BWB Remembers The Books Of Our Childhood (2 of 3)

Children’s Book Week continues, and here’s part 2 of our the books we remember loving in our own younger years. What were yours? Let us know in the comments.

Nuttybub & Nittersing by May Gibbs, published in 1923.

I loved reading and being read to. Pretty much any book my dad read to me became a favorite. However, this one stood out in my mind and when I asked him what my favorite book was, this is the one he said without a prompt. “It’s the one you made me read over and over again with all the voices. These two little guys go into the Aussie bushe and meet all sorts of creatures. The bad guys were the Banksia men”. I remember it had lots of illustrations, too (one attached).
–Morgan Osbaldeston, Marketing Coordinator

I read too much as a child. Far, far too much. I have no idea how I learned how to comb my hair and brush my teeth. You know what my ideal school vacation was, growing up on Long Island? “Spring” break in February. You know why? Because it was a full week without any plans, which meant I could READ ALL DAY LONG. And incidentally win the “Most Books Read” contest at school.

Some of my favorites were books about Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan (I think because I wanted to know what my life would be like if I suddenly couldn’t see: my greatest fear); Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes and October Country; All the Hardy Boys books (I was challenged: the back cover stated that these books were suitable for boys 9 – 14 years old, and I was EIGHT! and a GIRL! so HA!); my first literary crush was on Encyclopedia Brown; I was despondent when I ran out of his books, and had to move on to Agatha Christie. I was far too young to read Carrie, by Stephen King, but I did, and survived!

Other influences were Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time (where one might learn what a tesseract is), and Ursula LeGuin’s A Wizard of Earthsea (the power of Names).

I’m grateful to my parents who never stopped me (or caught me) from reading “challenging” material; they never pushed books on me, either. They just made it all available to me, and I think that’s the best thing that any parent can do.

Oops- too late- getting goofy.
–Tara Gilchrist, Connection Manager: People, Print, and Beyond

My favorite is Go Dog Go because it has my name in the title, twice.

–Dominic Go, Operations Analyst

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie. To me it was about friendship with someone different, which I have all types of friends and it was just a cute story.

–Melinda Kindig, Project Coordinator

How the Grinch Stole Christmas. It demonstrates how toys and all gifts aren’t what makes up this holiday. Love and bonding with family is what matters most in this animated book.

–Cindy Barnard

My favorite was The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord and Janet Burroway. I read it for the first time in my pediatrician’s office, and I quickly asked for a copy of my very own. I was fascinated by the possibility of the town being overrun with wasps . . . and a sandwich could save the day. It was also one of the first books I bought for my son!

–Ginger K. Patton-Schmitt, In-House Counsel

Not to sure how much of a kids book this is, but I loved reading this in middle school.

—Anthony DeCastro

Anything Ramona Quimby related. She reminded me of myself so it was really exciting to read!

Megan Meberg, Account Representative

Whistle For Willie by Ezra Jack Keats was always my favorite.

Philip Kaufman, Retail Sales Associate

To be continued Friday!