Monday, March 23, 2015

Where Is Your Bookmark? (03/24/2015)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies at Broke and Bookish.

This week's Top Ten Tuesday theme is Top 10 Books From My Childhood That I Would Love To Revisit. This is a category in which I will read everyone else's list and wish I had thought to put this or that book on my list. I kept my list to mostly books I red during elementary school, with the exception of two, which I read in 7th grade. There are so many! It was hard to limit the list to just 10.

1. Harry Cat's Pet Puppy by George Selden ~ I named one of my childhood dogs after the puppy in this book.  It's a story that has always been close to my heart.

2. Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George ~ A must read coming of age story about a girl trying to find her place in the world.

3. Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library by Eth Clifford ~ Oh, how I love this book! Imagine being trapped in the library overnight . . . 

4. Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, James D. Houston ~ I read this in school as required reading and loved it. It is nonfiction, about Jeanne's childhood in a Japanese Interment camp in California.

5.Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume ~ This is not my favorite Judy Blume book, but it's one I would like to read again at some point now that I have a daughter of my own.

6. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell ~ Karana is one of my favorite childhood characters. Her story is one all girls (and boys too) should read.

7. Tarantulas on the Brain by Marilyn Singer ~ It is because of this book I am not afraid of spiders.

8. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton ~ I loved this book and went on to read anything I could get my hands on by the author after I read it.

9. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor ~ This book is one I have never forgotten; the story of the Logan family, Cassie in particular, made me angry and sad and it inspired me.

10. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White ~ A beautiful and bittersweet story--everyone should read this one.

Have you read any of these books?  If so, what did you think? 



Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea hosts 
First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where  
participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a 
book they are reading or thinking about reading soon.

Today I thought I would share the opening of the E.B. White's classic, Charlotte's Webb:
Where's Papa going with that ax?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.
"Out to the hoghouse," replied Mrs. Arable. "Some pigs were born last night."
"I don't see why he needs an ax," continued Fern, who was only eight. 
"Well," said her mother, "one of the pigs is a runt. It's very small and weak, and it will never amount to anything. So your father has decided to do away with it."
Would you continue reading? Have you read this one?


© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

52 comments:

  1. Great list, Wendy! I've to admit I haven't read any of those books on your list; my childhood books consist of too many Nancy Drew's and a few I can't remember. And yes, Enid Blyton's too!

    I'd like to read "Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library" by Eth Clifford. Sounds so intriguing and fun!

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    1. Melody - I loved Nancy Drew as a child. My mom had saved several books in the series from her own childhood and I read those plus what I could find in the library. "Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library" is a cute book. I almost caught myself re-reading it the other day. I really should. It'd be fun to revisit.

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  2. Oh, I love that opener! It is always amazing to learn about "doing away" with animals when you are a child. I still recall how I felt, and it happened often enough since I lived on a farm.

    Thanks for sharing...and for visiting my blog.

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I didn't post Fern's reaction, but I imagine I would react the same way she did--in protest. It's such a wonderful story--even if at times sad.

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  3. I've never heard of 'Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library", but I really don't think this is something that requires help. I'd totally be ok being a prisoner of a library. (I think it's a secret dream of mine, actually). ;)

    My WoW

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    1. Sas - I think that's the reason I loved the book so much--I would have loved to get locked in the library overnight. :-) Still would.

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  4. It has been a real long time since I've read Charlotte's Web. In fact, I'd forgotten that it started that way! Great beginning.
    My Tuesday post features DEVIOUS.

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    1. Sandra - I hadn't remembered it started that way either. There's probably a lot of it I don't remember other than Charlotte and Wilbur. :-)

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  5. Such a sad opening though, but yes, I'd keep reading.

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    1. Diane - Hopefully Fern can save the little pig in time.

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  6. Oh I do love your top 10, I enjoyed the Judy Blume and Charlotte's Web was one of my favourite childhood books so great to have it featured on your intro post. Here is my Tuesday post https://cleopatralovesbooks.wordpress.com/2015/03/24/tuesday-first-chapter-first-paragraph-march-24/

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    1. Cleo - Judy Blume was one of my go to authors when I was a child. I adored her books. She and Beverly Cleary.

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    1. Beth - I will always remember that book fondly. I look forward to sharing it with my daughter.

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  8. I was slightly worried it would be something else that would be gotten rid off, but I can imagine having to explain to your young child why the runt has to go is a difficult conversation! Thanks for sharing :) I hope you have a great week!
    My Tuesday post
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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    1. Juli - Yes, I imagine it wouldn't be an easy conversation to have with a child. I hope you have a great week too!

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  9. Oh, I loved "Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library"! It was one that was shoved into my hands by my daughter's elementary school librarian. And I read it with my daughter and we both loved it. Great list of books, Wendy. I went back to my teens for my list. And that was a very long time ago. LOL

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    1. Kay - I don't run into people who have actually read Clifford's book very often, so I'm glad to know at least one. :-) I look forward to reading your list!

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  10. I must read Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library! . . . and re-read Charlotte's Web.

    Thanks for visiting my blog.

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    1. Catherine - You must! Especially since you are a librarian. LOL

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  11. Of that list it is only Charlotte's Web that I have read. A great book that never fails to bring a tear to the eye.

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  12. Oh - Charlotte's Web - I should have put that on my list! And - I think I was the only young girl never to read Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret!

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    1. Sarah - It took me awhile to get around to reading Are you There God? It's Me, Margaret because I thought Margaret was such a brat from the way she was described in some of the other books. It's a good book though and one I hope to revisit someday just to see how it stands up.

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  13. Hmm, I thought I commented earlier today but don't see it here. I still have fond memories of my 4th grade teacher reading Charlotte's Web aloud to the class - loved that book!

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    1. JoAnn - For some reason yours and Nise's comments went to my spam folder so I didn't notice them right away. I did get both this and your first. :-)

      I am glad to hear you loved Charlotte's Web too!

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  14. I love your list, and Charlotte's Web was one of my childhood favorites. That intro makes me want to read it again!

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    1. Monica - I had to force myself to stop from continuing. :-)

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  15. I've read and enjoyed several of these, and I taught Farewell to Manzanar to 9th graders once. They had no idea and could scarcely believe the camps could have existed.

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    1. Jenclair - Living in Northern California, it was a big part of our education, learning about the internment camps for the Japanese Americans. In fact, elementary school field trips to one of the places people was taken were common place. It was a sad time in our country's history.

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  16. It's been way too long since I've reread Charlotte's Web.

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  17. Great list! You know, I think I've read The Island of the Blue Dolphins and Julie of the Wolves 6 times apiece. :)

    Check out my TTT.

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    1. Lauren - Thank you! It sounds like you read both The Island and the Blue Dolphins and Julie of the Wolves more than I did--although I know I read them at least twice. :-)

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  18. I loved the Outsiders as well. Both my older kids have studied it in grade 8, and Stay Gold, Ponyboy is just as touching to kids today. I had the same Judy Blume, and I don't know if it was my favorite either, but Judy Blume as an author had so many great books. Individually the books are a 4/5, but as a collection and an author, she's a 5!

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    1. Elizabeth - It's good to know The Outsiders still holds up today--although I am not too surprised. It's such a great book. Well said about Judy Blume and her books! She's a 5 in my book too. :-)

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  19. You certainly got my attention on this one. This is one of my all-time favorites too.

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    1. Margot - Charlotte's Web is such a wonderful story. I can't wait to share it with my daughter.

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  20. I can't believe I forgot The Outsiders AND Charlotte's Web when making my list. I don't remember Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library, but it sounds like a book I would've enjoyed as a child.

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    1. Erin - I cried and cried when I read The Outsiders for the first time. I would love to re-read it at some point. I think I've only read it twice--both times when I was younger.

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  21. Great list!

    I don't think I ever read Charlotte's Web.

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    1. Yvonne - I don't think that's possible! How did you avoid it? Haha Probably the same way I managed to not read Anne of Green Gables somehow. Too many other books and it never really came my way.

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  22. OH Charlotte's Web. Such a fabulous fabulous book. And I remember loving the Island of Blue Dolphins.
    I now want to read about Harry Cat.

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    1. Care - Both books are great, aren't they? The Harry Cat book is such a cute one. I wonder what I'd think if I did reread it. Will it still be cute? I hope to find out one day.

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  23. Charlotte's Web! I've got a copy of that lurking around the house somewhere just for the purpose of revisiting, but I totally forgot to put it on my list. I need to find that...

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    1. Megan - I bought a copy just for my daughter. I'd been surprised to find out we didn't have one.

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  24. I remember really liking Island of the Blue Dolphins as well! And I'm probably the ONLY person on the planet who hasn't read Judy Blume! I mean, what the what? :)

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    1. Trish - You haven't read Judy Blume? How is that possible?! I have a lot of respect for Blume as an author and as an advocate against banning books.

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  25. I have to get that book about being a prisoner in the library, it looks wonderful! What a great list.

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  26. Oh this brings back memories of my favorite childhood reads! I have not revisited any books from my childhood but often wonder what I would think now. It's so cool that you'll get to revisit these with Mouse!

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    1. Iliana - I wonder if I would love these books now as much as I did then. Some childhood books I can't say I would like to revisit at all, but these . . . definitely.

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