Sarah, I agree wholeheartedly with your opinion on the Little House series. I loved those books as a kid (had 2 sets so I could lend the books to friends!) but even then I always felt deeply uncomfortable with the treatment of Native Americans in the book. Now, as an adult, it deeply hurts me when I reflect back on it. I will allow my kids to read it but likely as teens when they can see for themselves the treatment of Native Americans in that period (frankly, to date). I actually think the books are a great case study for how we gloss over the way we’ve treated the Indigenous peoples of the United States and how the morality of the (white) pioneers is absolute. Ha, I’m starting to get worked up and I’ll stop now.
All of this. And: my subscribers really pushed back, which is their right. Interestingly, the pushback wasn’t disagreement with my decision or assessment of the books, but rather, an authentic struggle to let go of their own nostalgia around this series. (There is also a fetishization — I am using that word absolutely intentionally — of these books in parts of the homeschool world that is on another level entirely.) I don’t have any nostalgia for the series — I didn’t read it as a kid and feel no real connection — so it was easy for me to say, nope, next. But this isn’t the case for many people. I had some rich conversations because of those old, original posts.
Oof for the fetishization. I can totally believe it. I do completely get the nostalgia of the books so I can empathize how hard it can be to let go of those notions.
I reread them as a teenager, and I would probably wait until that age with my kids if they expressed interest. I only owned 2 of the books and I haven’t noticed them at my parents house since they moved to my city. I noticed how much homeschooling moms talk about them this year. I really enjoyed reading Alison Arngrim’s book Confessions of a Prairie Bitch from the actress who portrayed Nellie Oleson.
The Illustrated Book of Myths: Tales & Legends of the World retold by Neil Philip is a favorite treasury here, out of print but reliably found used. We are also big fans of Christina Balit’s illustrations, seen in many Greek mythology picture books.
I love this list; thank you so much for compiling it!!
Thank you for this. As you know, the D'Aulaires Greek Mythology books is one of my few books I've kept since childhood. I was pleased to see that Lake City Books has it in stock. My recent joyful Greek myth listen has been Stephen Fry's Mythos, and I promptly purchased it in print, then Heroes. I love that we've been doing our best to make light and sense of the world for such a long (and short) amount of time. Myths throw time into the air and laughs at our attempts for order, then almost imposes it in the most ridiculous ways.
don't forget 'Greek Myths for Little Children' by Usborne - our kids absolutely love it.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Greek-Myths-Little-Children-Collections/dp/1474989608/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_2/257-2427078-3172728?pd_rd_w=AN1hD&content-id=amzn1.sym.40f919ed-e530-4b1a-8d7e-39de6587208d&pf_rd_p=40f919ed-e530-4b1a-8d7e-39de6587208d&pf_rd_r=6T4NR9C3M60ZAPTBMSCV&pd_rd_wg=vEcGH&pd_rd_r=7be52349-19ed-4f40-93d4-27eea45961ba&pd_rd_i=1474989608&psc=1
Sarah, I agree wholeheartedly with your opinion on the Little House series. I loved those books as a kid (had 2 sets so I could lend the books to friends!) but even then I always felt deeply uncomfortable with the treatment of Native Americans in the book. Now, as an adult, it deeply hurts me when I reflect back on it. I will allow my kids to read it but likely as teens when they can see for themselves the treatment of Native Americans in that period (frankly, to date). I actually think the books are a great case study for how we gloss over the way we’ve treated the Indigenous peoples of the United States and how the morality of the (white) pioneers is absolute. Ha, I’m starting to get worked up and I’ll stop now.
All of this. And: my subscribers really pushed back, which is their right. Interestingly, the pushback wasn’t disagreement with my decision or assessment of the books, but rather, an authentic struggle to let go of their own nostalgia around this series. (There is also a fetishization — I am using that word absolutely intentionally — of these books in parts of the homeschool world that is on another level entirely.) I don’t have any nostalgia for the series — I didn’t read it as a kid and feel no real connection — so it was easy for me to say, nope, next. But this isn’t the case for many people. I had some rich conversations because of those old, original posts.
Oof for the fetishization. I can totally believe it. I do completely get the nostalgia of the books so I can empathize how hard it can be to let go of those notions.
I reread them as a teenager, and I would probably wait until that age with my kids if they expressed interest. I only owned 2 of the books and I haven’t noticed them at my parents house since they moved to my city. I noticed how much homeschooling moms talk about them this year. I really enjoyed reading Alison Arngrim’s book Confessions of a Prairie Bitch from the actress who portrayed Nellie Oleson.
Haha what a perfect title for an actress who played Nellie Oleson 😂
The Illustrated Book of Myths: Tales & Legends of the World retold by Neil Philip is a favorite treasury here, out of print but reliably found used. We are also big fans of Christina Balit’s illustrations, seen in many Greek mythology picture books.
I love this list; thank you so much for compiling it!!
I would add "A Snake Falls To Earth" by Darcie Little Bagdger. It was such a good read, and I believe a Newbery finalist.
Thank you for this. As you know, the D'Aulaires Greek Mythology books is one of my few books I've kept since childhood. I was pleased to see that Lake City Books has it in stock. My recent joyful Greek myth listen has been Stephen Fry's Mythos, and I promptly purchased it in print, then Heroes. I love that we've been doing our best to make light and sense of the world for such a long (and short) amount of time. Myths throw time into the air and laughs at our attempts for order, then almost imposes it in the most ridiculous ways.
So beautifully said.
NAT Geo “Greeking Out” podcast and book have been the gateway drug for my kids into Greek mythology.
I’ve heard of but yet to read The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales...
by Virginia Hamilton
That’s an amazing book. I don’t consider it mythology — folktales are a different category for me — but I highly recommend it.
D'Aulaires Norse Mythology is so, so good! We really love it!