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What are your most influential childhood books?
My first chapter book was the Wizard of Oz. On one of my first trips to a bookstore, I got a collection of Lewis Carroll’s novels and poetry. Not sure if I read the whole book, because some of the poetry flew over my head, but I used to read Through the Looking Glass and the Jabberwocky over and over. That explains my preference for the whimsical/macabre.
I loved listening to audiobooks, and there were two authors I loved listening to – C.S. Lewis and Mark Twain. Specifically Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Huckleberry Finn. I had the first chapters of those books memorized, down to the parts where the CD got scratched and the audio would glitch. I never got tired of them.
There were a lot of other books – I’ve mentioned DiCamillo before, and there was George McDonald, Brian Jacques, Trenton Lee Stewart, and Agatha Christie.
My dad required a certain amount of reading every day. He bought a bunch of classics and Newbury Medal winners, and had me sit in his study so I had to focus. Maybe he wanted to test my limits too, because I read the first book of the Faerie Queene when I was like, twelve. XD (Did I enjoy it? Not really. But I never took easy modern English for granted again.)
I wish I read as much as I used to, besides school. But now I can read and summarize things quickly. And most of those books were fun or good for me.
What about you?
"If I don't like something, it's probably sanctification. Ugh." -E.C.S.
Yes, yes, this is a late question, so another question will be posted in a few short days. :’]
"If I don't like something, it's probably sanctification. Ugh." -E.C.S.
Oooh I like this question!
The first chapter book series I can remember reading is Little House on the Prairie. I was in like first grade and I loved those books! I had a bonnet and made forts that I pretended were the covered wagon.
The Boxcar Children were also some of my favorites. I read nearly all of them, but I quit when I reached the newest additions because I didn’t like the cover art and the stories weren’t as good as the older ones. Those books are the reason why I went through a soccer phase when I was eight (never played soccer, though, because I was too shy to join a team lol), because one of the mysteries revolved around a soccer team. Violet was my favorite character, but I liked them all! I still get the warm fuzzies thinking about those books.
I didn’t read the Chronicles of Narnia myself as a kid but my mom read them to us, usually reading a chapter each night before bed, and I’ve listened to the audio versions multiple times. I think I get something new out of them each time!
When I was like ten, I read through a bunch of the Babysitters Club books, and I liked them then, but now looking back I don’t think they had the greatest influence on me and set unrealistic expectations in my mind.
Anne of Green Gables was a fun one, too- my cousins and I tried to create a skit based on that and forced my brothers to join in, much to their annoyance.
I’m sure there are others, too, but those are the ones that come to mind for me first.
"Real love is for your good, not for your comfort." -Justin Whitmel Earley
Most influential so the ones I still remember. XD That simplifies things.
I grew up listening to the Focus on the Family Radio Theater rendition of the Chronicles of Narnia, and read the books when I was about 9-ish. They really shaped my love for story, and even how I viewed God. They’re a story that grows with you as you grow up.
My older sister had the entire The Little House books set, and I read through them all several times. Along with American Girl books, they may mark the beginning of my fascination with the historical. Pair that with finding Men of Iron, and I was a gonner.
We discovered The Green Ember series when I was around 11, and they ruled my pre-teen years. Still adore them, and cry when I read certain parts. They were also the books that inspired me to “write a novel”. I got to the third chapter and dropped it, but by then I had ideas for two of my current WIPs.
Our dad also read Louis Lamour to us growing up, and Sir Gibbie.(and The Three Musketeers, Where the Red Fern Grows, and many more.) Mama read us Little Women and several Grace Livingston hill books. Little Women is still a dear book to me, Aunt Crete’s Emancipation is the crown of wit, and George MacDonald is one of my all time favorite authors.
Anne of Green Gables was fun, and I think someone read it to us. I seriously read it in my early teen years, but didn’t quite love any of the later books until my eldest sister read Rainbow Valley to us. I found Rilla of Ingleside a few years later and have never been the same. lol.
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
Ooh, fun topic!
Narnia is one of the first chapter books I can remember reading. I love those books so much.
They’re a story that grows with you as you grow up.
Absolutely, 100%. I didn’t really get into other classics until I was older though.
When I was pretty young (8-10 years old) I really enjoyed mysteries like the Boxcar Children, Cul-de-sac Kids, A to Z mysteries, and 3 Cousins Detective Club (I think that’s what they’re called.) It’s really interesting, honestly, because I don’t write mystery usually, but I could see myself doing it in the future.
After that I got in a huge Warrior cats phase. Loved those books too—even started writing a fanfic, the only one I’ve ever written.
Skyward by Brandon Sanderson was a hugely influential book because it sparked my love of science-fiction and space-based stories.
I also went through a Little House on the Prairie phase.
"Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." ~ C. S.
Cul-de-sac Kids,
Oh my goodness! I forgot those books existed! I used to read those, too!
"Real love is for your good, not for your comfort." -Justin Whitmel Earley
That’s funny! Yeah, I loved them. They were good books. XD
"Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." ~ C. S.
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