Books for christmas

[Kazz]

Anyone requesting or buying books for Christmas presents if so what.............

[dandysmom]

I love cookbooks and cooking; am into Asian, and suggested to a friend that a Japanese cookbook would be welcome....If the new Doreen Tovey were in print here, know at least two people I'd give it to!

[yola]

The only book I'm giving is a hardback edition of Winnie-the-Pooh with original illustrations for Dominik.

I despair of the dreadful mess that Disney has turned 'Pooh Bear' into . . . and I want Domi to experience the magic of the A A Milne stories.

[dandysmom]

Yola, I have no kids, but I simply despise what Disney has done to the beloved childhood stories!! Generations of kids have grown up not knowing the wonder of them, I hope when Domi is older you'll get him a copy of "Wind in the Willows"! And Kipling;s "Just So" stories and of course "The Jungle Book"!! End of rant from opinionated reader!!!

[Kim]

I love the original Pooh bear stories, but confess that I also like the Disney versions too! (sorry!)

I have asked for a book about the history of the LSO (London Symphony Orchestra) How sad is that??!!!

[yola]

Eileen - I too hate the 'Disneyfication' of children's stories!

Kenneth Grahame, who wrote Wind in the Willows lived in a Thames-side village called Pangbourne. This is about 4 miles from where I live, and I drive past what was his cottage every day when I used to go into my office - which is a mere 1.5 miles out of Pangbourne .

There is also a Wind in the Willows museum in nearby Henley (you've heard of the famous Henley Regatta - right?). Well the River and Rowing Museum there have a section dedicated to this magical story.

Don't worry - we're both passionate about 'honest' children's literature and Dominik will be likewise we hope!


*Edit to say, Kim - don't apologize please, everyone's entitled to their own likes and dislikes. I don't mean to offend at all either, but it just happens to be a 'pet hate' of mine that's all

[Naomi]

I want a book called Marley & Me. I've read the condensed version now I want the full book.

My kids love Wind in the Willows. I've read it 3 times to them now

[dandysmom]

Kim, no offense meant, sorry! Yola: I practically grew up on British children's literature,,,hate to say it, but they're the best; only American author I'd recommend is Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House series (they ruined that on TV!); love the E. Nesbit books, Phoenix and the Carpet, Railway Children, etc. And The Water Babies, and The Secret Garden (although that may be a bit "girly" for a boy...) And Swallows and Amazons...Lord, I am rabbiting on....

[Kazz]

I love Disney....BUT adore books always have the people jump/step out of the pages.

I am thinking of asking for the Gordon Ramsey book?? is it any good does anyone know???

Oh Naomi I have heard Marley and Me issad at the end get the tisues ready girl.

Oh DM you are wrong about American writers... what about Mark Twain?? Tom Sawyer/Huckleberry Finn

And I like Edgar Rice Bupojna Tarzan books too
I adore Edgar Rice Burrows

[Kim]

Yola & Eileen - neither of you offended me at all - honest!!! I really can understand what you are both saying. I love childrens literature, The Wind in the Willows stories are enchanting, I love Beatrix Potter, The Railway Children, Tom's Midnight Garden and best of all the Narnia stories. My children grew up on these stories. But I just think there is something quite magical about Disney too.