What was your favorite children’s book? – Niki
I love to read and have felt this way since I was a little girl. Growing up in a home with books everywhere will do that to you. It’s a way to escape to another world, gain knowledge, and imagine.
Children are made readers on the laps of their parents. – Emilie Buchwald
{The Fairy Tale by Sir Walter Firle – I first saw this painting at my in-law’s home. I’d love to hang this in a home library.}
I can’t remember the picture books I read when I was very small (even though we read constantly). But I do remember my absolute favorite books from my childhood: the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace.
The stories are set in the fictional town of Deep Valley, Minnesota in the late 19th and early 20th century. You follow the adventures of Betsy Ray and her family and friends from the time that Betsy turns five until she is in her early twenties. There are ten books in all (and three related novels) and I read these over and over and over and over as a child. At some point I got rid of them (WHY??) but they have continued to be my favorite childhood books.
I remember their selling sand, climbing The Bill Hill, making paper dolls, Little Syria, having picnics, cutting their hair, finally having two numbers in their age, all the school dances, falling in love, the blank notebooks and writing in the trees, dime novels, Uncle Tom’s Cabin at the opera, the gypsies, Betsy’s attempts to be mysterious and alluring, sororities, traveling in Europe, and World War I.
I must say, I’m getting emotional just remembering all of this. Gah! Let me go look on Amazon real quick.
Okay, $80.06 and you can buy all ten novels (plus the other three). I may have to do this soon. I would really love to have them all again.
On the subject of reading, my mom and I still exchange children’s books. In 2004, she gave me Mama, If You Had a Wish. It was poignant because I was struggling with worries about whether her love for me was contingent on certain things.
“Mama,” asked Little Bunny, “if you had a wish, would you wish I never cried?”
“No, Little Bunny,” answered Mama, “but it does make me sad to see you cry.”
“Would you wish I was brave all the time, and never got scared of anything?”
“No, Little Bunny,” said Mama. “We all get scared sometimes.”
“What about when I get mad at you?” asked Little Bunny. “Would you wish I never did that?”
“No, Little Bunny,” said Mama. “I love you when you are mad at me, and I love you when you are not.”
“I bet I know what would you wish,” said Little Bunny. “You would wish I never made any mistakes.”
“No, Little Bunny,” said Mama, “I love you no matter how many mistakes you make.”
“Even big giant mistakes?” “Even big giant mistakes.”
“Well, said Little Bunny, “you probably would wish I looked different, wouldn’t you?”
“No, Little Bunny,” said Mama. “I wouldn’t wish you to look any different than you do.”
Little Bunny was quiet for a moment. “Mama, if you could make one wish about me, what would it be?”
“I would wish for you to be yourself,” said Mama, “because I love you just the way you are.”
The book grabbed my soul. I wept. We both did. And it has forever been a treasure to me. I read it with my own child now and whisper the words when he falls asleep.
I’m taking part in a blogging group called Reverb Broads that will be suggesting daily blogging prompts this December. If you want to join in, feel free! Go here or here to learn more.
