Childhood Re-visted

When my sister and I were kids, we loved to read. We always had a book in our hands at some point or another. I was extremely fond of my sister reading to me. I equally enjoyed when we read out loud together. We would pick parts to act out and eventually this graduated to Shakespearean plays and Broadway musicals.

I was reading author, Donna Grant's Facebook page yesterday and she posed a question to her fans. Donna asked her readers what book could you read and never tire or re-reading.

I immediately answered Diana Gabaldon's 'Outlander'.

The book marriages my three of my favorite things: History, Time Travel, and the Scottish Highlander.

Books by other authors that I cite in my short list of must keep and re-read is Jane Austin, Shakespeare, and Maya Angelou.

Maya's - 'In All ways a Woman' frequently pops into my head.

Donna's question had me turning inwards. I was fondly reflecting on the time when I wasn't a writer, creating a world for others to enjoy.

When books sparked the imagination (they still do from time to time) and made anything seem possible. If my childhood self could speak to me today, she would add her own list of favorite books to re-read.

I did not add all the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy books, there are just too many, I am sure you will agree.

Below I have compiled a list of books (children and young adult) that might be a source of reading pleasure for the child/young adult in you.  All the covers below are as I remembered them growing up.

'Dorrie and the Blue Witch' by Patricia Coombs (Look out Harry Potter, Dorrie was here first and so was Bink, her trusty cat.)

'The Cat in the Hat' and any other book by Theodore Seuss Geisal (Dr. Seuss if you didn't know!)

'Are you my Mother?' by P. D. Eastman (another in the series of Dr. Suess books - read by me from the time I was two until the age of seven- I just loved this story)

‘The Complete Chronicles of Narnia’ by C.S. Lewis (Adults and Children should have these books at the top of their reading list. You can watch the BBC productions and the Hollywood blockbusters but they pale in comparison to the prolific imagination of C.S. Lewis)

‘Missing Melinda’ by Jacqueline Jackson ( I so wanted to be named Cordelia! The twin girls in this story were named after Shakesperian characters. More importantly they were twins, just like my mom!)

‘Deanie’ by Judy Bloom (Poor Deanie, would anyone love her and her back brace? If you have a teen who has poor self image about themselves—lord knows I did—pick up this book)

‘Sooner or Later’ by Bruce and Carol Hart (my first foray into the world of romance and the first time I fell in love with Rex Harrison...even then the long hair did it for me. In fact I plan on buying the dvd.)

‘Summer of my German Soldier’ by Bette Greene (not to original cover but this is what my book looked like. By the time I read it, Kristy McNichol was starring in the made for tv picture)

‘Toby Alone’ by Robbie Branscum (This was a series of books by  Branscum. The book preceding this one, 'Toby, Granny and George' introduces us to the young Toby and her budding crush on Johnny Joe. In 'Toby Alone', Granny had passed away and Toby is reunited with Johnny Joe. She is determined at the age of fourteen that Johnny will be hers.)

‘Toby and Johnny Joe’ by Robbie Branscum (This book elicited the first sex scene I had ever read. At age thirteen, it was hard for me to digest. The character Toby was not much older than I. The entire time I was thinking, I am going to get into trouble for reading this. Perhaps this should not fall under the young adult category, however, the story and the scene is very well written. The scene takes place after Toby and Johnny Joe become married and this made it more acceptable in my young mind)

Now it’s your turn fellow readers. What books from your childhood or young adult years did you love? Do you find yourself wanting to read those books again?

Send me your favorites; I am curious to read your answers. Perhaps I have listed a few of yours already. Take me with you on your walk down memory lane.