The 2013 CBW poster, illustrated by Brian Selznick.
It’s Children’s Book Week and I’m celebrating over here at the Observation Desk (which for those who don’t know is the official name of this blog)! In the words of the CBW website, “Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Every year, commemorative events are held nationwide at schools, libraries, bookstores, homes — wherever young readers and books connect!”
Honestly every week feels like Children’s Book Week in my house because pretty much everyday I do some combination of writing books for teens and kids, editing book for teens and kids, and reading to children. And there’s no doubt that reading and being read to as kid has shaped not only who I am as a reader and writer but as a person.
I can remember my mom reading to me and my siblings before bed. I’m sure she read us picture books (we had many, many, many Golden Books on our shelves), but it’s the novels that stand out in my mind, particularly the Little House books, the Anne of Green Gables books, and Little Women. These books were full of strong girl characters, family relationships, love and friendships, hard work and hardships.
My well-worn copies of Little Women and the Little House books.
It’s the values of these books that have had a huge influence on the way I strive to live my life and the kind of books I write. And no book I read as an adult can really have that same impact on me. So of course I feel the need to celebrate Children’s Book Week…I hope every child can learn to love books and like me find new worlds, people, and loves through them.
What books influenced you when you were a kid?
Reading to my children was always one of my favorite things, and now I love to read to the grandchildren. I love many kinds of books, but I think children’s books will always be my favorite.
I know children and teen novel are my favorite…and I’ve been finding a new love of picture books since The Boy has been born.
Definitely Anne of Green Gables and Little House for me too!
Ah, yes! I remember that from when you guest posted here on the blog.
I used to love the Famous Five books, but as I grew up in France, a lot of the details, names of characters and settings etc… were different from the original English books. When I only found out much later I couldn’t help feeling a little betrayed! I also loved ‘Little Women’ and a 18th century series by the Comtesse de Ségur about a very naughty little girl called Sophie who would always cause chaos and mischief.
Hi, Marie! That’s interesting that the details of the Famous Five books were different in France. The Sophie books sound great…I’ll have to look them up.
I’d have to say the Hank the Cowdog books got me interested in reading. But it wasn’t until I was fifteen and read Tolkien’s The Hobbit that I became really hooked on books.
My mom read to me when I was fairly little. Beverly Cleary books, Little House on the Prairie, A Cricket in Times Square…those are the ones that I remember the most. Mom did all the voices, lol!
The Hobbit is fantastic, Beth. I actually didn’t care for fantasy as a kid, but as I got older I discovered I loved it. And my first book ended up being fantasy, but I think the non-fantasy influences are there in my fantasy book.
Gotta love those moms that do the voices!
Wind in the Willows with its endearing cast of animal characters. I also earned Pride and Prejudice as a prize in upper primary school and was able to discuss it with my Granny before she died. Anne
Hi, Anne! Wind in the Willows is another great classic. I didn’t read Pride and Prejudice until college, I think. Then I just ate up the whole Jane Austen collection. That’s nice that you got to discuss it with your Granny.
What a great way to celebrate Children’s Book Week
Thanks, Suzanne!
Walter Farley’s Black Stallion series and Marguerite Henry’s Ponies of Chincoteague Island, Justin Morgan had a Horse, Mustang stories, King of the Wind, and lots more horse books. Hm. I guess I liked books about horses.
If you have a horse-crazy kid in the 9-12 age range, check out Henry’s books. She wrote dozens.
LOL! I’d say you did love books about horses. One you might enjoy as an adult (even though it’s technically YA) is Maggie Stiefvater’s The Scorpio Races.
I think I had that exact same set of Little House books. I loved them! Also, I read more of the Babysitters Club than I can even imagine now. I loved those!
OMG! The Babysitter’s Club books! Totally loved them. I still have a whole box full of those paperbacks.
I loved the Little House series, Ralph S. Mouse series, Ramona series, Babysitter’s Club series… Hmmmm, I’m noticing a trend here! Guess I like series books! LOL! 😉
Erin
I always liked series as a kid as well. There seems to be a trend of a lot of the same books popping up in the comments, too.
Golden Books! Thanks for reminding me. My favourite, The Pokie Little Puppy. I can see his little face on the cover awww. 🙂 Enid Bylton books, of course, I loved them too much. Was still reading them in junior high when everyone else had moved on.
The Poky Little Puppy is one of the top-selling children’s books of all time…and, of course, The Boy has a copy of it on his bookshelf.
It’s amazing how much books like Little Women, Anne of Green Gables, and the Little House books (all of these are my favorites!), plus so many others have defined our childhoods in such a profound way.
I also loved Judy Blume books. She taught me so much!
Fun post, Katie!
Venessa- Whenever I mention ARE YOU THERE GOD, IT’S ME MARGARET to people, they always quote, “We must, we must, we must increase our bust.” LOL! Judy Blume has staying power! 😉
LOL! 🙂
Yes, Judy Blume is another great author! So many good books popping up here.
Anne of Green Gables, Pippi Longstocking, and any other book about feisty red-heads! 😀
Ah, those feisty red-heads are fun to read about!
One of my favorite series as a young girl were the Trixie Belden books. A really early series I loved was called “Space Cat.” It was followed by “Space Cat Goes to Mars” and “Space Cat has Kittens.”
I hadn’t seen the Space Cat books before. They look really cute.
I am impressed! Very useful information. I have been reading your blog for some time and I find it to be very useful. Thanks.