Today is World Book Day. All across the UK children have gone to school dressed as their favourite characters from books. This got me thinking back to when I was just a little person myself. I loved books! I am sure that is no surprise to my blog readers. Here are some of my very first favourite characters from books:
I first loved Russell C. Hoban’s Frances the badger when I was just a preschooler and owned all her books. They are some of the few that I have held onto all these years and passed on to my own children.
I could never resist reading an Amelia Bedelia book when I was about six. I found her one of the most humorous characters out there. I think Peggy Parish was a genius for writing her and I still find myself smiling when I read the stories.
I think I was actually in third grade when I first discovered Judy Blume and all her Fudge books but never the less I loved reading about pesky little Fudge.
In forth grade I read every single Laura Ingalls book several times over. My best friend and I were obsessed with these books and the show. We used to even pretend to be Laura and Mary every day on the playground.
I think soon after forth grade I graduated to YA books even though I was not quite a young adult and I did not read so many series style books except of course for those naughty but delightful V.C. Andrews books that I hid from my parents of course.
How about you? Who were your favourite or the most memorable book characters from your childhood? What books got you hooked on reading?
Related articles
- Celebrating World Book Day (thereaderonline.co.uk)
- World book day: Tracy Beaker author Jacqueline Wilson writes a book to celebrate (thesun.co.uk)
- World Book Day 2012 (gryphonschoollrc.wordpress.com)
- World Book Day: Children’s Laureate to take part in first online festival (telegraph.co.uk)
Into the Sun 
I love all those you mention, Billie Jo! My kids especially loved Amelia Bedelia (don’t recall her when I was little myself, probably not around that far back). But these were some special favorites of mine that I recall from grade school:
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle
The Egypt Game, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, by the incomparable C.S. Lewis
Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell
The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton.
I didn’t realize today was Book Day. How wonderful that books have a day!!!
Amelia Bedelia has been around since the sixties but in the nineties Herman Parish, Peggy’s nephew started to write the stories after Peggy died. I loved all the books you have listed too. They are classics in my eyes. 🙂
Roald Dahl was always a favourite as well as Judy Blume. I also read the Virginia Andrews books (although I think I was about 11 when I started reading those).
I never read Dahl as a child, they never seemed to interest me. I think I really discovered his books when I became a teacher and started to read them with my classes. Then I loved them and do not know why I did not read them sooner.
What a great Book Day post! Roald Dahl, Jack Prelutsky, Shel Silverstein, James Howe… and I adored Madeline L’Engle, Judy Blume, Amelia Bedelia, Little House, Anne of Green Gables and Beverly Cleary, among others. I haven’t thought of many of these authors in years. I can’t wait for my daughter to experience them. We’re already reading “Where the Sidewalk Ends” together.
Ooo, I forgot about Anne of Green Gables. I loved those books too. And of course Ramona – how did I forget her? Thank you for reminding me of these.
Thanks for reminding me about sneaking VC Andrews books!
I imagine the kids love doing that! After my “Little Golden Books,” the first thing I remember was Nancy Drew.
I had a lot of the golden books and the Cat in the Hat books. I think my mom joined me up in some sort of book club to get them because I used to get new ones every so often. I read a few of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books too now that I think back.