom window and travel in baskets on some kind of pulley system to a sort of fantasy world (or at least to somewhere that they've never heard of before). When they leave they are wearing dressing gowns and wellington boots into which they have stuffed sausage rolls, which they use as bait to distract some birds which attack them as they're travelling in the baskets. IIRC the birds are called Scissor Birds or Razor Birds or something.

The only other details I can recall are even more vague. Possibly the boys are searching for a golden cactus (or maybe just a cactus or maybe no cactus at all, but i'm pretty certain one features in the plot somewhere).
I think they meet a character from either legend (e.g. Robin Hood) or from another children's book (Captain Hook rings some bells), but it might just be they meet a characrter like that, rather than the character themselves. Either they get captured and escape using a key that they made by making a mold for it out of chewing gum, or they steal something (maybe the cactus) using that key.

Finally, I think the title may contain the word(s) "Adventure"/"Adventures" and/or "Captain". It was published in the 1980s I reckon. I think it may have been published by Corgi, the cover was white with a coloured, cartoonish picture on the front which I think featured some people trying to jump over a crocodile. I have it stuck in my head that the author's surname was Bushell, pretty certain it was a male author and I would have said that he was from the UK or maybe Australia. It seemed like the book might be part of a series but I never actually read any others if they were published.

I know this is a long shot but this has been bugging me for years!

Looking for childhood Encyclopedia set.

studentbaker — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:46:40 -0800

I’m trying to remember the name of a set of themed encyclopedias for children from my childhood. Each book focused on a particular theme and had amazing illustrations and images that blew my little mind. The themes I can remember were dinosaurs, the ocean, plants, mammals, reptiles and I believe there was one focused on Native Americans and another on space exploration. I think I had around fifteen to twenty of the books. Each book was a different color. I think a new one came every year or six months, or maybe as my parents could afford them. This was in the late 70's, early 80's.

My mom gave them to a coworker for his children when I was in high school. I recently asked her about the books and she barely remembers books them, let alone the name. I would love to track down and purchase a set.

Help me find my favorite childhood picture book.

anderjen — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:55:37 -0800

I'm looking for a couple of picture books I loved as a kid, in the late eighties. Unfortunately, the only thing I have to go on is really vivid memories of the pictures. They were big hardcover books, probably at least 12 inches by 12 inches and had no words at all, just pictures. I had two books by the same author, both featuring the same family.

The first followed the family through their Christmas preparations and holiday as they bought and put up the tree, wrapped gifts, mailed cards, shopped for the Christmas turkey, went to church, opened gifts, put the tree out on the curb, and so on. Some pages contained one huge picture, some contained up to ten smaller pictures. Not every picture was all that significant, either—I remember a picture of them loading the groceries into their car in a mobbed parking lot, followed immediately by a picture of their empty parking spot with a little girl's mitten lying on the ground. Another page had small pictures of all the houses on their block—some were decorated, some not, some full of light, some dark.

The second book followed the kids (an older sister with long brown hair and a younger brother, who was blonde) throughout a really rainy day. They woke up, saw it was pouring out, put on their boots and raincoats, and went out for the day. They looked at laundry left out on the line, fed some ducks, tried to jump across a rain-swollen creek, and generally just wandered around. Then they came home, dumped their rain gear all over a mud room or a laundry room, had a hot bath (completely soaking the bathroom in the process) and a snack, watched some TV, ate dinner and went to bed. In the morning, it was sunny again.

Anyone remember these?

[Child Book Filter] 70s Children's Book on Pollution

gnash — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:53:45 -0800

Does anyone remember the name of a children's book that was a cautionary tale against air pollution? I remember it being a soft cover book w/ that was short and wide. Pictures of factory(s) and people getting and wearing gas masks (as well as dogs)! I can't remember the ending but hopefully my description suffices.

Once upon a time, there was a magic recipe . . .

bibliowench — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 10:56:21 -0800

We've been invited to party where everyone brings a dish based on food from a children's book. Does anyone have any good suggestions and, better yet, recipes? As Harry Potter was on everyone's brain, Pumpkin juice and Cauldron Cakes have been spoken for. The only other idea in my brain is writing "EAT ME" in icing on cupcakes (and then trying not to giggle too much). This should be a fun dish to brainstorm, but I've got a million other tasks cluttering my head, so I need to outsource my inspiration.

Oh, and the food would need to appeal and be familiar to U.S. kids between 4-10.

Glycerin tears and Encyclopedia Brown

vilthuril — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:53:11 -0800

Which Encyclopedia Brown book had the story about tear ducts? I seem to recall that there was a scientifically dubious story in one of the Encyclopedia Brown books that solved the mystery after Brown noticed that the tear from someone's eye ran from the outer corner, not the inner, and thus had to be fake. A perusal of the many Sobol volumes in two local bookstores did not yield a book containing this story.

1) Was this actually in an Encyclopedia Brown book? Perhaps it was another children's mystery?

2) Which book was it in?

3) Has it been removed from that book or does my local Barnes & Nobel suck (answer: yes)?

Help find this book!

silsurf — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:21:35 -0800

I have been searching for this book for about 35 years, guess I need some help. Sometime between like 1968 and 1973 I had a children s book that I loved.

It was about an elephant in a large metropolitan area, possibly new york city. The drawings were black and white, pen and inks somewhat in the style of Shel Silverstein, not has hectic.

It had an yellow orange colored cover, it was approx 8 x 10 in landscape mode. I believe it was a chapter book with a fair amount of illustration in it. I believe there were full page spreads in artwork. I loved the book very much and on numerous occasions over the past ten years I have tried to relocate it. I have spoken to many librarians who specialize in childrens work and I never get anywhere.

A number of year ago I thought I had found t author in the name of J.P. Martin and purchased one of his out of print books, only to discover that it was not the person I was looking for.

I am sure that my memory has some gaps in it, but I am also sure that this book existed. Any guidance on how to one day finalize this search appreciated.

Inspirational Stories for 8th graders

kaozity — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:18:30 -0800

Can anyone suggest inspirational readings for 8th graders? Hello All,

I need some suggestions on books, essays, short stories you've read that really moved you or opened your eyes. Topics I am looking for are race/biracial (passing), privilege, class, gender issues, identity. Basically writings on personal adversities and hardships. Short stories and essays are ideal. I am asking because I am doing a social justice class through literature for seventh and eighth graders. Thanks for you help!

Recommend some non-white kids' books

featherboa — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 05:24:41 -0800

Can you recommend some children's picture books that don't just feature white faces? I run a kids' bookshop and it's been bugging me that almost none of the picture books we stock feature a non-white child as the main character. I'm trying to remedy that.

I'll probably be getting My Two Grannies, but ideally the storyline wouldn't be particularly about race. I do stock Rastamouse and that's probably closer to what I'm looking for, except it's about a mouse.

The shop's in London, and I try to keep the books skewed more British than American, but if you have a favourite from anywhere in the world, please let me know.

Similarly if you want to recommend a kids' book without pictures that fits the theme, I'd love to know about that too.

Stories about WWI/WWII home fronts

booksandlibretti — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:30:21 -0800

Please recommend me some great books about the home front during WWI or WWII. I'm really interested in stories, not academic histories or anything. Novels, diaries, collected letters, and memoirs would all qualify -- basically, I like stories, fictional or not.

Again, I'm looking for a home front setting, not for soldiers' stories. England, Canada, and America would all be obvious choices, but stuff about noncombatant residents in contested areas (like A Woman in Berlin) is also fair game.

I'm especially interested in the London Blitz and the evacuated schoolchildren, so bonus points for books including those elements. Other examples of what I've enjoyed are The Night Watch, by Sarah Waters, and L. M. Montgomery's Rilla of Ingleside. Heck, even the Chronicles of Narnia qualify around the edges.

Thanks in advance!

Simple French-language booklets for Kenyan French teacher of elementary students?

vanoakenfold — Fri, 23 May 2008 04:00:38 -0800

On a recent trip to Kenya, we visited a school who is in need of simple French language instruction booklets for elementary-age children. Most all of the language guides I've found are texts along the dense hardback or college variety, or come on DVD which wouldn't be at all feasible. Any ideas? They already know English. Just some simple, basic French core grammar structuring and lessons. They've recently been loaded up with young refugees fleeing from nearby French-speaking countries and are hoping to teach some to English-speaking kids. The teachers are very intelligent and college-educated but lack the resources I've got.

Books that will amuse a bunch of second graders?

chr1sb0y — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:52:14 -0800

Can you suggest some books that will make a bunch of second graders laugh? I am scheduled as "Surprise Reader" in my son's second grade class this week, and I need some new (to me) humorous and/or weird picture books to read to the class. Previously William Steig and David Greenberg ("Slugs", "Snakes", and "Bugs") have gone over well, but I need some new material! Thanks!

What is this children's book with living mop?

metadave — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 08:45:02 -0800

A friend of mine read a children's paperback book in the 1960's that featured two kids and a mop that comes to life ( or maybe is alive through the course of the whole book ). The kids and the mops interact (play?). I don't know any more about the book but I'm hoping to identify it and find a paperback copy to give as a birthday gift. If anyone out there knows what this book is or might be I would very much appreciate it. Thanks! - Dave

Finding Two Forgotten Fantasies

BT — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:24:13 -0800

A familiar kind of question -- anyone know the titles/authors of two fantasy novels I read as a kid in the late 1970s or early 1980s? Book 1: I remember only one scene: a pair of children in a boat, in an outing that begins as a pleasant row or sail out on a lake, becoming aware of some unspeakable (and I think magical) menace growing around them, or possibly back at home.

They may have been royalty or nobility of some kind. I believe they were brother and sister, and may even have lived in a castle?. I’ve searched in vain for this scene in all manner of young adult/kids fantasy novels, but haven’t located it. It’s possible that I’ve misremember some of the details or conflated bits of more than one book. I remember finding the scene itself memorably chilling for some reason.

Book 2: Group of kids plant a pear(?) seed and a the resulting magical tree that grows becomes a kind of fantastic playhouse. Not a picture book, but a short novel.

Anyone? Anyone?

Need Books/Movies for Kids Going to Rome

bjennings — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 15:55:33 -0800

I'm looking for recommendations for books, movies and even music that might be relevant for a group of middle school (7th & 8th grade, ages 12-14) kids who are going to Rome over spring break. I'm a teacher, and I'm leading a group of 20 middle school kids as well as three other faculty members. I'd like to be able to recommend novels, movies and music for them.

They've all read Caroline Lawrence's "The Roman Mysteries" series. I'm very familiar with the range of children's and young adult historical fiction, especially that set in ancient times. I'd love to have any recommendations for novels set in modern Italy. Some of the students have read Dan Brown's "Angels and Demons", but teen and young adult books would be great, too.

I suggested "Roman Holiday"; all of the parents said "Oooh, I love that movie", and all of the kids were bored out of their skull. Fluff like the Mary Kate and Ashley "When In Rome" and "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" is right up their alley.

I figure music is a long-shot, but maybe there are some recommendations there as well. Thanks!

Seeking stories of kids with superpowers?

sacre_bleu — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 08:13:38 -0800

I'm trying to make a list of books that include the central plot element of kids learning how to use or cope with unusual powers, dramatic or mundane. (Jumper, recently made into a movie, is one example.) Extra points if the books are primarily aimed at children or young adults.

Big BIG Books

jeanmari — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 11:39:31 -0800

Where to find those VERY large storybooks that children's librarians use for storytelling hours? I've searched for "large", "big" and "oversized" storybooks to no avail.

Books with textures for blind kids?

pootler — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:33:46 -0800

Can you think of any children's books with texture which would be great for the visually impaired? A customer at the bookstore where I work has asked me to suggest some books for her school for blind and visually impaired children. But I can't find anything! I'm shocked at how little there is to cater to what her kids need, namely:

Books where texture is an integral part of the text. So not the usual baby & toddler 'touch & feel' books, but books where the textures actually contribute to the story, like in Eric Carle's The Very Busy Spider, where you can feel the web as it is being built.

They are interested in anything - stories, non-fiction on any subject, with or without braille. They have a large budget and are desperate, so I really want to help them, but I'm stumped. (And I'm the children's books buyer! It's pretty embarassing actually.) Do you have any ideas?