Sunday, April 27, 2014

Books and Me: A Look-Back

A few weeks ago, I posted a Top Ten Tuesday post about my reading journey, what authors and books have been key points in progressing as a reader. Yesterday, I had my open house for high school graduation. One of the highlights of the party was the slideshow my dad made of all the different pictures of me with family and friends through the years, highlighting various memories. So I realized I wanted to mash the two together. Instead of showing the authors and books through my "reading journey," I'd go fully nostalgic on the books I remember the most growing up (okay, with authors added at the end). Beware.

I couldn't find my family's copy even though it better still be with us, but that book definitely looked used. Mom incorporated "Bible class" into our homeschooling and this was my "textbook" of choice. I've always been a sucker for illustrations.

Tiger and Tom-Early age
"And Other Stories for Boys" HA! Mom used to read to all of us kid frequently at night before bed. Those stories? Only one boy was present, so yes, girls can like them too. 

The How and Why Library: My Stories - Mother-daughter bonding
THIS BOOK. There's a whole series, but this specific one was my favorite. My mom used to read this one to me all the time. Classic. 

The Princess and the Kiss-Elementary grades
Another great memory I have with reading is my mom reading great (and illustrated) storybooks to my younger sister and me. Obviously, my mother has played an instrumental part in my love for reading (which I already knew and appreciated). 
Other books include: Pink and Yellow, You Are Special, and The Three Trees

American Girl-Elementary school
As you can see, Samantha and Addy were my favorites. I always liked to think that Samantha and I were alike, but I loved Addy's time period and the focus on civil rights. During that foolish period of rebelling against Sunday naps, I would sit in the corner of our "school/book room" and read this series. 

Mandie series-Elementary/MG grades
Oh, Mandie. I loved this series and all the characters so much. I actually read this around the same time as my younger sister and we shared in the excitement together. The bad part is that the author only got to the first book in the spin-off (where Mandie goes to college) before she dies. My heart still yearns.

Elizabeth Gail series-Elementary/MG grades
The only other elementary/MG series I remember reading and LOVING. So many boys, so much tension for me in this. Of course, I look back now at the books and cringe at how awful the writing is (or maybe that's all MG?). But I don't care because I'm keeping those until I can force them on my own kids.

Adult authors-Middle school
I didn't even bother to list them all because I basically read every single book off my mother's shelf. I didn't know any books for my age group and craved romance. Hence, my mom's Christian adult books.

Janette Rallison-Early high school (?)
Hey, we're starting to get to present time period! In, I think, early high school I started reading Janette Rallison and others like her (Sarah Dessen, Meg Cabot, and so on). I finally found books in the teen section of my library that looked interesting.

Ally Carter-High school (?)
I couldn't NOT add Ally Carter in here. Duh. After lots of contemporary, I found The Gallagher Girls. Yes, still contemporary, but with a twist. 

Suzanne Collins-High school
Since I added Ally, I had to add Suzanne. The woman who showed me that there was more to reading than contemporary in high school. 

Blogging-Present
Don't we look so cute? In 2012, Shae pressured me to start blogging. So I did. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I would end up with an eclectic taste of books, some favorites being sci-fi and fantasy and dystopian (i.e. Seraphina, Under the Never Sky, The Lunar Chronicles),

What are some books you loved growing up?

Note: I couldn't find acceptable pictures in that time period I wanted for each book, but hope you enjoyed!

20 comments:

  1. I adore this post Summer! I was actually talking to my sister the other day and how I used to always get told off about reading when I was meant to be doing my homework! I was actually also trying to remember some of my favourites when I was younger, I could remember most of them! And I love that photo of you when receiving a book, that is my reaction still when I get books now! Thanks for sharing this great post with us! :)

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    1. Thanks, Jasprit! Oh wow, that sounds like me! I still get told to stop reading when I should be doing other things like school. Ha! It so describes my love of books ;)

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  2. Oh my goodness, Summer, I love this! The pictures are SO CUTE! :) It's always fun to find out what people loved to read when they were growing up. You've made me reminisce on the books I loved as a kid, which is making me really happy right now. :)

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    1. *blushes* Thanks, Jessica! Aw, that's great. I love reminiscing. I always thought when I was younger that it sucked to be the age I was at. Now I'm shaking my head at that thinking.

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  3. Oh my gosh, you were (and still are) so cute! This was a great post. It's crazy to think that we're both graduating (my ceremony will be exactly 3 weeks from yesterday).

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    1. Ya'll are making me blush. Thanks! ISN'T IT? Are you going to college?

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  4. pretty nice blog, following :)

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  5. I love your pictures! I also had that Beginner's Bible and loved American Girl!

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    1. Thanks, Amy! You had The Beginner's Bible too?!

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  6. Fun post, love the pictures :D I think I grew up with some different books but the names are definitely familiar! I also read all the American Girl doll books :) You do look like Samantha! My favorite was probably Kit, I loved all the little stuff you could buy for them. Janette Rallison was middle school for me but I remember her visiting my school in person which was so cool! At the time though I was just like "Oh, another adult speaking" xD Little did I know I would have been freaking out in the future!

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    1. I honestly admit that when Kit Kittredge the movie came out, I watched it even though I was "old." Those books were my childhood! That is so cool! Funny how that works.

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  7. American Girl! Ah, Samantha was one of my friends favorite! My favorite was Felicity! :) I haven't read all the Mandie books, but I have read 1 or 2 of them. :) Is the picture next to the Elizabeth Gail books your reaction while reading them? ;) Janette Rallison, I like her books a lot! And have I mentioned I love Ally Carter's books? ;) And to answer what books I loved when I was younger, well, hmm... If it had anything to do with horses I was probably reading it, The Baby-Sitters Club, and From the Files of Madison Finn were a few of my favorites! :)

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    1. Because of the horses? Ha, could be, really. It was my expression in life it feels like. The Babysitters Club was one that I meant to read growing up, but never did!

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  8. I think this might just be the cutest post EVER. Seriously! What a fun, creative idea and you are absolutely adorable! Thanks for sharing =)

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  9. What an adorable post, Summer! You still have those book from when you were younger? That's really cool.

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    1. I do! My mom made sure to keep our favorites.

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  10. Aw, this post is so cute! I'm going to second Emma and say that you were (and still are) adorable. I love talking about childhood memories and about books, so it's always fun for me to find out what other bloggers read when they were younger. We don't share many early-childhood reads, but I was also a fan of the American Girl books, although I never had a favorite.

    Reading this post and hearing you talk about graduating from high school is overwhelming me with nostalgia - now I want to make one of these posts. As for right now, I'm off to go re-read some picture books!

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  11. ADORABLE :D I also still have some books I used to read when I was growing up, but most of the books I read were from the library. I remember adoring fantasy & scary books, haha. Like the ones from R.L Stine. They gave me nightmares, but I still couldn't stop reading them.. I also remember the time where I read all the books from Virginia Andrews. I think I was around 10/11.

    My most precious collection are all the Disney books I collected :)

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  12. Ah! This post is so adorable. I loved seeing you grow up, and getting a chance to see what books you were reading at certain ages in your life :)

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