I know well enough not to end in a preposition, but I just found this blurb on the Cybils (see the blurb at the bottom right of the blog) and think it is a good goal for us to set. I really want to produce something of quality, that is a child's favorite book, something they learn from, want to read over and over, something with a message that resonates within them about it. One of my favorites is The Lorax. I thought how could people be so blind to pollute, to take away and not beautiful our world. And now it seems there is nothing that can stop that path. We are destroying the rain forests at a phenomenal speed. We seed clouds for our benefit. What are we doing to Mother Earth. There is no Lorax to speak for the Earth. What will it become for our children? Days of wearing 200SPF? I still think that maybe my true path is to go be the Lorax and speak for the Earth.
Anyway, we'd love to hear from you. What is one of your favorite books of all times from your childhood? And what impact has it had on you?
From Jacket Flap: Now in their fifth year, the Cybils are the Internet's first literary awards. The public nominates their favorite children's books. Then groups of bloggers get to work. First, a nominating committee reads ALL the titles in a given category. After nearly two arduous months, this committee winnows the nominees to five finalists. A second committee of bloggers considers the shortlist and, after much debate, chooses the best of the best for 2010.
The earliest book I remember liking very much was A.A. Milne's 'Winnie the Pooh' series, and 'When We Were Very Young', a book of children's poetry and verse by the same author. The original Winnie the Pooh books were so witty, funny to me as a child but also as an adult. When reading them to ( and later, with) my own children I discovered another level of wry humor. Nothing mean or sarcastic, just gentle, subtle observations on humor behavior. These books were written with respect for the children's intelligence. Children are observant and continue to develop and refine their knowledge, dumbed - down books are boring books, as is anything that doesn't require thinking.
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