Howdy Bookworms!
It’s another glorious Tuesday and the folks from The Broke and the Bookish have asked the blogosphere to list some of their favorite childhood books. The problem with making a list of books that are childhood favorites is that I feel like I missed a ton of awesome books when I was a kid and spent all my time reading Sweet Valley Twins
and RL Stine (not that there’s anything wrong with those, per se, but I could have used more variety.) I’m putting together a mix of new and old faves because my name is Katie and I’m rebellious.
1. Mary Poppins 
by PL Travers (review): Oh the whimsy! I wish I hadn’t waited so long to read this book. Mary Poppins was one of my favorite movies as a kid and though the book was very different, it was a delight.
2. Mr. Popper’s Penguins
by Richard and Florence Atwater (review): Believe it or not, this book was NOT my gateway drug into penguins. I was obsessed with them already by the time I checked this out of the school library, but I still love the book. I bought a copy for my “nephew.” He was 3 at the time. I may have been a little over-excited.
3. Emily’s Runaway Imagination
by Beverly Cleary: This is the first book I remember reading purely for pleasure. I remember being completely bored one day and picking a book off the shelf. This was that book, and it was wonderful.
4. The Harry Potter 
Series by JK Rowling: I wish this had been around when I was a kid! I was late-ish to the craze, not getting in on it until after the first movie came out, but I still got to experience the exquisite agony of waiting for the remaining books to be released.
5. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
by Judy Blume (review): This book was the best thing my late blooming self ever read.
6. If You Were a Penguin
by Florence and Wendell Minor (review): My mother-in-law bought me this children’s book one Christmas and it is gorgeously illustrated. The authors were SO NICE when they ran across my review that they sent me their follow-up book If You Were a Panda Bear
along with a bunch of penguin stickers. So sweet!
7. Where the Sidewalk Ends
by Shel Silverstein: I remember my dad reading this to me and my sister at bed time and we’d just laugh and laugh. Good stuff.
8. Little Women
by Louisa May Alcott: I was 11 the first time I read this book and I’ve always loved it. Fun fact: part of the reason I was so excited to read this book is because Mary Ann from The Baby-Sitters Club
said it was her favorite book.
9. The P
hantom Tollbooth
by Norton Juster: I didn’t actually read this book until I was an adult, but it is SO whimsical and fun!
10. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
by Lewis Carroll: I’m kind of an Alice fangirl, I’ll admit. I adore this book. Curiouser and curiouser indeed!
Sound off Bookworms! What were some of your favorite books as a kid? What books do your kids like reading?
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Sarah's Book Shelves
I definitely spent all my time as a child reading SVH..and Babysitters Club and Nancy Drew and V.C. Andrews (a little older). I’m not really itching to revisit those so my Top10 list was actually a Top 5 list!
Ashley Z
Princess Bride! I just got though reading this to Emelia. She loved it! We are just starting on Mary Poppins!
Words For Worms
The Princess Bride was on the other night. Seriously one of the best book to movie adaptations ever.
Ashley Z
The best! I actually read her the book before she saw the movie. She told me yesterday she wants to marry Wesley. Then Dave had to show Caleb Andre the giant wrestling.
AMB
This is a great list! I’m going to refer to it the next time one of my kids asks, “What should I read now?” I love reliving childhood favorites through my children. It’s so much fun!
Happy belated birthday, by the way. I hope this will be an awesome year for you!
Rhian
I can’t remember back that far ;-).
A bit of a brain dump as things occurred to me, which covers up to early teens:
Trixie Beldon, Enid Blighton’s Naughtiest Girl and Magic Faraway Tree, Robert Cormier, Judy Blume, Winnie the Pooh.
I read a lot of my mum’s books and I remember reading Agatha Christie, Helen McInnes and some other spy author whose name escapes me at the moment (McSomething).
A particular memory is my first fantasy book – Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonsinger – when I was around 11 or 12.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
kristin @ my little heart melodies
Nice list! I picked Phantom Tollbooth and Where the Sidewalk Ends, too. And YES to R.L. Stine! I also devoured the V.C. Andrews Dollenganger Series in middle school.
Jancee @ Jancee Reads
I loved Sweet Valley High, BSC, and R.L. Stine. Oh, and Boxcar Children. Those made up the majority of my reading lists. But this is a great list as well. I’m kind of ashamed that I still haven’t read Phantom Tollbooth, even though I own a copy.
Cassie
Charlotte’s Web, James and the Giant Peach, and The Big Friendly Giant (BFG). My 2nd grade teacher read aloud one chapter of a children’s book each school day… Loved it!
Dana
I had a teacher that did that too and, I swear, it’s the fondest memory I have of elementary school.
Ciska @ Ciska's Book Chest
Penguin books!! love your choices. Am not really familiar with English children books might have to check a few of these out.
Amy @ Read a Latte
I LOVED Where the Sidewalk Ends! I probably still would even now actually.
Katie McD @ Bookish Tendencies
I also was a dedicated fan to the Sweet Valley series. Mr Popper’s Penguins was one I forgot about though, so excellent reminder!
Sandra
Mine would be Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. The movie version was rubbish and killed part of my childhood.
Jenny @ Reading the End
I looooove Mr. Popper’s Penguins! Are kids still reading that these days? It’s such a dear of a book — I hope they still are!
Words For Worms
They most certainly are if #CrazyAuntKatie has anything to say about it!
Dana
Westmark by Lloyd Alexander is the first book I remember wanting to read more than once. Also, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh. And I loved reading Nancy Drew mysteries, but they were a little dated when I was young. Today’s plugged-in child might find them utterly ridiculous.
Karen C
There are some fantastic books listed here! I came across a new author that my son and I absolutely love. The books are about monsters who steal your keys and your socks! My son’s favorite is “The Monster that Ate my Socks” by A.J. Cosmo (http://www.ajcosmo.com/)It is an easy and fun read that helps teach problem solving skills. The author’s motto is “silly stories, important lessons.” I find that to be an awesome and effective way to teach kids for sure 🙂 Check them out!