The Kindergarten Canon
by Stacey
My dear friend Lindsey sent me a link this week. She wrote, “Have you seen this? It made me think of you.”
I love that a beautiful collection of picture books made Lindsey think of me. That made me smile.
And then the list made me smile even more.
Michael Petrilli, the Executive Vice President of the Thomas Fordham Institute, wrote a post titled The Kindergarten Canon in which he collected, all the titles, old and new, that he believed each and every pre-schooler should know.
I am proud to say that I have read 96 out of the 100 titles.
How about you?
I have not read Goggles by Ezra Jack Keats, Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire, The Story About Ping by Margorie Flack & Kurt Wiese and Tootle by Gertrude Crampton & Tibor Gergley.
And of course, while this is a gorgeously amazing list, I have to mention a few that I would add.
Maryann Hoberman’s Seven Silly Eaters, Jane O’Connor’s Fancy Nancy, Bonny Becker’s A Visitor for Bear, Phillip Stead’s A Sick Day for Amos McGee and on and on and on…
And you? What would you add to this fantastic list?
So glad you liked the list! I did too. I smiled reading it, and rode waves of nostalgia. I adore the Seven Silly Eaters, too. xox
I found his definition of a canon fairly interesting. I think he failed to acknowledge that his list is actually very narrowly focused on a specific cultural and ethnic audience (white and American in this case). That doesn’t necessarily negate the list, but it might be more useful if the list is not presented as universal. Of course, that’s pretty much a problem with any list — and I make plenty of my own lists, too! That’s my two cents about that. Of course maybe I’m just miffed because I’ve never read Moby Dick, so according to the author I am culturally illiterate. 🙂 Otherwise, I’m happy to report I’ve read almost every book on the list. Hooray! Thanks for linking up to The Children’s Bookshelf.
Oh yes, The Seven Silly Eaters should definitely be added…I adore that book!
What a lovely list. Thanks for sharing it with us and for linking up to The Children’s Bookshelf!
That certainly is a beautiful and comprehensive list.
I often wish there were more modern books featured in lists such as these. Over the past two years, since working on MLB, I’ve come across the most delightful new-release books but they barely get a look in next to classics.
I must admit though, that it is lovely for parents to share their favourite childhood books with their own children, but I’d like to see them explore some newer releases too.