What’s the first book you remember reading on your own as a child?
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For me, I’m pretty sure it was the Nancy Drew books. My mom bought us a hardback set and I remember toting them to school to read at recess.
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I love this question! The book that turned me into a reader–as in, I ALWAYS had to have a current book being read–was “The Borrowers” by Mary Norton. I was in fourth grade. I just started reading it out loud to my 5-year-old grandson.
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Oh, I love that, Cathryn! Would you believe I never read The Borrowers? So cool that you’re reading it to your grandson.
I remember reading a book about the Bobbsey Twins. There was a series about their adventures, but our family might have had only one title. (Yes, I’m old!) Nancy Drew came later.
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Treat yourself! Read it. It’s now a five-part series, and I have only read the first one. I’m hoping Aiden will fall in love with it, too–if not now, then later. I already bought the five books in a boxed set in anticipation of reading them all. The premise is fabulous: Do you know how sometimes things go missing in your house? You could swear you had a safety pins stashed in this or that drawer–but they are no where to be found. The Borrowers took them! They are little (tiny!) people who live in the house and use your items that they “borrow” to furnish their little house.
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The Boxcar Children was one of the first.
Nancy Drew books after that.
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I agree with NanK. I remember reading the adventures of the Bobbsey Twins first than Nancy Drew.
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I first poured over the Dr. Seuss Dictionary before I graduated to Hop on Pop and The Poky Little Puppy Golden Book. But if you’re talking about what are now called Chapter Books (don’t think that term existed back when I was a kid–and my mother was a children’s librarian so would have known the jargon) , the first one I remember reading was "And Now We Are Six” by AA Milne, which I received on my 6th birthday (naturally). From there I read just about everything, remember the Beverly Cleary books, Homer Price, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, but my all-time favorite was “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler”.
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I remember reading The Little Matchgirl when I was about 9 or so. and have been hooked ever since.
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I have a beautifully illustrated copy of Black Beauty. I read it many times as a child and later read it to my children and now grandchildren. As lifelong animal lovers we all enjoy this classic.
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Oh goodness I have no idea but the first book I read and fell in love with was Alice in Wonderland, still a favorite!
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winnie the pooh. but i also remember reading the golden book “brave cowboy bill”.
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I was given The Golden Picture Book of Poems after my tonsils were removed around 5. My mother read to me the wonderful poems by Robert Louis Stevenson that I tried to memorize. I also remember spending many hours trying to read The Fairy Tale Book a Deluxe Golden Book that included the most beautiful and imaginative illustrations by Adrienne Se’gur that mesmerized my fascination.
A few years later I focused on The Nancy Drew books.
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Sometime in the late ‘50s, my parents attended a regional fair where the Lennon Sisters were performing. They bought their book for my sisters and myself to enjoy. I do remember reading it but was more impressed with their autographs. Lawrence Welk had introduced them on his TV program, which gave rise to their popularity and appeal to young girls and teenagers. Welk and his band used to perform around the upper Midwest, and I believe Dad attended one his dances when he was young. That’s maybe why the folks were keen on the Lennon Sisters, too.
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Well that certainly brings back a lot of memories, @NanK! The Lawrence Welk Show was part of our regular Sunday programming. (For Dee & other Clevelanders: Do you remember watching the Gene Carroll Show, followed by Polka Varieties?) Also watched Wild Kingdom, The Wonderful World of Disney, and then Ed Sullivan. LOL.
(Sorry, digression from book talk…)
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It was mid to early 70’s and I was either 8, 9 or 10. My Grandma would give us books for Christmas and she got mine and my older sister’s mixed up. There’s a 4-year age difference between us. I read “Are You There God, It’s Me Margaret” and wondered what the heck?!?! My sister read Amelia Bedelia and was mad that Grandma was still treating her like a child.
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Green Eggs & Ham by Dr. Seuss.
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Little Bear by Maurice Sendak
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I have always loved these books!! I read them as a child and then got to read them to my daughter. She loved them, too.
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