Day 14: Favorite book by favorite author

I think the question is "What book don't I like by Roald Dahl?"

Well, I think that my favorite book is a toss up between The Witches, The Twits, The BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes.  I like all of the books that I've read by him, and I still need to read a few more, but let's say The Twits and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  

I was first introduced to the story of Charlie Bucket when I was watching the movie Willy Wonka (you know, that classic one from the 70s).  My sisters and I really enjoyed it, and then I had figured out that it was a book (probably in 2nd or 3rd grade) and I devoured it.  I loved the book and the story.  And I loved candy... Maybe that was part of it as well.  I love how the main children (besides Charlie) are all products of indulgent parenting.  Even though Charlie was a poor kid, he was still happy because he had his family and it made him humble, and not so stupid.

And The Twits.  I just remember that when I read this story that one of the things that I read was that if people are mean and have ugly thoughts it will make them ugly.  And that's what happened to the twits.  It really was an amazing concept for me to understand when I read it (again sometime in elementary school). 

Day 13: Your favorite writer

For children's books, there really was no contest on this one.  Well, maybe a little bit.  I really like JK Rowling.  And Rick Riordan.  And Katherine Paterson (so underrated).

But my favorite writer of children's books is without a doubt, Roald Dahl.  I loved his books when I was younger, and to this day, I still enjoy reading his books, and I hope that my sons will enjoy reading his books as well.

I love that the way Dahl wrote brought so much creativity, imagination and magic to kids.  He had a wonderful sense of humor with the way that he wrote, and I really loved the books because they were so funny when I was younger.  I feel like they are definitely geared to children, but the young at heart would enjoy his books as well.

And he has so many wonderful things to say about the importance of children being children and using their imaginations.  LOVE this author, and I hope that I can get all of his books collected one day. 

Day 12: A book you used to love, but don't anymore

The Outsiders by SE Hinton

I really loved this book when I read it  (8th grade).  But I never had any desire to read it again.  The older I got, the less sad endings I like.  BUT, I feel like this is a book that all middle schoolers should read.  I won't read it again, but it is an excellent book. If this was in the grown-up books or classics category, the book would be Wuthering Heights. 

Day 11: A book you hated

This, I think, kind of goes under the most overrated books.  Oh well.  A book I hated.  Well, let's just say that I am the type of person, that if I can't make it through the book, there's a good chance I am going to "hate" it.  

That being said, there is only one book I can recall reading all the way through when I was younger, and I had no desire at all to read it again.  That book is:  From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.  

I don't recall much of the story, except I read it in 5th grade and I did not like it at all.  And, I have had no desire since reading it, to pick it up again.  So, that's the end of that.  :) 

Day 10: Favorite classic book

Ugh.. I haven't read most children's classic books, but there does come to mind one book in particular.

 
Winnie-The-Pooh by AA Milne.  I love this collection of stories.  My mom has a bunch of classic Winnie-the-Pooh collectibles, and among those are a treasury of stories by A.A. Milne.  I just love how this stuffed bear comes to life because of the love Christopher Robin has for him.  A definite "classic".  

Day 9: A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

 The crown prince's bride will come from Mt. Eskel, the small mountain village where Miri (dainty, petite and 14) lives with her widower father and sister.  Miri is too small and frail to work in the quarries, so she feels as though she doesn't help out much. 

In order for the crown prince to choose a bride, many of the girls are to attend an academy in order to learn to be a princess.  And Miri learns many, many things about herself and how she, in her own way, can help her family. 

Okay... seriously.  Where do I even begin with this book?  I was teaching 7th grade, and my mom, who is a former elementary school librarian/media person, called and told me she had gone to a book fair and bought some books for my classroom library. 

I was pretty excited, and when she mentioned this title, we discussed it and said it was probably good chick lit so that way the girls would want to read some of the books that I had. 

Seriously, though, I was blown out of the water with this book.  When I hear "Princess", in any phrase, I think Disney, and well, this was not Disney.  The teacher of the academy was a strict, witchy lady who looked down on the girls for their lack of education.  And Miri manages to learn so much about herself.  She doesn't want to end up with the prince, but she wants to be the top of the class to prove she can.  And in the very end, Miri not only helps save the academy from some terrible people (bandits), but she also manages to help save her village and nab the guy that she has liked for a long while.  This girl knows how to get it done!   This book completely surprised me.  I didn't think that I would like it, but I tried it, and well, I am happy to say that it's a book that I would recommend to all my students to read (especially the girls). 

Day 8: Most overrated book

Nothing but the Truth by Avi
Star Girl by Jerry Spinelli

I don't think that this has to do with any of the contents of these books.  I think is has to do solely with the author's style.  I've just never been a big fan of either of these authors.  I don't like the way they write, and although the books both ended up being better than I expected, I still ended up disappointed in the end. I think the books just started up a little slow and I never got in to them.  Or, it may just be that they're a little dry in my opinion.  Anyways, I really don't have much else to say about them.