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What Is the First Book You Remember Reading?

September 7, 2011 by Nathan Bransford 143 Comments

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?

Filed Under: Books Tagged With: book recommendations, You Tell Me

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mr. D says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:16 pm

    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!

    Reply
  2. Allan Petersen says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:16 pm

    I'm thinking one of the Berenstain Bears books. Probably "The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV."

    Reply
  3. Stephanie Barr says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    Matilda and Her Kittens. I have never been able to find it as an adult and don't even know who wrote it.

    Reply
  4. Matthew J. Beier says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    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!

    Reply
  5. abc says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    I can't say for sure, but I think it was The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes. I remember loving that world.

    Reply
  6. Jennifer Cary Diers says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    "The Big Tidy-Up" by Norah Smaridge. The main character's name was Jennifer (like me) and she was messy (also like me).

    Reply
  7. Heather Hawke says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:22 pm

    Go Dog Go. I just loved that dog party. Dr. Seuss' books are a close second.

    Reply
  8. Stephanie Barr says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    Holy smokes, I just found it. It's "Matilda and her Family" by Mason, 1943.

    God, I'm old.

    Reply
  9. Karen Stivali says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    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.

    Reply
  10. Arief Zainal says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    Can't remember exactly, but I think it's only of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot series.

    Reply
  11. Anonymous says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    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!

    Reply
  12. Scott Stillwell says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    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?"

    Reply
  13. Jaimie says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:28 pm

    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.

    Reply
  14. Wendy Paine Miller says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    Adventures of Frog and Toad.

    ~ Wendy

    Reply
  15. adam.purple says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    The Haunted Spy. Still a favorite.

    Reply
  16. 4ndyman says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:31 pm

    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.

    Reply
  17. Carolyn says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:31 pm

    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. 🙂

    Reply
  18. Jaimie says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:31 pm

    But as for actual books… "See Tim jump. Jump jump jump! Tim is a tin can man. Tim is Tom's friend."

    Etc.

    Reply
  19. Joyce Shor Johnson says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    Mei Li by Thomas Handforth. I wanted to be Mei Li and have a top knot!

    Reply
  20. adam.purple says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    And Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, of course.

    Reply
  21. Cathy Yardley says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:33 pm

    Heather — Go Dog Go! I'd forgotten, but it's probably my first book, as well… and yeah, it was always all about the dog party!

    Reply
  22. Richard Gibson says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:34 pm

    Amazing. I thought of it as soon as I saw the blog title… then read the rest. For me also, it was The Little Engine That Could.

    Reply
  23. Katrina Strauss says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:35 pm

    One of my Little Golden Books. My parents thought I was "reading" out loud from memory, until I tried to sound out a word phonetically and asked for help. They were so excited, they kept me up past bedtime and made me read several more. Looking back, I'm grateful my parents thought reading was a big deal!

    Reply
  24. Ada says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:39 pm

    Noisy Nora by Rosemary Wells!

    Reply
  25. Cassandra says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. It couldn't really have been the first I ever read, but it was the first to make a life-long impression.

    Reply
  26. JaredNGarrett says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    The Poky Little Puppy. Loved that puppy. Now, as a parent, I think the mom should have come down harder on those rascals.

    Reply
  27. Vicki Moss says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:43 pm

    After first grade and *See Spot Run* it was probably *Rusty Rings a Bell* and after that my first child novel in 2nd grade was *Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farms.* I was engrossed with Rebecca. When I later read *Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farms* to my girls, they thought it was dry as toast!

    Reply
  28. Chipper Muse says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    For me, it's Dr. Suess. "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish" and "Green Eggs and Ham."

    Reply
  29. Anonymous says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    Little House in the Big Woods. I know others came before that read, but the order of titles elude me. I remember reading this book in my room when my parents were still married.

    Heather Dearly

    Reply
  30. Anonymous says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    Little House in the Big Woods. I know others came before that read, but the order of titles elude me. I remember reading this book in my room when my parents were still married.

    Heather Dearly

    Reply
  31. Megan Stirler says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:53 pm

    The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I saw a cartoon of it at church and my mother told me I was too young to read it by myself. I showed her!

    Reply
  32. Reagan Philips says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:58 pm

    Are You My Mother?

    But the first chapter book I read was the Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot by Alfred Hitchcock.

    I can't wait to read that to my son.

    Reply
  33. Sierra McConnell says

    September 7, 2011 at 2:59 pm

    I could read since around 1.5 – 2 years, so I can't really remember back that far. I was one of those pushedadvanced learners.

    There were just so many books I couldn't get enough of them… @_@

    Reply
  34. Carrie-Anne says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:02 pm

    Grimm's Fairy Tales, the adult, uncensored version. I had hyperlexia at three years old, and for whatever reason decided to start reading from that book first.

    Reply
  35. CourtLoveLeigh says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:03 pm

    Go Dogs Go!

    Still a fave, and I always give it to expecting mothers :]

    Reply
  36. Anonymous says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:04 pm

    Janet said "Look John. See the dog run. The dog can run fast. See the dog run fast John". . .
    (or something very similar)

    Reply
  37. Adele Richards says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:13 pm

    Milly Molly Mandy

    Reply
  38. Mike Billeter says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:17 pm

    Interestingly enough, like you and Richard, mine was "The Little Engine That Could." My mom isn't sure if I read it because I could read or read it because I had memorized it from making her read it so many times, but I remember sitting on her lap reading all the words to her as a really young child.

    Last year she bought it for me for my 25th birthday and I just about started crying. Funny to think that "first experience" wasn't just mine.

    Reply
  39. Stephanie McGee says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:17 pm

    My dad taught me to read when I was 3 or 4. The first two books I remember reading with him (I'm listing two because no idea which was first) are Champion Dog Prince Tom and TeeVee Humphrey.

    Reply
  40. Nicole says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:17 pm

    And to Think That it Happened on Mulberry Street.

    It sparked my imagination in a way that got me creating my own worlds. I'm forever indebted to that book.

    Reply
  41. GrapeGirl says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:18 pm

    The Velveteen Rabbit by I think Marjorie Williams…about how a stuffed rabbit becomes real, so beautiful and symbolic

    Reply
  42. Ana says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:21 pm

    When I read your question I remembered exactly the very first book I read: Miss Tessie Tate by Jean Horton Berg, 1967, illustrated by Le deGroot. I still own my copy. My front/back covers are filled with my attempts at writing and drawing. It's about a woman who cleans houses for the king, in rhyming couplets. I decided to do a little search online about the book because I could not really remember the gist of the story…indeed I realized after reading what I found, that I never knew the moral of the story. It's about being true to yourself; about the power of self determination; about deciding the direction that was/is best for you and not letting anyone turn you around. I received this book when I was 4 or 5 years old by a family member who did not treat me well. Wow, I now find myself in a painful irony over the meaning of this book. This morning I was reading an article in Runner's World Magazine about the journey of a famous runner named Frank Shorter. Your question, remembering Miss Tessie Tate and that article take me back. Thank you.

    Reply
  43. Jolie says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:24 pm

    Dr. Seuss is the first I remember having read to me, which is basically how I learned to read. The first I remember reading on my own was when I found a Beatrix Potter book in my first grade classroom, and the teacher let me take it home after she caught me reading it during lessons. Then she talked to my parents about the importance of supporting my obvious reading addiction.

    Every teacher after her preferred to discipline me for reading during class time, but dear Mrs. Eisenhower understood that I did it because I was bored and underchallenged.

    Reply
  44. D.G. Hudson says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    Either Heidi or Black Beauty, but I believe Heidi was first. I wanted to live in the mountains, and eat the same food as Heidi had in the book. (I lived in the flatlands of the south at the time)

    With Black Beauty, of course I wanted a horse, and as a consolation (didn't live in the country), my mother used to draw horses for me and taught me to do the same.

    I didn't want either book to end. The luxury of reading to myself was something I loved and I became somewhat of a bookworm. Still am one, judging from TBR stack.

    Reply
  45. Kate says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:32 pm

    Squanto: Friend of the Pilgrims is the first book I read that I can remember the title. There was a picture book in the library I remember checking out in kindergarten and first grade, but I can't remember the title or even what it was about. It was always a happy surprise when I found it on the shelf again.

    Reply
  46. BECKY says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:38 pm

    Wow, I'm surprised that so many people remember the exact first book they read. I have no idea of mine, but I do remember one I read often: Hurry Up, Slowpoke. It was about a mouse family! I just looked and it still can be purchased on Amazon!
    Thanks for the cool question, Nathan!

    Reply
  47. Meghan Ward says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    Mine is simply called "Kittens" and it now belongs to my kids. I had it memorized and would "read" it to anyone who would listen.

    Reply
  48. therealjasonb says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:44 pm

    I think it was "In a People House" by Dr. Seuss. Although as someone else noted, it's hard to remember that sort of thing so it could be wrong …

    Reply
  49. Anonymous says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    Mother Goose.

    Reply
  50. M. G. King says

    September 7, 2011 at 3:58 pm

    FOX IN SOCKS by Dr. Seuss. Loved those beetles battling in a bottle on a poodle eating noodles.

    Reply
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