Reading Rainbow

[firstmutant]

The hospital is opening a small library for the children's ward in two months, and I'm in charge of finding books for the kids (ages range from infants to 16 years old). Some of my own early childhood favorites are already in the bag: Charlotte's Web, the Ramona Quimby books, Bridge to Terabithia, The Chronicles of Narnia, Where the Wild Things Are

Comments

[vicellious]

I really liked Lloyd Alexander's "The Chronicles of Prydain" and so did quite a few of my contemporaries. Fantasy based on Welsh legend - very accessible and lots of fun.

[firstmutant]

No way, that's awesome! I was spellbound by The Book of Three when our grade school librarian chose that book to read to us in library class every Friday. I immediately set out to read the rest, and loved them as well. I don't have copies now, but I will certainly have to go find some. Thank you for bringing back those memories. :)

[vicellious]

No worries Nadia. In fact I'm glad! The Book of Three was one of my childhood faves. I must have read it, like 5 times lol.

Thanks again for the lovely (very PC!) festive greeting you posted in my LJ - I hope you have a great holiday season too! :D

[firstmutant]

You're quite welcome!

And by the way, The Book of Three made it onto the shelves. :D

[toomuchfandom]

I read the Bianca series by Yvonne Brill. Although I'm not sure they got translated and spread world-wide...

(I was addicted to that series, haven't read much else when I was little!)

Books by Paul van Loon (his books got translated)

My brothers are currently reading Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl.

[firstmutant]

Thank you! Roald Dahl is great. My sister and I used to act out scenes from James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The BFG...back in the days before we knew about the Chocolate Factory movie and discovered the fun of being Oompa-Loompas, hee. I'll definitely be rummaging through the attic for those books.

I'll also search around town to see whether I can find any of the Bianca series or Paul van Loon's books. Enid Blyton was on our taboo forbidden list when I was a child because of The Three Golliwogs...but the nice thing about growing up is that there's nothing to prevent me from finding them now. :)

[narcolepsy_slds]

well, since it was the 80s when I started reading this might be a tad bit out of date ;)
but I read Enid Blyton (pretty much everything), Roald Dahl later on, loads of stuff from where I am from, so most books won't be available in English, but I reckon you have Astrid Lindgren's books - at least some of them, she was very very prolific. I also read Michael Ende: the neverending story for example. One of my faves (still!) is Erich Kästner - he was an author during and after the WW2 (not allowed to be published).
I loved mystery / thriller (as far as thriller goes for a 10 year old): Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, "The three investigators".
And then there is always Terry Pratchett :)

[firstmutant]

well, since it was the 80s when I started reading this might be a tad bit out of date ;)
Hee. You and I are in the same boat there, sister. With the exception of the tried and true classics, there are definitely some books I used to read as a child which wouldn't be recognized today. I don't think I'm familiar with Astrid Lindgren or Erich Kästner, so I'll search around and see what I can find.

Yeah for Roald Dahl and Arthur Conan Doyle! The BFG and James and the Giant Peach will always hold a place in my heart for the times my sister and I used to role-play scenes from the book. Doyle gave me memorable stories, a new reason to be proud of playing the violin, and one of my all-time favorite villains, Professor Moriarty. When I couldn't make it home for Thanksgiving, I'd curl up in bed with hot chocolate and a Sherlocke Holmes anthology. Good times.

And I've always wanted to read The Neverending Story, but never did get around to it. Now's my chance... :)

[childlight]

Mrs. Frisbee and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien I ADORED this book!!
I also liked
Double Trouble by Barthe Declements&Christopher Griemes
A Dog Called Kitty by Bill Wallace
Into the Dream by William Sleator
Mostly Magic by Ruth Chew
Can I get There by Candlelight by Jean Slaughter Doty
Any Nancy Drew or Trixie Belding stories

[childlight]

I have an autographed copy from Christopher Greimes. I had lost my copy and was having a hard time finding another. I wote him and told him about how much I loved the book and how my best friend of 15+ years and I met over that book. (I was reading it in class and she saw it and wanted to read it) So he sent a signed copy for each of us.

[firstmutant]

That's awesome.

[hellion]

Im working as a librarian in a school now so heres a list of the more popular stuff there.

Anything by Johanne Wilson, Enid Blyton, Emma Thomson, JK Rowling, Roald Dahl goes down well. Also Goosebumps and Point Horror books. Antony Horowitz has a following as well. And Prachett, for some reason Johnny and the Bomb is a particular favorite atm

[hellion]

Ah yes,, its Jacqueline Wilson LOL...Xmas card writing on the brain and a cousin called Johanne hehe

[firstmutant]

Hee. You're ahead of me, I'll start writing up my cards tomorrow...or, since it's past midnight now....later today. ;)

[firstmutant]

Wonderful, an expert in the field! I definitely appreciate your recommendations; my childhood days were so long ago that it's a very useful to learn about what kids are into these days. I've heard of Goosebumps, but I'm not familiar with Point Horror, so I'll certainly track those down. Thank you so much!