Christmas Recommendations for Children

For young readers, here are some recommendations. In some cases, older children, even adults, also will enjoy these books. Some of these also are good books for parents to read aloud to even younger children -- Silverstein's works, for instance.

Any of the late Shel Silverstein's works of poetry but especially Where the Sidewalk Ends and The Giving Tree. He has a CD of the former in which he reads his poetry.

For girls, the Junie B. Jones series of chapter books. Not great literature, but a good introduction to light, fun reading. You'll also find that elementary-school girls beyond the first grade enjoy Junie B.'s adventures.

Any of Kay Thompson's classic Eloise books -- from just plain Eloise to Eloise in Paris to Eloise at Christmas. Movie tie-in now being aired on cable.

The Olivia books about the precious pig by Ian Falconer. TV tie-in.

The classics such as Roald Dahl's Fantastic Mr. Fox and Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are, both of which have movie tie-ins.

Carole Boston Weatherford's Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom.

Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library, an adaptation for children of the best-selling book.

Jan Karon's Jeremy: The Tale of an Honest Bunny. Fans of the Mitford series will enjoy the author's story for children.

Doreen Cronin's Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, Duck for President, Giggle Giggle Quack and Thump Quack Moo: A Whacky Adventure, especially the first two.

Helen Palmer's A Fish Out of Water. Good reading especially when you buy your first goldfish.

Almost any of Jan Brett's wonderfully illustrated books, but especially The Night Before Christmas, The Mitten and On Noah's Ark, the latter referring to the full-sized book, not the board book.

For younger children, especially those adopted from other countries, Rose Lewis' Crazy Cakes and Carrie Kitze's I Don't Have Your Eyes.

"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" by Dr. Seuss.

Clement C. Moore's The Night Before Christmas.

For mature children, Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory, keeping in mind that this story can be appreciated on different levels.

And reading-level appropriate subscriptions to such magazines as Highlights for Children, the National Wildlife Federation's Ranger Rick or Your Big Backyard and National Geographic Kids among others.

And of course, there's always Harry Potter.....

More to come another day....

Meantime, why don't you share a few of your favorite recommendations for children?