Favorite Childhood Picture Book(s)

Post by **Heidi M Simone** » 14 Nov 2017, 04:08

Reflecting back, that are so many good picture books out there. What picture books come to mind as you were growing up? Why were these so important to you?

I remember growing up with some of the Little Golden Books! The one that comes to mind more is The Poky Little Puppy. What I liked most about this book were the illustrations. I wasn't a very strong reader growing up, so the illustrations were key for me to even open a book.

johappy · Post by **johappy** » 14 Nov 2017, 22:16

I think of that book about the hungry caterpillar. I also had a lot of those little golden books when I was little! I was obsessed with the Little Critter books, mostly.

Lincolnshirelass · Post by **Lincolnshirelass** » 15 Nov 2017, 05:50

The Gruffalo!

melissy370 · Post by **melissy370** » 15 Nov 2017, 20:04

Are you my mother. Loved that book

Elena Marianne · Post by **Elena Marianne** » 16 Nov 2017, 18:03

I still remember very clearly the images of my favorite childhood picture book, a book about a teddy bear that got lost in the forest and his quest to find his home. Although it didn't have any text, the pictures were so beautiful and narrating that I didn't realize there was no text until I was old enough to read it myself and I couldn't find any word to read. Sadly I forgot the name, but in my imagination it's called "The adventures of Teddy".

Lincolnshirelass · Post by **Lincolnshirelass** » 17 Nov 2017, 03:40

I also always loved pop-up books and books with tabs you pulled out and lifted up. I had a wonderful Christmas one where you could make Santa pop in and out of the chimney.

Gnome · Post by **Gnome** » 19 Nov 2017, 08:46

“Hatty Batty, the Bookworm Witch”

I’m pretty sure it was the book that started my love of both books and fantasy.

Carol Cisne · Post by **Carol Cisne** » 21 Nov 2017, 16:28

hsimone wrote:Reflecting back, that are so many good picture books out there. What picture books come to mind as you were growing up? Why were these so important to you?

I remember growing up with some of the Little Golden Books! The one that comes to mind more is The Poky Little Puppy. What I liked most about this book were the illustrations. I wasn't a very strong reader growing up, so the illustrations were key for me to even open a book.

I also remember little golden books! There were always a few available in my grandma's car in case her errands were taking too long and I was getting impatient (this was the time before tablets).

I remember quite a few picture books from when I was a child. The ones that I remember the most clearly had vivid illustrations that inspired me to create my own pictures and stories. Some of my favorites were Animalia by Graeme Base, Dinotopia by James Gurney, Stellaluna by Janelle Cannon, Good Dog Carl by Alexandra Day, and so many more I cannot remember the titles or authors but I would recognize the cover and illustrations.

I also loved the books by Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and so many more), Shel Silverstein (The Giving Tree, and Where the Sidewalk Ends),If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff and Felicia Bond, Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Maya Angelou and Jean-Michel Basquiat and I think I could just keep listing books but I'll stop there.

Many of these books shared messages of encouragement, how to overcome obstacles or problems, others were more shapes and colors oriented (camouflaged animals you have to find), and other things. Someday I plan to have a bookshelf full of books that I loved as a child that I could share with my own children. For now, I settle for a bankers box and a wishlist.

tlynnduhart · Post by **tlynnduhart** » 21 Nov 2017, 17:54

Stone Soup, from my elementary school days. It was basically my first cook book haha. 20 years pass, and now I read it to my neice. It always makes me hungry.

Ariana sandhu · Post by **Ariana sandhu** » 23 Nov 2017, 18:35

Stone soup was my favorite book too.

Lincolnshirelass · Post by **Lincolnshirelass** » 24 Nov 2017, 04:28

I have to admit - btw I live in the UK - that until very recently I thought that Stone Soup was only a story that Ma made up in 'Little House on the Prairie' to teach a lesson about help and co-operation! I will certainly look out the original.

On another topic, though this isn't about picture books as such, I love Quentin Blake's illustrations for Roald Dahl's books.

Melee3 · Post by **Melee3** » 26 Nov 2017, 22:21

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein was my favorite picture book as a child.
The message of the book has changed over the years because I’ve grown, but it’s still one of the best.

-- 26 Nov 2017, 22:22 --

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein was my favorite picture book as a child.
The message of the book has changed over the years because I’ve grown, but it’s still one of the best.

elivia05 · Post by **elivia05** » 16 Jun 2018, 19:00

Dr. Suess books have always been my favorite. The outlandish characters and fake words always kept my interest as a kid. Going into Suesslandia in Universal Islands of Adventure as an adult was definitely a childhood dream come true.