This week we’ve been writing about books we read over and over. For me it’s The Color Kittens by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen.
It’s a Little Golden Book and when I was a kid, I read it over and over until the cover fell off. That copy disappeared long ago. I thought about the book often and when my son was small was glad to find it was still available. I read it to him over and over until the cover fell off and it disappeared.
I have another copy. It’s in perfect condition and I still like reading it. It’s written partially in rhyme and about the kittens search for the color green. When I look at the illustrations I go back in time and look at them with me as a child’s eyes.
There’s another book that is a carry over from when I was small. In this case, the copy is the original. It’s called Bear Party by William Pene Du Bois. It was a gift for my fifth birthday. I had scarlet fever and couldn’t celebrate, but our neighbors came to my bedroom door and gave me the book. It’s about Koala Bears who weren’t getting along until the wise old bear who seemed to be in charge threw a costume party.
I read that book over and over to my son and I think he enjoyed as much as I did.
I know I read Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White numerous times. Each time I hoped somehow the ending would be different. But it never was and I always cried.
What was your favorite book when you were a child? Do you still have it?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
It must be wonderful to have such good memories of childhood reading, Betty. And how lucky your son is to "inherit" that! It's a great gift.
I was in college when I read "Little Women" - don't know why at that age - but it was the first book to have an effect on me emotionally. There have been many since then!
Your post reminded me, Betty, of my favorite book when I was a very young child, The Goat That Went to School. It featured a goat named Bucky. Thanks to that book, I had an imaginary friend until my brother was born--a goat named Bucky.
It's so wonderful that books have such an effect on us.
The book that came to mind after reading your question is The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster about a bored little boy who one day finds himself in an Alice-in-Wonderland type adventure with the strangest of characters and creatures. I marveled at the imagination that created this delightful book. As a child, I read a copy from the library (I always loved libraries!), but, I do own a copy today.
I also liked anything by Beverly Clearly, who wrote Henry and Ribsy and Beezus and Ramona, because the characters seemed so real.
Camille, I'm a Little Women fan, too. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of seeing the musical production of Little Women on stage with Maureen McGovern as Marmee and Sutton Foster as Jo. It was very true to the book with the most delightful heartfelt songs. A real treat.
Camille, I loved Little Women, though I don't remember when I first read it. It sounds like reading it was a turning point in your life.
Linda, it sounds like you let Bucky escape the book and become real
Planner, I still like to read books aimed at kids. I have a whole set of Beverly Cleary books.
Post a Comment