I was chatting with a young mom the other day and I mentioned the classic Little Bear books by Else Holmelund Minarik. She hadn’t heard of them and why would she? They were written in 1957!

That got me thinking about classic kids’ books and how many of them will be lost in the shuffle of newer, flashier works. That would be a shame, because great children’s literature is timeless. It captures important themes such as love, friendship, and the wonder that is childhood. It explores some of life’s challenges like fear, jealousy or anger. And it presents these themes to children in simple, but captivating stories.

There will always be new books to read–and some of them will be quality works. But here is my effort to list some of the great work of the last fifty or sixty years so we don’t miss out on some wonderful writing for children.

Let’s start with the Little Bear books by Else Minarik. Minarik was born in Denmark and immigrated to the U.S. at age four. She taught first graders during WWII and wrote more than forty children’s books. Her first five Little Bear books were illustrated by the wonderful Maurice Sendak. The sixth, Little Bear and the Marco Polo, was written in 2010 near the end of Minarik’s life and was illustrated by Dorothy Doubleday. The themes of the books are loving family relationships, courage, friendship and adventure. Little Bear can always count on the warm welcome of a loving home and family.

Look for these titles: Little Bear, A Present for Little Bear, Father Bear Comes Home, Little Bear’s Friend, Little Bear’s Visit, A Kiss for Little Bear and Little Bear and the Marco Polo.

Here is another series that is worth finding.

Russell and Lillian Hoban, a husband and wife author and illustrator did the delightful Frances books. In titles like Bread and Jam for Frances, Bedtime for Frances and A Bargain for Frances, the Hobans explored the relationships of this badger family when Frances refuses to eat her dinner, procrastinates at bedtime and becomes jealous of her baby sister. You can’t help but love Frances and her antics which play out in the safe environment of her little badger family.

Hoban, the son of Jewish immigrants, was born in 1929. He wrote in a wide variety of genres including science fiction, fantasy, mainline fiction and poetry in addition to his children’s stories. He moved to London in 1969 where he lived until his death in 2011.

Next time you visit the library, take the time to find Little Bear and Frances. You and your children will be glad you did.