I’ve been thinking a lot this week about the best books to buy my relatives (and thus procrastinating before actually having to venture out onto the bitterly cold and jam-packed city streets of New York). I’ve made a list of some of my favorite kids books to give as gifts. (Looking at books published this year, I’m a big fan of Dinosaur vs. Bedtime and Alvin Ho.)
It got me wondering- what was the best book you have ever received? (For me, it was a copy of The Boy Who Was Raised By Librarians, given to me by two sisters who were regulars at my library. I was leaving that branch and the girls and their mom gave me a copy as a goodbye gift.)
Book gift-giving also makes me think of all those sad, cast-off book gifts that wind up as library donations. Have you ever gone through your donation pile to find a lovingly inscribed copy: “Dear Little Abby… I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did…. May you treasure it for always…. XOXO, Your Great Aunt Mildred.” Only to wind up in the library book sale. Heartbreaking.
So, looking back this holiday season, what were the best books you ever got? And perhaps more importantly, what were the worst?
Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!
Angela
When I graduated college, an aunt gave me a copy of Green Eggs and Ham, because that was the first book I ever read all the way through, on my own. Still have that copy of one of my favourite stories. Here’s to Sam I Am and to nostalgic books. And to my Aunt, RIP.
Mary
I remember my mother giving me a copy of M. M. Kaye’s _The Ordinary Princess_ when I was in my early teens. I had some issues with self esteem then, and reading a book where the heroine was “ordinary” but still got the prince (and maintained her independence) really meant a lot to me. I still love to re-read that story.
Edie
As a parent, my all-time favorite book for young children is Goodnight Moon. It is one of few books that I can read again and again not only without irritation, but with genuine affection. On the flip side, I cannot stand reading poorly written, mass-marketed, Disney blah blah blah books. I would rather clean my refrigerator.
Sam
Jim Trelease’s Read-Aloud Handbook – my dad gave it to me for Christmas my second year of teaching. It led me to grad school and librarianship, and I haven’t looked back since!
Deb Wesch
I fell in love with Wuthering Heights and any Bronte related works.
Mayra Rodriguez
My favorite book gift of all time was “Oh, the places you will go.” by Dr. Seuss. It’s a classic and an all time favorite. I received it as a graduation gift by one of my former teachers. Some of the worst gifts I received would probably be a discolored book that was for an “I can Read” picture book that had 2-3 words per page. Unfortunately, I didn’t have much interest because I enjoyed books with a more words.