Books are an incredibly formative part of all of our lives.
The books we read as children stick with us forever – many of us can remember trying telekinesis after reading Matilda, imagining living on our own in the wilderness after reading Hatchet or My Side of the Mountain, searching the backs of closets for a door to Narnia after reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, or dreaming of escaping into the Met after From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.
But what is the first book you remember reading? Not being read to you, but actually reading yourself?
For me it’s The Little Engine That Could. What about you?
Custer's Last Stand. Can't remember who wrote it, or how old I was, but I know it was the first real book I ever read through, and
I read it twice!
I'm thinking one of the Berenstain Bears books. Probably "The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV."
Matilda and Her Kittens. I have never been able to find it as an adult and don't even know who wrote it.
The first book I read alone was "The Boxcar Children #21: The Deserted Library Mystery." I learned to read about a year late with Phonics, so it was a quick jump to "big books" after that. I have such fond memories of discovering all the books that came next!
I can't say for sure, but I think it was The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes. I remember loving that world.
"The Big Tidy-Up" by Norah Smaridge. The main character's name was Jennifer (like me) and she was messy (also like me).
Go Dog Go. I just loved that dog party. Dr. Seuss' books are a close second.
Holy smokes, I just found it. It's "Matilda and her Family" by Mason, 1943.
God, I'm old.
Pickles the Cat from the I-Can-Read series and Bread&Jam for Frances. Still love those books. I used to read them to my dog and cat when I was little, then I read them to my kids when they were little.
Can't remember exactly, but I think it's only of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot series.
It was a book that read: Washing machine, washing machine, washing machine wash… And this dirty little boy was taken down a conveyor belt car wash type machine that scrubbed him clean with all kinds of gadgets. Gosh, I wish I knew the name of it. My kids would love that book!
I can't be entirely sure, but I think it was "The Poky Little Puppy." I can still remember thinking "Rice pudding? What is that?"
I remember reading my book that taught me how to read. I couldn't wait to get to the part where I learned about "the magic E" (the silent e) because it had a picture of a fairy I could color in. Fantasy geek from the first.
Adventures of Frog and Toad.
~ Wendy
The Haunted Spy. Still a favorite.
The House with a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs. Dark and mysterious and exciting, if memory serves.
After that, I just kept pulling his books off the shelves, thus beginning a long life of serially monogamous relationships with authors.
It was a Sesame Street book – one of those compilation books you used to be able to buy at the supermarket? There was a story in there about Grover, and I actually remember the point when I was looking at the words and suddenly they made sense. They matched up with what my mom had read to me so many times. I ran over to her with the book and proudly announced that I could read. 🙂
But as for actual books… "See Tim jump. Jump jump jump! Tim is a tin can man. Tim is Tom's friend."
Etc.
Mei Li by Thomas Handforth. I wanted to be Mei Li and have a top knot!
And Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, of course.