On special Thursdays throughout the year we look back at some of our favorite childhood memories. This Throwback Thursday, we are discussing some of our favorite childhood books. If the books we read shape our character, they certainly did twofold when we were young and impressionable.
Jennie Looks Back
For some reason, the books I read as a child have stayed with me in a way that books I’ve read later in life haven’t. I’m not sure why; the books I read when I was five or 10 are of course much less complex than anything I read now. But still..many of them have a power over me that is almost indescribable.
One such book is an Easter book called The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes. This book has everything – lovely illustrations (really breathtaking in color and detail), a 
wonderful story and a great moral for kids. It’s an awesome book for any child, but little girls will especially appreciate the female empowerment theme.
Written by Du Bose Heyward and illustrated by Marjorie Flack, The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes was first published in 1939. It tells the story of a young, ordinary girl bunny called Cottontail who dreams of growing up to be The Easter Bunny. Other bunnies scoff at her – she is not one of the “big white bunnies who lived in fine houses” or a fleet jackrabbit – what chance has does she have?
Cottontail grows and marries and eventually has 21 (!) little baby bunnies (she is a rabbit, after all), but she never gives up on her dream. How she achieves it is beautifully told – a story of faith and perseverance, with a good heaping of old-fashioned cleverness.
Amazon lists the book as being for ages 4-8, but I happen to think it’s appropriate for all ages (hey, even infants will appreciate the pretty pictures). It’s rather long for young kids – 48 pages – but perfect for reading to your child over a couple of nights the week before Easter.
There are several books from my childhood that I could go on at length about, but The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes brings together beautiful artwork and a story with real heart. I will always love it.
Ann Looks Back
I am a reading teacher. You might imagine this means I read a lot as a child, but I didn’t. My parents, avid readers, made bi-weekly trips to the public library with their large family when we were children. I usually checked out books, too, but I don’t recall any of them making an impression on me. We had a collection of children’s short stories at home that we all read, but I didn’t love them either.
It wasn’t until I was 12, that my love of reading was sparked. I found a paperback in my older sisters’ room that drew me in from the first page: Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. On a preface I read a poem called “Ten Little Indians” that sounded like a nursery rhyme, but described the gruesome death of each “little Indian” one-by-one, “and then there were none.” CREEPY! My 12-year old mind was absolutely riveted, trying to solve this spooky mystery. I remember being shocked and impressed at the end, though I forget “whodunit” now! Luckily, Agatha Christie wrote scores of mysteries, enough to keep me reading for enjoyment through my teens. I believe many people owe their love of reading to this brilliant Englishwoman.
Lily Looks Back
I did not like my 4th grade teacher. She was a sharp contrast to my kind and encouraging teacher in 3rd grade. My 4th grade teacher wasn’t happy in her job and had a mean streak. After lunch, she would read aloud to the classroom. Since I didn’t really want this woman I didn’t care for to read to me, I would pull out a book of my choice and go into my own little world.
One day, as we were finishing up reading, I noticed several of my girlfriends were crying and sniffing. At recess, I found out they were upset that Beth had died. “Who was Beth?” She was one of the sisters. “What sisters?”
I was intrigued about this book that had moved my friends to tears. I was no stranger to the library and soon checked out a copy of Little Women. I was immediately engulfed into the story of the four sisters being raised by idealistic parents. They loved each other, they fought like real people but met situations head on with the dignity and grace of the era. I finished it in a couple days while the class continued listening to daily bits of the story. Then, I read it again, and again and again.
New England during the Civil War was such a different time; women couldn’t vote, working women were looked down upon, proper girls were only supposed to do girlish things and went for carriage rides in silk dresses. Against the bounds of society, this family stood together for goodness and commen sense. I wanted to be Jo! I wanted to do all the things a boy could do and write just like valiant Jo. I wanted to turn down dashing and rich Laurie and opt for living a more hardscrabble life of realness with my courtly German husband. I adored musical Beth and the coquettish Amy. Then there was Meg, sweet but boring Meg suddenly discovering that she loved the earnest young Jon Brook. I was taken by every sentence which led to another good sentence. I loved living the life of these four sisters.
When I went to renew my copy, I found Little Men and Jo’s Boys. I read those just as quickly as I had Little Women. Then, I read them again and again. I began reading everything I could find by LMA and asked for her books as Christmas and Birthday presents. As I got older, I came to admire LMA as I learned about her belief in more progressive ways for women. I was impressed with her independent thinking against the class system of her time. She led an interesting life as her father was a man of causes for just living. He was an intellectual pastor interested in communal living, a vegetarian, a teacher and an abolitionist. As a teenager, I continued to reread her books. I never got tired of Louisa’s words.
I think a copy of Little Women makes a wonderful gift for newborn girl.
As an adult, I was thrilled to visit the Orchard House where Louisa wrote and set Little Women. I consider it one of the high points of my life to have seen artistic Amy’s (May, was her real name) poker sketch of a cherub. It’s a happy thought whenever I go to open the fridge door and see my little souvenir magnet of the basket of apples.
Please share some of your favorite childhood books!
coolchillmom says
January 29, 2014 at 7:04 pmLittle Women is a total throw back for us! I can remember not tiring of reading the series over and over again. Thanks for bringing back memories
Michele says
January 29, 2014 at 8:31 pmMaybe it has been too many years and too many books later but I can not pinpoint any one book I loved the most way back then. Of course I read Little Women and vaguely remember crying at parts, and also Then There Were None. I was one of those kids who would read late into the night then not want to get up the next morning!
Amberlee Cave says
January 29, 2014 at 9:32 pmI can’t remember what it was called but it had a rainbow fish on the front with a special scale or something. I used to read it all the time!
Rosey says
January 29, 2014 at 9:49 pmI have so many favorites. Are you there God, it’s me Margaret! is one. Anything by S.E. Hinton, but especially ‘The Outsiders.’ Anything by Beverly Cleary too, and a lot of Judy Blume. Reading’s been my fave for many years. I remember Richard Scarry books being a big deal too, when I was real little. 🙂 You’ve got great selections here!
Robin (Masshole Mommy) says
January 30, 2014 at 2:35 amI’ve never read any of those books to be honest. When I was a kid, I was reading Judy Blume books or whatever they required me to read for English class.
Heather McCollum says
January 30, 2014 at 6:26 amI read all the Little House on the Prairie books as a girl. Then I read them to my now 15 yo daughter and just finished reading them again with my 7yo. I fall in love with those books all over again each time I read them.
Reese Ryan says
January 30, 2014 at 6:28 amLittle Women tops my list of favorite books. However, I was a HUGE Judy Blume fan when I was a kid so I loved her Fudge series. I also loved the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary.
Karen F says
January 30, 2014 at 7:27 amDorrie the Little Witch book series by Patricia Combs http://bit.ly/1n1btrL
Paula says
January 30, 2014 at 7:54 amI was (and still am) an avid reader, so have many to choose from…. I loved Enid Blyton, and particularly the ‘Mallory Towers’ series, which I read again and again. Reese Ryan’s comment brought back another couple of great memories that had got lost in the mists. I remember really enjoying Judy Blume’s ‘Fudge’ and Beverley Cleary’s ‘Ramona’. They seemed to be quite exotic, being stories about American girls that were somehow so different from my English world! Some of the language differences took me until adulthood to work out. We don’t have ‘bangs’ in England!
Diana B says
January 30, 2014 at 8:00 amI loved “The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes” when I was little, but I completely forgot about it until now. I will have to find a copy for Easter. One of the best things about being a parent is getting to reread all these great books. Right now our read aloud book is “Ramona Age 8.”
becca says
January 30, 2014 at 8:08 ammy favorite book as a child was Alice in wonderland and as an adult it’s still my favorite
JennieIW says
January 30, 2014 at 9:30 amDiana B, I so agree – I loved reading some of my favorites to my niece when she was little, and I even found more favorites along the way (I love the Frances series, especially “Bread and Jam for Frances”).
D says
January 30, 2014 at 9:45 amNancy Drew and Bobbsey Twins made me think that every mystery could and should be solved.
Fabulous Perks says
January 30, 2014 at 10:15 amMy favorite book as a child was Little Red Riding Hood as a teen I got into romance and a bunch of fiction and nonfiction books. Some that would have me up all night reading.
Ashley Wintters says
January 30, 2014 at 12:14 pmI read all the time but some of my favorites were the Boxcar Children, A dog called Kitty, Captured Heart….awww! Thanks for making me think of these book, brings back such good memories 🙂
Michelle via Facebook says
January 30, 2014 at 3:38 pmAnne of green gables and the faraway tree series.
Sharon via Facebook says
January 30, 2014 at 3:38 pmNancy Drew and Little House
Lisa via Facebook says
January 30, 2014 at 3:39 pmThe Velvet Room = Robin was always “wandering off” (her mother’s words) to get away from the confusion she felt inside her. It was not until Robin’s father found a permanent job at the McCurdy ranch, after three years as a migrant worker, that Robin had a place to wander to. As time went by the Velvet Room became more and more of a haven for her–a place to read and dream, a place to bury one’s fears and doubts, a place to count on. “The Velvet Room, first published in 1965, was a Junior Library Guild selection, and part of Scholastic Books’ Arrow Book Club.
Jennifer Williams says
January 30, 2014 at 4:13 pmSadly I did not do much reading that was not forced when I was a kid. I still have some of the nursery books I had but they were rarely used 🙁 It was not until I was older that I really found a love of reading. I read The Country Bunny to my youngest son quite often and he loves it.
Pam says
January 30, 2014 at 4:33 pmAgatha Christie was one of my favorites. I read “And Then There Were None” too and it got me hooked on her books.
Amber Nelson says
January 30, 2014 at 5:56 pmLittle Women is a classic!
Tess says
January 30, 2014 at 7:52 pmI loved spy books and mysteries. I still do. lol
Veronica says
January 30, 2014 at 7:58 pmLittle women is a really great book. I read that long time ago. These all look wonderful
Sage says
January 30, 2014 at 9:08 pmI read a lot as a child. The only book that stands out for me from that time was Mary Poppins. I still recall the excitement and love I had for that book. When I was 14 I read the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. That started me on a decades long interest in reading all things WWII and the Holocaust.
Melanie says
January 30, 2014 at 9:48 pmI read a lot as a kid and now my kids do as well. I love that they started to get into books just as I had as a child
Lawna says
January 30, 2014 at 10:34 pmI think we have all read Little Women. A book I remember reading when I was young was Poky The Puppy and as I got a little older, The Baby Sitters Club was quite popular.
Pam@IW says
January 30, 2014 at 11:08 pmI was obsessed with horses from a young age and I loved reading anything about horses. Black Beauty was one of my favorites.
Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
January 30, 2014 at 11:09 pmOh my gosh, I’d forgotten all about the country bunny book but I SO loved that as a child. What wonderful memories!
BabsProjects says
January 31, 2014 at 11:48 amI read a lot when I was a child. I think I devoured them. I read anything and everything. However, my favorites were books by Enid Blyton, Agatha Christie and when I was a little bit older Jane Austen.
Ashley Gill says
January 31, 2014 at 12:50 pmI loved reading Little Women! I can’t wait till my daughter is old enough to read it and we can discuss everyone!
Nikki says
January 31, 2014 at 3:52 pmI didn’t read Little Women until I was a grown-up, but as a kid I loved the Little House on the Prairie books. I had a complete set.
Amanda Love says
January 31, 2014 at 4:42 pmI think Little Women would be on a lot of people’s favorite book from their childhood. I loved it when I was younger and can’t wait to introduce it to my toddler.
Lily@IW says
January 31, 2014 at 5:01 pmAlso a Judy Blume lover!
Jennie, I have to get a copy of The Country Bunny. I have never heard of it and now I must have it.
Ann, a gruesome murder mystery, a puzzle to be solved? I can totally see that being your fave.
Michelle G. says
January 31, 2014 at 7:12 pmI don’t recall too many of the books read to me – I know my grandfather would share Bre’er Rabbit stories with me. I loved those! I loved Judy Blume and the Babysitters’ Club Series in my pre-teen years.
Eliz Frank says
January 31, 2014 at 8:28 pmI love the books you selected and another one on my list is Charlotte’s Web. For some reason, I was taken by that book; funnily, my kids weren’t that into it.
Eliz
amanda says
February 1, 2014 at 3:06 amI remember loving the Purple Crayon book and the box car children.
Anya@IW says
February 3, 2014 at 11:01 amOne of the books that stands from my young childhood days was Tasha Tudor’s “A is for Annabelle.” The draw isn’t the story per se, but the georgeous illustrations. They truly transported me into another world. Tasha Tudor is a pretty interesting character herself. She illustrated almost 100 books and lived to be 92…As a pre-teen one of my favorites was “Jacob Have I Loved” by Katherine Paterson. I loved that it took me to a part of the country I know nothing about, but the feelings experienced by Loiuse will be familiar to all young girls.
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I loved a lot of the other books mentioned here (yes, Nancy Drew!) I have never read Agatha Christie, however. That will need to change. Lily, wow, what an amazing experience to visit Orchard House! The whole Alcott family is fascinating and well worth reading about in their right.
Gina Conkle says
March 5, 2014 at 9:04 amWhen I was able to read, the book Corderoy really touched me. Then, in 4th grade I read 101 Dalmatians (over and over again). I loved that dog family! Around 4th and 5th grade the reading world expanded like a huge sunburst for me. I read Little Woman, Little House on the Prairie, and then jumped to Gone With The Wind and Katherine (by Anya Seton). These were all pivotal books during my elementary school years. Thanks for taking me through this look into my past. Books have made such an impact on me.