What with all the baby shopping I've been doing lately, it was inevitable that sooner or later I would get to baby and children's books. That happened about a month ago and it kicked off a nostalgic wave. Since then I've been trolling Amazon and eBay looking for some of my childhood favourites, like the Complete Works of Beatrix Potter (ah, Peter Rabbit. So timeless!), and making new discoveries, like Kate Di Camillo's The Magician's Elephant (sob, so lovely) and The Tale of Despereaux (LOVE).
It's astounding, but I'd completely forgotten how much I love children's books. I read so much YA and adult but it's been months since I've read or reread a truly classic book for younger readers. I hadn't even realized I missed it.
And as I'm incorrigibly greedy about books, I want more. What were your childhood favourites? Found anything new and classic you'd recommend?
The Paper Bag Princess is a good one, as is The Little Train that Could. With three kids under the age of 6, I read a lot of children's books, but those are still my favorites.
Before my daughter was born I had already bought her over 100 books. I was determined that she would receive all the encouragement possible to become a lover of reading. I’ve mentioned many times that my parents were not readers but they did buy me books as a kid. The ones that I remember with most fondness are Enid Blyton’s retelling of the Brer Rabbit stories published by Dean. There are several books in the set and I made sure my daughter had a full set but my favourite book was The Brer Rabbit Book from 1963. It contains my favourite two stories, The Wonderful Tar-Baby and Mister Lion’s Soup which doesn’t even feature Brer Rabbit at all.
The World of Pooh (stories from the Hundred Acre Wood) and the World of Christopher Robin (poems by A. A. Milne) are a must. Also A Child Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson. And of course, most anything by Dr. Seuss. My favorites, The Cat in the Hat and Horton Hears a Who.
On top of the previous suggestions, my favorites were the Velveteen Rabbit and This is the House Where Jack Lives. I also loved the illustrations in the Mitten.
I loved Benjamin Bunny! I had cups and saucers with the Beatrix potter characters all over them. I still look back on those tiny books today and the memory makes me smile :o)
I loved Beatrix Potter, Alison Uttley and Enid Blyton and of course, Mary Norton. x
ReplyDeleteThe Paper Bag Princess is a good one, as is The Little Train that Could. With three kids under the age of 6, I read a lot of children's books, but those are still my favorites.
ReplyDeleteBefore my daughter was born I had already bought her over 100 books. I was determined that she would receive all the encouragement possible to become a lover of reading. I’ve mentioned many times that my parents were not readers but they did buy me books as a kid. The ones that I remember with most fondness are Enid Blyton’s retelling of the Brer Rabbit stories published by Dean. There are several books in the set and I made sure my daughter had a full set but my favourite book was The Brer Rabbit Book from 1963. It contains my favourite two stories, The Wonderful Tar-Baby and Mister Lion’s Soup which doesn’t even feature Brer Rabbit at all.
ReplyDeleteThe Mouse and the Motorcycle was always a favorite of mine.
ReplyDeleteI love the Moomin series of books--they were brilliant.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was little I read comic books. It's sad, but true. When I did start reading novels, I loved the Pony Club. :) Horses!
ReplyDeleteThe World of Pooh (stories from the Hundred Acre Wood) and the World of Christopher Robin (poems by A. A. Milne) are a must. Also A Child Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson. And of course, most anything by Dr. Seuss. My favorites, The Cat in the Hat and Horton Hears a Who.
ReplyDeleteMy kids love Goodnight Moon and The Mitten.
ReplyDeleteOn top of the previous suggestions, my favorites were the Velveteen Rabbit and This is the House Where Jack Lives. I also loved the illustrations in the Mitten.
ReplyDeleteBeatrix Potter was fantastic :)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I've awarded you the Versatile Blogger Award, so if you want to claim it just head over to my blog at www.nickhight.blogspot.com :)
I loved Benjamin Bunny! I had cups and saucers with the Beatrix potter characters all over them. I still look back on those tiny books today and the memory makes me smile :o)
ReplyDeleteMy kids cannot live without the Eric Carle Brown Bear, Brown Bear books. Or the Saundra Boynton. I can recite Moo, Baa, La, La, La! by heart!
ReplyDeleteI'm reading The Magicians Elephant right now. My favorite Kate DiCamillo book is The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Have you read it?
ReplyDeleteA few of my favorites growing up: The Lorax, Strega Nona, The Monster at the End of this Book.
Hmm... I loved Anne of Green Gables and Enid Blyton books!
ReplyDelete