At a time when everyone's stuck at home more than ever before, books are a means of much-needed escape—especially for young minds. They can learn how to cast spells and play Quidditch with Harry Potter over a bowl of breakfast cereal.
Or go on a treacherous, exciting journey filled with threatening wildlife with the 11-year-old protagonist of "A Girl Named Disaster" while lounging on the couch and petting their housecat.
Fair warning: You might need to schedule a lot more time for bedtime stories for you and your little ones to get through all these beloved books. Continue reading to see some of the most popular children's books published the year you were born. 1923: 'Emily of New Moon' by Lucy Maud Montgomery Lucy Maud Montgomery echoes the themes of orphanhood and adolescence from her earlier "Anne of Green Gables" series in "Emily of New Moon," released in 1923. It's also set on Prince Edward Island in Canada, with an orphan girl protagonist. The BBC has called it one of the top coming-of-age "novels that shaped our world.
1927: 'Downright Dencey' by Caroline Dale Snedeker Set just after the War of 1812, "Downright Dencey" follows the unlikely friendship, and eventual romance, between a Quaker girl in Nantucket and a boy whose adoptive father is the town drunk. Author Caroline Dale Snedeker continued to follow the duo in a sequel to this story, published in 1929.
1931: 'Calico Bush' by Rachel Field Set on the coast of Maine during pioneer times, "Calico Bush" tells the story of a young orphan from France who endures life as an indentured servant. The children's historical novel was critically acclaimed when it was published in 1931, and continues to be well-received decades later.
1935: 'Caddie Woodlawn' by Carol Ryrie Brink In this historical fiction book for children, a tomboy named Caddie spends her days exploring the frontier land of Wisconsin with her brothers and eventually befriends Native Americans—a situation that leaves her neighbours, mother, and sisters baffled. The book was turned into a radio drama by the author a decade later.
1939: 'Madeline' by Ludwig Bemelmans Considered by the School Library Journal as one of the top picture books of all time, "Madeline" centers around the smallest of 12 girls at a Catholic boarding school in France, who suffers a ruptured appendix and eventually impresses her classmates with the scar from her surgery. It was the first in a series of books all about the red-haired schoolgirl.
1943: 'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Written by a French aristocrat, "The Little Prince" is a story about a young prince who travels to various planets and experiences themes like love, loneliness, and friendship, along his journeys. Even though author and illustrator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry didn't think of himself as an artist at the time he created this story, his simple watercolour illustrations have since become iconic.
1947: 'The Saggy Baggy Elephant' by Kathryn Jackson and Byron Jackson In "The Saggy Baggy Elephant," a parrot teases Sooki, the elephant, for having large ears, wrinkly skin, and a long nose. Sooki's confidence is soon revived after the elephant meets other animals who have similar features, and he celebrates with a "one-two-three kick."
1951: 'Ginger Pye' by Eleanor Estes "Ginger Pye" centers around a smart, loyal dog named Ginger, popular with everyone in town, who ends up stolen. His owners eventually discover where the dog has been kept and work to figure out who was responsible for the crime. The book was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1952.
1955: 'Eloise: A Book for Precocious Grown-Ups' by Kay Thompson Kay Thompson's "Eloise" traces the adventures of a young girl who lives on the top floor of New York City's Plaza Hotel. Fans of the popular story can now stay in a real-life version of Eloise's "pink, pink, pink room" at the hotel. 1959: 'The Rescuers' by Margery Sharp Author Margery Sharp tells the tale of altruistic mice as they take on a daring mission to rescue an imprisoned poet in "The Rescuers." A Walt Disney movie by the same name was released nearly 20 years later, but it was primarily based on the sequel to the 1959 title.
1963: 'Where the Wild Things Are' by Maurice Sendak In just 338 words, Maurice Sendak tells the story of a boy named Max who is sent to bed after causing mischief, only to find his bedroom transformed into a jungle, in "Where the Wild Things Are." Max eventually becomes the king of the creatures who live in the jungle before returning to his real-life bedroom.
1967: 'Never Talk to Strangers' by Irma Joyce This lesson-oriented story teaches youngsters about the importance of staying safe around strangers. "Never Talk to Strangers" is known as much for its psychedelic illustrations and witty rhymes as it is for its timeless message. 1971: 'The Caboose Who Got Loose' by Bill Peet In this children's book, Katy Caboose is tired of always following the engine at the back of a train. One day, she is loosened from the train and flies off the track, ultimately getting wedged between a pair of trees where she finally can spend her days in a beautiful place.
1975: 'Strega Nona' by Thomie dePaola Set in southern Italy, "Strega Nona" revolves around a magic pot that floods a town with pasta. It's among the top 100 picture books, according to the School Library Journal. 1979: 'Ox-Cart Man' by Donald Hall Readers learn about the life of a family of farmers in the early 19th century in New Hampshire in "Ox-Cart Man." The book was illustrated by the celebrated Barbara Cooney, who was eventually nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award for her contribution to children's literature.
1983: 'The Witches' by Roald Dahl In this dark fantasy by Roald Dahl, a boy encounters a group of evil witches that turn him into a mouse. He then devises a plan with his grandmother to eliminate all the witches from the world. 1987: 'Where's Waldo?' by Martin Handford Since 1987, kids have been trying to pick Waldo, a man wearing a striped shirt, winter hat, and glasses, out of crowded scenes in "Where's Waldo?" Illustrator Martin Handford takes about eight weeks to complete each complicated scene, reports Jay Serafino of Mental Floss.
1991: 'If You Give a Moose a Muffin' by Laura Numeroff A sequel to 1985's "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie," this story shows the chaos that can ensue if you start to feed a hungry moose that comes to visit. Its rhythmic text appeals to preschoolers, who giggle their way through this story when read aloud.
1995: 'Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings' by Matthew Van Fleet Colourful textures and shapes turn into creatures in the peek-a-boo book "Fuzzy Yellow Ducklings" by Matthew Van Fleet. The toddler's book is packed with personality and fun surprises. 1999: 'Happy to Be Nappy' by Bell Hooks African American feminist Bell Hooks teaches Black children to be proud of their background in "Happy to Be Nappy." The book earned a nomination for the Image Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
2003: 'The Dot' by Peter Reynolds "The Dot" centers around young Vashti's journey of self-discovery after she makes an angry mark on a blank sheet of paper in art class. The children's book is celebrated for its emphasis on the creative spirit and the importance of encouragement from teachers. 2007: 'When Dinosaurs Came With Everything' by Elise Broach Boring errands—like haircuts and shopping—get better for a young boy when he is accompanied by a dinosaur in this picture book by Elise Broach. Time magazine's Belinda Luscombe and Amy Lennard Goeh dubbed the title one of the top 10 children's books of 2007.
2013: 'Journey' by Aaron Becker Using no words whatsoever, Aaron Becker shares the experience of a lonely girl who embarks on a magical adventure with the help of a red crayon in "Journey." The picture book received a Caldecott Honour a year after it was published.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Prince Andrew planning to follow Harry and Meghan's business planPrince Andrew is said to be planning to follow Prince Harry and his wife Meghan\u0027s business plan in America.
Read more »
Prince Andrew planning to follow Harry and Meghan's business planPrince Andrew is said to be planning to follow Prince Harry and his wife Meghan\u0027s business plan in America.
Read more »
Princess Diana's former butler wants to 'share her secrets' with William and HarryPrincess Diana\u0027s former butler believes he \u0022must share her secrets\u0022 with her sons, Princes William and Harry.
Read more »
Princess Diana's former butler wants to 'share her secrets' with William and HarryPrincess Diana\u0027s former butler believes he \u0022must share her secrets\u0022 with her sons, Princes William and Harry.
Read more »
Princess Diana's former butler wants to 'share her secrets' with William and HarryPrincess Diana\u0027s former butler believes he \u0022must share her secrets\u0022 with her sons, Princes William and Harry.
Read more »
Princess Diana's former butler wants to 'share her secrets' with William and HarryPrincess Diana\u0027s former butler believes he \u0022must share her secrets\u0022 with her sons, Princes William and Harry.
Read more »