Childhood Favorites

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak, is at the top of my list because I love Max and his active imagination. His adventures remind me of what it was like to be a child at play, and he inspires me not to take life so seriously.
Alisa Bowling
Las Vegas, Nevada

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis, has remained my favorite since my mother gave it to me when I was about seven years old. It sparked my imagination then and still does to this day. I thank my mother for starting me off with such a wonderful book, and I will be doing the same for my children.
Mary Virginia Stroud
Auburn, Alabama

I love J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince because this book has provided some wonderful memories for my 10-year-old daughter and me. We did the midnight run to the local bookstore and waited with all the other Potter fans. We then spent many nights reading it together. The memories of what each character did may not last, but those memories of enjoying that book with my daughter will last us both a lifetime.
Sally O’Connor
Mission Viejo, California

I have delighted in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women since I was a child. The spirited and opinioned personality of Jo, the gentle attributes of Beth, as well as the homemaker tendencies of the eldest sister, Meg, have all resonated strongly with me at various stages in my life. I continue to keep my original dog-eared copy that my grandmother gave me over 25 years ago. The book feels like a dear friend. It’s one I pick up and enjoy reconnecting with, and a book I look forward to sharing with my two young daughters when they are older.
Diane Ruddell
Rohnert Park, California

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, by Dr. Seuss, is a treasure. It reminds me that life is full of victories and failures. Each event is a learning experience and makes you a more complete person. The book gently reinforces the idea that if we continue to try new things and find adventure in our daily living, in the end we will be all right no matter the path we choose.
Jamie Stewart
Chesterfield, Virginia

I love The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett, because it was the first book I remember reading that inspired me to use my imagination. I still have a vivid picture of the magical garden in my head. The story also makes me appreciate growing up in a home with a loving family. I cannot wait until my baby daughter is old enough so I can share this wonderful book with her.
Heather Luth
Rowayton, Connecticut

My favorite book is Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson. Harold was a favorite of mine as a child and is a favorite once again, now that I read it to my four-month-old son. This book is a wonderful reminder of how something as simple as the imagination can lead us to great adventures, help us to overcome obstacles, and always ensure that we have a home to return to, safe and sound. A true classic.
Jennifer Tolo Pierce
San Francisco, California

Since the fifth grade, Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls, has been important to me. My teacher, Mrs. Helen Bengston, would read a chapter to us every day in class about the young boy and his two dogs. It is impossible not to be touched by this story. I reread this book at least once a year as a treat to myself and to remember how much I loved being read to in the fifth grade. This book really started my love of reading.
Elizabeth Roxworthy
Chicago, Illinois

I was an adult when I first read Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince, and I cried. It made me realize how often we overlook what is truly beautiful, unique, and precious in each person because we are so busy looking for bigger and better and we are so encouraged to fit in. It is important to treasure differences, too. They are just as beautiful as similarities.
Maxine Young
Queens, New York

My grandma shared Stone Soup with each of her eight grandchildren, and it remains a favorite. It delivers a great message of community: Each person contributes what he can, thinking it too small to matter, but when everyone’s items are added to the soup, they all enjoy something much greater.
Cass Comerford
New York, New York

The Little House on the Prairie series, because these were books that I first read 20 years ago and am rereading now. Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about an amazing time in history and showed me that there have been strong women in history that you won’t read about in history books.
Jessica Bright
Norristown, Pennsylvania

When I read Margaret Wise Brown’s The Runaway Bunny to my five-month-old son, it brings back memories of security and love that I felt when my mother read it to me. It evokes a joy that I can experience with my son, and it has beautiful illustrations.
Heather Luoma
Astoria, Oregon

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst. I like to read it when the going gets rough. Alexander’s expressions are priceless, and the book reminds me that things really aren’t that bad.
Grace Hall
Richmond, Virginia