Childhood reading

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

I recently finished a book called The Child That Books Built, by Francis Spufford. In general I didn't care for the book all that much - I disliked the author's tone, for one thing - but it's always intriquing to see what books a grown man or woman will remember as being especially powerful and formative during their childhood. Spufford makes particular mention of the Narnia books, The Hobbit, Alice in Wonderland ... and that got me thinking about my own favorites.

 
The first book I can remember reading and taking particular note of was Amelia Bedelia, that perennial classic. I have retained my love of wordplay to this day! From there I moved on to two series that kept me occupied for years: Little House on the Prairie and Nancy Drew. Both influenced my play as a child - my dad made me a miniature covered wagon, and my mom sewed me a bonnet, and I played 'Laura Ingalls Wilder' for many a happy afternoon. And when I was tired of being a pioneer girl, I'd go to my detective agency (set up in the corner of the garage) and solve dangerous and exciting cases, like Who Forgot To Feed the Fish This Morning?

For some reason, most of the other children's classics I happened upon much later in life. I was in my mid-teens before I discovered Lord of the Rings, or Anne of Green Gables or even Narnia.

What books do you remember from your childhood?

Comments

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Oh I remember being read Amelia Bedelia in school.

I remember a lot of books, but I'm not sure which ones influenced my thinking/playing habits. I know that reading The Pratt Twins (http://www.amazon.com/The-Pratt-Twins-Volumes-1-6/dp/B000EPRBD0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230693976&sr=8-3) books (I had to look them up to even know that name...) made me wish I was a twin (who doesn't want to be a twin as a child?) so I could switch places and such.

I read Cam Jansen, various Ramona books, and many of the Babysitters Club series. I preferred the ones where they were away at beach houses for the summer and stuff. :)

I'll add you to the drawing!

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

I loved Ramona! And ... what's his face ... SUPERFUDGE!

[moredetails.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah I read those. :)

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

I still read them now and then. :)

[augustine.livejournal.com]

Actually...I don't remember that many. lol

Charlotte's Webb, James and the Giant Peach, Matt Christopher books, and some others, but I don't have that great of a memory as far that is concerned.

Also, the ten-volume The Bible Story set.

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

I know I read both, but James and the Giant Peach made a much bigger impression, for some reason. I can still remember those glowworms!

[augustine.livejournal.com]

I can't remember anything, to be honest. I just remember reading James and the Giant Peach. :-)

I still do remember parts of Charlotte's Web, though.

But I can't remember much of either.

[kellchecker.livejournal.com]

The Ramona books, the American Girls books (I was a fan of those when there were only Kirsten, Samantha and Molly!), the Mandie books, Encyclopedia Brown, Grandma's Attic, Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Boxcar Children.

I'm sure there are others. I was a total bookworm. I liked to read more than I liked to do anything else.

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Samantha was always my favorite, because she got the prettiest dresses. :)

[kellchecker.livejournal.com]

Oh yes...Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little. And Little Women. :-)

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Little Women was another one that I didn't read until I was a teenager. I wish I'd found it sooner!

[chestnutcurls.livejournal.com]

The Ramona books (well, anything by Beverly Cleary) and the Baby-Sitters Club were my favorites. My friend and I used to pretend we were Ramona at recess. :) I also read Sweet Valley and Sleepover Friends, and I LOVED Lois Lowry - the Anastasia books, and Autumn Street, which is kind of a mature book for kids, actually. Like you, I didn't read a lot of the "classics" until I was older. I hit my big L.M. Montgomery phase in college and read almost everything she ever wrote (still haven't gotten hold of the journals, though).

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Mmm, I've yet to read the journals as well. They seem pretty hard to find, for some reason. =\

[jennymae.livejournal.com]

Hm. I'm not sure how much the books I read as a child influenced my play (I didn't have much of an imagination...I still don't LOL), but I do have fond memories of Little House, Little Women, Grandma's Attic, Beverly Cleary books, Boxcar Children (oops, I still read those! LOL), and the Anne books.

Going back to when I was younger, Goodnight Moon and A Day on the Farm were two of my favorites. LOL Oh yeah, and Amelia Bedilia.

When we were growing up, we kids (well, mostly my older brother and me) would fold clothes while Mom read books aloud to us. That's how I was introduced to the Anne books, Little Women, Hidden Rainbow by Christmas Carol Kauffman, Journey Through the Night, Johnny Tremain, Rifles for Watie, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Across Five Aprils, etc. It's a good thing Mom did that though otherwise I would've read very, very little from when I was 3rd-6th grade.

Fun question, Marie!

[eattheolives.livejournal.com]

Isn't it sad that I only read The Witch of Blackbird Pond for the first time last year?!