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More "contemporary" classics?
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After the recent post about disliking the current reading options out there, coupled with my son’s comment about always reading books that are “old,” I’m wondering if anyone could recommend more “contemporary classic” books? The first two that came to my mind were The Phantom Tollbooth and A Wrinkle in Time, both of which my son LOVED. Any other thoughts on more recent books that might still be considered “classics?” More recent meaning, maybe, 1950’s or later?
This is probably not what you are looking for exactly, but these are some really great books that are new nonfiction picture books.
Thanks, andream! Some of these I don’t have. I and my patrons love nonfiction picture books.
And Madeleine L’Engle wrote a lot of great fiction. If he loved Wrinkle in Time, check our others by her.
LOL, I’m not sure I’d call those two books “contemporary” They were both published before I was born, and my kids keep reminding me I’m old. 🙂
I agree. When I think of contemporary, I think of in the last 30 years or so, after “the golden age of children’s literature.” That’s when more modern attitudes became prevalent and we had to start being much more careful. I could give you books full of lists of wonderful books from the 50’s. Not all would be considered “classic” I suppose, but I define that term loosely anyway.
Lol, Bookworm…maybe I should have said slightly more contemporary?
RobinP, that’s an interesting point I hadn’t thought about. Thanks for your input. 🙂 And thank you, andream, for your link!!
Well….Bookworm, both of those books were published after I was born, so I guess that makes me OLD-er, LOL!
Now wait a minute. We’re starting to get personal here. LOL! When we start talking about being as old as classic literature what does that make us? 🙂
There are some decent contemporary (by which I mean, STILL ALIVE) writers. I think we’ll still be reading Patricia MacLachlan in future years, and Jane Yolen, Lois Lowry (even though there are some age/content issues with her books) Mildred Taylor.
You know what would be kind of fun? To come up with a list of possibly promising-looking newer books, and several of us pick one and read it, to review it for the group? Anyone else up for it?
The 2010 Newberry Medal book was When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. The author was inspired by A Wrinkle in Time. I think it might be a good fit.
A new family favorite is Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. This was a 2010 Newberry Honor book and is destined to be a classic. It is similar in theme and plot to The Wizard of Oz but set in China.
With the recognition that everyone’s definition of classics differs, I’ll offer some we’ve enjoyed. These have all been loved by at least several of my children. I do include fantasy books like the Fablehaven series and my list will have books for older ages mixed in (like Eragon). A few books that come to mind as newer potential classics ( published after 1950):
The Penderwicks series
A Nest for Celeste
The Mysterious Benedict Society (it’s a series, will esp appeal to boys or those who like puzzles)
The Twenty One Balloons (okay it was 1947…)
Fablehaven series
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place (series)
Eragon and the rest of the Inheritance Cycle
We’ve also enjoyed Princess Academy series and the Books of Bayern series both by Shannon Hale.
THere are more but those are some we’ve enjoyed enough to give them a home on our shelves (or our Kindles or audiobook collections).
We read Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo as a family and greatly enjoyed it. My daughter has since read several other titles by him and likes them also. (She is nine years old.) Not sure if Marguerite Henry is a classic author, but we love her books. We are currently reading Brighty of the Grand Canyon after lunch each day. Everyone enjoys that one as well.
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