The Marketeers Club: Top 10 Books from My Childhood

Because of the one minute ’N Sync reunion at the VMAs, new Backstreet Boys tour, and listening to NOW 5 on the way to work, I wanted to share my top ten favorite books from my childhood. This list of mine spans from Scholastic Book Fairs in elementary school (remember those!?) to the beginning of middle school. In no particular order: 

1. Clifford the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell – How could I not love this huge dog? Plus, I was so jealous Emily Elizabeth.
2. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss – A Classic. Now often found in the form of a graduation card.
3. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein – I remember memorizing poems and reciting the lyrical greatness for my parents. Why? No idea.
4. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein – More Shel, an obvious pick.
5. George and Martha by James Marshall – They were hippos AND best friends!    
6. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling– I don’t know why but this was the only HP book I read, which is also why it’s my favorite. Oh Cedric, why did you have to die!?
7. Hank the Cowdog by John R. Erickson – I know I said I wouldn’t rank these but this would secretly be my number one. Hank and Drover were my pals. Literally! I had both in cuddly stuffed animal form.
8. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff – You know what will happen.    
9. Holes by Louis Sachar – LOVED this book. And the movie. Shia LaBeouf shout-out! 
10. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister – I may strongly dislike all fish now, but he was so pretty! (Not the lesson I was supposed to take away, I know.)

What was your favorite book growing up?

-Rosemary

Comments

[Lynn Wiese Sneyd]

When I read books to my daughters, I relived my childhood, but also found new loves Among old and new (besides the wonderful ones you listed) are The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, and Time for Bed by Mem Fox and Jane Dyer. I could sit here all day and add to the list!

[Weston Poor]

If I could go back and write down some of the books I read, this list would be much longer. Unfortunately, my memory isn't as good as yours. Fortunately, we share several favorites; all the Shel Silverstein books, Clifford (El Perro Rojo Grande), Dr. Seuss, and Harry Potter (all of 'em. What of it?). The books I'll add are:

"The Eleventh Hour" by Graeme Base--This was, and still is, one of the greatest children's books of all time. Trust me.

"The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende--I loved this book so much when I was in middle school that I'm reading it again, right now. It was adapted into a pretty awesome movie too, although I have to say, the book was better.

"Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak--One of the best books for a kid with an over-active imagination, like myself. When I saw the 2009, Spike Jonze adaptation, I was basically reduced to tears (yeah, I said it). Try watching that film and not crying, I DARE you.

Great idea for a blog post, Rosemary. I kind of already started, but I think I might start a list of my favorite childhood books that were adapted to film.