TT #11 -Thirteen Books I Loved as a Kid

In no particular order, other than as they come to mind!

13. "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L'Engle

I read all the books in the series... still have the set, in fact, but loved this one the most. What an amazing, well-written, mind-bending book. I learned the difference between 1, 2 and 3 dimensions in a clearly drawn out way. I still pull it out to read now and then.

12. "Black Beauty" by Anna Sewell

I love, Love, LOVE this book. Once when I was young, I was sick and in bed for a few days and I read this book over and over and over. I counted and still remember -- fourteen times! And, I still cried everytime Ginger died, and every time poor Beauty was forced to do something horrid or when he fell to his knees.

11. "The Dark is Rising" by Susan Cooper

What a disappointment the movie for this was!! It was absolutely horrendous. Blech. This book is amazing. The storyline is incredible. And there was no reason to rewrite 99% of it. I love this entire series (though "Over Sea, Under Stone" is fairly weak, IMHO) and still have my childhood copies to reread again and again.

10. "The Dragonriders of Pern" by Anne McCaffrey

Another series I read again and again. I own them all, up through "The Masterharper of Pern" ... I've been very disappointed in the books she has co-written with her son, and I really don't like the ones he's written alone. But the initial books in the series? A complete joy. I even had a friend draw me a life-sized fire lizard that I glued to cardboard and carried around with me! *G*

9. "Justin Morgan Had A Horse" by Marguerite Henry

I was a horse freak growing up... had one of my own, of course! Morgans have always been my favorite breed, so reading (and loving) this book about the first Morgan who could run faster and pull heavier loads than any other horse was a book I returned to over and over. And, yes, I still have my copy!

8. "Man O'War" by Walter Farley

This book offered such great insight into the world of horse racing! I learned how all foals turn 1 year old on January first, regardless of when their actual birthdate is, how horses are handicapped and more. And every time I read it, I get angry at the details behind the one race Man O'War lost. He was an amazing animal.

7. "The Nancy Drew Series" by Carolyn Keene

When I was young, every time I'd visit my dad he would buy me a new book. And for several years, I always chose a Nancy Drew novel. I still own most of them, and think they're great stories that really don't age. My DD is reading them now.

6. "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis

A magic wardrobe, witches, talking animals, a grand lion... what more could anyone ask for?

5. "Ride the River" by Louis L'Amour

I loved all the Sackett novels, but this one held a special place in my heart because it was about a GIRL!!! What a great story... and she was a wonderful heroine -- strong, smart, capable. And she came with some pretty amazing relatives. I still have this entire series, and this book will always be the one I read twice as often.

4. "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien

I read this book for a fourth grade book report, and still remember my teacher questioning whether I had actually read it or not. Most kids were doing "The Mouse and the Motorcycle" or something, so I suppose it was understandable. I still this this book is the easiest and most enjoyable read of the series.

3. "The Prydain Chronicles" by Lloyd Alexander

This book made me fall in love for the first time. I dreamed I was Eilonwy and fantasized about Taran. **sigh** My DD reads this series over and over, but at her age prefers the humor of Fflewdyr Fflam and Gurgi.

2. "The Black Stallion" series by Walter Farley

I couldn't choose just one... I loved (and still love) them all. The movies? Not so much... but, ahhhh the books. Makes me want to read them again. Right now.

1. "Watership Down" by Richard Adams

This book not only introduced me to a whole new world -- that of rabbits -- but an entirely new language that included words like tharn and hrududu and silflay. This book still stands up today.

What about you? What are some of the books you remember from your childhood?