Building a Homeschool Library

Part 2 - Authors and Illustrators

When building a rich library for this home education adventure, it helps to familiarize yourself with the best of children’s literature — those authors and illustrators with the depth and longevity that so much else depends upon.

When my children were small, we went to the local library several times a week and hauled bags filled with treasure back to our lair. Anything that caught any eye was fair game — and with each of us in possession of a library card, the 25 book limit was hardly limiting. With piles next to each sofa and bed, on tables and desks, we whiled away many hours. This is how we fell in love, picked our favorites, saved our pennies, and built a library of our own.

This list is the result of my effort to select a few of our favorite authors and illustrators. It is far from exhaustive, but these are the voices and visions that, I believe, no homeschool should be without.

1. Roald Dahl

Dahl is like family, the goofy uncle who tells wild, vivid tales that make you laugh. Many of his stories are now part of the culture and have been made into film (Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Witches), but you would be missing some glorious fun if you skipped the books. His eccentric imagination and his flair for finding the humor and the horror in comic tragedy make each story a delicious romp. Dahl’s language and his names are tailor-made for children. He has given us poetry (Revolting Rhymes), autobiography (Boy), fantasy (The Minpins), and many stories distinctively Dahl (The BFG, The Twits, George’s Marvelous Medicine). This in addition to his wonderful writing for adults (another forum, perhaps). Dahl holds a place of honor on our shelves and is read by the whole family.

2. Lloyd Alexander

The Chronicles of Prydain series is a great place to dive into Lloyd Alexander’s fantasy oeuvre. There is a warm, earthy quality to these tales that makes them more accessible than Tolkien, but no less thrilling. We find humor and whimsy alongside the grandeur and epic storytelling, making for memorable reading. Time Cat, The Westmark Trilogy, The Iron Ring — these and many more illustrate Alexander’s wonderful ability to weave history, mythology, and fantasy into an intriguing tapestry.

3. Shel Silverstein

A renaissance man of sorts, Silverstein was a writer, artist, musician, and songwriter (remember “Sylvia’s Mother”?) who has left treasure in his wake. His charming collection of, often, puerile poetry is a delight to readers of all ages. A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends display both his witty illustrative hand and his humorous and often moving way with words, while The Giving Tree is a provocative fable for all of us. Silverstein has managed to weave third-grade humor with meaning and intellect, creating lasting literature. His art conjures Jules Feiffer while his language could be a relative of Bill Watterson’s Calvin.

4. Laura Ingalls Wilder

Famed and beloved for her Little House series, Wilder is probably not a new name to anyone reading this. Her clear-eyed depiction of a pioneer girl is brought to life by Garth Williams’ energetic illustrations. Laura’s day-to-day reality is somewhat exotic yet accessible to modern kids, making these books fun to read and educational. These stories inspire numerous projects — food, music, crafts and more, and have spawned many companion books. They also remind young people of the deprivation that came before our current era of plenty (for most) and, hopefully, encourage gratitude. (Interesting aside — it has been asserted that Laura’s daughter, Rose, was actually the main author of these books. Read The Ghost in the Little House: A Life of Rose Wilder Lane, by William Holtz.)

5. Cynthia Rylant

Rylant has given us, along with a host of brilliant illustrators, a wealth of material from which to choose. From the Newberry winning novel, Missing May, to the autobiographical picture book, When I Was Young in the Mountains — from the charming Thimbleberry Stories to her many series (Poppleton, Henry and Mudge, Mr. Putter and Tabby, to name a few), Rylant is fabulously prolific and adept at finding the lovely notes in life. She gives us convincing and quirky animal characters as well as sympathetic young people grappling with all manner of real-world challenges. I know of few writers who so successfully navigate the worlds of fantasy and reality, alternately. Toddlers love her and will be reading her as teens — and I shall happily check in with Mr. Putter and Tabby for the rest of my life.

6. Chris van Allsburg

It’s difficult to say which of this author/illustrator’s formidable talents is the stronger. His stories are inventive and fascinating while his illustrations are gorgeously detailed. To have both story and art be so powerful is a rare thing and makes his books collectible. Three of them, The Polar Express, Jumanji, and Zathura have been adapted to film, with varying results. However, don’t miss the lesser known titles — Two Bad Ants, The Widow’s Broom, The Wretched Stone, and more. All of his stories quickly and nimbly create an irresistible atmosphere, allowing the reader to fall in. It’s always a pleasure for all ages.

7. Dr. Seuss

Theodor Seuss Geisel is so much a part of the fabric of children’s literature, I almost didn’t include him here. It seemed too obvious. Upon reflection, however, I had to. Dr. Seuss has given us over 60 children’s books and a world of delight. He has shepherded countless youngsters into a life of reading with wit, rhyme, and a goofy spin on language. He encourages responsible stewardship of the planet, kindness in our relationships, and general joie de vivre. The Cat in the Hat, the Grinch, the Whos, Horton, Sam-I-Am — these iconic characters and many others will live on for generations to come, making Seuss’ books staples for all young readers.

8. Graeme Base

Like Chris van Allsburg, Base is a superb illustrator who tells a mean story. His illustrations are lush and richly detailed, bolstering his imaginative storytelling. Animalia has become somewhat of a classic and, with its creative spin on the traditional alphabet book, has captured the attention of all ages. The Eleventh Hour and The Sign of the Seahorse show Base in fine author/illustrator form. I could recite passages from both, as I was asked to read them so often they became part of the fabric of our literary life. With prologue, two acts, epilogue, maps, music, rhyme and a cast list, The Sign of the Seahorse (with the campy subtitle, “A Tale of Greed and High Adventure in Two Acts”) makes grand fun of musical theatre and has been staged as an opera with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Base’s native Australia. When read aloud, there is much opportunity for high drama, making Base a winning choice.

9. E. B. White

Impossible to ignore, White’s contribution to children’s literature is seemingly small, but invaluable. Stuart Little, Charlotte’s Web, and The Trumpet of the Swan represent the sum total of his juvenile offerings. They are, however, head and shoulders above most and have, rightfully, captivated generations of readers. He has also given us an updated version of Strunk’s classic writing manual, The Elements of Style, which comes in very handy when guiding young readers into the writing life. Add to this his wonderful body of essays, which delight and instruct teen readers as well as adults, and White is an author we should all have on our shelves.

10. Jane Yolen

This award-winning author has been called the Hans Christian Andersen of America and the Aesop of the 20th century. With over 300 books to her credit, she has run the gamut of children’s literature with picture books (Piggins is a favorite), short stories, poetry, and novels (graphic and otherwise). She also gave us Wizard’s Hall — a novel about a boy named Henry who goes to wizard school where a dark wizard is trying to destroy the school — redheaded friend, pictures that move and speak. Sound familiar? And this years before J.K. Rowling penned her magnum opus. Yolen is impossible to dismiss. My kids especially loved the Young Merlin trilogy, but don’t stop there.

It’s difficult to conclude this list without a mention of others — Madeleine L’Engle, Dianna Wynne Jones, Maurice Sendak, C.S. Lewis — where to stop? There is such a wealth of literature, children’s and otherwise, just waiting. The more you sample, the richer your homeschooling journey will be — and it’s all such delicious fun, why not grab one today? And throw some at everyone around you, too — it’s good for them.