Monday Memories is a feature jointly hosted by The Book Bandit and Miss Print. It's a way for me to share books that are special to me, and tell you a little bit about why they've earned a place in my heart.
There is no better book to feature for my first Monday Memories post than The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh.
Imagine a 3-year-old Sophia being read to by her father before bedtime.
Actually, here's a picture, so you don't have to imagine. All you have to do is pretend that magazine is Winnie-the-Pooh:
 |
| (Look! Pooh's reading with us!) |
My father was tired. He had had a long day at work, and the ho-de-dum of a Pooh bedtime story was just enough to weigh down his eyelids. He misread a word or two.
"You read that wrong," I corrected him.
"Huh?" he muttered.
I explained which word he had read incorrectly, and what the correct word was.
He woke up after that. :-)
And thus began my life as a bibliophile.
I don't actually remember this happening, of course, but throughout my childhood, I've heard my parents tell various people the story of how their Sophia learned to read. And The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh has always had an honored place on our bookshelf.
Look, it was given to my father by his sister in law on his first father's day!
...so I suppose it's technically not mine. But I don't think my father will care if I claim it. I've definitely read it more times than he has!
I believe that everyone should read Winnie-the-Pooh. EVERYONE.
It has such genius and sweetness that even adults - especially adults - will get something out of it.
There are such precious, precious quotes to use in everyday life.
Winnie-the-Pooh is an example of a well-written children's book: which is one that can be appreciated and enjoyed by any age. A children's book is only mediocre if it only appeals to children. There should be a kind of childish wisdom in children's books that transcends age.
What is your favorite children's book? What do you remember as being your "first book"?
~Sophia
I don't know my actual first story (shame on me, I know) but I've heard my sister talk about my mom reading us Narnia before bed.
ReplyDeleteBut I love Winnie-the-Pooh also. I never read it when I was young, unfortunately, but I used to watch the TV show and movies at my grandma's house. So the 100 Acre Woods is still very dear to my heart. :)
Narnia is my next Monday Memories! It'll probably go up next month or so :-)
DeleteOH READ POOH. I've only seen a few of the episodes, and they are adorable, but there's something about the book that just makes it THAT much better. You'll like it.
Oh! I've read them a few years ago (I forgot to mention them) and I adored them :) I wish I had read them as a child, but oh well.
DeleteI love it so much I like the classic pooh look much better than the disney-with-a-red-shirt Pooh bear. :)
I entirely agree! He's so much more homespun or something. Though he DOES wear a red shirt a few times in the originals, I think. :-)
DeleteI love Pooh and his cohorts!
ReplyDeleteMe too! Aren't they the best?
DeleteI grew up on the Winnie the Pooh cartoons, but I didn't read the books until I was about sixteen. I still loved them though!
ReplyDeleteThey are perfect for any age. Such wisdom!
DeleteI don't remember my first book. :( I don't even remember books I read last year. I HAVE A REALLY BAD MEMORY, OKAY? But ohhh you were so cuuute. My nephew does that though, for books he knows really well. He's just turned 4 and if I even dare to read one word wrong he's shouts, "NO CAIT." And I have to reread it. -_-
ReplyDeleteOh that's so cute - your nieces and nephews are adorable! And I have a bad memory too, so don't worry. I inherited it from my father (so don't blame me, blame my genes). My mom would call him The Absent-Minded Professor when they were dating :-)
DeleteBit late reading this, but what a great story! Thanks so much for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it!
Delete