RAR #51: The Golden Age of Children’s Books
Reading aloud is a treat, and Carole Joy Seid wants us to remember that every time we pick up a book to share with our kids.
In this episode, she is joining us again to talk about the Golden Age of Children’s Literature. Some of these books may be new to you, and some you may have heard of before, but wondered if they would stand the test of time and still make great read-alouds. (Hint: They do!)
You’re going to want to listen carefully – Carole shares tons of great suggestion with her signature enthusiasm from authors like:
- Lois Lenski
- the d’Aulaires
- Howard Pyle and more!
These books will definitely help your family build memories around the moments spent cuddled together reading.
Click the play button below:
Books from this episode:
(All links are affiliate links.)
I just found your podcast. I love it! As I was listening to this podcast when you started talking about Gene Stratton Porter. It brought a tear to my eye! I didn’t realize people even knew who she was anymore. I grew up 20 minutes from her house in Indiana, we went on a field trip there in 4th grade and read freckles as a class. I fell in love with her works! I have read one of her books every summer and I feel like I’m always looking to find books to compare just like your guest.
What a wonderful story! Thanks you so much for sharing it with us, Jena!
I simply loved this episode. Speechless and soon penniless! Thank you both for blessing our home with quality reading material!
I know that I am very behind the times in my comment (only found this site a month ago). Regarding the Margarite deAngeli books. I have a 1979 publication and the drawings are black and white smuggers. To really appreciate them you have to get originals. I am now on the search for all the ones mentioned here but with all the beautiful coloured illustrations.
I have been listening through all your podcasts over the last month! I have been dedicated to reading aloud to my children since their births; they are now 8, 5 and almost 2 years olds. Your podcast has been a game changer in terms of connecting me and my children to the next read aloud. Each podcast has been delightful, but this one was extra special! Thank you for all your hard work! It’s an uplifting pleasure to soak up the information in these podcasts.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Raena!
I just listened to this today and it might be my favorite so far, which is saying something because of the dozen or so I’ve cherry picked, I’ve heard some really good ones! I’m afraid to recommend it to my friends though because of what it’ll do to their ever-growing booklists! ;) Love love LOVED it.
Katie, I keep finding my *new* favorite episodes too! :)
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I haven’t listened to all of your podcasts but so far this one (51) is my favorite by far. She was a delight. Thank you so much. These are my favorite kinds of books for my grandchildren.
AMAZING podcast, Sarah and Carole!!!! LOVED it! I love them all, but this one has me wanting to share it with the world. I will begin with my local group. :) Thank you, ladies!
Sarah (and others), the American Library Association has a wonderful class on the Newbery Medal, which of course includes lots of children’s literature history. It is taught by a professor who has served on two(?) Newbery committees and I can’t recommend it highly enough. http://www.ala.org/alsc/edcareeers/profdevelopment/alscweb/courses/newberymedal
There is another class on the Caldecott Medal, which is also wonderful, but I think back on the Newbery class often, especially during this RAR episode!
Ohhhhh! Thank you! :)
I am so excited to explore these new titles–anyone who loves Gene Stratton Porter must know what she is talking about when it comes to great books! I am a homeschooling mama of six now, but I was homeschooled as a child…and when I was twelve, a neighbor let my mom borrow this “new” book she found called “Laddie”. I don’t think my mom ever got around to reading it, but I got my hands on it and I will probably never forget how absolutely wonderful that first read was. In fact, it was so good I literally did read it while taking a bath (I hadn’t figured out how to read in the shower either so this was the only option :)) and left the book on the side of the tub when I got out. When I realized what I had done moments later, it had already fallen into the water and was soaking wet. I remember my mom being upset and informing me that I would have to save up and buy a new copy for her friend, and I remember being totally delighted because I was going to get to KEEP the soaking wet copy! I honestly spent hours drying that book out so that the pages wouldn’t stick, and I cheerfully saved the $24 I needed for a new copy (that I had to buy at a real bookstore because there was no such thing as Amazon). Years later when my Grandma died, we were given a huge box of her old books and I remember unpacking it and finding “The Beekeeper”, “Freckles”, “Girl of the Limberlost” and “The Harvester”. They are life changing books, so beautiful. Now as the mom, I just finished reading “Laddie” to my nine year old and I couldn’t believe how much I still loved the book, but for so many new reasons. I want to be the mother in that story!! Sorry for this random, long comment…but I love these books and have never met someone else who knows them!
Ha ha! You mentioned reading in the shower and I had to laugh. I put my phone in a zip lock bag and was listening to the podcast in the shower! You can listen to audio books in the shower, too! Thanks again for a wonderful podcast. We are finding some wonderful new books.
Carol mentioned a Gene Stratton-Porter book that your daughter was reading in a book club. She mentioned it had some ideas/morals she disagreed with. I’d love to find out what her thoughts were on this topic. This was one of my favorite podcasts and I was so happy to hear so many book suggestions.
This was a wonderful Podcast! Thank you for all of the book recommendations and inspiration.
My favorite episode yet! Thank you!
We need Andy and the Lions for my two year old! Roar. Ha.
Oh can’t wait to listen!!!! I love your podcast so much! It’s helped me feel like I’m not so alone as a “book geek”. :)
As a mother of teenagers who read aloud to my children when they were young and they attend public school, attended private elementary school please share some teenage books!
Thank you for podcast #51!
Love your work!
I’m so glad some of these books are on our school list this year such as Magna Charta, the 4th of July Story and Strawberry Girl.
I’ve also read Thee Hannah and 100 dresses to my oldest daughter and she enjoyed them very much. Now I just need to get my hands on those Genevieve Foster and Gene Stratton Porter books!! Always enjoy listening to Carol Joy Seid!!
I have been examinating out a few of your articles and i must say pretty clever stuff. I will make sure to bookmark your website.
You made some decent points there. I looked on the internet for the issue and found most persons will go along with with your website.
I love all your episodes, but this one, oh THIS ONE! Kid in the candy store. Pretty certain I was labeled as “that crazy lady” at the coffee shop while listening and grinning ear to ear. Such good, worthy, and edifying material. When I was a girl, and being homeschooled, my mama read me Thee Hannah. I still have it and believe it is time to introduce my own 6 year old to the beauty. Thank you Sarah and Carole Joy.
I have listened to all of your podcasts, some of them multiple times, and this is the BEST ONE EVER! Thank you!
Thank you for having Carole Joy Seid on your podcast Sarah! She is truly doing Kingdom work as are you! I was so encouraged and so excited after listening! I feel so at peace with the literature based education we have been led to provide for our little boys. A breath of fresh air! Her methods work and every book she recommended has been a hit with my little ones so far. I’m itching to take the great books course and I’ll go now because my Amazon cart is exploding and my library card is burning a hole in my pocket. 😂
I can’t find her new class that she mentioned in the podcast. Is that not up yet? Because I am so ready to sign up for that the second it comes out 😍
Yes, I am looking for this same class. Maybe she meant the existing seminars she has, but it seemed that she meant an entirely new children’s lit class.
Anyway, this was a good show.
FANTASTIC episode! I had never heard of several of these authors–really helpful.
What a treasure trove of books! Thank you, Carole, for your recommendations.
Sarah, I am wondering whether you have considered having Anthony Esolen on the show? His writing is excellent, and he very often mentions the importance of good literature.
I second the idea of interviewing Antony Esolen! :) I’m reading 10 Ways to Destroy the Imagination of Your Children right now and find it convicting and helpful.
It would be AMAZING if Mr Esolen did a podcast!!!!!
Hellooo! Is there a printable reference(Title and Author) for this list? Thanks!
We have printable lists for books mentioned on all the podcast episodes inside membership (which isn’t open right now but will be opening again before too long!) :) amongstlovelythings.com/membership
Great episode! Thank you! What age do you recommend the Gene Stratton Porter books for?
I am SO happy that the Moffats have been mentioned. We all LOVE these books. We read them at the table during dinner because all 5, 2 years old up to 36, of us love them. Thank you for mentioning them. Plus, we also have ordered Ember Falls. Love those books too. Thank you so much for always encouraging us to read.
caroles site does not work
It is working for me – http://www.CaroleJoySeid.com
Listen to your weekly podcasts regularly but this week I took notes! So much information I couldn’t help it. Loved the added author background that Carole Joy Seid was able to share. I counted over a dozen authors covered and numerous book titles. Thanks for this podcast, no fluff all good stuff.
I’m excited about listening to this. Carol’s seminar was the first homeschool event I attended. My oldest, now 10, was 1 and I was pregnant with #2. She spoke volumes into me as a mother and as a future homeschooler. I heard her speak 2 times after and have some of the recordings of her seminars. Her voice comes in my head when I doubt my methods. As I write, my husband is reading to the girls. He took to heart what Carol said about how important father reading time would be in our family and she was right! He reads at least an hour a day to them. He’s read more since the girls were born than he ever did before. It truly is the highlight of the day. It’s because of her that our TV is in a room upstairs rather than in the living room and our house is full of books. I could go on, but I will stop. I love your podcasts and I am looking forward to listening to this one.
Wow, this is amazing. Carole is doing such good and beautiful work in the lives of families!