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alicegunther
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The wonderful Rebecca just reminded me that it would be fun to begin a thread on essential picture books for girls. Please share with us your feminine favorites so we are sure we haven't missed any gems!
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Love, Alice
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alicegunther
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Just off the top of my head, I will start:
The Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays by Tasha Tudor
Mud Pies and Other Recipes: A Cookbook for Dolls by Marjorie Winslow (don't miss the review on Lissa's blog--I'll need to get you the specific link.)
Handmade Secret Hiding Places by Nonny Hogrogian
Little Oh! by Laura Krauss Melmed and Jim LaMarche (there's a beautiful review and narration of this story at Sweetness and Light)
The Rainbabies by Laura Krauss Melmed and Jim LaMarche
This is just a start of course!
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Love, Alice
mother of seven!
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Brew yourself a cup of tea, and come for a visit!
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Rebecca
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Oh Alice, you certainly are a dear!
Thanks so much for starting this thread. I am excited to hear the responses!
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Mary G
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My little princess loves the Elsa Beskow books, particularly the Peter and Lotta adventure series. She also loves the Tasha Tudor (Doll's Christmas fell apart, it was read so much) books.
Her favorite to-be-read-to book is the Grimm's Fairy Tales -- she loves those!
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MaryG
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Jen L.
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All the Frances books (note: my son has always liked these too). My personal favorite: A Bargain for Frances, but they are all fun.
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Jen
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Mary G
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For the older girls, hands down, Jane Austen! And don't forget Louisa May Alcott -- especially her Eight Cousins and Rose in Bloom (which often get forgotten).
Comfort-reads would have to include Nancy Drews -- I used to read those when I was younger and home sick. I got so I could read a whole story, rest and read another.....excellent for feeling under the weather and not wanting to think overmuch
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MaryG
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alicegunther
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Try these other doll-themed books:
The Littlest Matryoshka by Corine Demas Bliss
Babushka's Doll by Patricia Polacco
The Best-Loved Doll by Rebecca Caudill
Rocking Horse Land and Other Classic Tales of Dolls and Toys (Naomi Lewis)
The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden
Things to Make for Your Doll by Kathy Ross
Raggedy Ann by Johnny Gruelle (and other Raggedy Ann and Andy books)
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Love, Alice
mother of seven!
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MichelleW
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Miss Suzy. This is a good one for boys too. My daughter loves the way Miss Suzy offers hospitality to the toy soldiers, and cares for them. My sons love the way the soldiers defend Miss Suzy and save her home. Always a satisfying read.
Play With Me by Marie Hall Ets is another that always gets a contented sigh when we close the book.
My daughter's fav for years was The Big Green Pocketbook by Candice Ransom.
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Dawn
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Well, I have only boys here, but we love several books that I would describe as feminine. Here are two:
Tales From Martha B. Rabbit by Shirley Barber
The Baby's Good Morning Book by Kay Chorao. There is a CD you can buy to go with it ~ the poems are set to music and sung (beautifully) by Judy Collins.
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JennGM
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Obvious ones, for a little older:
Anne of Green Gables series
Little House Books
My favorite was The Velvet Room by Zilpha Keatley Snyder.
Another one reread over and over Shadow Castle by Marian Cockrell.
Besides Nancy Drew, we also enjoyed Trixie Belden and an older series called Beverly Gray. There was also a 10 book series on Pollyanna that we read.
I know these aren't picture books. Sorry, I get carried away!
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guitarnan
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Betsy-Tacy books, by Maud Hart Lovelace, are wonderful! They begin when the two lifetime friends in early 1900's Minnesota, Betsy and Tacy, are five years old, and concluded when Betsy is a young bride. I'm reading them to my eight-year-old daughter and she loves them.
They're chapter books but do have some illustrations.
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JennGM
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Where's Kelly in FL? Isn't there a British series she raves about?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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teachingmom
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The first favorite picture books in our family were the Angelina Ballerina series. Two other cute ballet-themed picture books that have been well-loved by my preschoolers are the Hello Reader books by Sheri Brownrigg entitled Best Friends Wear Pink Tutus and All Tutus Should be Pink.
Other favorites include Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney, all of the "My First Little House" books, The Baby Sister by Tomie De Paola, and Mirette on the Highwire by Emily Arnold McCully. One of my personal favorites is Brave Irene by William Steig. This one was given to me by my college roommate when she was in graduate school studying to be a teacher. She saw it at a conference and had to buy it for me due to the title. It was the first picture book I owned as an adult--I was still single at the time!
Earlier today my 7yo pulled out the book Homeplace by Anne Shelby to do some copywork. We love that one. It started a conversation about how much we all enjoyed the Cobble Street Cousin series by Cynthia Rylant, which is illustrated by the same person as Homeplace. (Wendy Anderson Halperin, who is one of our very favorite illustrators!)
My 3, 6, and 7 yo dd's are all enjoying the Milly-Molly-Mandy stories now too. And don't forget the American Girl series. Those are short chapter books with illustrations.
When I went to look at our picture books for ideas, I realized that I have tons more suggestions for girls chapter books than I do for picture books. (I completely agree with Nancy about the Betsy-Tacy books. We are nearing the end of the series now and have enjoyed it immensely.) I guess there are simply many picture books that are appealing to both boys and girls, but the books for older children get a bit more "specialized" so to speak.
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Cay Gibson
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Eloise!
The girls and I just love, love, love dear Eloise! 
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Cay Gibson
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Rebecca
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Spring library book sales will be happening soon and I am compiling my "shopping list" from these great ideas! Thanks so much!
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Mary G
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alicegunther wrote:
Try these other doll-themed books:
The Littlest Matryoshka by Corine Demas Bliss
Babushka's Doll by Patricia Polacco
The Best-Loved Doll by Rebecca Caudill
Rocking Horse Land and Other Classic Tales of Dolls and Toys (Naomi Lewis)
The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden
Things to Make for Your Doll by Kathy Ross
Raggedy Ann by Johnny Gruelle (and other Raggedy Ann and Andy books)
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Alice -- this sounds perfect for my Maggie -- since we do boy units that she patiently (sometimes  ) sits through, maybe Thomas could sit through a doll unit -- we love Raggedy Andy here too!
Thanks for the suggestions.
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MaryG
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JennGM
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The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes...and other books (Moffats) illustrated by Louis Slobodkin
Cinderella by Marcia Brown
The Little House by Virginia Burton (of course)
Small Pig by Arnold Lobel (not "girlie" but a favorite)
Terry and the Caterpillar by Millicent E. Selsam, illus Arnold Lobel
Wanda Gag: Millions of Cats and Gone is Gone
Lois Lenski has a range of picture books to chapter books, all I love. I think some mentioned Betsy-Tacey books. Strawberry Girl and other regions stories for older readers,
A bit older, Elizabeth Enright's books Gone Away Lake and Return to Gone Away.
I keep coming up with older titles, sorry! The illustrations are precious, but
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Christine
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In addition to Barbara Cooney's and Tasha Tudor's books, some other books my girls have enjoyed or enjoy are:
Big Sister and Little Sister, by Charlotte Zolotow
One Morning in Maine, by Robert McCloskey
Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey
Make Way for Ducklings, by Robert McCloskey
Beatrix Potter books
These are all chapter books:
Rebecca Caudill's Fairchild Family series (my children call them the Bonnie books)
Melissa Wiley's Charlotte Years series and Martha Years series
Strawberry Girl by Lois Lenski
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, illustrated by Tasha Tudor
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, illustrated by Tasha Tudor
Astrid Lindgren's Noisy Village books
Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White
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Christine
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Christine
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One more that I loved as a child was Holly Hobbie's Nursery Rhymes ~ the pictures were beautiful and the rhymes were traditional. I still treasure the book.
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Christine
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Cici
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In addtion to the above already listed (especially anything Robert McCloskey), my dd4 is really enjoying Cicely Mary Barker's Fairy book - we only have Flower Fairies of the Spring right now, but I have a feeling more will be here soon! DD goes out daily to call and look for the Daffodil fairy...
Edited To Add (after seeing the above post) we love Hollie Hobby's Toot and Puddle
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4Real Forums : Picture Book Discoveries
Topic: Girlhood Favorites
