Poll of Your Favorite Childhood Books.

Oh, PLEASE check out the Moomin books by Tove Jansson. I absolutely loved them as a kid, and still love them. When my son was just an infant I planned way ahead and ordered him the entire series from Amazon. I've been re-reading them myself, and they're still just as great. They're wonderful, fanciful, and creative. You don't find Moomin fans too often (Moomins were big in Jansson's native Finland), but when you do, they're all fanatics. I even saw a gal with a Moomin tatto once, and when I went up to her and said "Hey, that's Little My!" she got so excited she almost wet herself.

Dominic by William Steig is also a great one.

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Some that I really enjoyed as a child were the Wizard of Oz books. All the Narnia books The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe especially. Right now my eldest daughter and I are going through the Harry Potter books. If your girls love animals my Mom read All Creatures Great and Small by a veteranarian whose name escapes me at the moment

Whatever you decide to read have a wonderful time with your children reading. It strengthens the bond between you.

Have a wonderful summer reading!

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Roald Dahl is one of my more favorite writers of younger childhood books---James and the Giant Peach, etc.
There was a series of books in our elementary school library that I absolutely loved---it was about "Billy and Bob"---it was a horse-and-boy series but a little younger than the Black Stallion millions of books, which I also loved.
When they get maybe just a little older, Susan Cooper wrote a great series based on the King Arthur legends---it starts with "Over Sea and Under Stone". I think that's about the same level as "A Wrinkle in Time". Oh yes and Lloyd Alexander wrote another short series---kind of medieval fantasy that I still find entertaining to read if I really need to turn off my brain. :)

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I loved the Betsy-Tacy books (by Lovelace), and they will grow with the kids (eg., the stories start at age 5, and end when Betsy is married) - i read them all through jr high and highschool (and just re-read them).

I also loved the Anne of Green Gables books, and, again, i think they can grow with the kids. I think Anne is 7 or 8 in the first book, and the series follows her until she is married with kids. Again, frequently re-read in my house.

Jean Little wrote a bunch of books i liked (From Anna, and K. were my favorites).

Also, please check out E. L. Konigsburg, who has written some truly stupendous (and good conversation starting) books for kids. From the mixed up files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler is a classic, but there are a lot more that i loved as well.

My daughter is named after Madeleine L'Engle, who was my favorite author, and wrote a number of, perhaps young adult, novels. A Wrinkle in Time is a good place to start.

Terry Pratchet (after whom a son would be named) has also written some kids books (i just read Nation) that are thought provoking and hilarious.

Another idea for you is to see if Nancy Pearl has some good ideas through her website, or her Book Crush book (check it out via web site).

Also, to get your girls thinking about the stories behind the words, maybe it will be helpful to have a little 'question' time after the reading -- just one her two 'what did you think of', or, 'why do you thin the character ...', or 'what was your favorite part?'

What a wonderful thread. Thanks. I can't wait to see what other people remind me of, or suggest anew! Good luck.

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Little House on the prairie series-
read 3 x through
Little Britches series-by Moody-
is a true account of his life living on a ranch. Written as a story
first 13 of the OZ books-
Narnia books-
Summer of the Monkey's- funny & touching
Heidi
The 7 year old wonder book
wind boy
Phantom Tollbooth
Ramona series by Bev Cleary
The secret Garden
planet of the Mushrooms (something like that)

just to name some from my memory, but I know there were lots more great books!

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Anything by Wyllie Folk St John (The Secret of the Seven Crows was my absolute favorite growing up).

John Bellairs "The House With a Clock in its Walls" had several books in the series.

My brief post doesn't do justice to these fine examples of glorious literature for 8-12 year olds!

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As a kid, I loved the "Mrs. Piggle Wiggle" series and plan to read them when my toddler gets old enough. Also, I highly recommend "The Princess Bride" that the movie was based on. My teacher read it to us when I was in the 6th grade long before the movie was ever made. It's a little different and more detailed than the movie.

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One series I haven't seen listed here that I loved was the Anne of Green Gable series. Also the book Where the Red Fern Grows and if they like fun mysteries there is The Cat Who...series (each book title starts with The Cat Who - can't remember the author)

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Good for you - we love to read here, too! Some of the books my kids have really enjoyed are Jeanne Birdsall's "The Penderwicks" and the series of similarly titled books that followed; "Paddle to the Sea" by Holling Clancy Holling (a picture/chapter book with lots of great pictures and geography lessons as you follow a boy's carved wooden canoe through the Great Lakes and out to sea); "Ella Enchanted"; and a series we read while living in the Midwest that you might enjoy if you like the Little House series is the "Betsy Tacy" series by Maude Hart Lovelace. I have been unable to locate the series in our local library system, but you might have better luck depending on where you live, or could buy a used copy off of Amazon.
Enjoy your summer of reading! Hope these suggestions help!

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Dear K.,
I loved the book, "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs", "If You Give a Mouse A Cookie", anything from Dr. Seuss, anything with "The Bernstein Bears", Winnie the Pooh books are a classic, and when I was about 8 I liked to read the "Goosebumps" books. But it's not picture friendly with the 1 year old.

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I was always fond of the Anne of Green Gables books by L.M. Montgomery when iwas a little girl. I must admit that I've read the whole series a couple of times and I've even re-read them as an adult. I can't wait until my little girl is old enough for them, but her attention span is a little short still for chapter books.

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The Boxcar Children!!!

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh, and any Judy Blume books.

My 8-year-old daughter is really into Beverly Cleary books right now.

Sounds like you have a lot of great suggestions!

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I used to love, love, love anything by Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume. The Encyclopedia Brown books were also good reads.

Enjoy and have fun reading this summer.

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OH you have THE best taste in books --- I swear I ''''raised''' myself on the ''Little House ''' books. I also loved The Black Stallion ( there's a HUGE series of those) -- and I can't wait to hear more about sticky buns!!

Blessings,
J.
aka- Old Mom

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I always loved Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Pippy Longstocking, Ramona Quimby, and Charlotte's Web at that age. My son liked the Magic Tree House series. Hope this gives you some ideas.

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K. - I can't remember if I am exact on this or not, but I really enjoyed the Ramona and Beezus (they were sisters) books. I think they were by Beverly Cleary. LOVED them, maybe another mom on here will know if that is the correct author. I know that a girlfriend of mine has a son who is 8 and he is really LOVING the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series.
L.

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The Yearling, Call of the Wild and other Jack London books, The Wizard of Oz and other by Frank L. Baum, Laura Ingalls Wilder books, Little Women, Little Men, Jules Verne books...

I loved to read and my Dad was my biggest influence, he would buy me books that are still in my library today. He bought by son his first chapter book (Call of the Wild) for his 7th birthday. My Dad was living with lung cancer and he and Chris would read together on his bed in the living room. Some great memories all because of a book and love of reading. Chris shares those memories with is younger brother when he lent him the book to read when he turned 7.

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I loved the Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Cleary at that age, also Judy Blume has great books. Another favorite is Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by Betsy MacDonald. I also enjoyed the Boxcar kids series. And then there's the classics, Stuart Little, Trumpet of the Swan, Charlotte's Web, James and the Giant Peach, the BFG - all great for the ages of your daughters.

Also, if the school hasn't sent anything home about it, check with your local library, most have a summer reading program with some sort of incentive to get your kids to read and have great suggestions for books too.

Good Luck and I hope you have fun - also, your older kids are old enough to take to the library to find books for themselves which might be fun for them.

Have Fun!
M.

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I think I read this in 5th or 6th grade so might be a little too old but my favorite was A Little Princess. Not sure of the author.

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One of my favorite books as a child was Amos&Boris, a story of a mouse and a whale and how the two completely opposite type of animals become best friends. :-)
I just bought it for my daughter. She's two, but I am sure will love it some day just like I did. it is probably about a 6 to 7 year age category, but is very enjoyable.

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Anne of Green Gables Series
The Narnia Chronicles Series
Good for you!!!!!

C.

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If you go to downtown old Kent, Wa there is a book store called Children's Bookstore. It has wonderful books for all ages, plus teacher's supplies. I am sure you can find a good start there. Also try the University Bookstore in Bellevue and Universty district.

I loved the Great Brain series by JD Fitzgerald. Also loved all books by Madeleine L'Engle (but may have to wait until your kids are 9-10 to start with those?) Island of the Blue Dolphins (by Scott O'Dell, I believe) was also excellent.