“I should write a post about my favorite childhood books. Not current/new children’s books that are good, but ones I grew up reading,” I thought over and over the last several days as our little family read Matilda each night before bed.
Fast-forward to this week, when I found out The Giver has been made into a movie that comes out this year, and the deal was sealed. So without further ado, and in absolutely no particular order…
My Favorite Childhood Books, as Recalled A Decade or Two Later
- {Every babysitters club book ever written, by Ann M. Martin} I literally belonged to the club and got all sorts of monthly goodies from the BSC gals. We were like BFFs.
- The Giver, by Lois Lowry
- Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Richard Atwater My mom would have to clarify, and maybe they were just at a formative time – but I’m pretty sure this, Matilda, and Island of the Blue Dolphins were read a dozen times each. :)
- Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry
- Matilda, by Roald Dahl
- Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell
- Indian in the Cupboard (Series), by Lynne Reid Banks
- Night, by Elie Weisel
- Poetry Collections by Shel Silverstein. I can still recite so many from A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends!
- The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
- Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen
- To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
- The Ramona Series, by Beverly Cleary (which we’re starting with the girls now that Matilda is finished!)
- The BFG, by Roald Dahl
- The Eleventh Hour, by Graeme Base
- Motel of the Mysteries, by David Macaulay
I did not get into the American Girl books or Judy Blume’s Fudge series, Goosebumps and the Scary Stories type, or the slightly-too-old-for-me Sweet Valley High/Twins. Also, there are so many more that could have gotten an “Honorable Mention” because I remember them fondly (other Judy Blume books, the Wayside School and Ralph S. Mouse series’, Bridge to Terabithia and Maniac McGee to name a few) but I don’t remember reading them over and over. And for what it’s worth – The Chronicles of Narnia books, notably missing from this list, I didn’t read until High School.
Did I forget any of your favorites? :)
Sharen
My favorites:
The Box Car Children
Wind in the Willows
Sweet Pickles
Little House on the Prairie (series)
Dear Mr. Henshaw
Ones that we both love:
BFG
To Kill a Mockingbird
Babysitters Club
All of Judy Blume
All of Beverly Clearly
Jennifer Kaufman
You know, I either never heard of (or in the case of a few) never got into those! I did watch Little House with my mom, though, after school. LOVED that! :)
dilemmamike
My favorite movie of all time is “The Neverending Story” I have made it a goal to read it this year, since I’ve never actually read the book.
Jennifer Kaufman
Excellent choice! I have read the book and actually enjoyed it more than the movie. Have fun with that one, it’s a great pick for just that :)
Theresa H
I did not read that many books over and over as a kid but I loved: Cheaper By the Dozen (and Bells On Their Toes)
Judy Blume…all of them
Black Beauty
The Borrowers
Little Women (the only book I can, with certainty, say that I read over and over (I still do))
A few books became favorites in high school and I will reread them every once in awhile:
To Kill A Mockingbird
The Great Gatsby
What I love most about the book selections today is that there are SOOO many awesome, and well written, pre-teen, teen books. There wasn’t much to choose from when I was young and I am actually enjoying some of the teen fiction as an old lady!!
Jennifer Kaufman
Theresa, so great to “see” you here! :) I loved your additions – and I too really enjoy that there are still plenty of good YA books to read. Sometimes it’s the perfect choice for our busy lifestyles!