Friday, January 4, 2013

Let's Talk: Favorite Childhood Book

Since I’m spending the Christmas break at my parent’s home I've had the chance to go through my pile of read books. Among them is sitting one of the first books I read as a child and one of the main reasons I fell in love with the Fantasy genre to begin with. This made me think about the very first set of fantasy books that I had, at least that I remember. I had the typical children books, the re-written Grimm’s Fairy Tales published by people I don’t even remember. You know which ones I mean, the more or less 10 pages long books that you can find even at the supermarket or the drugstore. But then my aunt went vacationing to Disney World and she came back totting 7 huge books for me; big enough to reach my waist when I was a kid. Those books where my first reading treasures.

Two of those books where mostly board games with storytelling intertwined; the other 4 where the Disney’s princess fairy tales movies turned into books (Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty); and the last one, the last one was my personal favorite. It was a spiral-bound, suitcase shaped, story book with a few games in some of its pages. The book was a series of short stories (one related to the next) about forest creatures and their everyday lives. It had mice, birds, squirrels, bunnies, foxes, turtles, and others, as well as dragons, gnomes, fairies, and elves. It was a beautiful story about friendship and love, about mischiefs vs intentional harm. The type of story that its meant to teach kids a moral lesson.


I used to know this book by heart, word by word, picture by picture. That is how much I loved it. Taking it in my hands and re-reading its pages brings back all the memories of the great times I spend as a kid pretending to run through those same woods. I can only see this book with the utmost fondness. This is a book that my mom read to me before going to bed and that I picked right up the next morning. I remember carrying the book everywhere I went, even though at the time, to me that book seemed like a giant.


I hadn't thought about this book in years, in fact, I’m ashamed to say that I had completely forgotten about it until today. So I began to search for it, and truth be told I still have the book with me, sort of. My sister had taken it without consent (nothing new here), but it’s the only surviving remnant of my childhood escapades into fantastical worlds. The other six books have long ago visited the trash can; unfortunately, those didn't survive my (10 years younger) sister.
Right now some of its pages have loosened up; it is a spiral-bound after all, but it’s still complete. Because of the great memories, it still has that power to pull me in make me loose myself on its pages.

Now I ask you, did you ever had a book that you treasured more than the others, a book that it’s close to your heart because it brings back childhood memories of far simpler times, when your biggest problems where the fictional kind?

Which book was your childhood favorite?







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6 comments:

  1. I have spent the past week researching and scanning the web for this book. I remember reading it every night as a child. The story never got old, and still never gets old. I have dreams about these stories.
    Is there any title or author visible so that I may look for a copy?
    Unfortunately, despite my best efforts in preserving my childhood artifacts, this one has dissappeared

    Sincerely,
    Cait

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    Replies
    1. Hi Cait!

      The book's English title is A Trip to Woodland. I can't find an actual author, but I did found the Illustrator which is Tony Wolf.

      This book is very dear to me, I hope the info helps you.

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  2. I was obsessed with this book and I had forgotten all about it until 2 mornings ago when it just popped in my head. I couldn't remember what it was called or who wrote it, I could only remember what the book looked like. I searched fer awhile but didn't find anything til now!!! I can't wait to get another copy, I'm pregnant an would love fer our baby to grow with this and hopefully love it as much as I do. Also, its by Jane Brierley if no one has found that yet : ) thanks so much fer posting this I don't think I would've found it anywhere else. -Brea!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. First of all Congratulations on your pregnancy. I do hope that you find the book again. Mine is beginning to fall apart and I know that I want to preserve it for the future. I'm happy that I could help you. Thanks for the author's name and for dropping by ;) Best of Luck!

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  3. Hello Mel! Thank you so much for writing this. I have been searching for this book left and right for months. I also had it years ago and had forgotten the name. Thanks to you I can now purchase it again.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Can't say I'm really a regular blog reader but you helped IMMENSELY. Coincidentally like Breannon, congratulations to her, I seem to to just randomly remembered that big suitcase-like book I had when I was 3 or 4. I'm 26 now lol and I'm grateful to remember a good piece of my childhood and all thanks to your post. I've to say this is the book the likely set me down in loving the fantasy genre even now. Cheers, miss!

    ReplyDelete

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