Nan Gilbert (1908–1988)

This book came out in 1963, and while the some of the attitudes and language might seem a little dated when read today, the situations are timeless. Debbie, Kay and Ellen (the narrator and main character) are three 17 year-old high school seniors who have never had a date. While at first they seems to not care, it's apparent that they care very much and they try to do something about it. This book is written with tenderness and the writer is gifted in young adult fiction. I liked this book very much and I think it will appeal to teenagers.… (more)

This children's book is a lovely trip back in time to a simpler era. It tells a year's worth of bedtime stories about the children who live on What-a-Jolly Street. There are tales with morals, where the children learn lessons; there are also tales just for fun. Some of the tales include Mrs. Apricot, a kindly old spinster who lives on the street and serves as the adopted grandmother for all of the children. She tells stories about her childhood on the frontier, and her travelling friend Tumbleweed Tommy. There are also some stories which explain American holidays, and several featuring the various pets of the children (which include a monkey named Beppo and a parrot named Hustle-Bustle). These tales are not as dated as you would expect, dealing with timeless issues such as honesty and cooperation. I heartily reccommend finding a copy and reading it with your own children!… (more)