9 down. 992 to go.
April 24, 2010 at 3:52 pm | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentTags: A Wrinkle in Time, Belief, Support
I have completed 9 books on my quest to read 1001 Children’s books. I know it doesn’t seem like much but I feel good about my progress so far. I just finished reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I must say that if I ever read this book as a kid – I do not remember it – and shame on me! I love this book!
I think that book resonated with me so much because I am a lot like Meg – even today. I am stubborn and impatient. Yet – maybe – like Meg, those are my strengths. I just have to learn how to use them to be an advantage; not a disadvantage. See I am learning things already.
So I spent this afternoon traveling to the libraries, 3 in all, to find my next set of books. Instead of reading 5 a week, I am going to try to shoot for 10 a week. Again, knowing that my pace my change – it really is more of see how it goes.
I am very sensitive about people, mostly my family, who may question why I am doing this. I guess it boils down to one main reason – I want to. David has really been supportive and for that I am greatful. He hasn’t rolled his eyes when I told him I need to go to the library and he even takes books back for me. He believes in me and he believes I should stick with it. I think he’s happy I have found something to peak my interest. He knows that for so long – I have been lost and struggling to find something to occupy my time.
So with his support – I shall continue on. So the next 10 books:
1. Lavender’s Blue
2. The Story of Babar
3. Stellaluna
4. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
5. The Chocolate War
6. The Little Engine That Could
7. Curious George
8. The Little Mermaid
9. Treasure Island
10. Naughts and Crosses
1001 Books: or 1001 Reasons Why I Haven’t Lost My Mind.
April 18, 2010 at 12:55 am | Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a commentTags: 1001, Children books, memories, time
I saw the book in Borders on one of my excursions there. Stacks upon stacks of books that are there for me. Some begging to come home with me, some wondering if they will ever see an owner or remain on the shelf to be dusted off by the staff another day.
When I saw this book – It presented me with an intriguing challenge. 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up. Hmm. Children’s books I must read before I grow up. Interesting. I told David I wanted it and, in his usual way when I tell him I want something he thinks is completely ridiculous, he says “Yeah?”
So, defeated – I put the book back and proceed about my life.
Cut forward to September 2009 – I sign-up to be a volunteer for this program I found – In2Books – where I will be an “ePen-Pal” to a student and we will read a book that the student selects and then we will correspond through ”email” about the book. This is all done through the In2Books website so it’s safe for the student. So I am assigned my 4 grade student and she begins to pick these books that are incredibly cute and make me remember how much I loved reading picture books and chapter books when I was a kid.
The most recent book - ”The Gingerbread Boy” – I wasn’t too excited to go out and read. After all, everyone knows the GingerBread Boy story. So reluctantly, I ordered it from Amazon and waited for it to arrive. Once it did – I read it and laughed out loud at the end. Not because it was funny but because I HAD forgotten how bleak the story ends. *SPOILER ALERT* He gets eaten!!!!!
What a book for a child to read! Really the story is basically telling them – “You disobey and act naughty – you DIE!” Wow! How did I miss this as kid?!
So then I started thinking – what other of my favorite children’s books have I overlooked or “missed”? Then my mind came back to the 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before you Die. I needed to get this book – and I need to read these stories.
So with the book officially the property of Monica Bukowski : I decide that I am going to read every book listed in this mammoth. I need to re-discover these books. I need to read what I missed as a kid and hopefully now – appreciate as an adult – so that when I do have children I make sure I give them access to the greatest books of childhood.
So for now – I’ll start with 5 books a week. However – I know to finish this, realistically, I need to substantially increase the number of books I read a week. Keep in mind though – these are not all picture books – Harry Potter books are in here…..Yikes – those books are about as thick as the 1001 book itself. However – it won’t be easy some of these books I haven’t been able to find – in fact many of them are not at the local library and even others are other language books – so I am not sure how I am going to accomplish this. But it will be an adventure for sure. As such, it will be ever changing – speed will vary as time, books and life changes. So theres no “self imposed deadline”. No rush. Just me reading the books and remembering and re-discovering them as well as my own youth.
Perhaps maybe I’ll learn a few things along the way that I have forgotten.
So the first 5:
1. Kipper by Mick Inkpen
2. Corduroy by Don Freeman
3. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
4. Queen of the Caribbean by Emilio Salgari (completely in Spanish)
5. A Wrinkle in Time by Madalene L’Engle.
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