... is a book that conjures your childhood self. Such treasures never grow old. (You neither.)Even if these weren't your "Read it again, Mommy!", under-the-covers-with-a-flashlight, back-seat-of-the-car (get off my side, bro!) -for-a-two-day-family-road-trip books, I guarantee they'll charm you and every kid (at heart) on your list this year.
My Top Ten Childhood Faves, in no particular order:
Go, Dog, Go! by P.D. Eastman. Can I get a puppy, please? How about now? Now? How about now?
A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle. Meg: Every bookish girl's role model, and a time-travel adventure to boot.
Horton Hears A Who by Dr. Seuss. I still think a person's a person no matter how small (or what the species!).
The Misty of Chincoteague series by Marguerite Henry. Can I get a pony? How about now? Best present ever: My parents took us to Chincoteague (Virginia) and we awoke at the crack of dawn one morning to meet a park ranger on a dawn beach walk WITH THE PONIES!!!! Still gets me a little choked up that my parents - not rich, but ever willing to invest in a roadtrip to expand our horizons - were that good to me.
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White. Oddly, although I loved Charlotte's Web as much as anybody else, this one's my favorite of his. And perhaps it's no surprise that I wound up living in a place where these swans winter every year and that watching them flying above me never, ever gets old.
The Encyclopedia Britannica. Yup. My parents - again: awesomeness on a stick they are/were - bought us the whole set and then set it on shelves in the dining room for most of my childhood. The go-to tomes for resolving dinner table "discussions". Habit of seeking knowledge to resolve conflict and banish ignorance: priceless.
Eight Is Enough for now, no? Oh, wait: That was a guilty-pleasure childhood TV show, not a book... But I'm leaving room for inspiration from everyone else on the hop today.
Here's to keeping the child in each of us right out front in our lives!
MFB,
L
Please get going now: Go get inspired by the childhood faves of terrific book bloggers everywhere. Visit The Top Ten Tuesday blog hop at The Broke and the Bookish!
7 comments:
There can be no substitute for the innocence of childhood and the happiness that brings, the ability to let your imagination run wild is priceless. To read without any pre styled reserve imposed by years of life, such a gift is fleeting but, to the memory, glorious.
Great list! I loved almost all of these as a child! You reminded me of a few I totally forgot about!
My Top Ten
I forgot about "What Do People Do All Day?" by Richard Scarry - I *loved* that book!
I can remember spending hours looking at Richard Scarry's Busy Town books. There was always something new to see if you looked carefully. Here is my list http://wp.me/pzUn5-GY
I like the breadth of your list. I didn't include any picture books, but I loved Richard Scarry.
David - Thank you for your continued presence and for your rich musings.
D, K, J, and R: Visited y'all and thoroughly enjoyed your lists (check your comments for specifics).
L: Loved your list too; we'll keep in touch!
I loved the Marguerite Henry books too - I think it was the gorgeously illustrated old hardcover copy of King of the Wind we inherited from my great-grandparents that got me hooked on her books. She actually lived in the town right across the river from where I grew up, and there was a pasture called "Misty's Pasture" preserved from when she kept her "Misty inspiration" pony there.
Great list!
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