Favorite Childhood Books

While packing up the basement a few weeks ago, I came across boxes of books from my childhood.  Some of them had been water-damaged so I had to crack open each box and assess the damage.  I kept a pad of paper handy to mark down the books that were ruined because I will eventually replace them.  Luckily, I only had to replace two or three. 

The first box was chock-full of Babysitters Club books, by Ann M. Martin.  Good Lord, I loved these!  I think I read about seventy of them...I loved reading about their adventures and would voraciously devour them as soon as they came out.  They came out monthly I believe, and my Mom always got the new ones for me.  What I didn't know is that there were over a hundred!  That's not counting the special "adventure" release ones.  I believe that it's on my Goodreads list to read the last one someday.  I thought of these books late last night as I was tossing together a "kid kit" to take with us while the house is being shown and we can't go home.  I think I did the original four members (Kristy, Claudia, Mary Ann and Stacey) justice with my snacks, water and juice boxes, two toys, Uno, paper and cool crayons.

Another series I came across:  The Little House books.  I am a huge Laura Ingalls Wilder fan, even in adulthood.  I've read every biography I could get my hands on, and pored over pictures and wondered what life was really like back then.    This is one of the only reasons why I wish I had a daughter...to pass these books onto her.  But Will might enjoy them too, I certainly am going to try!  Sadly, this series took two casualties to the water damage, "Farmer Boy" and "Little House in the Big Woods."  They will be replaced someday. 

Another series that I was crazy about (but surprisingly wasn't in the basement) was the Ann of Green Gables books by L. M. Montgomery.  Reading about orphan Ann going to live with her aunt and uncle, growing up, getting married and starting a family....loved them.  Prince Edward Island sounded like a magical place growing up, with its sea and red dirt.  In 2006 I was lucky to take a trip there and it was every bit as beautiful as the books described. 

What are some of your favorite childhood books?