Kris made a comment the other day that her family was rereading some childhood favorites for comfort and asked about favorite books from my childhood. Below are a few that I collected from my bookshelf.
Ghost Town Treasure by Clyde Robert Bulla. This book brings back fond memories, not so much for the story, but because this was the first chapter book I read all by myself. I was very proud of this accomplishment and I can still feel how good that felt, even today.
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner. When I was in second grade, my teacher, Mrs. Murray, read us a chapter from this book everyday after our lunch time recess. I loved the story about how the four orphan children made their home in a boxcar they found in the woods and looked forward everyday to hear about their further adventures. There have been over 150 more Boxcar Children books written since the first one, but I think the first one is the best and I reread it from time to time.
Old Mother West Wind stories by Tornton W. Burgess. I discovered these books in third grade. There was a set of them on a shelf near my desk and when I finished my work, I would get one to read. They were stories about animals who lived in the Green Forest. What I liked about them was, even though the animals talked, they remained true to the way they were in nature. Reading them was discovering nature in a fun way. I have not see an original set since then, although I did find this compilation that I read to my kids.
Trixie Belden books by Kathryn Kenny. I discovered these about the same time I was reading Nancy Drew books. I like these better. While Nancy was older and sophisticated, Trixie was younger and more down to earth. What I liked best about Trixie was that she had chores to do before she could go on her adventures and solve mysteries. I thought I had to do more chores than all of my friends, so I related to Trixie. I have a few Trixie Belden books that I still pull out from time to time for comfort reading.
I couldn't find the copy of perhaps the book I liked best of all, The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I'll talk about it another time.
What books did you like as a child?
