I Can Read! Children's Books that Made You Who You Are

by Susie 14 contributors - November 13, 2008 + Add To This Guide

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I remember the very day I learned to read. It was a book on weather that I read to my big sister. I was so excited to go to the "I Can Read" section of the library and used to take out 20 books at a time. I still think kid's books are the best books and they have definitely had an impact on who I am today. What were your favorite children's books and which ones helped shape who you are?

The Berenstain Bears

I was the proud owner of every single Berenstain Bears book. But I remember my parents being particularly excited when this one came out. Hmmm, I wonder why.

I used to take stacks of 20 in car with me. I love that every single one taught me a lesson, but I never even realized that was the point of them. My other faves? The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food, The Berenstain Bears Forget Their Manners, and The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Birthday. Will definitely be making my kids read all of these someday!

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The Velveteen Rabbit

This was probably the worst book you ever could have given me, a little kid who completely believed my stuffed animals could come alive. “When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.” You should have seen me and my stuffed animals.

Actually, this book probably helped make me the overly sensitive person I am today. I never wanted to abandon or forget any of my toys and would get super emotional if I had to.

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The Big Orange Splot

There’s a row of houses that are all the same until a bird carrying a paint can (why? who cares) drops a big orange splot of paint on Mr. Plumbean. He decides to run with it, making his house all crazily painted and decorated, with palm trees and lawn ornaments. The neighbors are outraged! Uniformity ruined! But then………Mr. Plumbean’s eccentric-looking house rubs off on them and they each make their house crazy and fun in their own way.

I think this is why I LOVE lawn ornaments, pink houses and really tacky decorations. Thanks Mr. Plumbean. I hope MY future neighbors find my insanity contagious as well.

added by aliciak 03/09/2009

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Ramona Quimby Series

I really kind of believed I was Ramona Quimby. I was a pesty little kid to my big sister (Beezus!) and envied all the fun things Ramona did and the trouble she got herself into. We kind of grew up together.

I still think of Ramona often when I’m eating a strange food (mystery meat!), making hardboiled eggs (remember when she cracked them on her head and they weren’t hardboiled?), when I wear too many layers (she wore her pajamas to school under her clothes once and over-heated), and on and on and on. And her cat’s name was Picky-Picky, which is the best name ever!

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Harriet the Spy

I also wanted to BE Harriet the Spy (still do in a way). I kept a notebook just like hers and went around trying to solve mysteries. And every restaurant I went to, I tried to order egg creams.

Harriet totally shaped my life and probably contributed a lot to the reason I’m a writer today!

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Each and every one of the Nancy Drew books

I read every dang book in this series. Sure, I made fun of how prissy Nancy was, and was annoyed at how every single book title followed the pattern of “The ________ in/of/to/on the________”, but I was addicted to each one.

added by mswen 11/13/2008

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: by Shawna 11/14/2008 Reply

The Little Engine that Could is such a classic. I got it for my daughter a couple of years ago and she loves it. Although we got the fancy new version.

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About The Author

Susie

Boston, Brookline, Town Of

I love cupcakes, the color pink, writing, technology, blogging, trying to learn Japanese, and walking from one end of Boston to the other. I make it my goal to try one new thing in Boston every week, but sometimes I find things I love so much, I just can't tear myself away from them. Boston...