An Old Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott: This is one of my favorites. If you like Little Women, you should read this book. It's the story of Polly Milton, an old fashioned girl who comes to visit her modern city friend Fanny and her family. Fanny's family has a lot of problems and Polly is a sweet and happy influence on them. There are some beautiful love stories and wonderful messages about the power of family, friendship and girl power.
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett : This may not seem like a very happy story, but it definitely is an inspirational one. I loved reading it again. For anybody unfamiliar with the story, Sara Crewe is the daughter of a rich young man who comes to live at a boarding school and is treated like a princess. Something happens that completely changes her life for the worse and she has to decide that through everything, she can be a princess inside and persevere.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: Trust me, as good as the movies are, the book is better. I have read this book several times and each time I read it, I am better for it. There are so many beautiful messages. The characters are so real and wonderful. There is a lot in the book that the movie leaves out. If you are unfamiliar with this story, it is the story of four sisters coming of age while their father is away serving in the Civil War.
Little Men by Louisa May Alcott: The continuation of Little Women. This is the story of Plumfield and the school that Jo and Professor Bhaer set up. All of the March family make appearances too, but the story is really about Jo and Fredrick and their family, including the boys and girls at the school that they treat as their own. One of these boys is an out-of-control boy of the streets and the mother/son relationship that develops between him and Jo is really beautiful.
Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott : Another continuation of the March/Bhaer/Lawrence/Brooke family. Now Plumfield has become a small little college. The children of Jo, Meg, and Amy are in their teens or young adulthood. Jo is a little more preachy in this book, but still it is a wonderful story, with a redemption story-line that is truly beautiful!
Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter : If you don't know this story, it's about a little girl who made up the glad game, looking for something to be glad about no matter what happens. Disney's Pollyanna is one of my top five favorite movies of all time, but the book is pretty different and goes through more of her interactions with the townspeople and the hearts she helped change, and also spends a lot of time when Pollyanna's life is changed and the game becomes very difficult to play.
Heidi by Johanna Spyri: This was a delight to read again. Makes me want to visit the Swiss Alps. This book just makes you feel good! It's the story of a little girl who goes to live with her grandfather in the Swiss Alps and immediately falls in love with the wildflowers and the goats her grandfather keeps. She ends up having to leave for a time and befriends a crippled sick girl named Klara. It is a beautiful story about home, friendship and the healing power of nature.
Pat of Silver Bush by L.M. Montgomery: This is another wonderful story by L.M. Montgomery. The heroine is Patricia Gardner, a girl who loves her home and family more than anything and is terribly afraid of change. (remind you of anyone you know?) It is a great read as she grows up and faces inevitable changes in her life and adapts. It's a lovely story!
Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery: This is another book I have read at least a dozen times and I can't put it down each time. I love this story so much! The heroine is Jane Stuart, a pre-teen girl who lives with her sweet but spineless mother and her overbearing grandmother. She is constantly made to feel stupid by everyone except her mother, and has zero confidence. She believed all her life that her father was dead, and then learns that her parents are in fact separated and her dad lives on Prince Edward Island. Her life changes forever for the better when her dad writes and asks that Jane come stay with him for the summer.
Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott: Another sweet lesser-known book by Louisa May Alcott. Rose is an orphan who is sent to live with her father's brother, Alec. This is one of Alcott's book that really lets the father character shine as Uncle Alec is a wonderful presence in Rose's life and he helps her to become a happy, healthy young lady. She also lives within walking distance of all of her father's sisters, who have all boys. There are eight cousins overall, with Rose being the only girl. This is a wonderful story and also has a sequel "Rose in Bloom"
Raggedy Ann Stories by Johnny Gruelle: This was a quick, fun, nostalgic little read. Just a sweet little book about Raggedy Ann and the adventures she has with her little mamma Marcella and all of her doll friends. My mom used to read these stories to me (and most of the others listed here) and I loved reading them again.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett: Out of all the books I read, I think this is the one I most enjoyed rereading again. I need to read it every spring, it does me so much good. If you don't know the story, it is about a spoiled, sickly little girl from India who comes to live with her uncle in England after her parents die. After she finds out about a mysterious secret garden that no one has been in for 10 years, she is determined to find it. As Spring happens and the world outside begins to bloom, Mary finds herself blooming as well. I really needed to read this book this spring. It has done me so much good!
There were a few other children's picture books I loved when I was a girl that I read "Baby Dear" "Where did the Baby go?" "First Delights" and "My Favorite Things."
