American librarians (pro and amateur) I need kids books
March 22, 2024 3:13 AM Subscribe
A US-American friend here in Europe is having difficulty discovering books that suit her adorable little kid. So many books here are in UK English, and her baby needs cookies. A lot of quite specific details inside if you are up to the challenge!
Having had enough of tea and crumpets and visits to London Zoo, my friend is looking for something that are in eastern US vernacular and use those cultural touch-points. Softcover is a must both for shipping, cost considerations, and probably throwing knowing small children. Kiddo is about 3 and living in a non-English-speaking country so books are going to be vital lifelong friends. If you have the energy a note on why you like it or what it's about would be amazing. To the requests!
- Rich and detailed story and plot. Has enjoyed The Sleeping Giant and Stellaluna. This is the most important wish.
- Contemporary, but not so contemporary that they cost like 40 bucks off the NPR annual pick list.
- Not too "silly" a plot, Dragons Love Tacos was enjoyed, but they are easier to find. Also however not just a parable disguised as a story, just a darned good story!
- Not rhyming books, they have plenty and she's also getting a little confused between the ranges of English she's being exposed to where words rhyme very differently depending on dialect.
In before Julia Donaldson, seems she's absolutely not the kid's cup of tea
Having had enough of tea and crumpets and visits to London Zoo, my friend is looking for something that are in eastern US vernacular and use those cultural touch-points. Softcover is a must both for shipping, cost considerations, and probably throwing knowing small children. Kiddo is about 3 and living in a non-English-speaking country so books are going to be vital lifelong friends. If you have the energy a note on why you like it or what it's about would be amazing. To the requests!
- Rich and detailed story and plot. Has enjoyed The Sleeping Giant and Stellaluna. This is the most important wish.
- Contemporary, but not so contemporary that they cost like 40 bucks off the NPR annual pick list.
- Not too "silly" a plot, Dragons Love Tacos was enjoyed, but they are easier to find. Also however not just a parable disguised as a story, just a darned good story!
- Not rhyming books, they have plenty and she's also getting a little confused between the ranges of English she's being exposed to where words rhyme very differently depending on dialect.
In before Julia Donaldson, seems she's absolutely not the kid's cup of tea
When I read the question, the Frog and Toad stories by Arnold Lobel were the first ones that came to mind. While each individual story is short, they come in little collections that can be read all together -- and there is an entire story about baking cookies and not being able to stop eating them. They're also funny and charming, and they're very widely available in a range of print formats.
At that age, my kid also enjoyed being read Here Comes Darrell. It's very specifically set in rural Vermont during New England seasons, and it's all about helping your neighbors with your pickup truck and excavation equipment.
If your friend would entertain podcasts, 3-ish is about when our kid started loving having a podcast on in the background while he played with figurines or built Legos or scribbled on paper or (most American of activities) being driven around. This podcast in particular was a huge hit, and it's written and narrated by a Baltimore resident. All the episodes are available in the Apple Podcast app. "Beeble the Caterpillar and the Big Change" was, in fact, Kiddo Machine's First Podcast Episode and we listened to it on loop for about two solid weeks.
Finally, one suggestion that nails the "rich and detailed story and plot" but not so much the American setting-- the Piggins books by Jane Yolen are my absolute favorites for picture books with detailed plots. The pictures are fun to look for both adults and kids, and the books are actually out of print but available widely in softcover from US secondhand online book vendors. However, the setting is an American writer's tongue-in-cheek rendition of Masterpiece Theater style English high society as animals, so it doesn't meet the COOKIES requirement.
posted by joyceanmachine at 5:23 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]
At that age, my kid also enjoyed being read Here Comes Darrell. It's very specifically set in rural Vermont during New England seasons, and it's all about helping your neighbors with your pickup truck and excavation equipment.
If your friend would entertain podcasts, 3-ish is about when our kid started loving having a podcast on in the background while he played with figurines or built Legos or scribbled on paper or (most American of activities) being driven around. This podcast in particular was a huge hit, and it's written and narrated by a Baltimore resident. All the episodes are available in the Apple Podcast app. "Beeble the Caterpillar and the Big Change" was, in fact, Kiddo Machine's First Podcast Episode and we listened to it on loop for about two solid weeks.
Finally, one suggestion that nails the "rich and detailed story and plot" but not so much the American setting-- the Piggins books by Jane Yolen are my absolute favorites for picture books with detailed plots. The pictures are fun to look for both adults and kids, and the books are actually out of print but available widely in softcover from US secondhand online book vendors. However, the setting is an American writer's tongue-in-cheek rendition of Masterpiece Theater style English high society as animals, so it doesn't meet the COOKIES requirement.
posted by joyceanmachine at 5:23 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]
If you’re okay with Canadian authors (I wouldn’t say the books are particularly Canadian), I highly recommend Robert Munsch. His most popular is probably Paperbag Princess but I personally (even as a kid) like Murmel, Murmel, Murmel and Jonathan Cleaned Up. They are a little silly (great repeated things to pretend-yell) but neat little stories (also often sold as little 2x2 inch books). The latter book has a jam-related trade. His other ones have other foods but I can’t think of cookies in particular.
An older book with a very New England feel is Blueberries for Sal which my toddler loved in spite of it being old. No cookies, but food and jam.
posted by hydrobatidae at 5:43 AM on March 22 [3 favorites]
An older book with a very New England feel is Blueberries for Sal which my toddler loved in spite of it being old. No cookies, but food and jam.
posted by hydrobatidae at 5:43 AM on March 22 [3 favorites]
I'm not sure if this will fit all the criteria but there are also quite a few Cookie Monster books! I remember reading this one when I was little.
posted by trig at 7:07 AM on March 22
posted by trig at 7:07 AM on March 22
Response by poster: Hello my lovelies, and thank you for being so quick to respond. I just wanna steer up early that the cookies was as opposed to tarts or biscuits, so linguistic cookies, not baked goods! The aim is language development with reading by parent and plot is what engages kiddo. Off you go again!
posted by Iteki at 7:37 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]
posted by Iteki at 7:37 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]
Again, another Canadian option, but the Franklin books are really good and the art is beautiful. There aren't really specific Canadian references and the language would be a near match for standard American. I admit that I tear up a little bit every time we read Franklin's Christmas gift (which contains an admittedly deep-cut Canadian reference to storing marbles in a Crown Royal bag), but every one we've read has been good. They do veer a little bit "lesson-y," but in a sort of lovely way that I find supports good models of friendship and learning.
Want to echo the suggestion upthread for Blueberries for Sal as a very geographically apt suggestion. Make Way for Ducklings is very Boston-centric. While I find Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel to be a very weird story about capitalism, it does seem popular and is kinda a similar vibe to those two. In terms of American vocab, the Richard Scarry Busytown books are great and so fun to look at (but they're sort of less stories I guess...)!
posted by Mrs. Rattery at 8:16 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]
Want to echo the suggestion upthread for Blueberries for Sal as a very geographically apt suggestion. Make Way for Ducklings is very Boston-centric. While I find Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel to be a very weird story about capitalism, it does seem popular and is kinda a similar vibe to those two. In terms of American vocab, the Richard Scarry Busytown books are great and so fun to look at (but they're sort of less stories I guess...)!
posted by Mrs. Rattery at 8:16 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]
linguistic cookies, not baked goods
Sorry, now I'm confused: are you talking about books featuring the baked goods known to Americans as "cookies" (as opposed to British "biscuits"), or just any books written in American English, or books set in the US highlighting aspects of American culture?
posted by trig at 8:39 AM on March 22
Sorry, now I'm confused: are you talking about books featuring the baked goods known to Americans as "cookies" (as opposed to British "biscuits"), or just any books written in American English, or books set in the US highlighting aspects of American culture?
posted by trig at 8:39 AM on March 22
Response by poster: I am not only terrible at writing asks, but also terrible at writing clarifications. Wipe the word cookies from your memory and just gimme United States of American, plot-driven story-books for small kids, thanks!
posted by Iteki at 8:50 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]
posted by Iteki at 8:50 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]
Some of the answers on these older asks seem worth a look- I think most of them are American just due to the demographics of people answering
Picture books for toddlers
Picture book series
How old would you consider "contemporary" to go? I have a pool of ideas for kids I know, but mostly I've only read the older books myself, so for newer ones I can often say "I've seen this recommended" but don't have a personal love for them. Here are a few from ooh, the last thirty or so years? that seem to be aimed at the right sort of age, and as far as I know aren't rhyming and do have plots:
Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole
Peeny Butter Fudge
Strictly No Elephants
Last Stop on Market Street
The Watermelon Seed
Franklin's New Friend
Olivia Saves the Circus
Just a Rainy Day
Noodle and the No Bones Daay
posted by Shark Hat at 8:55 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]
Picture books for toddlers
Picture book series
How old would you consider "contemporary" to go? I have a pool of ideas for kids I know, but mostly I've only read the older books myself, so for newer ones I can often say "I've seen this recommended" but don't have a personal love for them. Here are a few from ooh, the last thirty or so years? that seem to be aimed at the right sort of age, and as far as I know aren't rhyming and do have plots:
Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole
Peeny Butter Fudge
Strictly No Elephants
Last Stop on Market Street
The Watermelon Seed
Franklin's New Friend
Olivia Saves the Circus
Just a Rainy Day
Noodle and the No Bones Daay
posted by Shark Hat at 8:55 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]
So you're looking for American editions of children's books being sold in the UK? Or is your friend ordering these from the US? I think we can recommend books all day, but I don't know how we'd know if they change the vocabulary if they're being sold in the UK.
These are not modern at all, but Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and Blueberries for Sal are classics and were popular with my kids around that age.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:36 AM on March 22
These are not modern at all, but Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and Blueberries for Sal are classics and were popular with my kids around that age.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:36 AM on March 22
Response by poster: Don't worry about where they are being sold, we will make it work!
Sorry to be threadsitting, but this seems to be a more difficult ask than I thought.
posted by Iteki at 10:49 AM on March 22
Sorry to be threadsitting, but this seems to be a more difficult ask than I thought.
posted by Iteki at 10:49 AM on March 22
Hi, children's bookseller here! It is kind of a difficult ask, and I think not least because a lot of children's picture books never come out in paperback. The ones that do are often above the three-year-old level. But just to give you an idea, where I would have 20 bays of hardcover picture books, I would be lucky to have 3 of paperback.
That said, I think a lot of books that've won awards such as the Caldecott Awards are apt to be available in paperback. As a bonus, these often have wonderful illustations. Blueberries for Sal (as mentioned above) sometimes is, and books by Leo Lionni such as Inch By Inch. Chris Van Dusen writes amazing, very graphically rich picture books and those are often in paperback. I'll see if I can find a list that's actually focused more in your direction.
posted by BibiRose at 11:40 AM on March 22
That said, I think a lot of books that've won awards such as the Caldecott Awards are apt to be available in paperback. As a bonus, these often have wonderful illustations. Blueberries for Sal (as mentioned above) sometimes is, and books by Leo Lionni such as Inch By Inch. Chris Van Dusen writes amazing, very graphically rich picture books and those are often in paperback. I'll see if I can find a list that's actually focused more in your direction.
posted by BibiRose at 11:40 AM on March 22
Again, most of these are award-winning books and the authors usually have other books as well. I have double-checked paperback availability on Amazon.
I suggest Googling for Caldecott + paperback and search images. As you scroll along, some will not be award winners, just picture books that are fairly high quality. (I put Donaldson down first and then saw she already doesn't like those, so I hesitate to inundate you with stuff. Luckily with kids' books. You sort of can judge by the cover.
Nancy Tafuri, Have You Seen My Duckling?
Julia Barnes, Windows
Chris Van Dusen, any book.
Barbara Helen Berger, Grandfather Twilight
Sarah Stewart, The Gardener
posted by BibiRose at 11:58 AM on March 22
I suggest Googling for Caldecott + paperback and search images. As you scroll along, some will not be award winners, just picture books that are fairly high quality. (I put Donaldson down first and then saw she already doesn't like those, so I hesitate to inundate you with stuff. Luckily with kids' books. You sort of can judge by the cover.
Nancy Tafuri, Have You Seen My Duckling?
Julia Barnes, Windows
Chris Van Dusen, any book.
Barbara Helen Berger, Grandfather Twilight
Sarah Stewart, The Gardener
posted by BibiRose at 11:58 AM on March 22
Seconding Jane Yolen, by the way. Owl Moon is fabulous, although it is a wintertime book and I do believe kids' books should be seasonal.
posted by BibiRose at 12:10 PM on March 22 [1 favorite]
posted by BibiRose at 12:10 PM on March 22 [1 favorite]
Chris Van Dusan’s The Circus Ship is in paperback, illustrations that kiddo will love (and based on a true story that had a less happy ending). Ditto, Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 2:00 PM on March 22
posted by TWinbrook8 at 2:00 PM on March 22
It is kind of a difficult ask, and I think not least because a lot of children's picture books never come out in paperback
FWIW, I've found hardcover and board book editions aren't always more expensive to ship than paperbacks, and all the young kids I know - including kids who love to throw stuff - have mostly hardcovers and board books and it's fine. On the contrary, those books tend to last longer than the paperbacks. (The kids who love to throw all seem to have successfully learned that books are not for throwing.) So this requirement might be worth being flexible on.
posted by trig at 2:18 PM on March 22 [1 favorite]
FWIW, I've found hardcover and board book editions aren't always more expensive to ship than paperbacks, and all the young kids I know - including kids who love to throw stuff - have mostly hardcovers and board books and it's fine. On the contrary, those books tend to last longer than the paperbacks. (The kids who love to throw all seem to have successfully learned that books are not for throwing.) So this requirement might be worth being flexible on.
posted by trig at 2:18 PM on March 22 [1 favorite]
The Charlie and Mouse series by Laurel Synder is a fabulous book series about two brothers who live in Hawaii with their parents. the older ones are in paperback and the newer releases are in hardcover. They are long but each book has 4 stories/chapters that go together but are also stand alone stories as well.
posted by ruhroh at 3:49 PM on March 22
posted by ruhroh at 3:49 PM on March 22
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola
The Very Sleepy Bear by Nick Bland
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Stone Soup by Marcia Brown, there's other versions out there
Seconding the Robert Munsch recommendation. I would have more recommendations if not for the paperback requirement, lots of great, contemporary kid's books out there but most seem to be only in hardcover unfortunately.
posted by Lay Off The Books at 11:14 AM on March 23
Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola
The Very Sleepy Bear by Nick Bland
And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Stone Soup by Marcia Brown, there's other versions out there
Seconding the Robert Munsch recommendation. I would have more recommendations if not for the paperback requirement, lots of great, contemporary kid's books out there but most seem to be only in hardcover unfortunately.
posted by Lay Off The Books at 11:14 AM on March 23
Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold
posted by gudrun at 11:22 AM on March 23 [1 favorite]
posted by gudrun at 11:22 AM on March 23 [1 favorite]
I have a 3yo in the US now and I'm browsing our bookshelves for options that would fit.
The Magic School Bus books - not new but what is more American than a yellow school bus.
Kevin the Unicorn: It's Not All Rainbows - talks about lines and sodas and says "awesome" a lot.
Elbow Grease by John Cena - monster trucks also seem very American
How to Track a Truck - says truck a lot but might be too silly.
Every Night is Pizza Night by Kenji Lopez-Alt
Fancy Nancy
This is harder than I thought it would be. There are a lot of rhymes and silliness in kids books!
posted by carolr at 12:25 PM on March 27
The Magic School Bus books - not new but what is more American than a yellow school bus.
Kevin the Unicorn: It's Not All Rainbows - talks about lines and sodas and says "awesome" a lot.
Elbow Grease by John Cena - monster trucks also seem very American
How to Track a Truck - says truck a lot but might be too silly.
Every Night is Pizza Night by Kenji Lopez-Alt
Fancy Nancy
This is harder than I thought it would be. There are a lot of rhymes and silliness in kids books!
posted by carolr at 12:25 PM on March 27
« Older Getting the axe from my job waiting to go under... | Seeking a durable version of these shades Newer »
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
posted by trig at 3:31 AM on March 22 [2 favorites]