Heidi, by Johanna Spyri, originally published in 1880.
This was my favorite book growing up, and I read it many times before I 'outgrew' it by the age ten or so. At least, I THOUGHT I read it many times. Apparently, I read a condensed version of the story, and had never read the entire book until just now, when I am very much not ten.
Some parts of this story were so familiar, they could have been my own memories. Some parts, perhaps the more 'grown up' parts were so new that they rubbed me a little raw emotionally. Overall, however, I am very glad to add a non-condensed version of this book to my young son's library.
A Weed is a Flower, by Aliki, Aladdin Paperbacks, 1988.
This beautifully illustration book is an excellent introduction to George Washington Carver for young readers. The text is fairly simple, but the ideas conveyed are not.
The Girl in a Swing, by Richard Adams, Alfred Knopf, 1980.
I found this book at a second-hand story. I remember reading Watership Down -- at least thirty years ago -- and liking it, so, for a dollar, I picked up this book.
This book is not really very much like Watership Down. But the writing is still gently beautiful, as the plot becomes increasingly intense. By the end of the book, I, like the protagonist, did not want to believe what I know.
