From Jane Bozarth (@JaneBozarth):
A couple of weeks ago I asked the Twitterverse:
“What was your favorite book when you were a kid?”
“What was your favorite book when you were a kid?”
We have a new young Twitterer who set up her account just this morning, @coolsis2010 (she got an iPod touch for breathtaking success in elementary school), and I thought including her in this conversation was a nice way to introduce her to Twitter. It sent me back through the tweets, most of which I hope I found. If I missed yours please add it to the comments.
The Favorite Books, in no particular order and several with multiple votes, were:
Wrinkle in Time, Giving Tree, Harriet the Spy, Monster at the End of this Book, Bridge to Terabithia, Danny and the Dinosaur, Encyclopedia Brown. Pippi Longstocking, Robinson Crusoe, Milly Molly Mandy books, Lion, Witch & Wardrobe, Starship Troopers, How to Eat Fried Worms, Superfudge, Mouse That Roared (book), Norse myth, & The Great Imposter.
Harold and the Purple Crayon, Iliad & Odyssey, King Solomon's Mines, Pooh read by Dad, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Anne Frank, Bobbsey Twins, Island Blue Dolphins, Wind in the Door, Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web, Stranger/Strange Land, Narnia, & The Hobbit.
Anne of Green Gables, 3 Singles to Adventure, Bobbsey Twins, Island Blue Dolphins, Wind in the Door, Stuart Little, Charlotte's Web, Stranger/Strange Land, Ramona, Velveteen Rabbit, The Once and Future King, everything by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and the entire Robotech series.
Richard Scarry, Maltese Falcon, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Anne of Green Gables, 3 Singles to Adventure, Nancy Drew, Tikki Tikki Tembo, Goodnight Moon, Little Women, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, My Side of the Mountain, and Carrie (yes, that Carrie).
Later I asked people what about those books were still present in their adult lives. Did they share personality characteristics with the main character? Did the books espouse values still present for them? I got fewer answers, but here are some:
--In a couple of tweets, Tricia Ransom said, “Tikki Tikki Tembo (Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo)! If you chunk it they will remember --You do things because we've always done it that way- your kid could get stuck in a well because his name is too long."
--Mequel said he was like Meg in a Wrinkle in Time, always the late bloomer.
-Txmischief said: Love Pippi & her life philosophy! Sign on my office door says, "Shhhh! Deviant mind at work" & hair's been red since my early 30s
-Aaron Silvers combined a couple of ‘monster’ books with the line “I often get sent to the proverbial bed without my metaphorical dinner; sailing off to where the wild things are.”
-Txmischief said: Love Pippi & her life philosophy! Sign on my office door says, "Shhhh! Deviant mind at work" & hair's been red since my early 30s
-Aaron Silvers combined a couple of ‘monster’ books with the line “I often get sent to the proverbial bed without my metaphorical dinner; sailing off to where the wild things are.”
--Lisa Chamberlin said she’s like Grover in that she delights in discovery and a surprise.( Her new specialty is in discovering Skype emoticons.)
--And I’ve lost the full tweet, but someone said “Velveteen Rabbit—makes me cry just thinking about becoming real."
And me? My favorite was Pippi Longstocking. She reinforced the value of being a positive deviant and questioning the Rules (and stickin' it to The Man). And I'm a redhead b/c of her. (It’s probably no surprise that now I love Flavia de Luce… and Lisbeth Salander.) And Pippi was right: I really didn’t need to know no pluttification in order to have a successful adult life.
And me? My favorite was Pippi Longstocking. She reinforced the value of being a positive deviant and questioning the Rules (and stickin' it to The Man). And I'm a redhead b/c of her. (It’s probably no surprise that now I love Flavia de Luce… and Lisbeth Salander.) And Pippi was right: I really didn’t need to know no pluttification in order to have a successful adult life.
Have something to add? Feel free to comment.
I did this with my Intro to early education class at a local community college. I asked them to identify what made it special. So often, it had to do with the interaction of the person who read it to them or their own mastery of reading. Most of the books selected were picture books, including Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and Stellaluna. My personal favorite (from my days reading to children)is Owl at Home.
ReplyDeleteStan-- I agree. I was always a reader but in 2nd grade had a gift of a teacher who was a real reading lover. She'd read to us every day--sometimes a chapter book, sometimes poetry. It's where I met Pippi. Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDelete--Jane
PS: That teacher was regarded as among the best in the county. She finally gave up on the bureaucracy and general nonsense. She left teaching to open a dress shop.