Hm.

[conuly]

I have a theory about why some picture books are acclaimed and others aren't (beyond the obvious of publicity), but... before I go into my theory, I thought it'd be good to get some confirmation of my idea from... well, youse guys.

So, questions. What pictures books did you enjoy when you were under four or so? Which ones did you enjoy during your later childhood, such as it is? Which picture books did you not grow up with, but enjoy now? Links are helpful, por favor.

Edit: An explanation as to why you liked a book (the rhyme, the story, the pictures) is good, as is talking about books you hated or books kids you know liked.

Comments

[leora.livejournal.com]

I don't remember which books I enjoyed when I was under four. I don't remember very clearly anything anyone in my family read to me. I know that I was read to, but the only memories I have in relation to this were the times when everyone was too busy to read to me. I also remember my sister trying to teach me to read and how much of a complete failure that was (her approach worked well for many of my siblings, but I needed a different method, I learned fairly well and easily once my first grade teacher started working with me using a phonics-based approach).

When I was babysitting, I rather liked Pat the Bunny. It's cute; it's tactile; it has fun things to do.

As a young reader around ages 5 to 7, I recall being especially fond of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish and also Mr. Pine's Purple House. For a long time I would state Mr. Pine's Purple House as my favorite story. I wish I had a copy still. I do remember the plot.

Mr. Pine lived on a block where all the houses looked just the same. One day he almost went into the wrong house. He got tired of all of the houses being identical and he painted his house purple! The neighbors were shocked. The neighbors were scandalized. The neighbors did not approve. But he could find his house and he liked it being purple. Over time the neighbors decided it was cool. So, they all painted their houses purple too. But then they all looked the same again! So he had to paint it some other color, maybe green. Then the neighbors decided to each paint their house in a color they liked and the neighborhood had variety.

I may be misremembering some aspects, but it was more or less like that. I think it's pretty easy to see why I loved the story. It was really a story for a kid like me. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish is just fun. Oh and I liked Green Eggs and Ham, because it's funny.

I'm not sure I had any traditional toddler books like Pat the Bunny or books talking about baby animals or whatnot. I did have one of those plastic books you could read in the bathtub, and I loved that it was a book that wouldn't get damaged in the bath, but I don't recall the book.

[kibbles.livejournal.com]

I could use plastic books as an adult. Any book that is clearly MINE gets wet. Some people are horrified by that -- me? I can't live without reading constantly. So some books (try at least to get used paper backs) are sacrificed, have an scalloped edge from where they rested on my wet belly.

[leora.livejournal.com]

I want plastic books too. Well, after I can read normal print again...
I gave up on reading in the bath because I inevitably at some point drop the book and it becomes totally ruined. But I wish I could read in the bath.

I actually could if I bought print/Braille books and then separated out the Braille pages. In print/Braille books they put the Braille on clear plastic sheets so both the print and Braille can be read at the same time (good for a blind/sighted pair reading together or one of them learning to read. And handy as it works with the learner being blind or sighted). So, anyhow, I could take out all the plastic pages and then read them in the bath. Hmmm...