Please help with children's book title from the 80's
 

Hi,

When I TRAVEL to see my little nephews, I would like to purchase some books as gifts. There is a book that I LOVED as a child...something about two sisters, and one ends up with a birthday cake in her face...I believe one of the sisters was named Lidia. Darn, I can picture the illustrations, but can't come up with the name. I know its a vague, randome questions, but I also know this is a well-read bunch!

Thanks!

Errr....or maybe it was Lonnie, or Libby and Monica? Ahhh...it's on the tip of my tongue!

LOL! I have no clue :D

Don't ya just hate when something is on the "tip of your tongue"?!?

Is it this?

http://tinyurl.com/9veop

Thanks seetheworld, it is actually not Ramona and Beezus (although I remember loving those books too!). It was a children's picture book about two sisters fighting (I think their names were the title of the book), and somehow a cake get thrown in the air and lands on them. I just emailed my Mom and sister...so maybe I'll get some more clues.

Thanks again!

here's where we need a librarian !
but on another note, I don't know how old your nephews are, but I bought mine the Flat Stanley book that comes with the small Flat in the back that you punch out and take him on travels and take photos of him and send them to the kids, they get to have a photo album / scrapbook of Flat's travels, learn some geography, an interest in travel, and of course, Flat is "flat" and can easily be mailed to people in an envelope to go on many adventures.

There is a thread on the US site, if you search "Flat Stanley".... the kids I have given it to from ages 4-10 have really enjoyed it and have quite a collection of photos, etc.

Otherwise, I'll keep my brain working on the book you are looking for also !

One of my favorites is "Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters"

AZ, if you find out the title of the book, please let us know!

if interested, www.flatstanley.com or google and there are lots of web sites too.

My new favorite: anything with Puddle & Toot.

Could it be Faye and Dolores (I don't know how to underline titles)?

I cannot help but wonder that if you TRAVELED to a library, would your chances of finding your answer increase?

I tried on google and amazon using various keywords - either with or without Lidia. No luck. How much wine did you have with dinner tonite?

Go here:

http://forums.abebooks.com/abesleuthcom

They are amazing for being able to come up with the titles of books based on very little info!

My favorites are:

The Giving Tree

Where The Wild Things Are

Oh The Places You'll Go

Eloise


and the one with the kid drawing his experiences. I think it is also Shel Silverstein.

I think the one with the kid drawing is called Harold and the Purple Crayon - or something like that.

oh come back and tell us if you found the name of the book and if not , the boys ages and you'll get lots of good book ideas...!

You can usually call the local librarian in charge of the childrens/juvenile literature; they are a font of information.

That's it!

Harold and the Purple Crayon!

I think a lot of these childrens authors were dropping a lot of acid.

A hilarious one is "Walter the Farting Dog" My little nephew looves that and his uncle does too!

Post the question on the forum dsquared suggested. That site is amazing!

Here are some sibling books that might ring a bell. You might want to look them up online since some are series and I didn't list all the titles, but also remember that older books have often been published more recently with new illustrations. Hope this helps!

*Charlie and Lola books
*Big Sister, Little Sister, by LeUyen Pham
*Frances books
*Big Sister, Little Sister, by Charlotte Zolotow
*Sisters, by David McPhail
*Little Sister, Big Sister, by Pat Brisson

Thanks so much for all the advice and book opinions! I posted a message at the abebooks site that you recommended!

My nephews are 4 and <1year...trying to find books that the 4 year-old will grow to read and love and easier books that he can then read to his little bro and his parents can read to him.

Thanks!!!

Well, based on that latest information, consider "Good Dog, Carl" and the other Carl books by Alexandra Day. It's exactly what you described - the perfect book for a 4 year old to "read" to the 1 year old sibling. No text. Wonderful introduction to front to back, top to bottom, left to right progression.

Check it out on amazon.com AND read the review by the parent describing how the 3.5 year old "reads" it to the little one! :-)

Here are two favorites from when my kids were little:

"The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear" by Audrey and Don Wood - perfect for the ages of your nephews - funny, colorful illustrations, and a cute story.

"Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" By Judi and Ron Barrett - This would be good for the four-year-old - a whimsical, imaginative story with humorous drawings.

Aha!

Monnie hates Lydia
by Susan Pearson

I guess its out of print, but looks like I can pick up a used copy on Amazon.

Again, thanks for all your ideas!!!

"Alfie and Annie Rose" are a charming series of books written by Shirley Hughes. Alfie is the big brother, about 5 years old, and Annie Rose is the little sister who he teaches about life, at least life as he knows it. All the books have beautiful illustrations and concepts that are perfect for preschoolers.

LOVE Walter the Farting Dog!! That was a Caldecott (sp?) winner, you know.

So glad you found it !!! Congratulations and it was a fun thread you started, hope your nephews like the book !

Just to give you all a heads up, here is the best thing to do when you don't have the name, the author, but have an idea of the plot, time frame, level etc.

Don't use google and/or Amazon for this kind of search. It puts you into the frankly material and merchandising and isn't anywhere near complete.

There is a huge database in the USA called NOVELIST that is free in IL but also in other states or through your local library. The free link is through your library.

You enter the plot, possible era, main character whatever and it will give you all the books that relate. You can limit it to children's reading, juvenile, adol. or adult fiction etc. etc. etc. as well.

I just went to the site and tried to send a link, but I can't. It's for sale to academia etc. and if I did they would have to kill me, I guess.

But ask your local librarian about the Novelist database.

They have a category where you can put in: I love- (say you put down the author Patterson, James) and that will give you lists of "read-alikes" in similar styles and gendres, as well.