LINDA COSTA COMMUNICATIONS GROUP

CCG’s Favorite Childhood Stories
12.09.13

By Ashley Blaswewitz

Recently, one of my most beloved childhood bedtime stories turned 50 years old. Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are was an unlikely, “pointless” story, turned classic that captured the imaginations of many children, as it did mine. Who knows where I’d be if it wasn’t for the wild boy in a wolf suit?! As a tribute to the 50th birthday of Where the Wild Things Are, I asked fellow CCG-ers to share their childhood favorites. How many do you remember?

Wendy: I don’t have a favorite childhood book, but I couldn’t get enough of R.L. Stine! Although I can’t sit through a horror movie today without the urge to run for the doors, I absolutely loved his Goosebumps and Fear Street series.

Lori: Easy… Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who because I wanted to live on a pink, fluffy clover!

Jenni: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie – I loved reading all the funny scenarios that flowed out of one simple request. I still joke to this day that it’s also one of my favorite business books, as a lot of the themes still ring true for adults.

Anika & Doreen: This is so hard since there are so many amazing children’s books out there, but the all-time favorite is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.

Kelsea: I read a lot of American Girl books as a kid, especially Meet Molly. I loved all the history and playing with the dolls, of course!

Michelle: My favorite childhood book was Where the Red Fern Grows. I read this book many times as a child and although it has been years (too many to count) since I’ve read it, the story of raw emotions, struggle, hard work and perseverance stays with me always.

Kelly: My favorite novel as a kid was Where the Red Fern Grows. When I was little, I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian because I loved animals so much. This book really stayed with me because the love that the main character showed for his two dogs was the same way I felt about my pets.

Linda: All through elementary school, I devoured Nancy Drew mysteries (The Secret in the Old Attic was my favorite). To this day, I attribute my love for vetting, fact-checking and digging into details to the amateur sleuth I loved as a kid.

Whitney: As a kid, I spent hours and hours locked up in my room with Where the Sidewalk Ends – a beautiful book of poetry and illustrations by Shel Silverstein. I still remember reciting my favorite poem, “Two Boxes,” in front of my first grade classmates. In 1983, Mr. Silverstein created an audio edition of the book, which I equally adored – it won a Grammy the following year! The poems still make me smile … cry … laugh and more.

Jeanne: My favorite childhood books were the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, all nine of them. They may seem old-fashioned today, but when I was seven and eight years old, I just couldn’t get enough of them.

Samantha: My favorite childhood book series was Harry Potter. I loved going on adventures with Harry, Ron and Hermione – their characters were very influential to me and they will always hold a special place in my heart.

Vanessa: My favorite childhood book would have to be Os Olhos Que Não Queriam Dormir Coutinho (The Eyes That Did Not Want to Sleep), by Maria Antônia R. I read it often and sometimes felt like the little boy in the book – my eyes just wouldn’t close until my mom read me a story … then I was finally able to sleep.

Carlos: Oh there were so many that I loved as a kid. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Superfudge by Judy Blume come to mind. I also really liked The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.