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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Favorite Picture Books for Girls

Sometimes I think it is harder to find nice books for girls than boys. There is lots of great books with trains, trucks, cowboys, and farm animals. Of course, my girls have enjoyed those books as much as my boys.

But nice books for girls that show good sibling relationships and a homemaking mother are rare. It may be that I'm too picky. But children absorb everything around them. I just can't tolerate reading books where the children are nasty and whiny and the mom is grumpy. We have far too much of those attitudes at our house in real life.

But there are some truly excellent pictures books and here are a few of our favorite.

Just Like Mama
Just Like Mama - This sweet story of an Amish family was a baby gift for our first daughter and continues to be enjoyed. The siblings in this book are a wee bit unkind, but the wonderful way the book directs the focus back to the Lord makes it worth while.

Rosie's Babies
Rosie's Babies - Not your typical "jealous of the new baby" book. The interaction of the mother and big sister is so sweet as the sister describes her care for her "babies". There is a (discreet) picture of the mother nursing the baby.

We Help Mommy
We Help Mommy - I love Eloise Wilkins illustrations. This book and her others such as Baby Dear are classics that have been read and reread at our house.

My Mommy, My Teacher
My Mommy, My Teacher - A sweet book written and illustrated by a homeschooler. My daughter said this was her favorite book. Maybe because it was a birthday gift from grandparents.

Helping Mother - The Little Jewels books are not flashy but sweet and always a God honoring view of families.

Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the Big Red Hen
Flicka, Ricka, and Dicka - I loved the stories of these three sisters as a girl and I'm so glad they are being reprinted.

Okay, now it is your turn. What are your favorite books for girls - especially ones that encourage homemaking?
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11 comments:

  1. FatimaApril 27, 2011 at 8:30 AM

    We have had a great time reading Little Women and the Little House books.
    As far as picture books, we really like "God's Wisdom for Little Girls" by Elizabeth George.

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  2. Plainlady's PonderingsApril 27, 2011 at 9:37 AM

    Alvin and Amelia!!!
    by Katie Weber
    Very easy to read but if they aren't reading yet there are lots of pictures to look at. An older sibling can read it, even if they are just in first grade!!!

    Shows real life scenes, like when the clothes line breaks and the dog digging in the flower bed!!! :)

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  3. AnonymousApril 27, 2011 at 9:41 AM

    The Milly-Molly-Mandy books by Joyce Lankester Brisley are delightful. Lovely little stories with charming illustrations. I enjoyed them as a child, and they have been a pleasure to read to my daughter.
    Andrea, Yorkshire

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  4. melanieApril 27, 2011 at 11:01 AM

    You've already mentioned some of our favorites. Let's Play House by Lois Lenski is another (and an oldie! it was my own book)

    I hadn't looked at our books from the perspective of encouraging homemaking before ~ We have many wonderful picture books, but not so many of that variety it seems. (surprising with four daughters!)

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  5. JoyApril 27, 2011 at 11:23 AM

    A idea popped into my head while reading your post today. Maybe you and the children could write a little story book about your family or any subject. Type it up on the computer
    and print out a little bit of the story per page on to card stock. Let the children do the illustrating of it. When done have Ed take to work and bind it. In the end you will have a family story book written published / illustrated and bound by your family.

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  6. AnonymousApril 27, 2011 at 5:01 PM

    I'll elco Fatima's input. We have both "God's wisdom for little girls/boys" books and are pleased with how every page points toward scripture. The book for girls is taken from Prov.31!!

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  7. Naptime SeamstressApril 27, 2011 at 6:32 PM

    Hmmm. I've never thought of encouraging homemaking through our story books. I can't think of any picture books that we've read that do that. Good thing I'm planning to go to a book sale! *L*

    We like Tikki Tikki Tembo, which is about little boys. The two Dr. DeSoto books, by William Steig.

    I can tell you I DON'T like the Gigi, God's Little Princess books.

    Thanks for the thought-provoking!

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  8. melanieApril 28, 2011 at 3:01 PM

    Oh, yes! Milly-Molly-Mandy was such a fun read almost twelve years ago... my youngers missed out on that one. Maybe I should buy it for our own Molly next Christmas? =)

    And I was going to mention the Ralph Moody books (Little Britches, etc.) ~ they say all those stories can't be true, but very encouraging for family love and hard work. Lots of fatherly wisdom in the first book ♥

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  9. MargoApril 29, 2011 at 3:26 PM

    We like _Little Mommy_ by Sharon Kane. . . but really, I'm wracking my brain for anything else. The books you mentioned are not ones we have, although I recognize some.

    We're reading Laura Ingalls Wilder right now - VERY good for homemaking and manners and good attitudes.

    oh, I know: Shirley Hughes. I think I mentioned her for the boys' books too because both my kids love her. She shows loving, helpful relationships between families and also very simple everyday life (and her own great illustrations!).

    This is something I'm going to think about as I look through our children's books. What a great disuccsion to have!

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  10. JacquieApril 29, 2011 at 9:35 PM

    I love the golden book "Jenny's New Brother" by Elaine Evans and illustrated by Joan Esley. It appeared in our house when my mother was expecting my sister. I have a feeling it is the reason I named my son Jonathon.

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  11. Naptime SeamstressMay 24, 2011 at 2:34 PM

    We just read Fannie in the Kitchen by Deborah Hopkinson - it's about Fannie Farmer, of the cookbook fame.

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