My Book Legacy!
This week, we were challenged to think of books we would want our future family members to read. My daughter has greatly influenced my book choices, and I have read many of her favorites, but alas, she has not read any of mine. Therefore, I am making this list for my future grandchildren, in hopes that they will appease their Maw Maw and read a book that was either a favorite or very meaningful to me.
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Series: Little House, #1
Publisher: HarperCollins
This is a series that defined my childhood. I read the books. I watched the show. I was enamored with the time period and the lifestyle. When I look back now, I love the things the show represents. It's about family, community, and the resilience of the human spirit. The Ingalls family suffered some major setbacks, but they had their faith and each other.
Carolyn Keene
Series: Nancy Drew, #1
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
My classmate, Sara Jane, introduced me to these books in elementary school, and I immediately became a Nancy Drew fangirl. I loved that it was a young female, who used her brains to solve so many mysteries, and I want my next generation to have a great role model to look to.
Donald J. Sobol
Series: Encyclopedia Brown, #1
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
I read these when I was really young. These books delivered a fun and short mystery, which I could try to solve AND I could immediately flip to the back and see if I was right. Instant gratification. I want my grandchildren to be challenged and this is a great way to get them to gather and analyze information in order to draw conclusions.
A.A. Milne
Series: Winnie-the-Pooh, #1
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
I always loved Pooh, and passed my love of Pooh Bear on my own child, but as an adult, I see these stories in such a different way. I find it quite beautiful that this was Milne's way to connect to his son, and how each character represented part of his son's personality. These stories also highlight things such as being brave and friendship, and these are definitely things I want to pass on.
Cassandra Clare
Series: The Infernal Devices, #3
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
This is an important fandom to my daughter, and she got me hooked on these books, so I think I need to include the Shadowhunters as required reading for my heirs.
Tricia Levenseller
Series: Daughter of the Pirate King, #1
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Alosa is so strong and fierce. She not only uses her brawn, but she uses her brains to get out of sticky situations. She is also a leader, and once again, I think it is important to show females in this way.
Rainbow Rowell
Series: n/a
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
This would be a books I would recommend when the children are mostly grown. This is a lovely book about a woman, who realizes that her marriage is slipping through her fingers. She does some soul searching, and in the process, falls back in love with her husband. Then, she digs in and fights to save her marriage and her family. It's an honest look at how relationships can change, and how they take work. I think that is something important to pass on to the next generation.
R.J. Palacio
Series: Wonder, #1
Publisher: Knopf
This book is for everyone! It is just a beautiful book that highlights kindness and empathy. It shows that we can be different, but are still the same, which is something I feel we as a society are losing sight of these days.
L.M. Montgomery
Series: Anne of Green Gables, #1
Publisher: Puffin Classics
Anne had a rough life, but she never let it kill her spirit. I find it very inspiring to read about people, who can get knocked down, time and time again, but they get back up, and keep moving forward.
Dr. Seuss
Series: n/a
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
This book is about life being full of opportunities and possibilities. It's about using your head, and making good choices. The book warns that there will be bumps in the road, but to keep going, to keep taking chances. I want my grandchildren to dream big and not fear taking chances, and I think this book supports those ideas.
I still have Wonder on my reading wishlist of books to obtain and read!
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to my TTT post for this week: https://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2017/11/top-ten-tuesday-top-twelve-books-i-want.html
Wonder is a must! It is absolute perfection. I feel the tears in my eyes right now
DeleteGreat list! Lots of my own childhood favorites there. Oh, The Places You'll Go! is an especially great one - my son and I both love it. :)
ReplyDeleteI love that you are sharing your childhood books with your son. My daughter was always a voracious reader, reading alone before the age of 4. She always picked her own books out. I love and always will love Dr. Seuss. I was very sad to see him getting so much criticism lately, because there are a lot of wonderful messages in his books.
DeleteOh my goodness, Sam, you're first couple picks took me back several decades. :) I have such memories of checking out the Little House books from my elementary school library (although I never did read the complete series). And my older sister read all the Nancy Drew books and I would borrow (sneak) her copies and read them, too. And I totally remember The Secret of the Old Clock. :) And Winnie the Pooh... a forever favorite. What great picks.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great prompt. It made me really nostalgic, and it was fun trying to pick a collection of books that were meaningful, but also span age groups. The Ingalls family was my tribe. I loved them so much growing up. I even got a bonnet like Laura's when we toured all the forts from NY to Canada one summer (yeah, wild and crazy vacations filled my childhood).
DeleteI love the characters of Anne of Green Gables and Nancy Drew and the adventures of the Little House family. I hope your grandchildren will get to share these books with you and more!
ReplyDeleteHere’s my list: https://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2017/11/books-children-should-know-great.html
The more I learn about Montgomery, the more I understand and admire the characters she created. I just think they are great examples of resilient people. Hopefully, when I have grandchildren, they will live nearby, so I can read these books with them.
DeleteYes, Anne of Green Gables is a must-read.
ReplyDeleteHere is our Top Ten Tuesday. Thank you!
I know! At least they keep adapting the books, so even non-readers can enjoy Anne.
DeleteGreat list of books!! I so hope my daughter reads Nancy Drew because I have fond memories of reading that series. I want to read Wonder soon.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking Drew was making a resurgence when they made the movie a while back and then there was a TV series in the works, but it fell through. I think she is a timeless heroine, and would love to see future generations exposed to her. Wonder was incredible. I actually want to see the film too, because I thought the casting of the parents was so well done. They totally fit the picture of Auggie's parents in my head.
DeleteLovely list!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT
Thank you! It was fun to make.
DeleteYes, Nancy Drew!! I read those when I was a kid, and I got them from my aunts - those books definitely transcend the generations!
ReplyDeleteThat is so awesome that the love of Nancy Drew was passed down through your family.
DeleteLittle House- the books and the show *nods* So agree. Winnie the Pooh definitely, and Nancy Drew as well!
ReplyDeleteIt was actually difficult picking which books from my early youth to include, but I knew those three HAD to be on the list. I read A LOT as a kid. Hiding away at the Brooklyn Public Library for days on end. So many fantastic books were available, and I am happy to say, many are considered classics now (as quite a few were back then).
DeleteI'm totally with you on Winnie the Pooh and Wonder! I read the Little House books growing up, but I don't think I ever watched the show!
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
It's funny, but I appreciate a lot of those classic children's stories more now than I did then. They are really so meaningful, and own a little piece of my heart. I used to watch Little House whenever it was on. I saw the play a few years ago (Melissa Gilbert played Ma - it was fabulous). I will always be a LH fangirl.
DeleteI owned the Little House series for many years before I passed it on. Now, I'm wishing I had held on to my set and just purchased a new one to give away. Nancy Drew and Anne of Green Gables are also great choices!
ReplyDeleteI think it's sort of beautiful that you passed on such well loved books. Hopefully the recipient also passes them on.
DeleteWhat a brilliant selection, especially Winnie The Pooh and Anne of Green Gables. I've actually never read Wonder, despite how many readers have loved and recommended it to me. Finally just added it to my Goodreads list to remind myself to grab a copy. Wonderful list Sam, looking forward to checking a few of these out <3
ReplyDeleteI don't read a ton of middle grades books, but Wonder made me change my mind about that genre. The big idea of choosing kindness is one we need reminding of, especially lately. Palacio did it so well too. It felt genuine, not preachy, and the multiple POVs really added a lot. It's a book I whole-heartedly recommend to readers of all ages. I suggest looking for the edition with the Julian Chapter included, because grandmere's story will leave you a puddle.
DeleteLove the idea of a book legacy for future genration, for all ages :) Lots of great choices oon your list!
ReplyDeleteI tried to pick a mix. I definitely leaned heavily towards children's books, but I feel like these are books that can be read and enjoyed by all ages, and also have such timeless messages.
DeleteI heard great things about Wonder. I'm going for sure check that book out. Also adore Winnie-the-Pooh!
ReplyDeleteI will shout it from the mountaintops: Wonder is ah-mazing. It's beauty is in it's simplicity and the lovely messages contained therein.
DeleteGreat books! I enjoyed Anne of Green Gables, but haven't read that in years.
ReplyDeleteI am not a re-reader, but I have tuned in for the adaptations of the books (Megan Follows' version is still my favorite).
DeleteDaughter of The Pirate King is one of my favourite reads of the year, so much fun!
ReplyDeleteMy TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/14/top-ten-tuesday-133/
DOPK made my favorites list this year too. I wish I had Siren Queen right now!
DeleteDr. Seuss made my list too. I loved his books as a kid.
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Dr. Seuss had some great messages contained in his stories, and I associate a lot of great childhood memories with his books. (Richard Scary too)
DeleteAww these are such lovely choices! I hope your grandkids do read these for sure! It's funny because I do the same thing with my mom- recommend all the books but then don't read her stuff. To be fair though, she never asked haha.
ReplyDeleteIn all fairness to my daughter, our tastes are very different. She gravitates towards fantasy, paranormals, dystopians, and I love sappy contemporaries.
DeleteI loved Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jenryland.com
Those will always be my favorite mystery series.
DeleteMaw Maw...that' so cute. I think Anne is the perfect book to share with a young child. Anne is just the right amount of loveable and ridiculous. Great list!
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling I will be the kooky grandma, so Maw Maw seems like the name I should have my future grandchildren call me. Anne is wonderfully ridiculous, which is why even Marilla Cuthbert couldn't resist her.
DeleteI never read The Great Brain books, but have always love Mayer's illustrations.
ReplyDeleteI still need to try Wonder, no idea why I haven't already actually...
ReplyDeleteIt's short. I promise, if you read it, you won't regret it (I hope). It just made my heart explode and filled me with hope in humanity.
DeleteI sometimes can't believe how many golden quotes are sourced in Winnie The Pooh :)
ReplyDeleteIt always amazes me how much wisdom is hidden in Children's books, and Pooh definitely has a ton of fantastic life lessons to share.
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