I know my mom read me a lot of books when I was a child, but only a few really stand out in my memory; and these few I have made sure I read to my own children. Of course, I'm always curious about what others like, too, so leave a comment to let me know what books you remember fondly from your childhood!
Here are the books I remember:
Miss Suzy
"Miss Suzy is a little gray squirrel who lives happily in her oak-tree home until she is chased away by some mean red squirrels. Poor Miss Suzy is very sad. But soon she finds a beautiful dollhouse and meets a band of brave toy soldiers.
How Miss Suzy and the soldiers help each other makes a gentle, old-fashioned tale that has captured the imaginations of girls and boys alike for forty years. Arnold Lobel's enchanting pictures are sure to make the kind squirrel and the gallant soldiers the everlasting friends of all who turn these pages."
The Magical Land of Noom
"The Magical Land of Noom was written by Johnny Gruelle (1880-1938), creator of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. Inspired by the charm, wit, and commercial success of L. Frank Baum's Oz books, Gruelle created this magical adventure in 1922. This extraordinary, riveting story begins when Johnny and Janey decide to build a Flying Machine and head to the moon. Much to their surprise, their flight of fancy actually takes flight! They end up on the side of the moon that doesn't face Earth, the Magical Land of Noom (moon backwards). The adventure begins in a field of giant mushrooms that taste like cake, and the trouble begins when a scary, wicked old man named Jingles the Magician orders Johnny and Janey to stay away from his lemonade spring. As the story unfolds, we discover that Jingles has kidnapped the beautiful Princess of Nite, and the kids and their grandparents set out to return her to the throne. Along the way they meet the spirited Faun Boys, the Soft-Voiced Cow, and the exuberant Mr. Tiptoe."
Blueberries for Sal
"Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk go the blueberries into the pail of a little girl named Sal who–try as she might–just can't seem to pick as fast as she eats. Robert McCloskey's classic is a magical tale of the irrepressible curiosity–not to mention appetite–of youth. Sal and her mother set off in search of blueberries for the winter at the same time as a mother bear and her cub. A quiet comedy of errors ensues when the young ones wander off and absentmindedly trail the wrong mothers."
The Story About Ping
"The tale of a little duck alone on the Yangtze River, The Story About Ping is a sweet and funny book with wonderfully rich and colorful illustrations. On a day like any other, Ping sets off from the boat he calls home with his comically large family in search of "pleasant things to eat." On this particular day, he is accidentally left behind when the boat leaves. Undaunted, the little duck heads out onto the Yangtze in search of his family, only to find new friends and adventures–and a bit of peril–around every bend."
My three favorite books from school are: Bridge to Terabithia, A Taste of Blackberries (both for upper elementary or middle school), and another that is really good for younger ones is The Fall of Freddy the Leaf (deals with change of seasons and nature). I just realize in a way all of these deal with death. I never thought of it. I'm not trying to be morbid…really …I'm not. I think of the first one as being more about true friendship…anyway…enjoy!!