There are so many beautiful books, there’s no excuse for suffering with second rate material. It can be hard to remember where to look, though. Dominika, the writer of good taste behind the Substack Gathering Light, offered a lengthy list of picture books, chapter books, and read-alouds for Easter and the spring season.
When someone asked me recently how to find good children’s books, I recommended finding a few good friends among the illustrators and authors of memorable children’s books. Barbara Cooney, Robert McCloskey, Patricia MacLachlan, Tasha Tudor, Elsa Beskow, Cicely Mary Barker, Lois Lenski, and Maurice Sendak are a few of my favorites. Think back to the books that captivated you as a child and learn who wrote and illustrated them. Shuffle through books on the shelves to find old favorites. These are dependable.
Once you have these worthy guides, you can browse library shelves and used book websites to see what offerings there might from these dear friends. What if you aren’t yet acquainted with these Greats or have found your own personal favorites?
Dominika’s book lists are a great option. And there are many books lists out there. I have several books of just book lists, including Honey for a Child’s Heart. In a moment of faltering inspiration, someone can point you in the right direction.
The Easter book list caused me to revisit this lovely book of poetry, which was a delightful springtime jaunt. Happy hunting!
