 As we prepare for our Kids Ahoy Book Club and Book Exchange Program, we came across this list of of the Educator's Top 100 Children's Books from the National Education Association (NEA). Since we here at Kids Ahoy always like to dream big dreams for children, wouldn't it be wonderful to fill our library with the best books, references and resources which kids would love and appreciate? A few of the books on the list are already going to be shared by CJ (ex. Giving Tree, Dr. Seuss books, Little Women (thanks Karen!) and we will surely purchase a few more Shel Silverstein books as he loves this author but we have quite a lot we still need.
What are your kid's favorite books? Are they included in this list? Does anyone know of other credible lists we can refer to? What about a list of great Filipino storybooks? We will be opening our Amazon.com Kids Ahoy BookWishes (list) soon and who knows what that would accomplish when shared with many other reading advocates out there? We will start with our own families and friends and see how many of the books from this list we can gather by Christmas time :=) The kids would be so blessed. The parents would surely support our goals. We all want access to all the best books for our children, don't we? Once we're ready...aside from our community's kids, we hope that we can open the doors of Kids Ahoy on a regular basis for underprivileged kids. Just imagining that day, makes us want to pursue this even more! We are throwing caution in the wind because we believe that there are 100 people out there who will be excited enough to share at least one of the books in this list which will find its home in our mini-library. We know it's worth dreaming about and we are sure the universe will conspire yet again to make this happen :=) Wish us luck! OR BETTER YET, JOIN US IN OUR QUEST! :=) Email me at kidsahoy@yahoo.com if you have great ideas, if you want to join us in the Book Club /Book Exchange Program or if you want to donate a children's book as well! "Without books, history is silent, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill...they are the engines of change, windows on the world, and..."Lighthouses erected in the sea of time." They are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind. Books are humanity in print." ---Barbara Tuchman ======================== Educators' Top 100 Children's Books The following list was compiled from an online survey in 2007. Parents and teachers will find it useful in selecting quality literature for children. - Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
- Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- I Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch
- Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
- Oh! The Places You Will Go by Dr. Seuss
- The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
- The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
- Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner
- Thank You Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
- The Cat In The Hat by Dr. Seuss
- The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
- The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
- The Mitten by Jan Brett
- Crunching Carrots, Not Candy by Judy Slack
- Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willlems
- Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
- A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
- Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
- Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
- Corduroy by Don Freeman
- Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
- Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
- Tacky the Penquin by Helen Lester
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
- The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
- Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type Doreen Cronin
- Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
- Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss
- Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
- Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
- Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
- The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
- Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini
- The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
- The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone
- The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
- A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
- From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
- Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
- Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
- Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
- Olivia by Ian Falconer
- The BFG by Roald Dahl
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
- The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
- A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
- Bunnicula by James Howe
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
- Charlie the Caterpillar by Dom DeLuise
- Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
- Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
- Frederick by Leo Lionni
- Frindle by Andrew Clements
- Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel
- Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
- Harris and Me by Gary Paulsen
- Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
- Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
- I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt
- Is Your Mama A Llama? by Deborah Guarino
- Jan Brett’s books
- Knots on a Counting Rope by Bill Martin Jr.
- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
- Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
- My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
- My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss
- My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
- No David! by David Shannon
- One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
- Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
- Stephanie's Ponytail by Robert Munsch
- Swimmy by Leo Lionni
- The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
- The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Warner
- The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper
- The Empty Pot by Demi
- The Five Chinese Brothers by Claire Huchet Bishop
- The Giver by Lois Lowr
- The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
- The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown
- The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements
- The Napping House by Audrey Wood
- The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau
- The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
- The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack
- The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
- Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
- The Wide-Mouthed Frog: A Pop-Up Book by Keith Faulkner
=================================== Below is an excerpt from Associated Content which we'd like to share with everyone. There are probably more "academic" explanations out there but we find that below reasons are simple enough yet strong enough a message to drive the point home :=) ----begin quote----- Why Reading is the Most Important Thing You Will Ever Do There is Nothing More Important in Life Than the Ability to Read Words are our everyday tools. You use words in everything. You speak thousands of words every day. Most people write something every day. A letter, a resume, an article, a note, even two lines on a post-it - they all require words. If you read, words will come easier to you simply because of the vocabulary you will have. People who read are known to have larger vocabularies and usually find it much easier to compose a written piece or give a speech.
Vocabulary. Many of today's teenagers think vocabulary isn't important. 'Cool', 'hot', 'fierce', 'rad' - they think this vocabulary is all they need. Try interviewing for a job that pays more than a supermarket checkout position, and see how far using 'fierce' will get you in a job interview. What you say puts a vision in the other person's mind of who you are. If you can express yourself eloquently, the person hearing you has already decided you are intelligent. In most situations in life, intelligence will get you where you want to go. Sounding intelligent helps you on your path to that goal.
Information. Reading gives you information. Everything you will ever need to know is available in a book somewhere. It's available on the internet, or in a newspaper. If you love reading, you will find that getting information is easy for you. In any job, if you know how to find the information you need, you are miles ahead of your competition. Remember the old adage "Knowledge is power?" The people who are often the most successful have knowledge, and other people pay them for that knowledge. Reading will give you any knowledge you could ever need for any situation.
Imagination. Reading feeds your imagination. When I sit down with a book, I am instantly lost in the world the author created. It doesn't matter if I'm stuck in a doctor's waiting room for two hours, on a boring bus ride, or standing in line at the bank - I always have a book with me. In any boring everyday situation I can be immediately transformed into a different place just by the power of a book. My time is never wasted because, if somebody else makes me wait, I simply use that time to read. Then what I learn from reading is put to use in the rest of my life. As an only child, I spent thousands of hours reading. Consequently, I have never been bored, I can always amuse myself and my imagination works overtime thinking of all the places I've been and the people I've seen in books.
Inspiration. I write, I paint, and I teach. Books have given me the tools and the power to do all of these things well. When I write an article for Associated Content, my inspiration has often come from a line I've read in a book. My paintings come from images I've seen in my head from a novel I've read. When I teach, I teach my students with knowledge that has been in my head for decades. Even I don't know where I pulled these 'useless bits of information' from, but my students love it as I can usually tell them about most things they're interested in. Inspiration for everything I do in life comes from my love of books.
So, teach your children to read. Instill in them a love of books and of reading and your child will never be bored, never be lonely and never be lost for words. Your child's reading abilities will keep them involved, inspired and informed. Everything they do from their first work in kindergarten to their career as a doctor, teacher or author will all stem from the knowledge they have learned from books. Reading is the most important thing you can ever teach your child because, even when you are not there, they can still learn, still be amused and still dream. Reading really will be the lifeblood of everything they do and everything they accomplish. ---end of quote--- Find out about our Kids Ahoy's Share-A-Book Drive: http://kidsahoy.multiply.com/photos/album/113/ <img src="http://images.kidsahoy.multiply.com/image/3/photos/113/500x500/13/KABookDrive.jpg?et=014dQlU2XOPS74RejU2haA&nmid=112307683" </img>
 | naku...i know we have the secret garden, a little princess, and little women somewhere. i have to hunt it down. but i'll try to remember as much titles because most i often see at booksale at very reasonable costs. =)
let's all be reading advocate! =) |
 | My little one loves "Best Friends Wears Pink Tutus" and "All Tutus Should Be Pink"...they're scholastic level 2 books, both by Sheri Brownrigg and I just got them from Booksale. I've been reading this to her for a year now (I think)....basta super tagala na! Anything about the ballet topic, she loves! Before we read a book, dapat one of these books first! Naging tradition na...And oh, there's one more book papala..."Martha's House," A First Little Golden Book by Edith Kunhardt....this one her lolo reads to her almost every night... |
 | I have 12 of these but some that we love are not on the list, so I am making this a project ang making my own list that I will post in multiply and here when it's done. |
| Meantime, so we can diversify culturally a bit, here is a great website for showing our child that the world is not America. http://www.childrenslibrary.org/It has the actual books that you can flip through to the end right on the website. Once KA has a projector, we could do storytelling sessions with the book projected on the wall through this website. http://www.storytellersphilippines.com/ |
 | will check this out! thanks for the link...one of our "The Secret" items is a projector and it would be great for our storytelling playdates as well as movie nights. wuhoooo! heheheh the list is growing and so are we! :=) |
| kidsahoy wrote on Aug 24, '08, edited on Aug 24, '08  but some that we love are not on the list,  yup, that's true. I wonder why The Little Prince isn't on this list. I love that book! I wonder where my copy was---ugggh! lost in translation errrm transition after moving across thousands of miles...I hope that got donated by our Dada.
I have to have more Shel Silverstein too (we have The Giving Tree)...His "the missing piece" is so wittily drawn and quite a fun, good read laced with life lessons :=)
I also had "Guess how much I love you" which prompted an early bedtime game for me and CJ to the tune of trying to outdo each other's..."I love you more than I love chocolates, I love you more than the brightest star, I love you as much as, etc. etc." which will then end with "I love you more than you can ever say, think or do" hahahah by this time, we'll both be half-asleep. He always gets frustrated because he would say, I love You Mama...I would say, "I love you MORE!" hehehe then the battle begins all over again... |
 | hmmm...walang asian books? :) |
| kidsahoy wrote on Aug 24, '08, edited on Aug 24, '08 hmmm...walang asian books? :) hey bro, would love to see your list of recommended asian children's books as well...please post it here for everyone would yah? :=)
By the way I saw Jeena on TV talking about her great book project for public schools I think! I had to do a double-take but I am pretty sure it was her even if I only saw the tail-end of the interview. Can you please ask her about it? Would love to have further info, maybe get a copy? |
| kidsahoy wrote on Aug 24, '08, edited on Aug 24, '08 how amazing is this???? Christopher Paolini wrote the famed Inheritance trilogy Eragon, Eldest & Brisingr wrote the first draft of Eragon when he was 15 and he's only 25 today??? Homeschooling moms, take note, he was homeschooled! hehehe CJ loved the Eragon movie, he's been pointing at the books. I really should pay more attention although I'm sure it's a little bit more for older kids. Has anyone read it? How was it? http://www.alagaesia.com/christopherpaolini.htm |
 | i'm surprised that there are a whole lot of dr. seuss in the list :) mikas first favorite book was actually cat in the hat. and we read oh baby the places you'll go to her when i was still preggy til i gave birth. now she loves sandra boyton books naman.
i think the book exchange program would be great too! gives moms and kids a chance to preview the book and buy what they would definitely enjoy. :)
as for eragon, i haven't read it but i saw the movie and i loved it. i'm a sucker for sci-fi/fantasy books and movies :p hehehe! |
 | This is terrific Joanne! Apart from the Fancy Nancy Collection which I find really helps build vocabulary (though this is more a girly book as opposed to unisex)...will see what others I can come up with...might post a list on here after looking at Sophia's selection.
I think this is such a fabulous idea...I am a big believer in books and the hugs benefits in introducing and encouraging a love for reading in children. |
 | jenagain wrote on Aug 25, '08, edited on Aug 25, '08 Wow, I've never encountered this list before, but I'm happy to see that we have 24 of the books here (some on Jessie's shelf, some on Justine's shelf). Add another five or six books here that we don't actually have, but that the girls have read either in school or somewhere else.
One of Justine's favorites isn't on this list. I personally rank it right up there too : HOPE FOR THE FLOWERS by Trina Paulus.
I would also definitely include some books by Max Lucado and Judy Blume (!!!).
More favorites not on the list:
THE GRUFFALO - the one we lent CJ, did her like it? =D
THE BIG RED BARN - by Margaret Wise Brown, same author as Goodnight Moon. The Big Red Barn, Goodnight Moon and Guess How Much I Love You were the first three books that Toddler Justine learned to 'read by heart'. :D
THE RAINBOW FISH - simple, but classic! |
| I just showed the list to Jessie. She counts 31 that she's read and one more that she's been planning to. I think she mentally noted down a few more from the list to look into, haha!
When told of the KA idea behind the list, biglang she wished for the Sherlock Holmes books. Didn't even know she had those in her sights. =D |
| Oh, just have to mention my personal favorites from the hundred listed:
1) THE VELVETEEN RABBIT - I first read this when I was 14, and suddenly, "being real' became the mantra of my teen years. I still have my own copy (apart from the girls' newer edition), a treasure inscribed by my bestfriend.
2) THE GIVER - This was actually a birthday gift to Ed, with the card from our friend saying "When I read this, it really reminded me of you." Intrigued, I read it too (which means we got to appreciate this award-winning book as adults already). Indeed, it was one of those moving, thought-provoking stories that stayed with you years after a single reading. I was happy to see this on Jessie's booklist in school, and have also given it as a gift to others many times over. |
| kidsahoy wrote on Aug 25, '08, edited on Aug 25, '08 Jen :=) Why did I know you'll be quite enthusiastic about this topic and that as soon as you get back in town, you'll not be able to resist ? *grin* Took a nap (blame it on early morning nose-bleed episodes with CJ in the past few days, ugggh!) and then voila...I saw your replies hehehe
between you and me???? I'm as excited to have these books in our library not only for the kids but for me to read or reread as well! Buti pa si Jess, ang dami ng nabasa from this list...
Our Dada saw the list and highlighted the ones he just bought from a book sale in San Diego daw. yaaaaaaaaaaay! He said he's collected more than 20+ and eager to purchase more. Talk about another eager parent-reading-advocate!
I saw Velveteen Rabbit in the book shelf...not sure if Ed already got this before or someone else shared this recently. I also saw The Little Prince. Maybe it's Teacher Aia's...
I finished adding the list to our Kids Ahoy BookWishes Amazon.com list!!! I can't wait to share it with family and friends! I'm hoping that we'll have an early Christmas gift for the kids soon! |
| kidsahoy wrote on Aug 25, '08, edited on Aug 25, '08 I'll include the books you mentioned in the bookWishes list pala :=) I try to request our future donors to share a hardbound version because it won't be just one kid using it especially in a library situation :=) Para mas madami ang makapag-basa. Our Dada nga was saying, dapat daw at least 2copies of each----aba! mas ambisyoso pa pala sya sakin hehehe :=) Well, come to think of it, why not? Or instead of doubling each title, why not add another 100 favorite titles? dreaming dreaming!
make sure to check out the childrenslibrary.org link Ipat shared. galing!
waiting for her list as well :=)
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| kidsahoy wrote on Aug 25, '08, edited on Aug 25, '08 Joanne, we'd be happy to share any one of these and then maybe a couple from the list above for the KA Library. =D Ask any of our nephews, nieces and godchildren -- of all the kinds of gifts possible, we love giving books away the most! thank you Jen! It's quite inspiring to know that yet again, you share in another K.A. dream project!
Same here, I'm notorious for gifting "educational toys or essentials"...kahit it seems like I'm no fun at first but I really prefer investing in gifts that the recipient can learn from... |
| Same here, I'm notorious for gifting "educational toys or essentials"...kahit it seems like I'm no fun at first but I really prefer investing in gifts that the recipient can learn from... Haha, oo nga. I have to take note of what I gave each person the last time so that I don't overdo it naman, or at least give some variation. =D
Yup, I'm gone a few days and the Multiply posts are suddenly overflowing! You predicted right, this was the first one I checked. One of the few actually, as I still have to clean myself up and unpack. As Justine exclaimed fresh from her bath, "Oh no, you haven't even changed yet???" Haha!
Something from my own Amazon.com wish-list:
THE HAPPY PRINCE by Oscar Wilde
Remember that golden statue overlooking the poorest of the poor, and the very loyal dove who was only seeking shelter for the night? If you haven't read this yet Joanne, I really suggest that you look it up and read any of the transcripts online. It's one story that I have a feeling you'll love. They used to show a 'short' of this on TV when I was a child, and I've never forgotten it. Can't wait to share the same touching, value-laden love story with the girls soon... |
| I'll try to ask my friends over here for top/favorite children stories and books from singapore, malaysia and possibly india. there are treasures of wisdom from asian cultures too and which, in fact, could be closer to the realities of our kids..i have a few on singapore, esp singapore's favorite children's stories...will send them soonest... |
| Okay, mine is in an excel file now. Tried to copy and paste but it went all over the place. Anyway, here's another try, no time to clean up.
The Monkey and the Turtle Rizal, Jose
Huff and Grudge Hicks, Lesley
The Tower of Misunderstanding Ignacio, Dino
Happy Birthday, Moon Asch, Frank
Little Peep Kent, Jack
Kablay Zubiri, Amelia
Valmiki's Ramayana Rao, Subba
Storm Boy Lewis, Paul Owen
The Day the Goose Got Loose Lindberghe, Reeve
The Minpins Dahl Roald
Luis and the Enchanted Creatures Lee, Marcy Dans
Ang Barumbadong Bus Villanueva, Rene
Noong Unang Panahon Valera, Rafaelita
Sundalong Patpat Almario, Virgilio
Ibong Adarna Alonzo, Roberto
Kung Paano Nagkaroon ng Liwanag Villanueva, Rene
Alamat ng Palaka Villanueva, Rene
Ang Madyik Silya ni Titoy Molina, Russel
A Rooster in the Sun Bravo, Becky
Sandosenang Sapatos Gatmaitan, Luis
Sandosenang Kuya Molina, Russel
Ang Hukuman ni Sinukuan Almario, Virgilio
Manik Buangsi Almario, Virgilio
Jenny and Jay Mysteries (Pinoy Private Eye) Blanco, Marivi Soliven
Magic Tree House series
and of course, a host of non-fiction titles like Picture Pedia series, DK books, etc.
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| jenagain wrote on Aug 26, '08, edited on Aug 26, '08 i have a few on singapore, esp singapore's favorite children's stories...will send them soonest... I think I've seen this. Is this part of a series of books that also includes Japan's Favorite Children Stories, China's Favorite..., Malaysia's... etc? I remember seeing those books for about four or five Asian countries and was wondering why they didn't have one for the favorite Filipino children's stories. Apparently, at that time, there wasn't one. I hope there is one now. |
| Yes, Jen. I have Singapore and Malaysia in this series. |
| ipatluna wrote on Aug 28, '08, edited on Aug 28, '08 Very likely. She is from UP and you should also check out her books for older folks like us -- Suddenly Stateside; Sexy Sassy and Singularly Happy and her latest is Spooky Mo all available in National Bookstore. Hilarious, she has the gift talaga. Am sure you will enjoy Suddenly Stateside very much. |
Comment deleted at the request of the thread owner.  | I'm looking for Alexander and the Terrible No Good Horrible day. I'm out of luck. LEt me recommend tagalog books my 4 year old used to enjoy when she was 2-3 yr old. Pikpakbum at Tiktaktok ang Magkapatid na laging nagaaway & Ang alamat ng Sibuyas. |
Comment deleted at the request of the thread owner. Comment deleted at the request of the thread owner. Comment deleted at the request of the thread owner. Comment deleted at the request of the thread owner.  | Hi, good day. Wonderful post. You have gained a new subscriber. Pleasee continue this great work and I look forward to more of your great blog posts. children |
 | If you are looking for books to add to your child's collection? You can find a great selection of children's books at http://www.leeandlow.com/books/ The have the best books for children of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. |
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