Earlier this week, I was reminiscing with Lilian and my sister about various children’s books I read when I was in elementary school in the U.S. To my great surprise and dismay (!), Lilian hadn’t heard of some of them.

I now have the great pleasure of introducing these books to Stephen and just so nobody else can claim they’ve never heard of my favorite children’s books for the elementary (primary) school crowd, here’s a short list. What other books would you add?

1. Little Critter Stories by Mercer Mayer

Here’s Mercer Mayer reading aloud a Little Critter story on YouTube – Just A Secret:

 

2. The Great Brain series by John Dennis Fitzerald and illustrated by Mercer Mayer! – The thing I remember most from these books was how the Great Brain’s parents disciplined him using the silent treatment.

From Wikipedia :

The better-educated, more progressive Fitzgeralds are a notable exception with their use of the silent treatment. This means that Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald will not talk to or acknowledge the boy or boys being punished for a day, a week, or longer depending on the circumstances. J.D. frequently describes the silent treatment as worse than a whipping because of the emotional impact of being ignored by his parents, and at times says that he wishes his parents would just give them a whipping and get it over with.

3. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betty MacDonald – Her disciplinary techniques are truly ingenious.

4. A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

5. Jacob Two Two and the Hooded Fang by Mordecai Richler – I’d forgotten about this book until my sister reminded me.

6. The Littles series by John Peterson

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Oops! I always forget to tell everyone to join The Sunday Salon!

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