Best Classic Children's Books: Literature for Kids, Book 1

Misty of Chincoteague (1947), by Marguerite Henry

An inspirational, historically-based story of wild horses, orphaned children, and intrigue, Misty of Chincoteague is an historical fiction written by a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Paul and Maureen, brother and sister, move in with their grandparents and adopt a new lifestyle centered in the training of ponies. As they settle in, the pair find adventure.

Children can identify with and will appreciate themes of:

• parental loss
• family
• being raised by grandparents
• families of different types (among humans and animals as well)
• love, including responsibility for animals
• self sufficiency 
• growth

Although it is a fictionalized dramatic work, Henry based the story on real life and entertains what can happen when kids are allowed space to lead with their fresh hearts, keen interests, and minds yet untainted by the politics of common adult struggles. Sibling protagonists offer a unique reading opportunity for kids.

This story about Misty and her family, and Paul and Maureen's, was so popular that it became first in a subsequent series of children's books (by Henry) about the horse named Misty. It also was the inspiration for the popular movie adaptation of the same name: Misty (1961).

Marguerite Henry, with Misty

Author Marguerite Henry (1902-1997), an American writer, was the writer of 59 books based on true stories of horses and other animals.

Find a copy of Misty of Chincoteague via Goodreads and begin the "Misty" series, or check your local book sellers.

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REF:

Photo image of Marguerite Henry with her pony Misty via Wikipedia, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36625166

Best Classic Children's Books for Entertainment and Learning

During a recent visit with friends, we noticed their children were intently watching the movie version of a classic children's book about animals. Short on dialogue, the 'picture version' was big on the kind of imagery described in words throughout the original children's novel.

What was once translated on the page via author and each reader's mind—an intensely personal experience—was now adapted for a movie audience. This is a terrific thing! Yet, it's not the same kind of experience, and it's apparent that if there isn't a concerted effort on the part of adults to entertain young children with written stories, then they'll miss out on an important part of growing up well.

Our ability to read text and process it in an effective way rests on not only didactic education but on habit as well. Reading comprehension, understood by students far and wide as an irritating credit requirement, informs and molds our daily experiences. It is this largely unrecognized reality that encourages us today to begin a series dedicated to showcasing the best classic children's books.

Why "classic" titles? Because, we want to revel in the personal experience of highly appreciated stories that still make us feel today the way we did when we initially read them. We'll be highlighting stories that gripped us and took us along a meaningful journey with people and circumstances we'd otherwise never have known.

In doing so, we also want to introduce our favorite cultural stories that help growing readers understand different walks of life than that to which they're exposed on a daily basis in their own circles.

We hope you'll join us by checking out our first installment of:

Best Classic Children's Books: Literature for Kids, Book 1

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Tell us, what were some of your favorite reads as a child?