Children's Books discussion

I just read a charming article about such a quest:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/boo...

For me the book is The Forgotten Daughter, a novel of ancient Rome featuring a romance between a Roman nobleman and a Greek slave girl, which I checked out of the library around age 12, and thought absolutely wonderful and romantic. Immediately upon returning it, my brain was wiped clean of author and title. It was maddening. This would have been around 1982, so no internet. Eight years later I came across it in a used book store when I was in college -- but I didn't collect books then, and just made a mental note of the title and checked it out again when I was back home for vacation! And then I forgot the author and title again! Eventually I recollected what it was called, permanently this time, but how I wish I'd bought the copy when I saw it. It was only $2. My home town library has long since weeded their copy, even though it was a Newbery Honor book.

I was also once very happy to give my mother a book she hadn't read since childhood, but remembered vividly. She knew the title, Nicolette Detects (it's a thrilling boarding school story set in WWII in which the school girls crack a spy ring). This was around 2001, so it was easy enough to look it up online and order it, but it would never have occurred to my mother to try to do it herself. She was so pleased and still keeps it in the shelf in her bedroom.

I'd love to hear other people's stories...

When I was young, my grandmother read the classic German girls' series Nesthäkchen aloud to me (we never got through the entire series, but quite a few of the books). When we moved to Canada, that unfortunately ceased and my grandmother's vintage books were stolen when she was relocating to a retirement residence (sigh).

In 1991, when I was in Mannheim, Germany, I noticed that the series was still in print, so I bought them for myself. But as soon as I started reading the books, I felt that there was something a bit odd about them, that while they for the most part felt like the series my grandmother had read to me, I was sure there were changes and omissions.

After a bit of research, I realised to my immense disappointment that the Nesthäkchen series had been continuously and rather strongly abridged since WWII. It was originally penned in the 20s and 30s and "well-meaning" editors had deleted scenes where the children receive corporal punishment, writing deemed to be politically incorrect, even locations mentioned in the original series that were no longer part of post WWII Germany were often changed. I was both disappointed and angry, and donated the series to a local library in Mannheim.

When I was back in Canada, years later, I decided that the best way to obtain the unabridged series would be to get them second hand (and that is what I did). I managed to find the entire original series from the 20s and 30s for a rather good price and I snapped it up because for the most part, the original series was and still is really expensive (even for single books at times). However, because the original series was printed in the old Gothic script, it is a bit more difficult to read than modern versions of the series.

And glory be, the massive complaints by readers and academics concerning the abridgements of the original series must have born some fruit, because when I repurchased the original series (in its most current printing), although there are still some changes and deletions (which I don't like), many of the most controversial, most problematic deletions have actually been restored in the most current versions of the series.

But I do love my entire series of Nesthäkchen in the original (the book covers alone are wonderful and reading them is like being transported back to when my grandmother read them to me because the books look almost exactly the same).

When I was at university I had quite a hard time coming up with a copy of Canadian author Hazel Hutchins' Anastasia Morningstar and the Crystal Butterfly. (It was re-printed some years afterward under the far less enchanting title Sarah and the Magic Science Project.)

I had read, enjoyed, and remembered the book since childhood, and wanted it for a very specific reason - to ask a girl out with. I knew very little about her, except that she had a thing for butterflies and was getting her degree in elementary education, both fine and good - but did she like fantasy literature? I did not know, and this was a very important potential connection (or disconnection!) point between us.

Online used bookstores were barely a thing at the time, but after exhausting all of the local used bookstores and determining Anastasia was not to be had from any of them, I discovered and ordered one of Abe Books' last few copies.

On the book's inside back cover I pasted a checkout card envelope, stamped it "Jack's Invitational Library", tucked a - now don't cringe, I was only nineteen - "will you go to the dance with me, check yes/no" card into said envelope, wrapped it up, and left it for her to find, leaning against her dorm-room door.

Well. She turned me down for the date - which was just as well, because she didn't like the book either, and returned it a few weeks later. I have it on my shelf to this day - empty checkout card envelope still affixed to the inside jacket. So you see everything worked out for the best (as I'm sure my wife would agree!)

When I was in 7th grade, I had to take the bus to the downtown library after school, because my mother had a teachers' meeting and my father was still at work. Years before that, I had read Zip-Zip and His Flying Saucer, which started me off on reading science fiction. Zip-Zip and his Flying Saucer

Here is my review of the book: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...

At any rate, the introduction to science fiction gave me many enjoyable hours at the downtown Des Moines, Iowa, library. I ended up reading every book on the shelf of the kids' science fiction section and eventually read quite a few of the adult SF, too.

I have looked into buying a copy of Zip-Zip, just for nostalgia, but it is too expensive for me on a substitute teacher's salary.

This is a great thread. Love all the stories. Mine is not really from early childhood. My mother used to press/straighten my and my sister's hair on the weekend. If you have no point of reference, it involved one of these http://www.hairplusbeautysupplylv.com... The process took about 2 hours. Well this one Saturday, my little sister (6) had obtained a worn copy of The Legend of Daisy Flowerdew from somewhere. I don't even know where she got it, and she can't remember. I (17) sat in the kitchen and read the entire book to her and my Momma. We all enjoyed it, and it is one of my fondest memories of just the 3 of us. Our bond as the 'women of the family' got a little stronger that day. My little sister still has the book, but I wanted a copy of my own. I wasn't able to find it until recently when Amazon started offering books from other sellers.

It is a very good story even if it is a bit melancholy. Anyways... melancholy is probably my favorite flavor of book ;)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I...

I would love to get my hands on a copy of The Muppet Show Book! I spent many hours as a child looking through and reading that book! I have seen a few used copies around on the internet, but have not been able to bring myself to spend the money, yet! There is one that I would love to find and have done some searching on with no success. The problem is I can't remember the title and only vaguely remember the plot. LOL. Set in the pioneer days of America, a widowed husband marries a young lady out of need for someone to care for his kids, then eventually they grow to love one another. I loved the book as a kid and wish I could find it again!

Can Forever... be found anywhere lol?

Jami wrote: "I would love to get my hands on a copy of The Muppet Show Book! I spent many hours as a child looking through and reading that book! I have seen a few used copies around on the internet, but have n..."

Jami, your forgotten book sounds like Sarah, Plain and Tall. They also made a movie of this book, if I'm remembering correctly.

Tricia wrote: "Jami wrote: "I would love to get my hands on a copy of The Muppet Show Book! I spent many hours as a child looking through and reading that book! I have seen a few used copies around on the interne..."

Tricia, Oh my goodness, I think this is the one. Oh I am so excited now! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! :)

Yes, this is a wonderful book I used continuously in my classroom. You do know that it is the first in her series, sort of. I know that are a couple more books that continue the story. Skylark I believe is the next book if you want to continue the story. Double check though.

There was one of those "Little Golden Books", that I've been trying to find, and have been unable to. The name of it is, "Lucky Little Bucky." It has a special meaning to me. Oh how I could find a copy of it!

I want a book I used to read to my kids, which had this line in it: "Me I don't, me I don't, me I don't care." I can't remember title or author. Also they loved a book about three little dogs whose dog houses were shaped like the dogs' ears.

Liza wrote: "Can Forever... be found anywhere lol?"

It's easily available on Amazon, but if you want the locket book cover (the one you showed in your post), you might need to search online second hand bookstores. The newer covers look much more suggestive, which is kind of annoying because the book is (in my opinion) not primarily about sex, but about first love, family relationships and the like.

Look at the difference:

(newer cover)

I read a book in 5th grade about foster children. I think it was set in Canada. There were two boys named Mike and one had a sister, all in the same foster home.

Gundula wrote: "Liza wrote: "Can Forever... be found anywhere lol?"

It's easily available on Amazon, but if you want the locket book cover (the one you showed in your post), you might..."

I will have to check around for second hand. I DON'T like the new suggestive cover at all.

It took the What’s the Name of That Book? a couple years to help me find one of my first books (from ages 2 & 3) that I couldn't remember. It was an amazing feat because I had a couple of the details wrong. I bought a VERY cheap online copy and as soon as I saw it, I knew that it was THE book. Fun!: Fire Dog

Liza wrote: "Gundula wrote: "Liza wrote: "Can Forever... be found anywhere lol?"

It's easily available on Amazon, but if you want the locket book cover (the one you showed in your ..."

Try AbeBooks...?

Mr.Wootton wrote: "Liza wrote: "Gundula wrote: "Liza wrote: "Can Forever... be found anywhere lol?"

It's easily available on Amazon, but if you want the locket book cover (the one you sh..."

She should check with the seller though about which cover the book has.

I adored the book Beautiful Joe when I was child about 45 years ago. The copy I read and re-read was lost long ago. I searched for a long time, this was before the internet, and couldn't find anyone else who had ever heard of it. My husband finally found a copy at a book fair and gave it to me as a gift. I don't have to tell you how delighted I was and how profusely he was thanked. Now the book is being sold on Amazon and it is easy to find information about the book, the author, and the real Beautiful Joe upon which the story is based. (I only recently learned this was pretty much a true story about a Canadian dog in 1890.) It is notable for at least two things. One, it was the first million-copy seller in Canada and two, it was a major influence on people's awareness of animal cruelty. Rereading the book as an adult I notice how preachy it is but it certainly impacted me as a youngster and helped shape my attitude towards animals.

I've been trying to remember the name of a picture book probably from the late 60s or early 70s about 2 boys who meet in a grocery store (each with their shopping moms) and "camp" there, eating baked beans. . . one boy might be black and one might be white?

Sandy wrote: "I've been trying to remember the name of a picture book probably from the late 60s or early 70s about 2 boys who meet in a grocery store (each with their shopping moms) and "camp" there, eating bak..."

Sorry, it doesn't sound familiar.

Joanne wrote: "I want a book I used to read to my kids, which had this line in it: "Me I don't, me I don't, me I don't care." I can't remember title or author. Also they loved a book about three little dogs whose..."

The book I'm thinking of has a line very similar: "I don't care." It's called:

Pierre: A Cautionary Tale in Five Chapters and a Prologue

Thanks Tricia, the line is similar, but that's not the book.

Tricia wrote: "Yes, this is a wonderful book I used continuously in my classroom. You do know that it is the first in her series, sort of. I know that are a couple more books that continue the story. Skylark I ..."

Tricia, I borrowed a copy of from my local library; and, while it was indeed a sweet story and had a few similarities, sadly, it was not the same one I am remembering from childhood. I guess it still remains a mystery! Thanks Again! :)

Rebecca wrote: "I adored the book Beautiful Joe when I was child about 45 years ago. The copy I read and re-read was lost long ago. I searched for a long time, this was before the internet, and couldn't find any..."

I have specific memories of when I read Beautiful Joe. When my mom finally turned over all of my favorite childhood books, this one was falling apart and pretty worthless. I did buy another copy on Amazon. Yes, the story is beautiful and I still have fond memories of it fifty years later.

Tricia wrote: "Rebecca wrote: "I adored the book Beautiful Joe when I was child about 45 years ago. The copy I read and re-read was lost long ago. I searched for a long time, this was before the internet, and c..."

I'm so glad I found a fellow Beautiful Joe lover. I always wanted to be Laura.

Beautiful Joe for the link.

For several decades of my adult life I was trying to remember a short chapter book about a little girl who goes on a (somewhat) magical (short) journey through a forest. The one memorable detail for me was that she was advised to 'follow her nose' and that turned out to be a successful strategy. She turned her path every time something caught her attention, until she reached her goal, and then she got un-lost just by following her nose back again. I used to wander around my grandma's farm trying to recreate the experience, and though of course it never 'worked,' it was fun.

Well a couple of years ago I heard about a new picture book by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (author of The Yearling). So I went to the library and checked out The Secret River . Lo and behold, it was an updated edition of that old story from my childhood, same title, . It still enchants. The newer version is much more appealing, especially to today's children, but I'll always have a place in my heart for the subtle, mystical, original version of Calpurnia's adventure in the bayou.

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "Well a couple of years ago I heard about a new picture book by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (author of The Yearling). So I went to the library and checked out The Secret River . Lo and behold, it was an updated edition of that old story from my childhood, same title, . It still enchants...."

Wow..that book looks amazing! I am going to check it out from the library.

I loved a book called Rabbit's New Rug (http://www.amazon.com/Rabbits-New-Mar...) and Amazon helped me find it right away. It's an obscure title I think but a pretty book with a nice message (although more words than my sons currently find appealing). I am also a huge fan of Mercer Mayer and am particularly in love with Professor Wormbog and the Search for the Ziperump-a-zoo. (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_...) Thank goodness my parents saved that one, as it's >$200 on Amazon!

I loved reading A Handful of Time by Kit Pearson. I remember reading it and then crying at the end. Anyone read it?

Jason wrote: "I loved reading A Handful of Time by Kit Pearson. I remember reading it and then crying at the end. Anyone read it?"

I think I might have bought this book recently but have not gotten around to reading it. The only other book by Kit Pearson that I have read before is The Daring Game (which I really loved).

I highly recommend A Handful of Time. It still affects me deeply to this day. Such an emotional story.

Jason wrote: "I highly recommend A Handful of Time. It still affects me deeply to this day. Such an emotional story."

I found it (it was hiding in plain sight on my bookshelves).

I have two books but no titles. One was a golden book about of all things Yogi bear! My dad read it to me in the early 1960s. I loved the ending when the bears ate honey cake. The second was some anthology with a story about a dolls house where the hot and cold water and electricity worked! Some fairies moved in an made lovely improvements. I get shivers when I think about it.

A Handful of Time for the link...

Momo, your dollhouse story sounds very vaguely familiar to me - I hope someone knows it.

This is a long shot, but I have been trying hard to remember the author and title of a memoir that I read in high school. I don't remember how I acquired the book, but when my mom found out that it had some cuss words in it, the book mysteriously disappeared from my bookshelf! The memoir was written by a man and was probably written sometime in the late 60s or early 70s. The man had a wolf as a pet and I remember the memoir as being uproariously funny. If anyone has any clue what this book might be, I would be forever grateful.

Beverly wrote: "This is a long shot, but I have been trying hard to remember the author and title of a memoir that I read in high school. I don't remember how I acquired the book, but when my mom found out that it..."

It almost sounds like a book written by Farley Mowat. Could the book in question have been any of these three memoirs?

Owls in the Family
The Dog Who Wouldn't Be
Never Cry Wolf

Hi Gundula,
No, it is not one of Mowat's books. I am familiar with all three of these, I even recently watched the movie version of Never Cry Wolf again.
I think, if I am remembering correctly, that the memoir author's first name was Jack. And I thought that the word "Wolf" appeared in the title. Although I cannot be completely sure about either of these memories.

So I typed in wolf and Jack for a search and the following title came up, The Neighbors Are Scaring My Wolf. Is that it, Beverly?

I am pretty certain that this is it!! I can't believe that I didn't try that search before--duh!!
Thank you so much!

Beverly wrote: "I am pretty certain that this is it!! I can't believe that I didn't try that search before--duh!!
Thank you so much!"

You're welcome, and happy reading!!

Andrew Henry's Meadow looks cute; I'll have to investigate.

Loved "A fish out of water" - A Dr Seuss Book?? Have not seen it in any retail bookshop for years. Would love to get a copy again.

Thank you Chandra, thats very helpful info - appreciate your time - i will look into getting a copy online.

My family had an old set of encyclopedias. Volume 14 was for kids. It was filled with crafts, games and fairytales. I loved the fairytales because each one came with a full page glossy painted illustration. They were the old, no holds barred variety with horrible deaths for the villains. When my sister had children, she gave it to them to read and it disappeared. Unfortunately all I can remember is that the books were maroon colored.

The Book I am looking for I think was called "Victoria". It was a young adult chapter book. I believe the cover had a circle of mushrooms on it, in the forest. It was a witchy book...the little girl had a black book of spells. I think it was pretty obscure. I did a search for it and couldn't find it.

Also A GREAT GREAT BOOK full of activities for kids that I absolutely LOVE is Steven Caney's Kids America. It is not in print anymore, and I have found copies but they cost an arm and a leg.

Hahaha...just did a search for Kids' America and found multiple sources selling it for cheap!

Its a big Russian children storybook about a selfless Veterinary doctor and his talking animals. There even is an entirely new language that animals speak, like elvish in LOTR. I read a translated copy of Telugu. Its called "Noppi Doctor!" translated "Pain, Doctor!"
It had beautiful Illustrations but sadly its out of print now. I dont remember the author's name or its Russian title :( Still Hunting for it.

The Sugar Mouse Cake, a picture book I think, read to me in school.