This week’s theme is “Top Ten Books in X Genre,” and I wanted to write about some books I don’t typically write about, but not in any genre I was too unfamiliar with. So instead of picking a genre, per say, I chose to write about the novels that first got me into reading: the ones I read in grade school!
Top Ten Books That Shaped My Childhood
Anne of Green Gables series – Let’s just start with the best (and my most favorite) on this list: Anne of Green Gables! I’ve written about my beloved Anne already on my blog, so I won’t repeat myself, but I do want to say that this is still my favorite book of all time, and I can’t wait to have my own daughter to share these stories with :)
Charlotte’s Web – What a lovely book. Some images from this book that still pop up in my mind from time to time are buttermilk baths for pigs and newborn baby spiders floating around everywhere (I hope that doesn’t discourage any would-be readers: it really is a wonderful book!).
Walk Two Moons – I honestly don’t remember much from this book except that I was enamored by it for months. I believe my best friend owned it and of course since she was a year older than me I looked up to her in so many ways (the reason I read Anne of Green Gables was because she read it first). I should reread this one day.
Harry Potter series – I tried narrowing this down to one Harry Potter book, but they all tend to blend together. I read the first three for a book report project in fifth grade and I remember not being able to put them down (I can still see myself sitting at our dining room table reading about the Chamber of Secrets). As is the case with most readers, I still love this series, although the last movie adaptation disappointed me. I’d like to reread Harry Potter sometime soon :)
The Giver – Another book I’ve talked about on this blog, but still one of my all-time favorites and a book I often recommend to my adult friends, The Giver is one of those novels that effortlessly forces you to think about how it applies to the real world. As an elementary school student reading it for the first time, I longed for my teachers to say, “When you finish your work you can read silently at your desk,” so I could finish following Jonah’s fascinating coming-of-age tale. And apparently there’s a movie version in the works!
Where the Red Fern Grows – Ahh, the first novel that made me cry my eyes out. My 3rd grade teacher read this out-loud to us every afternoon and right from the first chapter I was in love. [spoilers!!] When Old Dan and Little Ann died, all of the girls in our class–myself included!–were crying into our tissues, and I’m sure even the boys must have felt sad. I still love this book, though. I’m a big sucker for tear jerkers.
Rainbow Fish – I think what drew me to this book so much was the colorful and iridescent illustration on the cover, but the story has such a simple and meaningful moral to it that stuck with me as well. It is a very nice story that highlights the values of being different and sharing with others.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School – This is probably the most unique entry on this list, but there were several stories that stuck with me all throughout elementary school, most notably the one involving the hypnotist. I also enjoyed Louis Sachar’s other novels, Holes and There’s a Boy in the Girl’s Bathroom.
Black Beauty/Black Stallion – I do not believe I actually read Black Beauty, but my sister and I were both in love with the film. We watched it all the time growing up. But I did read several of the Black Stallion books.
Little House on the Prairie series – The first series I fell in love with. I especially loved reading these books outside in my backyard on a nice summer day :) I have not read this books since I was a child, and I would love to revisit them soon!
What were your favorite childhood books? Make your own post or share with me in the comments :)
macarons & paperbacks 