I woke up late this morning thinking about a poem I fell in love with as a young girl (probably about 13 years old).  It was a simple poem by A.A. Milne of Winnie the Pooh fame and I remember distinctly reading it at a children's museum here in Minneapolis that was doing a exhibit on children's authors.  The poem is from his collection, Now We are Six, and its title is "Buttercup Days."  (you can find the poem online).  Some people can smell an aroma and have it transport them to some happy time or place, for me, that poem has a metaphorical aroma.  It reminds me of simple childhood pleasures. Take away the accoutrement of the culture around us and the child's life is one of beauty, love and hope.  That is that poem for me. 

 I feel so lucky to have grown up loving books and writing.

I want my children to grow up loving reading as much as I do.  Not because there is something innately better about being a reader, but really I do believe that life can be better when your moments are couched in thoughts garnered from a good well-written story or poetry. A good story can do that to a young mind, never mind those pitiful bratty stories of children who yet again hate their parents (who are dumb, anyway) and who only find happiness in escaping to a boyfriend/girlfriend, popularity in school, or getting into trouble because they are troubled. You know the story line.   Good lists of kids books by age are easy to find at bookstores or online.  Here are some of my children's favorites (ages 4, 6, 8, and 10):

All:  

The Borrowers by Mary Norton

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Treasures in the Snow by Patricia St. John

10 year old 

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster and Jules Feiffer

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Once Upon a Marigold by Jean Ferris

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

8 year old 

The Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

The Secret Schoolhouse by Avi

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

6 year old

The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne (read to she and her sister)

Nate the Great series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat and Marc Simont

Start by picking a book to read aloud to your kids, you won't regret it.