Monday, June 23, 2014

TBM: Name Your Favorite Childhood Reads


Because my post did not go as planned last Thursday, I am offering you the rare opportunity to read a Throw Back MONDAY post. Just because. Actually,I've been prepping for a children's literacy class that I will be teaching this summer, and have been thinking a lot about my younger (far, far younger!) self as a reader.

I never thought I was going to be a librarian. In fact, I was going to be a dancer. A ballerina. And star in the Nutcracker. All because of A Very Young Dancer, by Jill Krementz. I still have my black and white photo-essay style copy. When I've been on ball fields with my boys too much, I open this book up and gaze longingly at the ballet shoes. Not really. Maybe just once. Twice, tops. I also spent many a day making dolls out of acorns, twigs and leaves after reading Miss Hickory, by Carolyn Bailey. I was only slightly traumatized when I gave a copy of this book to my niece, and she didn't seem to have the same love for Miss Hickory that I did.

Another favorite that I remember reading, and probably learning to read from independently? "I Can't" Said the Ant, by Polly Cameron. In fact, this might have been one of the first titles that I purchased at school via a book club.


I went through what I like to refer to as "the Marilyn Sachs Era" in fifth grade, devouring all of her titles. Most seemed to be about girls with larger problems than my own at the time, so maybe that is why I was drawn to them. My favorite one was Dorrie's Book - about an only child whose parents go and have
(gasp) TRIPLETS! I read it over and over.
 Speaking of Dorrie, does anyone else remember that sweet little witch named Dorrie? When I wasn't plie-ing across the living room, I was sitting under the dining room table, making up spells and playing "Dorrie." Dorrie and the Blue Witch was one of my favorites from the series.

So tell us - what are YOUR favorite books that you remember from childhood? Comment below to receive a small surprise in the system bag!









6 comments:

  1. I had three favorite books growing up! My most favorite was a book called Brave Betsy it was an old see and read book... I would sit and read that book over and over and over again...the others were an old Golden Book called We Help Daddy, I actually found this book in Powells books in Portland OR a few years ago and bought it! And my 3rd favorite was Are You My Mother.. I love that it's still around today and that my nephew Liam could sit and read it for hours!!!!

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    1. Joanne, I used to love doing Are You My Mother as a flannel story with preschool storytime! I've wanted to look for copies of Dorrie's Book and I Can't Said the Ant. Maybe I will since you had luck finding yours!

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  2. Freddy the Pig series. Frustrated my mother terribly that I kept re-reading those kiddie books!

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    1. Jeri, but look at how well all that "re-reading' has served you now as a librarian extraordinaire!

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  3. I read a great deal as a child, my favorite authors were Beverly Cleary and I loved me some Joanna Hurwitz. Loved Judy Blume as well!

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    1. Brian, I loved Cleary and Blume too! Funny though - I didn't read Hurwitz until I was a librarian!

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