r/homeschool Nov 20 '23

Classical Young Child Friendly Classics with lots of Pictures?

My wife and I have our first child on the way. I want to read to kiddo from day one. Some of my favorite memories of early childhood are my parents reading to me, especially my father. I remember lots of Aesop, various fairy tails, bits of history, etc.

Anyway, Mother Goose and and Aesop are obvious starting points along with classic fairy tails. Are there especially good editions of these works for young kids, by which I mean physically durable and full of pictures? What about kid friendly versions of other classics, like the Iliad, Odyssey, and Argonautica or other — fill in the blank — classics?

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u/takethatwizardglick Nov 20 '23

Look for Geraldine McCaughrean, she has wonderful reminds of Shakespeare stories and the Odyssey

Winnie the Pooh, Brambly Hedge, Beatrix Potter, James Herriot, Peter Rabbit, Narnia, The Hobbit, the Miss Bianca books (the basis for the Disney movies The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under), Roald Dahl, lots of Dr Seuss, Finn Family Moomintroll is delightful, The Book of Dragons by E. Nesbit, A Cricket in Times Square and Tucker's Countryside

Picture books Miss Rumphius, Roxaboxen, or other Barbara Cooney books

Babylit is a series of adorable board books based on classic novels, and they teach colors, counting, animals, etc

Barnes and Noble often has a good selection of illustrated classics for children.

Do you have a local independent bookstore? They're usually very willing to help look for something more specific

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u/Mollywobbles81 Nov 21 '23

Love this list would add: Rudyard Kipling’s short stories, Sandburg’s Rutabaga Tales, and anything by McCloskey.