Children's Books

I think people are never too old for children's books.  Even older children and teens love children's books, though as children age, they may not admit it for a while.  But, if you are sitting in a room with a group of mixed ages (and adults) and you begin to read aloud, magic happens.  A good reader pulls everyone in.  They become part of the story.  This is how a love for reading begins, with someone who shows a child how to be part of the story.  Television can never replace the feeling of getting lost in a book.


I read to my 11 year old son.  He reads to me, as well.  We also do audio books on our drive to and from school (this is a 35-45 minute drive one way depending on traffic).  Within the past year, we have read and listened to Artemis Fowl books, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Magyk, several Cornelia Funke books, James Dashner books, James Patterson, Grimm Fairy Tales and so many more.  He loves these types of books and novels.  However, just this week, he came to me and said, "Mom, you know what we haven't read in a while?  SkippyJohn Jones.  I really think I want you to read those to me again."  My heart soared!  He loved those books when he was younger.  I am planning on pulling them out this weekend from our huge library.  

Now, I know I sang the praises of my Nook in my last post, however, I do not have children's books on my e-reader.  I tried it once.  It definitely is not the same as reading the story from the book.  It is a different experience.  Today, I am going to see if I can get some children to draw some pictures for me of their favorite parts of their favorite books.  I plan on posting them on my blog.

For today, my questions to everyone are:
1.  What is your favorite children's book and why?
2.  Is your favorite children's book as an adult different from when you were a child?

Favorite books

Today I am going to talk about favorite books. 
I adore books.  I will admit, I have an addiction.  I do not necessarily see it as a problem, but bookstores for me are like Coach and Tiffany's for women who love purses and jewelry.  I walk in spending much more than I intended, and leave wanting more.  A few years ago, my boyfriend purchased a Nook e-reader for me in hopes that my tangible collection would stop growing.  Unfortunately for him, it was another way for me to enjoy books on the go and at bedtime (he calls it my pacifier), but has done nothing for my passion for finding treasures in print and paper!

I love my e-reader for the simple reasons that it is compact and portable, and I can read favorites over and over without the books falling apart!  I have friends who read, but they don't typically read a book more than once.  They cannot fathom why I would read something over and over and likewise, I can't understand why someone would not revisit the books they love.  I feel it is similar to revisiting a place you love.  You find something new to rekindle your love for it every time you visit, but the familiarity that brings you back is still there as well.

In any case, I want to blog about books.  If you love books, I hope to hear from you.  If you have books to recommend, please do so!  If you can't remember the title to a favorite book, describe it and I will see if I can find out.   I am not sure where this blog will go.  I may start reviewing books and looking at books others suggest.  I am willing to go where ever it takes me.

I love children's books, fairy tales, teen books, mystery books, romance books, historical romance, historical mysteries, classics, and several other genre in between.

A book series that I have read several times is the Discovery of Witches trilogy by Deborah Harkness.  I love this series.  I like the aspects of the supernatural element, the unlikely romance between the main characters, the mystery element, and all of the wonderful historical facts.  I have learned more about real history through the pages of fiction books than any history book has ever taught me.
  http://deborahharkness.com/
The series I am currently reading is the Mortal Instruments series.  I have finished the first two books and am working my way through the third between my college classwork, my full-time job, and being a mom (another full-time job).

I have decided that I need to inventory and categorize my books.  My next blog will hopefully discuss how this goes for me.

For now, I want to ask...  What is your preferred method of reading?  Are you a big fan of the e-readers or are you paper and ink only?