To: Ceci Henningsson 
Subject: Re: Where are the books?
From: melizand@Hrnowl.LoneStar.ORG (Melizande Underhill)
Date: Tue, 04 Apr 95 23:52:24 CST

Msg 1 of 4:

Ceci--This is the first version.  I am currently updating it with
additions from other net folk, and hope to have another version out
probably in late April/May.

Pagan Children's Annotated Booklist

By Melizande Underhill

February 1995

This is my compilation to date, of books appropriate for pagan kids.
They are alphabetical by author, within their categories.  

PLEASE add to this list!  Send me your additions (with annotations) at
melizand@hrnowl.lonestar.com.  Thanks!


Itty-Bitty Kids (2-4):

The Curious Rabbit, by Tony Hutchings (?), a Preschool Forest Friends
Board   Book, Modern Publishing, no ISBN listed.  
        This is a board picture book of the forest people (red-capped
gnomes) and their friend, the rabbit.  Nice pictures, cute gnomes.  A
good read-to for the itty-bitties (2-4).

Mother Earth, by Nancy Luenn, Atheneum Press, ISBN:0-689-31668-2.
        REQUIRED THEALOGICAL EDUCATION BOOK.
        This is the single best book I can think of to introduce the
nature religions to children.  It starts: "The earth is our
mother...The ground is her skin...Mountains her bones...Trees and
plants her living hair...Birds are her songs...And the listening
stones her ears...."  It is beautifully illustrated by Neil Waldman
with lyrical paintings.  Aimed at the little ones, you can read this
to a 2 year old and they'll get it, but so will the early readers.
It's a must-have.
===

To: Ceci Henningsson 
Subject: Re: Where are the books?
From: melizand@Hrnowl.LoneStar.ORG (Melizande Underhill)
Date: Tue, 04 Apr 95 23:54:18 CST

Msg 2 of 4  Pagan Children's Book List

Age 3 to 6 yrs:

Trouble with Trolls, by Jan Brett, G. P. Putnam's Sons,
ISBN:0-399-22336-3.
        Norwegian girl outwits a family of trolls who want her dog.
Clever, fun, and brilliantly illustrated, this is a great book.  I
felt sorry for the trolls though; all they wanted was a dog, and
there's a whole second story told in the pictures beneath the surface
of the ground of the trolls preparing a place for the dog they want to
love...
                I paid $14 for this book in hardcover and still think
it was worth it.  It's out in softcover now, and a don't miss.  Good
for read-to-me 3-6, strong beginning readers.

The Witch Next Door, by Norman Bridwell,  Scholastic Press 
        ISBN: 0-590-40433-4.

        This one has pros and cons.  I don't like the classic
imagery--witch in black hat, green hair, moves in and paints her house
black.  But she is a good witch--helps out in the neighborhood, plays
with the children.  The nasty neighbors come and tell her they don't
want witches in *their* neighborhood, so she gets mad and casts a
spell on them--turns them into and young and beautiful prince and
princess, and they go off and forget about her.  Her children-friends
want to be prince and princess too, but she says no, good boys and
girls are more beautiful than princes and princesses.
                Mixed reactions.  I don't like the stereotypes, but at
the same time she shows that even if you are a witch, you can still be
a very good person.  For 3-6 age range.

Dragolin, by Stephen Cosgrove,  Price Stern Sloane, ISBN:
0-8431-1165-8.
        A little dragon must learn that he can breathe fire, but only
if he really truly deep-down believes in his own abilities.  A good
'read-to-me' book for 3-6.