“You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild,
to pick up a book and read to a child.”
One of my happiest times of being a young mother, was when I used to read to our son before he went to sleep. The first books I ever bought him were The Berenstain Bears. They were such happy little books and there were many others, the more light-hearted the better. Next came Dr. Seuss with The Cat in the Hat, Oh the Places You’ll Go, Green Eggs and Ham, so many. There were also old books my Mother-in-law gave me of Curious George. My own Mother read to me when I was a child, and she also made up happy little stories which she told me at bedtime. My most favorite gifts at Christmas were my Bunty and Judy Annuals. Mum and I also played board games together, as my son and I did.
I found the illustration above attached to the quote. I can’t remember the name of the artist. It is on the tip of my tongue but it escapes me right now. I will add their name when I remember. Those books look like National Geographic magazines. I have a few in a box down in the basement. I stopped subscribing years ago. Something else I will have to sort through soon but there aren’t many left. We used a lot for information on school projects. I also gave them to friends for their children to do the same. And then there were times it was just for the fun of cutting around the animals, and others, with son making his own animal art, glueing them to sheets of cardboard from broken down boxes. Usually reserved activities for rainy days. Fun to recycle and definitely fun memories!
So what were your favorite books when you were a child? What did you read to your children and grandchildren? Did you have a favorite board game?
Thanks for listening to my rambles,
and have a great day.
Theodor Seuss Geisel (March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991) was an American children's author and cartoonist. He is known for his work writing and illustrating more than 60 books under the pen name Dr. Seuss. His work includes many of the most popular children's books of all time, selling over 600 million copies and being translated into more than 20 languages by the time of his death.
You are the main reason I start reading English novels again.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Roentare, you have made my day! Couldn't be happier at that lovely compliment and the fact that you are reading English novels again :)
DeleteAs a child we were read The Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling so often that we still know great slabs of favourite stories off by heart. A love of reading was one of the very best gifts my parents gave me - and books are still my favourite presents.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful, Rudyard Kipling is right up there. Your parent left a loving legacy. Books are still my favorite present also.
DeleteThe picture reminds me of Norman Rockwell. I used to love to read as a child. I had a mother goose nursery rhyme book that was my favorite but there were oh so many little golden books that I would read as well. I was shocked not too long ago at the price of a little golden book now.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's the artist, thank you Ann :) Lovely memories of reading, thanks so much for sharing them.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI love reading ever since I was a child. I had many favorites Dr Seuss was one but picking any book off the library shelve. Children's books always were on display. Now, I always include a book as presents to my grandsons. Saturday's Critters
Yes, I used to love riding up to the library on my bike, and filling my basket full of books. That was a weekly event for me. Wonderful that you give your grandsons books and I wish you many happy hours reading to them :)
DeleteI do not remember any books specifically but like you, I do remember Dr.Suess and Curious George. A little later, it was comics like Archie.
ReplyDeleteYes, the comic strips? Fun to read for sure :)
DeleteLove the illustration you found and posted. When I was young we did not have books in our home but we did walk to the library regularly to check out and return books. I enjoyed the Freddy series by Brooks and the Little House on the Prairie series, too. I love to read to our two grands. They pick books off the shelf here for us to read to them and Richard Scarry is a favorite of our grandson. I'm looking forward to when I can read a longer book to them like the Chronicles of Narnia. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteI used to love the trips to the library :) Lovely choices, thanks Ellen!
DeleteLookslike a Rockwell.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I was forgetting, thanks William! :)
DeleteYour featured picture looks like Norman Rockwell to me, but I'm not sure. We love National Geographic at our house. They are such wonderful articles and I still find them so informative. I used to read stacks of books to our children as well, Denise. I could get my toddler daughter to do anything if I promised her we would read afterwards! We had so many favorites. Our son loved all the Richard Scary books as do our grandsons. The books I remember most reading as a child were the Nancy Drew series. Our daughter still has those same books in her collection. Thank you for bringing these memories to mind, my dear friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the ID Martha Ellen, it was bugging me a bit not being able to remember his name. We went to an art auction once years ago where one of his paintings was for sale. A bit too expensive for us though :) but how I wish! You are very welcome and those are sweet memories of your own children and grandchildren. Thanks again :)
DeleteInteresting Denise. Always used to read and help the children to read here at home..
ReplyDeleteThat’s great Margaret :)
DeleteDenise, I used to read The Berenstain Bears to my children all the time! And you know, I still have those books! Isn't it funny how when we sort through old things, we come across such treasures? I enjoyed hearing about your son and his creativeness when making things as a child. Give a child a cardboard box, and they will go to town! My kids used to love making houses out of BIG cardboard boxes. You have nice memories, Denise, and thank you for sharing them today.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
That’s wonderful Sheri :) and isn’t that the truth, treasures indeed? Encouraging a child’s imagination in a positive direction is one of those treasures isn’t it? I think I have a few of those books too, probably in the same box as the National Geographics ;) It made me smile thinking of your kids making houses with those cardboard boxes. Thank you!
DeleteI used to read The Bobbsey Twins series. Don't know if I've spelled that right. When I got a little older, I liked Bell Book, & Candle. As a young Mom, I read one book a day for several years. Thinking back now, I don't know how I had the time! But I would stay up very late to read. I loved the Lord Of The Rings series. My favorite book would be Gabriel Garcia Marquez One Hundred Years Of Solitude, a South American classic. I do really like the magic realism genre! I remember reading the Baber & Celeste to our son when he was little.
ReplyDeleteHi Ginny, that’s something we both enjoy, the magical themes you mentioned. Thank you for reminding me about Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I need to read 100 years…. You have mentioned a lot of books I would like to revisit.
DeleteThat sure looks like a Norman Rockwell to me (and I've seen more than a few, though not that one.) His detail is always exquisite. And that's a wonderful quote. I always loved being read to and reading to the boys. I hope they grow up and love to read.
ReplyDeleteHe was such a marvelous painter and left quite a legacy for us. I think what I loved about his work was the detail. Thank you Jeanie :)
Deletei also loved reading to my children. even when they were first born i would tell them stories...stories about my life with their dad. i read berenstain bears, curious george and i remember reading a lot of sesame street books. when chuck read to the boys at night, he was so tired, he would try to skip pages and the boys would always catch him!! i LOVE the picture!!
ReplyDeleteHow sweet Debbie, these memories are darling :) Thanks for sharing them.
DeleteI do like that image and quote.
ReplyDeleteReading is such a pleasure and sharing books with both my children and grandchildren has been wonderful. I'm so pleased that the love of reading seems to have stayed with them as they have got older :)
All the best Jan
It’s a gift we gave them from the very beginning Jan, the best kind of gift :) I enjoyed this, thank you so much and all the best.
DeleteI firmly believe in reading to children. Our favorite was curious George. Our Mom read to us before bed time. The four of us would pile into the bed. Sometimes the old house was very cold.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with you Red :) Splendid memory! Thank you for sharing that, I can just picture this scene in my mind’s eye.
DeleteOh, I loved books as a child and so did my children.
ReplyDeleteThat's great Linda, we do too :)
DeleteLove that quote by Dr. Seuss.
ReplyDeleteYes, it’s a great one isn’t it? Thank you my friend :)
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