My 10 Favorite Children's Books

I am a proud book-lover. Since turning my first page, I have been madly in love with the art and act of reading. Taking the time to read is truly one of the greatest gifts a person can give him or herself. My favorite quote is by S.M. Frazier: “At the close of each day, give me a book and a friend with whom I can be silent.” Throughout the years, books have served as my friends and my mentors. Reading has helped me become a better writer. Books are testaments of a writer’s power to tell a compelling story. My top ten picks (in alphabetical order) are as follows:

Alice in Wonderland
Ages: 9 - 12 yrs.
By Lewis Carroll

This is the classic tale of a little girl named Alice who follows a white rabbit down a mysterious hole. As a result, she meets an array of characters and finds herself in a variety of predicaments. Wonderland is a place where our imagination finds inspiration.

Anne of Green Gables
Ages: 9 - 12 yrs.
By L.M. Montgomery

The first of a series, this is a wonderful story of an auburn-haired orphan named Anne (with an –e) Shirley. The Cuthberts, needing help with farm chores, sought to adopt a boy. They are sent Anne instead. The Cuthberts fall in love with the naughty, spunky Anne whose imagination and wit often get the best of her. Anne also found her way into my heart.

El Chino
Ages: 9 - 12 yrs.
By Allen Say

This picture book is a biography of Billy (Bong Way) Wong, a Chinese-American who became a famous bullfighter in Spain. I loved this book because it doesn’t sugarcoat the hardships of racism and prejudice. Billy defied social stereotypes to become “El Chino,” a beloved matador.He made it despite comments such as, “Who’s ever heard of a Chinese athlete?”

The Giving Tree
Ages: 10 & Up
By Shel Silverstein

No Top Ten list would be complete without Shel Silverstein. He really speaks to the child-like innocence in all of us. His writing is funny, real and smart. The Giving Tree tells the story of unconditional love. A tree loves a boy and gives him anything his heart desires. Only as an old man will he learn to appreciate the tree.

Love You Forever
Ages: 4 - 8 yrs.
By Robert Munsch, Illustrated by Sheila McGraw

Every time I read this book, tears come to my eyes. It is a heart-warming story about the unwavering love of a parent for his or her child. Munsch cleverly takes this universal theme and adds his own style to it. Children will enjoy the humor, the repetition and the song-like quality. Adults will appreciate the timelessness of the message: the power of love to cross generations.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel)
Ages: 9 - 12 yrs.
By Ellen Raskin

As a word-lover, I cannot resist a book that claims to be “a word puzzle mystery.” This is the only book that I remember reading more than once as a child. Readers follow Mrs. Carillon as she searches for her missing husband. On the way, she meets a cadre of odd characters, all of whom make the story much more interesting. Be prepared to chuckle throughout this book as it really is quite clever.

A Single Shard
Ages: 12 & Up
By Linda Sue Park

A Newbery medal winner, this book artistically illustrates the landscape and sensations of a 12th century Korean pottery village. It tells the story of Tree-ear, who is an orphan boy living under a bridge with Crane-Man. Tree-ear becomes an apprentice to a master potter, Min, and embarks upon a long and perilous journey to show Min’s pottery to the King. Not only does he learn the art of pottery but he also learns about life and the importance of a single shard.

Who’s in Rabbit’s House?
Ages: 4 - 8 yrs.
By Verna Aardema, Illustrated by Diane Dillon

Aardema is one of my favorite authors to study. Her books maintain the flavor of the African oral tradition. In this book, Aardema re-presents a Masai tale entitled The Long One. The Long One, an ominous character who eats trees and tramples on elephants, is in Rabbit’s house. Various animals try to get the Long One out; however, the most unlikely of all the animals succeeds and a lesson is learned.

The Witches
Ages: 9 - 12 yrs.
By Roald Dahl

Without a doubt, Dahl is one of the best authors to read-aloud. His characters are eccentric and interesting. His plots are engaging and unpredictable. In The Witches, a young boy gets entangled in a witchy plot to rid the world of children. Even though good triumphs in the end, bad things do happen to good people. I love this story because of the fantastical world of “real witches” that Dahl creates.

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson
Ages: 7 - 10 yrs.
By Bette Bao Lord, Illustrated by Marc Simont

I still remember reading this book in school. It was the first time that an Asian-American story was part of the school canon. I remember being proud of my Chinese-American identity, which is indicative of the power of books. Told through a series of vignettes, Lord shows how Shirley Temple Wong, the main character, learns how to be both American and Chinese. Embarrassed by her poor English skills and her cultural traditions, Wong discovers that her love of baseball and Jackie Robinson are her tickets into American culture.

About the Author

Virginia Loh is a university instructor, doctoral student and co-author of the forecoming children's book entitled THE JADE DRAGON, a semi-autobiographical story about a young Chinese-American coming to terms with her cultural identity (Fall 2006). She has a bimonthly column in a local newspaper and a book contract with Candlewick. She currently resides in San Diego, California.