Last Friday, Dayton Moms Blog hosted an event at our local Costco. There were new member deals, snacks, giveaways and a treasure hunt! The boys and I had so much fun. We marveled at all of the bulk bargains and promptly signed up to be members. As we perused the book and toy section (unsurprisngly, Charlie's favorite part), I took in the illustrated Harry Potter books and started daydreaming of reading them to my boys. (There's a fair chance Santa will be bringing Charlie said books for Christmas this year).
It got me thinking about all the books I hope that one day my children will read:
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Well, let's be honest. The whole series. I have so many childhood memories spent wrapped up in these books. I can't wait for my little bookworms to bury their noses into this magical wizarding world.
2. The BFG
Roald Dahl was perhaps my favorite childhood author. He just seemed to understand how the minds of children work. He took a downtrodden child and introduced them to a magical world filled with chocolate factories, house-sized peaches, mind powers, witches, and of course, Big Friendly Giants. He gave children hope of a better world.
3. The Giving Tree
Technically, this book already resides on Charlie's shelf. But obviously, he's too young to be impressed by it's black and white illustrations and the heart-wrenching story of a tree and her boy. I'm crying just thinking about it.
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The boys' Christmas book collection is pretty impressive with one glaring omission: The Grinch! It should be no secret by now that I am a Christmas nut. We've already started introducing Christmas books into our nightly bedtime reading rotation and I can't wait to introduce Charlie and Crosby to this Christmas classic!
5. The Polar Express
...and speaking of Christmas. This is perhaps my favorite Christmas book of all time. I've never even watched the movie that was made several years ago. I treasure this book so much that I'm afraid the movie will tarnish my memories and leave me disappointed. My Mom was a killer Santa Claus and I was one of the only kids to still believe in Santa up until middle school. This book restored my hope that Christmas magic was real and filled me with the warmest of fuzzies.
6. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
This is another one of those books-turned-movies that I refuse to watch. My Grandma had this in the nightstand of her guest room where I slept as a child. I would stay up reading it way too late and was just thrilled by the idea of a world where food fell from the sky! I've read this to Charlie and he found it equally as hilarious which thrills me to no end!
7. The Ghost's Dinner
Speaking of my childhood books that Charlie loves, this one! My Mom bought the French version of this book for me when we traveled to Europe when I was six. A French-speaking friend of hers translated it for me while we were abroad and I was delighted. Upon our return to the States, she bought me the English translation and I still have both copies to this day! I read this to Charlie leading up to Halloween and he adored it.
8. Sideways Stories from Wayside School
This book is for elementary-aged kids and I thought they were the greatest thing ever as a child. Sachar paints such a delightfully wacky and weird school that all kids will find amusing.
9. Madeline
For no other reason than Madeline reminds me so much of my childhood spent with my baby sister. When it came time to get our long fantasized about matching sister tattoos, Madeline seemed like the ultimate symbol of our precious, young lives together. So now she sits, full of mischief and glee, on my right bicep.
10. Jamberry
You know what's remarkable about this book? The fact that I still remember the first time I heard about it on Reading Rainbow...in the early 90's. Clearly, it left an impression on my young, bookworm mind. I hung onto this book from my own childhood bookshelf. Unfortunately, it died a most painful and gruesome death at the hands of my toddler. I will have to find another copy!
What books do you want your children or future children to read?
It got me thinking about all the books I hope that one day my children will read:
Top Ten Books I want my Children to Read
1. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's StoneWell, let's be honest. The whole series. I have so many childhood memories spent wrapped up in these books. I can't wait for my little bookworms to bury their noses into this magical wizarding world.
2. The BFG
Roald Dahl was perhaps my favorite childhood author. He just seemed to understand how the minds of children work. He took a downtrodden child and introduced them to a magical world filled with chocolate factories, house-sized peaches, mind powers, witches, and of course, Big Friendly Giants. He gave children hope of a better world.
3. The Giving Tree
Technically, this book already resides on Charlie's shelf. But obviously, he's too young to be impressed by it's black and white illustrations and the heart-wrenching story of a tree and her boy. I'm crying just thinking about it.
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The boys' Christmas book collection is pretty impressive with one glaring omission: The Grinch! It should be no secret by now that I am a Christmas nut. We've already started introducing Christmas books into our nightly bedtime reading rotation and I can't wait to introduce Charlie and Crosby to this Christmas classic!
5. The Polar Express
...and speaking of Christmas. This is perhaps my favorite Christmas book of all time. I've never even watched the movie that was made several years ago. I treasure this book so much that I'm afraid the movie will tarnish my memories and leave me disappointed. My Mom was a killer Santa Claus and I was one of the only kids to still believe in Santa up until middle school. This book restored my hope that Christmas magic was real and filled me with the warmest of fuzzies.
6. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
This is another one of those books-turned-movies that I refuse to watch. My Grandma had this in the nightstand of her guest room where I slept as a child. I would stay up reading it way too late and was just thrilled by the idea of a world where food fell from the sky! I've read this to Charlie and he found it equally as hilarious which thrills me to no end!
7. The Ghost's Dinner
Speaking of my childhood books that Charlie loves, this one! My Mom bought the French version of this book for me when we traveled to Europe when I was six. A French-speaking friend of hers translated it for me while we were abroad and I was delighted. Upon our return to the States, she bought me the English translation and I still have both copies to this day! I read this to Charlie leading up to Halloween and he adored it.
8. Sideways Stories from Wayside School
This book is for elementary-aged kids and I thought they were the greatest thing ever as a child. Sachar paints such a delightfully wacky and weird school that all kids will find amusing.
9. Madeline
For no other reason than Madeline reminds me so much of my childhood spent with my baby sister. When it came time to get our long fantasized about matching sister tattoos, Madeline seemed like the ultimate symbol of our precious, young lives together. So now she sits, full of mischief and glee, on my right bicep.
10. Jamberry
You know what's remarkable about this book? The fact that I still remember the first time I heard about it on Reading Rainbow...in the early 90's. Clearly, it left an impression on my young, bookworm mind. I hung onto this book from my own childhood bookshelf. Unfortunately, it died a most painful and gruesome death at the hands of my toddler. I will have to find another copy!
What books do you want your children or future children to read?
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