It all started with a question on an information sheet a publishing house asked me to complete. What was my favorite children’s book?
To a voracious reader, that is just not a fair question. You would think they would know that. I have had so many favorites over the years, my mind went completely blank. So I asked my Facebook friends: What’s your favorite childhood book?
I guess a love of reading extends far beyond writers. After all, what is a writer without a plethora of readers? “Must I choose only one?” several asked.
Others wanted to know: young children’s books or chapter books? They didn’t ask about middle reader books. But the answers that poured forth were a walk down memory lane. Space does not permit me to list all of the wonderful titles I got but here’s a sample from my Facebook friends:
Goodnight Moon
Berenstain Bears
The Monster at the End of This Book
Where The Wild Things Are
This Nest Is Best
Tumble Bumble
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
The Little Engine That Could
James and the Giant Peach
Charlotte’s Web
The Velveteen Rabbit
I’ll Love You Forever
I did a little research on the web. What are considered the top 100 classic children’s books? Here’s a list according to Time Inc. I’ll list the top ten:
#1: Where The Wild Things Are (I never understood this book but evidently plenty of others do.)
#2: The Snowy Day
#3: Goodnight Moon
#4: Blueberries for Sal
#5: Little Bear
#6: Owl Moon
#7: The Giving Tree (Ah! One of my top five!)
#8: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
#9: Tuesday
#10: Where the Sidewalk Ends
Sigh. I’m disappointed. My favorite didn’t make it into the top ten. Maybe another list. Maybe further down the list. I didn’t check.
I know you are thinking of other titles but they belong in the chapter books section. According to www.childrensbooksguide.com, the top ten chapter books are:
#1 Charlotte’s Web
#2: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
#3: A Wrinkle in Time (yes!)
#4: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (another yes!)
#5: The Phantom Tollbooth
#6: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
#7: Holes ( a great recent book – a good book for boys)
#8: The Giver
#9: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
#10: The Secret Garden
I think I’ve missed reading some great books. What about you? In the meantime, what books are on my list? At the top of my list and the answer I’ll put on that information sheet is:
Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day
Why? Because at the core of our being, every single one of us has days that we just wish we could move to Australia. But everyone has bad days, says Alexander’s mom. Even in Australia. Tomorrow will be a better day.
Move over, matey. It’s time for me to catch up on some good reading.
My favorite Children’s book made the top 10!–The Secret Garden. But my favorite Chapter book didn’t. I think I read every book in the Black Stallion series. :>)
Loved the book. Loved the movie. I especially loved the black and white version where they changed to technicolor when the garden came alive. What a magical moment! I was shocked to discover The Secret Garden was originally published in 1911. What a classic! Thanks for sharing, Patricia.
We have a lot of the same “favorite children’s books”.
Children’s books are so much fun! And it’s so neat hearing that others love the same books we do.
Where the sidewalk ends. My son must have read it a hundred times at least.
Shel Silverstein’s books are so imaginative! Your son must get his good taste in literature from his mom. 🙂 Not only is Linda Glaz my literary agent; she is an author in her own right and has published a number of books with Heartsong Presents. Linda knows good books when she see them!
I loved a book called What Katy Did…was the first chapter book I fell in love with:)
I will have to read that one!
My favorite children’s book is The Little Red Hen. Maybe because my grandma always read it to me – every time I asked. Maybe because it’s got a great message.
My favorite chapter book is Misty of Chincoteague. I’ve read that one more times than I can count! But I also loved all The Boxcar Children books. 🙂
Someone on Facebook mentioned memories of good books were entwined around the memories of snuggle times with those who read the books to them. So important!
I loved Harold and the Purple Crayon and A Hole is to Dig. I still have them on my bookshelf. An interesting side note: A Hole is to Dig was illustrated by Maurice Sendak.
More books I have not heard of. More “friends” to discover! What made them special to you, Debra? Thanks so much for sharing more titles with us.