Products |
Holidays 2005: For Children
By
Published: Jan 01, 2005
Category:
Beyond Classification
Holidays 2005: Gifts for Children
Several of you have written me to ask for a section on children’s books. I’ve been slow to respond, because kids — ours, anyway — seem to go through stages even faster than they wear out shoes. And there already is a reliable source: Kidsreads.com. For older kids, you might visit Teenreads.com.
I have covered a few child-appropriate things. And they are ideal for holidays.
The Polar Express: Forget the movie, which was — I can’t resist — a trainwreck. Don’t fall for the fancy gift-boxed edition. Just get the book. Why? The illustrations, to be sure. But the story is even better: On Christmas Eve, a father tells his son that there’s no Santa Claus. Later that night, a train packed with children stops in front of a boy’s house. He hops on and travels to the North Pole, where Santa offers him the first toy of Christmas. The boy chooses a reindeer’s bell. On the way home, he loses it. How he finds it and what that means — that’s when you reach for the Kleenex. And when you and your child share a heightened sense of belief. For kids 4 and up.
The Snowman: A boy in rural England builds a snowman. At midnight, as the boy looks out his window, the snowman lights up. The boy runs outside. He invites the snowman to tour his home. Then the snowman takes his hand. And off they fly, over England, over water, to the North Pole. There, Santa gives the boy a scarf. The boy and the snowman fly home. As the boy is going inside, the snowman waves — a wave of goodbye. The boy rushes into his arms and hugs him. The next morning, the snowman’s just a few lumps of coal and an old hat. Did that magical night really happen? The boy reaches into his pocket and finds the scarf. He drops to his knees and, almost as an offering, places it by the snowman’s hat. Fantastic story. Amazing animation. The most beautiful song. This 22-minute film is the very definition of perfection. For kids 3 and up.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! So there’s this bus driver. With a small problem. "Hi!," he says. "I’m the bus driver. Listen, I’ve got to leave for a little while, so can you watch things for me until I get back? Thanks. Oh, and remember: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" This is one persistent pigeon. He has lots of reasons why you should let him drive the bus. They are very funny — especially if you are a parent who has ever said no to a kid, and the kid has tried to get you to change your mind. For ages 3 to 5.
The Red Balloon: Pascal — an only child — is lonely. A red balloon follows him around and becomes his best friend. The balloon gets him in trouble at school. Boys gang up on Pascal and burst his balloon. Then a flock of balloons shows up and takes Pascal flying over Paris. For adults, that signifies the liberation of art and imagination. For kids, “The Red Balloon” is a film set in reality. And that is the magic of the movie — it hits kids at their level. A level where anything is possible. Where magic is afoot every day. For kids ages 3 to adult.
Other suggestions (thank you, Jessica):
Mary Poppins, by P.L.. Travers (ages 8 to 12)
A Swiftly Tilting Planet, by Madeline L’Engle (ages 9 and older)
The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis
Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke (ages 10 to 15)
Eragon, by Christopher Paolini (ages 12 and up)
The Christmas Oranges, by Linda Bethers (ages 4 to 8)
Prehistoric Pinkerton, by Steven Kellogg (ages 4 to 8)
