Reading

Kids’ Favorite Books


Yesterday, I began listening to Lucky Breaks, by Susan Patron. My immediate thought was, “Here’s a sequel that’s even better than the original,” but that’s after only a few chapters, so it’s premature. My subsequent thought was more accurate: “Here’s a great middle grade voice.” On the heels of that came this: “I would have liked the Lucky books when I was a kid.” At least, that’s what adult me thinks.

As I’ve said before, I wasn’t much of a reader as a kid, but I remember the thrill of discovering the Ramona books, by Beverly Cleary, and Pippi Longstocking, by Astrid Lindgren. If I had to read, at least there were some books I could enjoy.

Nowadays, the book choices for kids are seemingly infinite, and they still include Ramona and Pippi. I really think there’s something for everyone; the trick is finding the right books, but between librarians, teachers, blogs, and the handy-dandy “other people also bought these books” recommendations on Amazon, even that is less tricky now than when I was a kid.


I also saw that there will soon be a new Dr. Seuss book: The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories. It’s a collection of seven stories originally published in magazines in 1950 and 1951. It’s to be released on Sept. 27, 2011. Dr. Seuss was another of my favorites as a kid. In fact, I’d say Dr. Seuss taught me to read.

Who were your favorite authors and characters as a kid? And what are your kids’ favorite books today?

PS – All the Amazon links are affiliate links, but you knew that, right?

Categories: Reading

3 replies »

  1. That’s so funny! Childrens books is my post #5. I’ll send it to you next week so you can read it.

  2. Yes, Dr. Seuss taught you to read! I remember being very surprised when YOU first read a Dr. Seuss book to ME! You were definitely pre-school — probably only 3 or 4 years old. (But then, Mr. Rogers taught you to tie your shoe strings at a very young age, also! Come to think of it, you watched entirely too much television!)

  3. Clearly, I learned some useful things from watching tv. Besides, I think I’ve more than made up for it with no tv access for the past twenty years.