A while back I did a post called Classic Picture Books, and today I’m returning to that subject with three new titles. I’m sure you can tell by now that I love to read picture books.
There is a charm to classic picture books that draws you back to them time and time again. I love reading them as a teenager, and look forward to reading them with my own children someday. Snuggling down on the couch to share a dear story with a precious child: that sounds like a wonderful memory to create, don’t you think?
On a separate note, I would like to apologize for not posting last Thursday. I was out of town, and besides being busy was also short of internet, which would have made writing up a post difficult. I’m glad to be back today with a new post for you to read!
The Little Engine that Could, by Watty Piper
This is one picture book that nearly everyone is familiar with. We all know the story of the small yet courageous little train who gave his very best effort so that the little boys and girls on the other side of the mountain could have their toys and treats. Many other trains who were bigger, stronger, and more important than him thought they were too important to do such a job, but the Little Blue Engine tried his best.
I know that other editions of this book exist, but I simply can’t imagine it with any other illustrations but these. They are the pictures that I grew up admiring at my grandparents’ house, and I still adore them today. What other pictures are as cheery as these are? They have such rosy colors and happy little smiles that just seeing them makes me glad.
The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams
Do you know the story of the Velveteen Rabbit? It had been a surprisingly long time since I had read this book, and in many ways it wasn’t what I remembered it to be. The Velveteen Rabbit endured much loneliness and neglect.
This book reminds me a lot of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo. Both stories are about a toy rabbit who goes from being loved dearly to neglected in their own way. If you have read and loved either one of those books I highly recommend the other!
The Ox-cart Man, by Donald Hall
The last book today isn’t quite as popular as The Little Engine that Could or The Velveteen Rabbit. But this is one of the best picture books to read during autumn, and I felt like it fit the post. The story follows the ox-cart man as he packs up all of the things that his family has made or grown in the last year to take to market. He packs mittens that his daughter knit, and birch brooms that his son carved, and apples, and honey, and turnips, and many many more things as well.
In the market the ox-cart man sells everything he brought with him, even down to the ox and cart themselves. Then, along with some treats for his family, he returns home. And so they begin another year, with a new knife to carve with and a new needle to sew, and peppermint candies to eat. The story begins again.
Other Posts About Picture Books
- 5 Picture Books From My Childhood
- Classic Picture Books
- Gardening Picture Books
- Blueberries for Sal, by Robert McCloskey
Final Thoughts
I genuinely love each of these stories so much. The Little Engine that Could teaches us to try our very best, and bring cheerfulness along with us all the while. The Velveteen Rabbit tells us the story of a simple toy who is so loved that he becomes a Real rabbit. The Ox-cart Man shows us the result of a year of faithful work and what it brings to a family.
Which of these books have you read? As always, I would love to hear your thoughts. 🙂
For the Love of Stories 