“I need a list of New England kid books,” my brother-in-law wrote.
He’d booked a trip to his native corner of the US, and wanted to take his 10-year-old granddaughter.
A reader himself, Brian knew a good book would introduce my great-niece to a wonderful place.
He’d asked me about New England kid books just before COVID struck, so I resurrected the list.
My thoughts hadn’t changed.
Neither had the books.
A New England reading childhood
While I am a native of Southern California, I grew up reading children’s books set in New England.
During those years, many children’s stories were written by authors in that northeastern corridor.
I didn’t realize how New England kid books influenced me until I moved to Connecticut and could recognize things I’d never seen before. (Blueberries, snow, crashing waves in Maine, cobblestone Boston streets, and historic personalities!
I knew them from the books I savored–and they make up most of this list.
10 Great New England Kids Books–for all ages.
Picture Books
(Photo by Lori Pottinger)
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
The classic. And you can still visit the Boston Gardens–where the ducklings are immortalized in bronze.
My friend Lori just visited them!
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Surely you expected this one?
Too young for a 10-year-old, but a classic, nonetheless, along with the One Morning in Maine and Time of Wonder, sequels McCloskey wrote about his daughter.
I don’t think I’d ever eaten a blueberry until I discovered them growing on bushes in my yard.
But I love them now–and so do my two New England-native children!
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Who knew the story of Maine’s lupine flowers?
Gorgeous illustrations to match.
And like all these picture books, it’s a true story.
Other “local” picture books my children loved included Donald Hall’s Oxcart Man, and Virginia Lee Burton’s Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (Who could forget Mary Anne!) along with Katy and the Big Snow.
Colonial and Revolutionary War Era-stories
The Witch of Blackberry Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
I loved this story set near the Connecticut River in the 17th century. We lived not far in the 20th!
The novel gives a sense of life during that era, through the eyes of an innocent young woman.
At ten years old, my daughter finished this book in one plane ride!
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Set in Paul Revere’s silversmithy, this novel provided a wider understanding of Boston events leading up to the American Revolution.
Reading this book at about the same age as Johnny, made the Revolution more real–even kids were involved.
Other favorites
Many friends liked Carry on Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham.
Lori visited Mr. Bowditch’s grave this month, too!
I loved Elizabeth of the Mayflower–which taught me a lot about that voyage and the Pilgrim’s life. It’s not in print, but I found it years ago in a used bookstore.
Imagine my delight when I learned my friend Beth is a descendent of that very Elizabeth Tilley Howland. (She loved the book, too, when I gave it to her!)
19th Century New England Kid Books
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Everyone talks about this quintessential New England kid book–whether they liked it or not.
The perennial argument, of course, remains “Should Jo have married Laurie?”
My friend Rachel Dodge wrote a devotional based on the novel, which is perfect for Christian lovers of the book.
Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry
Did you know anything about the history of the all-American Morgan horse?
They “developed” the breed in Maine.
(Any book by Henry, of course, is excellent. They’re all about horses!)
20th Century New England Kid Books
Well, sort of. Some of these books started in the 20th century, but then moved on . . .
The Diamond in the Window by Jane Langton
One of my all-around favorite children’s novels, it tells the story of orphans hunting a family mystery in modern-day Concord.
But the mystery takes them back in time to local historical spots where I learned all about Transcendentalism (without knowing it!)
When my husband and I visited Concord several years ago, I knew exactly where I was because I’d read this book. “Let’s go visit Emily Dickinson’s house! She lived just around the corner . . . “
The Time Trilogy books of Madeleine L’Engle.
The star-gazing rock from A Wrinkle in Time and the other books in this series stood in L’Engle’s Connecticut backyard.
L’Engle centers most of her stories in her neighborhood, and I loved them all.
Other familiar books include E. B. White’s Charlotte’s Web (Vermont) and Stuart Little (Boston, again), as well as Oliver Buttersworth’s The Enormous Egg and The Trouble with Jenny’s Ear.
And the thing about classic books? They’re always good–and this list will introduce the children in your life to a beautiful, heritage-rich part of the United States.
Note for fall, 2021: Shipping is backed up. Buy now for Christmas! Many of these classic books are available at your local bookstore.
Tweetables
10 wonderful children’s books set in New England. Make way for ducklings and blueberries! Click to Tweet
10+ classic children’s books introducing New England–past and present. Click to Tweet
Another lovely New England setting picture story book by Barbara Rooney is ‘Letting Swift River Go’, about the communities lost by the creation of the Quabbin reservoir.
Thank you for the recommendation, Roscuro!