Despite my love of books now, I wasn't a big reader as a child. (Who wants to read when there are trees to be climbed?!) But something about the reading program got me fired up, and every summer I actually enjoyed reading. Maybe it was being forced inside by the unforgiving Denver sun without cable TV to entertain me, or perhaps it was the enviable prize pack if I met my goal (who doesn't want a free scoop of ice cream and an eraser shaped like a light bulb?!), but whatever the reason, during the summer I loved to read.
So, for today's Book Rave, I thought I'd break standard Valentine protocol and rave about a book that you won't find on the new release wall. Today I'm going to rave about my all-time favorite childhood book, BREAD AND JAM FOR FRANCES, by Russell Hoban.
Like many of my favorite childhood stories, this book is about an animal who does peopleish things (It's a word!), but what makes this little badger different than other children's book characters, is her authenticity. Frances is not sweet all the time, she doesn't share when she's supposed to, and she certainly doesn't want to eat a poached egg for breakfast. Frances learns things the hard way and throws a fit while doing so--just like most of us, which, I suppose, is what makes her so darn likeable.
If you're looking for a sweet, funny read (with adorable illustrations!), pick up a copy of BREAD AND JAM FOR FRANCES, or any of the other delightful books in the Frances series. And if you have time, take a trip down memory lane and tell us about your favorite childhood book or summertime read.
Wait...we have a Valentine protocol?! *wails* :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I LOVED BREAD AND JAM FOR FRANCES, and hadn't thought of it in years! I remember reading it over and over. Such a fun trip down memory lane. Thanks Bethany!
(p.s. And now I inexplicable want a Dilly Bar as well... hehe)
Dilly Bars make the world a happier place. As do books about rodents who wear dresses and skip rope. :)
DeleteI'm going to spend the rest of the day trying to get "splinter in your bum" out of my head. Hee.
ReplyDeleteOh, I think my youngest daughter brought this home from school once. Such a cute book! Who doesn't love a cranky badger girl? It makes you wonder if Frances was based on a real person.
Alas, I don't know what I'd say was my favorite childhood read. I didn't do a lot of reading as a kid. I was raised by wolves.
SPLINTER IN YOUR BUM is actually my new band. They open for RAISED BY WOLVES. I'll get you back stage passes.
DeleteOH...I remember Frances! But, I'm afraid, I was reading things like Watcher In The Woods by 8 years old ;)
ReplyDeleteEEEK!! I loved that book. NAREK. NAREK!
DeleteHA!! Another reason I love you so much!
I loved that book! I was also a huge fan of FROG AND TOAD TOGETHER, and I'll always remember that LITTLE BEAR was my first. Going back even further, I remember how much I loved JAMBERRY, because those pictures were so freaking colorful and awesome. I could've stared at them foreverrrr.
ReplyDelete*sniffs* I loved FROG AND TOAD! Especially when they rode the bike. I'm not kidding when I say that I still go into the kids' section at B&N or the library and just pull books from the shelf and read--without my kids. It's so cathartic and brings you back to the place when writing was just about feeling good.
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