In honor of National Book Lover’s Day today, here’s a recap of my favorite children’s book, Just David by Eleanor H. Porter.
It is a delightful, innocent type of book written by the same author of Pollyanna.
David, a ten-year-old orphan boy, is simply and purely good. His sweet innocence but wise observations of life have a disarming effect on the people around him.
David was taught by a loving father who secluded him from any influences of the outside world. He was taught to combine productive study (including Latin) with the simple pleasures of life. And always, there was music produced by their violins. When David’s father dies, David is thrust into a life unknown to him where people work hard without taking time to walk and enjoy nature, where they are surrounded by beauty but are not happy. Discoveries are made not only by David, but by those whom he meets that make for happy endings all around.
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| My favorite illustration of the whole book |
This is truly a great book that will be a treasured favorite for your family. It is for ours!
What good book have you read lately? Or what book is treasured by you and your family?
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I read that a few months ago when I found it for FREE on ibooks. Totally cute. I think I will read it to my three boys as soon as we finish Pippi Longstocking.
We enjoyed Just David on your earlier recommendation. Very sweet book. I have recently read Papa’s Wife by Thyra Ferre Bjorn which led to Papa’s Daughter and now I’m enjoying Mama’s Way. All very sweet and books I had never heard of before.
I’ll have to read “Just David.” It’s not one I’ve heard of before. I’d recommend the book, “Mama’s Bank Account” by Kathryn Forbes. Another little-known book about a poor family with a very practical and loving immigrant mother. Pair it with its charming movie counterpart, “I Remember Mama,” with Irene Dunne. Good stuff!
Gosh! I’d have to say our family favorite is not nearly as enlightening….it’s The Princess Bride, abridged version by William Goldman. Around age nine, the children read it, watch the movie and proceed to quote it randomly, but appropriately around the house. It’s sarcastic, humorous, adventurous, and wildly quotable. One of my favorite line? “I’m not a witch, I’m your wife!”
I’m getting back into books. I’ll have to put that one on my list. Recently I’ve read The Help by Kathrine Stockkett, The Pionner Woman Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Dee Drummond, and Divine Signatures by Lund.
I’ve probably said it before, but “A Girl of the Limberlost,” by Gene Stratton Porter is oh so good! It was my grandmother’s very favorite of all time. — My mom’s very favorite was “Hitty.” — The very best book I’ve read for a long time is, “Remembering Issac,” very worthwhile as are its two sequels, “Discovering Issac,” and “Becoming Issac.” All by Ben Behunin.
Love that book…I play the violin (badly), so the scenes where he plays to nature are exquisite to me.
We are reading some of Rudyard Kipling’s short stories. My girls are very young, 4 & 2, but the 4-year old loves all the stories about animals: “Jungle Book,” “Rikki-Tikki-Tavvi,” “The White Seal,” etc.
I haven’t really read any great fiction lately, it’s amazing how hard it is to find GOOD fiction.
Some books that I treasure: Heidi, Little Women, Little House series, all the Anne books, The Little Princess, The Work and the Glory, and the Children of the Promise series.
I’d love to read some of the recommendations here, maybe when I get some time. 🙂
One of my 30th birthday goals this year is to re-read every Jane Austen novel. But I have also been wanting to read some books with my kids out loud like my dad did (novels I mean). We just finished Sarah Plain and Tall and off to read the Little House Books…should be fun;)
I’ll have to get your book now…
I received the latest issue of Storybook Home in the mail today and thought of you as soon as I opened it.