Favorite Childhood Books

If anyone ever asked me to describe what my early childhood was like, I’d probably say, “I went with my mom everywhere,” but that’s only half-true. A more accurate statement would be, “I was always with my mom, and we were usually in the hospital.”

My older brother was seriously ill as a child. As a result, I spent all my time accompanying my mom to the doctor for my older brother. We walked through the sliding glass doors of hospitals more frequently than our own home. Whenever my parents were whisked away to the hospital for my brother, I came right alongside them. I always stayed out of the way, lost in the world of whatever book I was reading. Every single visit, my mom made sure I had at least three books cradled in my arm, ensuring that I had enough to keep me occupied for any duration of time.

I wouldn’t describe reading as my escape. It was, strangely, more like my connection. I was able to be by my mom’s side through everything because I was always engrossed in a book, rather than exploring unauthorized areas or being a general nuisance in dire situations. Books helped me connect to my dad, who spent long hours at work but always made sure he set aside enough time and money for father-daughter trips to Borders, back when that was still a thing. And my brother, my seriously ill but ever-positive brother, never hesitated to ask me questions about what I was reading, even through pain beyond what I could imagine.

Favorite Childhood Books on Hello Rascal Kids

Thankfully, my brother’s condition improved immensely. As the hospital trips became less frequent, my love for reading still continued to grow, and it’s often what I turn to in times of turmoil, even now. I am able to look back at my childhood fondly, in large part because of the feeling of safety that books offered me in times that felt anything but secure. I’d like to share a few of my childhood favorites.

Corduroy by Don Freeman

“No one ever seemed to want a small bear in green overalls.”

Corduroy is a fun story about a stuffed bear exploring the department store he lived in, in search of his missing button. In large part, this story was my favorite because green was my favorite color and Corduroy wore green overalls, which makes me laugh now because being a kid is so simple and sweet, and your favorite book can be based on something as seemingly trivial as the main character wearing your favorite color.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

“But time went by.”

Shel Silverstein’s writing style was a favorite of mine growing up for its simplicity and matter-of-fact nature. The Giving Tree was my favorite work of his because it pushed me to explore my own thoughts on generosity and taking, and the relationship between us and nature. Seeing the tree being reduced to a stump at the end was actually part of the reason I became so obsessed with being environmentally-friendly from a young age. My heart broke for the tree, who gave its all to the boy until it had nothing left to give.

In re-reading this book as an adult, the running theme of time going by, growing up too quickly, and becoming too busy for the playful things we did as kids hit a little harder. However, the theme served as a reminder to live a bit more slowly and enjoy life a little more.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

“I don’t want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted? Just like that, and it didn’t mean anything.”

Coraline tells the story of a young girl named Coraline who was bored of her plain old life. She discovers an “other” world, where things seem brighter and better, and she is instantly enamored by it, until she discovers that perfect is not all that it seems.

Coraline remains one of my favorite novels to this day. It was my first “scary” book, which made it all the more exciting. I actually started out hating the book. I couldn’t understand how Coraline could have such a disdain for her life, and her parents. For me, that was unfathomable. I love my family more than anything in the world. I immediately disliked Coraline, and put the book down for months. When I finally picked it up again, I was pleasantly surprised at the lessons Coraline learned about bravery, family, unconditional love, and having everything you want. Coraline ended up being the bravest girl I had ever heard of, and I decided I wanted to be just like her. I tried to emulate her bravery whenever I was afraid for my brother’s health, because if Coraline could face darkness and an evil “other” mother, then I could face anything, too.

I am grateful that Ngoc has given me the tender opportunity to share three of my favorite, timeless childhood books with her Hello Rascal Kids community.