PPL Staff Recommendations
What book was your favorite when you were young, and what is a favorite to recommend today?
Joan Underwood, Tech Services: The Little House on the Prairie book series by Laura
Ingalls Wilder
I love reading them over and over. It reminds me of times that my parents would talk about how life was when they were growing up and, plus, it was one of the few things we watched as a family growing up. I still go back and read them today.
Cathy Burden, Juvenile Services Manager: Little House on the Prairie
Not being a big independent reader, I was so proud of completing such a long book. I thoroughly enjoyed it as well. I think I was around fourth grade. I do like history and the time period when Little House on the Prairie took place.
Colleen Bauman, Community Services: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E.
Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
I totally understood Meg’s feelings of being the older sister with all the responsibilities. What could be better than running away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art? My favorite newer books are the Castle Glower series by Jessica Day George for 8- to 12-year-olds.
Suellen Goldsberry, Library Director: The Gingerbread Man by Richard Scarry (Little Golden Book)
I can remember sitting on my father’s knee and hearing this book over and over until I could “read” it back to him.
Lisa Howe-Johnson, Patron Services: The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord and Janet Burroway, and The Little Old Man Who Could Not Read by Irma Simonton Black
Children will love The Giant Jam Sandwich, a wonderfully illustrated story with nonsense rhyming text. The Little Old Man Who Could Not Read is a story about a toy maker who never wanted to learn to read until his wife went away and he had to grocery shop. Two classics!
April Anda, Juvenile Services: Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen
A lion saunters into the library and, as long as he doesn’t break any rules, he is welcome to stay. Not everyone who works there is happy about that decision. It’s a nice story about when rules are made to be broken. My favorites as a child were The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Lowrey and Wacky Wednesday by Dr. Seuss.
Grace Walker, Juvenile Services: The Baby-Sitters Club series by Ann Martin
These were my favorite books as a child. My favorite children’s book right now is Waking Beauty by Leah Wilcox, a hilarious take on the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty.
