What books did you love reading as a child?

[asha]

Thanks all of you ladies for recommending books to me. I am sure, I have enough to read for a while. I appreciate it very much.

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I am talking the kind that you will go out and buy for your DC, the kind that you have/would like to preserve for the next generation.

I did not grow up in America and English was not my first language growing up, so I am not very familiar with most of the childhood books/ classics that kids here grow up with.

I would like to read some of these books before DS can read them. So, please tell me which books you loved reading as a child. It would be great of you can list the age range for the book too.

Thanks so much.

[Tondi G]

The Giving Tree
The Velveteen Rabbit

I'll post more when I can get into the kids room to check out the bookshelf! DS is napping!

~Tondi
Mommy to Mason 7/8/01 and Aidan 5/4/05

[heidiann]

The giving tree was one of my most favorite books to read to my children.
I remember reading a book every christmas from the time I was very small, it was called ERIC SND THE CHRISTMAS HORSE. I can not however find this book anywhere. I've searched everywhere i could think but keep coming up with nothing.

Heidi

[kedss]

Frog and Toad books, by Arnold Lobel
Little Bear
Dr. Seuss books!!!
Eric Carle books, 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' etc

for older kids:

the Narnia Chronicles, CS Lewis
Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys
Madeleine L'Engle- A Wrinkle in Time series
Judy Blume!!


ETA:

The 'If you give a mouse a cookie' series!! Love these :)
and one of my preschool classes favorite books:

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer
We read it so many times, they had it memorized! :) they were four!

Here's a link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062051857/102-1005807-4760111?v=glance&n=283155

and of course, the 'Winnie the Pooh' books!!

[Rachels]

I Am a Bunny
Goodnight Moon
Blueberries for Sal
Strega Nona
Make Way for Ducklings
The Snowy Day
Whistle for Willie

and new favorites we've discovered and will keep forever:

Wishes for You
Baby Hearts and Baby Flowers
Ten Sleepy Sheep

-Rachel
Mama to Abigail Rose
5/18/02
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Nursed for three years!

and Ethan James
10/19/05
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"When you know better, you do better."
Maya

[mykidsmom]

All the Shel Silverstein books, especially Where the Sidewalk Ends and The Giving Tree

[mudder17]

I'll second the Chronicles of Narnia--I'm in the middle of rereading them even now!

I loved Shel Silverstein as well and Dr. Seuss!

And yes, some day I will be reading the Giving Tree and the Velveteen Rabbit to DD.

Oh, I forgot--for somewhat older kids, Encyclopedia Brown and even older, Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. Oh, and Judy Blume books.

Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif for Leah
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Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[crayonblue]

I loved Frog and Toad! I would guess I was about 3 or 4 when my mom read them to me. I like reading Berenstain Bears to Lauren and she is 2.

My mom started reading novels to me at a very young age (maybe 5). Little Women, Little Men, Black Beauty, Chronicles of Narnia, Anne of Green Gables, etc. I developed a love of reading that I hope to pass on to Lauren. I think 5 is probably young for these books but some kids will sit and listen.

[chiqanita]

Oh I love books!

I think most of these are for K-2 but I'm sure older and younger would enjoy.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE is my all time favorite!

Harold and His Purple Crayon

Curious George

Aesops Fables

Mother Goose stories

Little Women when I was in 3rd or 4th grade

There are more but these are some that come to mind right away.

[brittone2]

Wishes for You brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. I learned about it here on the boards. It also seems like it will be an appropriate book for a long time to come :)

[brittone2]

Lots of ones that come to mind have already been mentioned.

For older kids, I'd definitely second or third Ann of Green Gables and Little Women.

I was a horse-lover and horse-owner and so I loved The Black Stallion series. I have fond memories of reading those with my dad. The author, Walter Farley, actually lived and wrote near where I grew up so it had that significance for me too.

[saschalicks]

I still remember the feeling of being in pre-school and having the teacher read "Where the Wild Things Are". To this day it holds an extra special place in my heart. I also really loved the Francis books esp "Francis Eats Jam" (I think that's the name) HTH

[Dcclerk]

In the very recent past, I was obsessed with getting this old book, Where's Wallace. I'm convinced that Where's Waldo is a thinly disguised ripoff of this fabulous book, that I just bought a first edition of, because I needed to read the old school stuff.

[ctmom]

Where the Wild Things Are? is the one I remember my mom reading over and over...

She was also a big fan of Steven Kellogg so we had a bunch of his books. I bought my dd some #### and Jane learn to read books for christmas and when I opened them the childhood memories came back!

[crayonblue]

I loved the Francis books!

[mainepotato]

This might be it. HTH!
http://tinyurl.com/8j7zy
http://tinyurl.com/87cce

[pl71]

My absolute favorite book as a child was "Petunia" by Roger Duvoisin. It's about a goose who thinks she's smart just because she carries a book around with her. It's listed as being for ages 3-7. I taught myself to read with that book around age 4. I'm glad you posted this question because I need to order a copy for my DS!

I also love all the Dr. Seuss books which are also for pre-school.

As far as school age (age 8-12) books that boys would probably like, my favorites were the Black Stallion books (by Walter Farley) and anything by Jim Kjeljaard…he wrote a lot of books about dogs, mostly nature adventure stories where dog and his boy owner are best friends.

[mainepotato]

The Little House on the Prairie books were always special to me. I can't wait to share them with my girls. I also loved the original American Girl books. (I was around age 8-12 when I read these)

the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary
Encyclopedia Brown
Make Way for Ducklings
Beatrix Potter books

[ctmom]

this story is in The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury, although, I think, slightly abridged. We usually read at least one story from this book a day. This is a good book if you want quite a few "favorites" in one place.

[lmintzer]

I loved Richard Scarry (it's so fun to see Jack enjoying them). I also liked the Francis books, the Mister books, and later, a series called "The All of a Kind Family" (there were 4, I think) about a Jewish family growing up in New York in the early 1900s.

[jbowman]

I loved the Frog and Toad books! I also adored the Francis books, especially _Bread and Jam for Francis_!

[Coolamber]

Just an FYI if you find one your kids LOVE. I thought I had A copy of In A Peoples House, that I used to read to my Older Kids 15 and 17 years. I could not find it and finally had to order it a ebay because it was no longer in print. So if you find a book you love buy 2 and keep one saved.
Happy Reading,
Mollie

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[cmdunn1972]

My parents told me that "Goodnight Moon" has been my favorite since I was an infant. I still love the rhythm of the words, and I bought a hardbound copy for Sean.

We also loved "Where the Wild Things Are", "Winkin' Binkin' and Nod", "The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat", the "Berenstain Bears" books, the Richard Scarry books, or anything by Dr. Seuss.

We also had a whole bunch of "Little Golden Books", which were these really inexpensive (under $1) cardboard-bound minibooks featuring many popular titles. The titles are still there, but they don't seem to make that kind of binding anymore. (Board books might be the closest comparison, but they're more expensive than the "Little Golden Books" were.)

[kensjen]

Loved Little Golden Books! You can still get them, although now they are around $2.99. LOL! I just got Jonah a few of my favorites, they still have lots of the same titles, but also new ones like Thomas, etc. I have seen them at TRU, BRU, Christmas Tree shops, all of the bookstores, Walmart, etc. They are the same binding and also a list of all of the other titles on the inside of the back cover...just like the old days. ;) I had to get Jonah a couple of the Richard Scarry LGBs, loved them as a child.

[kedss]

I have been able to find the Little Golden Books at the used bookstores in town for between 25 and 75 cents! :)

[cmdunn1972]

Okay, see, now you just gave me an excuse to do more Christmas shopping for Sean! (Not that I needed one. ;) )

<<Makes mental note to buy LGBs for my baby>>

LOL Thank goodness they only cost $2.99 each, or my credit limit would be reached really fast! :P

[Corie]

Asha,

I actually posted a similar question about
a year ago. And, there were some terrific books
listed in the thread. :)
Here is a link to the thread.

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=37&topic_id=149020&mesg_id=149020&listing_type=search



This should give you some great books!!

[Saccade]

I'm sure we all have long lost favorite books that we can't search for because we no longer recall the title or author.

I stumbled upon this great bookstore, Loganberry Books, based in Cleveland. I think there was a recent story on this bookstore on NPR, too.

On the Web, the proprietor offers a sevice where you can (for $2.00) submit whatever details you remember, and the bookseller and other users chime in with guesses as to what it might be. Even if you don't pay to submit a book of your own, you can browse the archives of past requests and it will jog your memory in the most delightful way!

She has lots of out-of-print books also and will search for specific books.

Check it out on a cold winter's day and take a trip down memory lane...

Home page: http://loganberrybooks.com/default.html
"Stump the bookseller" new posts: http://loganberrybooks.com/stump.html
"Stump" solved archives: http://loganberrybooks.com/solved.html


ETA: Forgot to mention that the focus is on children's books.


-- Saccade

DS #1, 7/13/05
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[jbowman]

>I had to get Jonah a couple of the Richard Scarry
>LGBs, loved them as a child.

My MIL just brought Ellie a giant Richard Scarry LGB called "Best Mother Goose." It's a large book, nearly 100 pages and Ellie loves it! We have been reading it over and over (and over and over) for a week! Ellie also likes looking at the pictures and identifying the animals, etc.

[kfk]

Goodnight Moon, Where the Wild Things Are, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse, Bread and Jam for Francis, the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Madeline ("In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.").

For good read-aloud chapter books I still remember my dad reading us the Winnie the Pooh books by A.A. Milne when I was pretty small. Other great classics include: Peter Pan, the Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, Dr. Doolittle, Mary Poppins, the Wind in the Willows.

For older kids who still love being read to: Where the Red Fern Grows, A Wrinkle in Time (series), the Narnia books, and the Phantom Tollbooth.

[nicoleandjackson]

Anything by Shel Silverstein (but especially Where the Sidewalk Ends)--DS and I are reading this now
Any of the Mister books by Roger Hargreaves--any age; DS loves these too--we have 22 of them!
Anything by Sandra Boynton--any age
Anything by Dr. Seuss (but especially Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who, There's a Wocket in my Pocket, Hop on Pop)
Anything by Roald Dahl (but especially James & the Giant Peach)--chapter books, probably 2nd grade and up
Little Women and Little Men by Louisa May Alcott--chapter books, again
The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder--more chapter books
The Chronicles of Narnia Series, by C.S. Lewis--more chapter books

ETA:
ACK! Forgot my very favorite: The Fourteen Bears in Summer and Winter by Evelyn Scott

Nicole
Mommy of Jackson 4/30/02


Who's the Biggest Boy? It's Jackson!
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[MelissaTC]

I loved many of the books mentioned already but one I ADORED when I was 12- Up a Road Slowly by Irene Hunt. I bought myself a copy about 5 years ago when it was going out of print. You can find it in paperback but it is not the same cover. :( I love love love that book! It was the winner of the 1967 Newberry Medal.

I also really liked - Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing; Are You There God? It's Me Margaret; Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great; Tiger Eyes; Blubber - all by Judy Blume.

[Corie]

This is the coolest website! I am now addicted to
reading all the "Stump" archives! :)

I have a book stuck in my head that I may have to
post.

Thank you for sharing this awesome website!!

[Saccade]

Glad you like it. I read the WHOLE ARCHIVE one weekend, and started a huge list of books I must hunt down for DS (yeah, for him, just like Homer bought Marge that bowling ball...).

-- Saccade

DS #1, 7/13/05
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/eleeleabk20050713_-8_My+child+is.png[/img][/url]

[ellies mom]

You are so my favorite person this evening. This thread always makes me remember this book I loved as a child but of course I can't remember the title. I will have to check it out. Thanks a lot!!!

[Saccade]

Why don't you and Corie post your stumpers here too first -- it's free! :)

-- Saccade

DS #1, 7/13/05
http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/t/eleeleabk20050713_-8_My+child+is.png[/img][/url]

[crayonblue]

I can't believe I forgot the Little House books! I loved these and purchased the set a few years ago to re-read.

[heidiann]

tricia,
I just sent a pm to you.

Heidi
Mom to Jillian 10/20/05

[trumansmom]

I live about an hour and a half away from De Smet, South Dakota. I can't wait for the kids to get old enough to read the books and go see where she lived!

I love these!!

Jeanne
Mom to Truman 11/01 and Eleanor 4/04
Independent Consultant, Do-Re-Me & You!