Childhood memories

[KanoasDestiny]

I recently read a book that I remember reading when I was in sixth grade (twentyish years ago?), The Egypt Game. Talk about a walk down memory lane! So of course I started thinking of other books I had to read in school - Charlottes Web (5th grade), Laura Ingalls Wilder (5th grade), Indian in a Cupboard (6th grade), My brother Sam is dead (7th grade?), The Giver (9th grade), Lord of the flies (10th grade), and The Scarlet Letter (11th grade). I know there are many more that I can't remember.

So what are some of the stories you remember reading when you were in school?

 

[Field-of-Dreams]

I must have read Black Beauty a hundred times, and I am NOT kidding. Plus the Black Stallion books, and any other horsey books. C. W. Anderson-LOVED his artwork. I still have a few of his books. Will James. Albert Payson Terhune-loved his collie books!

I got started on Dick Francis in high school and have read most of his books.

 

[KanoasDestiny]

Oh gosh, I do remember reading Black Beauty in elementary school. I forgot about that until you mentioned it. Also read a lot of Ronald Dahl.

 

[CharlesFamily]

My first grade teacher read "Little House in the Big Woods" to us from Laura Ingalls Wilder and I was hooked! I read and re-read that series so many times over! Two years ago, we were very blessed to take a summer trip where we stopped at the site of the Ingalls dug-out on Plum Creek and stayed at the homestead in DeSmet, SD. My girls loved it and want to go back! We went to all of the museums and sites. It was great!

I read and re-read all of Marguerite Henry's books - Misty of Chincoteague, King of the Wind and all of the others. Back when we still had library books with the library card pockets where you signed out your name on the card, my name would be on there multiple times every year!

I read Black Beauty and that was the first time I ever read a book and cried while reading. I think I was in third grade and it made a huge impression on me.

I remember reading Bridge to Terabithia in fourth grade and crying so hard. But I loved that book. I also loved Island of the Blue Dolphins. We also read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in fourth grade and I fell in love with that book. I remember having such an emotional reaction to it. I know now because children are so egocentric - psychologically at that age they just can't put themselves in others shoes. I was no different than any other child my age, but I had never thought that those dirty, mean kids who came to school behaved that way because they didn't have very nice families or homes. I just assumed everyone had a family like mine. It was eye-opening to me and I still remember that epiphany. I think that was the first time I ever thought about being a teacher because I wanted to make life better for those poor kids.

Reading has always been such a huge part of my life! So blessed with two daughters who love to read, too!

Barbara

 

[Danielle_E.]

The one that has always stayed in my mind is To kill a mockingbird. I bought the original movie as well last year. My granddaughter loves the movie as well and has sparked some great discussion with her.

 

[Field-of-Dreams]

I remember a few years ago, I had wanted to find a copy of Black Beauty, like the one I read in elementary school. All I remembered was that it had a horse head on the cover on a green background, was about 9 x 12 or so in size and had color illustrations in it. I looked for YEARS, bought one I thought was it (it wasn't) and looked on eBay and ABE Books. I finally DID find one in really nice condition for a super price!

Now I would love to find a first edition, but those are few and far between- and EXPENSIVE. Really, it's about 140 years old now!!!

 

[KanoasDestiny]

I didnt realize that book was that old! Gosh, I guess it is considered a classic though. I know exactly what copy you are referring to because thats the one I read in school too!

 

[wildoak]

I was a horse book reader too... Black Beauty, all the Black Stallion & Marguerite Henry books a hundred times over lol. I gave away the Black Stallion collection but still have my originals of the others. My kids read them too, so they are far from pristine.

I read the Indian in the Cupboard when my girls were in school... in fact, I read a lot of what they brought home lol.

Jan

 

[KanoasDestiny]

I read the Indian in the Cupboard when my girls were in school... in fact, I read a lot of what they brought home lol.

I remember crying in class when he was put back in the cupboard at the end. Lol. I think it's great that you read what they brought home. It must have been great to have that in common, and to be able to discuss it. I work at an elementary school and none of the parents seem to have any idea what their kids are learning, let alone reading.

 

[chandab]

I must have read Black Beauty a hundred times, and I am NOT kidding. Plus the Black Stallion books, and any other horsey books. C. W. Anderson-LOVED his artwork. I still have a few of his books.

I have a framed CW Anderson print hanging on my wall, it had been my grandparents; its a mare and foal looking out of a stall, and called "morning".

 

[susanne]

I taught myself to draw using C.W. Anderson as my guide -- as an adult, my Anderson-esque style has brought me a great deal of freelance and full-time work as an illustrator -- usually not of horses, but the shading techniques translate well to drawing furniture and fashion (especially leather items). The thing that I've always loved most about his illustrations, however, is his ability to communicate the soul in a horse's eye.

 

[Jill]

In 4th grade, our teacher, Mr. King read to us The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, and I remember really looking forward to it each afternoon! He also read us The Black Pearl.

My mom read us the Little House on the Prairie books. My dad read us Tom Sawyer.

The first time I remember being excited about a book was when I was 7 and realized I could read a "grown up book" all by myself. The "grown up book" was that because it was hardbound with only a couple black and white sketches. It was The Adventures of Danny Meadow Mouse

There's a whole series of them and I loved them all.

Mom would pay me a quarter I think for each book I read and buy me a new book when I was done. She also would pay me a quarter to memorize a poem. It was cool because I was getting paid to do things I liked to do anyway.

My parents both love to read, so I always grew up knowing books are for fun.

 

[KanoasDestiny]

I love that idea Jill, where your parents paid you to read. My husband and I have been trying to start a family for the last couple years, and I've always told him that I would have read to our baby from the day he/she was born, clear into childhood. A love for reading is something I would have loved to give a child.

 

[susanne]

Amongst my earliest memories are my parents reading to all of us every night before bedtime. The book that stands out most in my memory was Call of the Wild. All six of us kids also read to each other, since that was what adults did. I remember "reading" a fairy tale to my aunt at the age of four, but to be honest, I'm not sure if I was actually reading or if I had just memorized it.

I lost my dad when I was nine, but one of my favorite memories from our last summer with him was sitting out under the stars around our firepit as he read The Cremation of Sam McGee.

The walls of our living room were (and still are) lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. My mother had decided before she had any of us that her children would never be without a book to read. I especially loved our sets of encyclopedias, the many reference books, and the collection of National Geographics going back to the first issue (thanks to my grandfather, who had a lifetime membership). We also had a great collection of maps and atlases, and my brother Larry and I spent ours quizzing each other on geography. We memorized all the major mountain peak elevations, capital cities, etc.

My family's favorite activities, when indoors, were reading, drawing, and music. My parents set a great example, as they didn't just tell us to do it -- they had great fun with each activity and played along with us.

 

[KanoasDestiny]

Those are some wonderful memories. One of my fondest memories was laying in bed with my grandma laying next to me. She flipped through the pages of my read-a-long book, Garfield in the rough, while the cassette player read the words and she pointed to different things on the pages bringing them to my attention. I must have been six or seven. It's almost been a year since I lost her, but it's those wonderful memories that help make it a tiny bit easier.

 

[Jill]

My sister is a reading specialist for a public school system. She has two career related masters degrees and has been nominated for teacher of the year. She used to teach grade school before becoming a reading specialist... obviously, she is passionate about reading!

When I was a kid, I loved being paid to read and to memorize poems, but I was actually as stubborn THEN as I am now. I don't do something unless I want to. I think that the biggest reason my sister and I both grew up to love reading is because we saw our parents enjoyed it, and they shared that love with us by reading stories. Almost like yesterday... I remember eating mom's speghetti as she read to us from a "Little House" book, and snuggling down in bed while Dad read us Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn

Reading was always something that was a pleasure, not a chore. Even some of the most fun family kid games were based in books... I would pretend to be Peter Rabbit and my mom was Farmer Grager (sp?). She'd catch me and try to make a stew while I tried to escape -- trust me, it was fun

Lots of people kind of pat themselves on the back that they would rather read than watch TV. I also prefer reading, but when I am brain deap into tales from Janet Evanovich, Stephen King, Molly Harper, Dean Koontz, Charlaine Harris, ETC. ... Really, I am deep in the fluff and LOVING every minute.

It's cool, too, with doing the audio books. H would say he does not like to read, but I listen to a book each night before bed. I have a charing station on my night side table and listen through those speakers, and H listens, too. If I've gone further (commute) than he has, he will ask me what has happened and always has a few things to say about the characters / storyline each night. He loves, it, too.

If I had to pick TV or books, hands down -- BOOKS! But not with my nose in the air! I cannot say my choice in fiction is any higher brow than most of what's on TV. It's just more fun

 

[susanne]

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Reading was always something that was a pleasure, not a chore.

I totally agree with you on this, Jill.

The best way to get kids to love learning is to set an example and make it fun. My mother believed that we would never remember how clean the house was, but we'd remember if she played with us. (She was right!)

Keith's father actively scorned reading and education and felt that anyone who valued such things was an elitist snob or otherwise questionable. Keith and his brother were brought up to think of reading as work -- certainly not an enjoyable activity. Keith loved music and learning anyway and hated hunting and guns; therefore, his father considered him a wimp. Like most bullies, he felt threatened and took Keith's interests as a personal affront. Sadly, there are always those out there who question what others enjoy and their motives for doing what they love.

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