Can you remember the book that first turned you on to reading? Leave us a comment, below. Maybe we can develop our own top 50 list of "first books".
A number of authors and celebrities recently participated in "What Book Got You Hooked?"- a national awareness campaign from First Book, a United States children's literacy organisation that provides new books to children from low-income families.
The top five titles that created readers were:
(1) Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene
(2) Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
(3) Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
(4) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
(5) The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss.
You can see the full list here
Don't forget to let us know your first book, by clicking here.
From Maxine and Lisa
Monday, 10 September 2007
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95 comments:
The first book I can remember the experience of reading by myself was a very morbid story about a grizzly bear whose mother and sibling were shot by a hunter. The book was originally given to one of my uncles as a school prize, and I found it at the back of a cupboard one day.
The story was about the bear's life - how he grew up with a deformed leg, how he moved around and defended his territory, and how he was eventually outwitted by a smaller, but cunning, bear and had to abandon his patch.
At the end of the book the bear goes into a kind of valley-of-death - the final illustration is of a little dancing bear skeleton. Seven-year-old me cried my little eyes out over it, just like I did this year with Cormac McCarthy's 'Border trilogy'.
When I was six or seven years old, my mother bought me a copy of "Peter Pan and Wendy", because I was sick in bed with a cold. I was absolutely affronted and told her that I couldn't possibly read a "big book that didn't have pictures on every page". She told me just to give it a go, which I did and I can still recall that wonderful, delicous feeling of being completly transported to another world for the very first time!
There was never any hope of me being a non-reader. I got hooked on books through the wonderful experience of my Mum reading to me, from as long ago as I can remember. I remember Are You My Mother?, and Pooky, the Little Rabbit with Wings, and Noddy, but what I most loved was Pooh Bear, especially the story of when he was stuck down Rabbit's hole.
The terrible naughtiness of Pooh wanting honey AND jam on his bread, but "never mind about the bread" was very appealing. The idea of Rabbit hanging his washing on Pooh's legs and bottom was fascinating. The comfort of wise Christopher Robbin reading to him, and the triumph of the final rescue by all of rabbits friends-and-relations. What a story!!!
Before I was born, my grandmother bought me all the Dr Seuss books available during a trip to America - a great introduction to reading! However, the first book I ever chose myself was for my 8th birthday - Three Stories from the Poppy Seed Cakes. I loved the language, the gentle tales of family life and was fascinated by the illustrations, especially the clothing which seemed so different to ours. It and the Dr Seuss books have been treasured, and I look forward to reading these to my son Rory someday.
Milly Molly Mandy by Joyce Lancaster Brisley. Goodness I was so proud of myself being able to read these all by myself - and I loved the map that went with all the books with the layout of the village. The thatched cottages were so exotic.
And a friend of mine would not read anything until he picked up Biggles!
The first books that got me hooked, when I was still a preschooler, were The Famous Five, by Enid Blyton. My mother used to read these to my older brother and sister. They were so exciting! I could never wait to find out what was going to happen next.
After Enid Blyton, I discovered Dr Suess, and I was away.
I was seven when my father took my two sisters and I to the local public library. It was wonderful - we could borrow two books each for a week. The first one I got was "The Princess and Curdie" by George MacDonald - it was so exciting, full of vivid description - real escapism for me at that age. I was hooked for life, I read both my books, then my sisters before the end of the week, and carried on the same for many years. So that is where my lifelong love and reading and libraries began.
the first book i remember would most likely be spot! or Reuben the bear. Cant go wrong thea! good times :)
The first book I remember adoring was My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes. I used to monopolize it in the playschool library. It went something like "The cat from Spain can fly a plane.. but MY cat likes to hide in boxes." Which was hopelessly funny to my four year old self. After that I was quickly hooked on Where the Wild Things Are, and then, as time went by, The Hobbit. I still read all three!
Listening to and later reading the poetry and stories of A A Milne was the catalyst for me. When we were very young, Now we are six and all those whimsical Winnie the Pooh stories.
The first book that had a great effect on me would have to be Charlotte's Web. I remember being so upset! But I enjoyed the ride.
"Go Dog Go" by PD Eastman hugely appealed to me - especially the Dog party at the end - the details of the party on the tree fascinated me and made me wish I was there too...my 2 year old son loves it too - but I think that is because it has cars in it...
My first favourites were Virginia Lee Burton's The little house, and the Little Bear books by Else Holmelund Minarik. My mother, also a librarian, got these for me from the public library when I was three or so. Looking at them again years later I was *amazed* at how well I remembered the pictures - they had lodged themselves so firmly in my mind they were still familiar after 35+ years.
I remember reading "Are you my mother" as a child and I think I like the structure of the story. Later I really enjoyed "Jennie" by Paul Gallico about a cat from the cat's point of view. I still like animal stories from the animals point of view - I've never grown up.
I am embarassed to say that it was "The Magic Faraway Tree" by Enid Blyton. When I started school in Australia, a chapter was read weekly at assemblies. Maybe it was the waiting all week but I lived for assemblies!
I was about six or seven when my dad read the Maurice Gee series The Halfmen of O to me. I was totally lost in the world created by the story. Books have been a life long habit ever since!
Octagon Magic, Andre Norton
This book is still my favourite and a new edition was published very recently. Exploring it's central charatcer, the house and it's magic, through words launched me as a reader and started a life long love of grand houses, embroidery and soft furnishings and history. Before its central human character befriends the house and its residents she escapes into a the world of books at her local library.
My first book memories are of Mum reading to me at bedtime at what must have been 2 or 3 years of age. I have strong memories of a book that featured a white cat and the moon. From trying to trace this book in my adult life, I think it is called The Moon Jumpers by Janice Udry, illustrated by Maurice Sendak. And in looking at website illustrations from the book now, the cat is black not white! I don't think it was a a particular book that first got me hooked though, but the whole warm emotional, physical, experience of being read a wonderful story cuddled up to Mum. But then later on The Famous Five helped turn me into a crazed bookworm forever more...
Lee
My first books were a shared experience- mum used to tuck my sisters and I into our beds and read us one chapter a night- despite all the pleadings for more. As the youngest I think some of the stories were probably a bit beyond me but I just loved the experience of being being warm, quiet and sharing something so special. I remember The Wind in the Willows as my absolute favourite -the anticipation as each chapter began and the dread that this might be the very last chapter!
The first book I remember reading and loving was Under The Mountain, by Maurice Gee. It was later made into a tv programme. It was about red-headed twins with special powers who had to use stone eggs to destroy some giant, alien mud slugs called The Wilberforces. I grew up on the North Shore of Auckland and the story is set around Lake Pupuke, Rangitoto Island and Mt Eden so I recognised all the landmarks. Scary, sad, exciting - thischildren's book had all the ingredients necessary for a great read!
My all time favourite book as a child was Boss for a week by Libby Handy. I loved the detailed pictures and the idea that the youngest child (like me) could do whatever she wanted. My mother much preferred The country bunny and the little golden shoes by Du Bose Heyward, because the little bunnys were so well behaved and would do all their chores without being asked. Really that explains a lot.
When I was about 7 or 8 my brother who was 10 years older than me bought me a copy of Gullivers Travels. It was a beautiful, large book with fantastic double page illustrations. He read it to me ( I am sure on reflection he really bought it for himself!!)and then I read it over and over. My boys also enjoyed it at about the same age. It is now waiting for the grandchildren and will become one of those handed down treasures I am sure.
Go Dog Go! Good to see someone else loved this book - same reason - the party in the pink tree at the end of the story. Fascinated by the concept of a pink coloured tree and all the party activities the dogs were up to on top of the tree. At this moment, I can only remember tennis. Bring on the pink tree! Go Dog Go!
As a child I loved to read Hans Christian Anderson's fairtales but the book that really got me addicted to reading was John Wyndam's Day of the Triffids. It was a school text and until then I didn't realise that novels could be so much fun.
I remember "back in the day" when Dr Seuss was being read in our primary school to all the new entrant students. I fell in love with a book called 'Green eggs and ham'. The bright colours, odd pictures and witty rhymes jst blew me away!! I suppose that the main characters name was Sam (which is also my name) added to the delight. Now at a healthy age of 20 it still is one of my favourite books and I am able to quote it start to finish... a true lifesaver if you happen to be babysitting!!
Our mother read to us in the evenings before television made its entrance into the household when I was seven - Heidi, the Railway Children, a nightly excerpt from The Teddy Bear magazine and plenty more.
I can vividly remember discovering reading for myself - in standard 4 when my world was exploded by Ian Serrallier's The Silver Sword, Ann Holm's I am David, everything I could lay my hands on by Jill Paton Walsh (must've had a war thing going on) and lots of Rosemary Sutcliff.
The two books from my childhood that I loved most of all are first Pooky the rabbit with wings - my mother never seemed to enjoy it as much as I did, and it wasn't until I found it in the Timaru Public library a few years ago and thought it must have stood the test of time that I discovered I didn't like it at all!! Far too talk downish by far. The second was Chunky, the boy who liked his bread chunky. I loved this because I could read it myself, one of the characters said 'tickle me with a feather' and that appealed to 6 year old me.
What Katy Did was a really "girly" book, and despite not even remembering beginning reading, it was the one I read and re-read from about the age of 8. Katy was an unbelievably naughty character and one tolive through vicariously. I also remember ploughing through some very old-fashioned Girls Own albums which had serial stories. They had belonged to my maternal grandmother, and were enormous and heavy, but the serials were great!
Our family went to the public library every week and took out huge numbers of books, and shared them with each other.There was never any censorship of what we read but our house was always full of books to read and read again.
I devoured all the Enid Blyton books. My very favourite was a masterpiece called The Boy Next Door. I still have it. I was amazed when looking at the site of Ann Fine, then the British Children's Laureate, that it was also her favourite book. And she married a man named Kit, the hero of the book! (My husband's name is Ian, never mind).
I can't remember my first- can't remember before I loved reading- but I do remember lending a book to my friend who didn't like reading. We were in standard 4; the book was 'Helen Keller's Teacher'; she read it all day long, even propped up on the handlebars of her bicycle riding home from school. She turned promptly into a world-class bookworm.
DOZENS of books kept me hooked (The Once and Future King, Diana Wynne Jones, A A Milne...) but the one that really got me reading by myself was 'Tim Mouse goes down the river'. It had beautiful, detailed illustrations (my very kind mother drew me copies to go on my wall) and a wonderfully exciting story. And i can remember very clearly working out how letters made words, and words made the story - and I could do it myself.
The first book I remember borrowing from the public library was 'The Three Robbers' by Tomi Ungerer. I just loved the use of language, and a particular favourite line is "and with the blunderbuss, they threatened the passengers and plundered them". I did not know exactly what that meant, but it was obviously something pretty scary, given the expressions on the passengers faces! I have since gone on to enjoy other T.Ungerer books.. a perverse sense of humour shared.?
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
J. Saville MBC Blenheim
I think I liked Enid Blyton books - going way to Noddy etc and then later the Famous Five series - the 70s and 80s rebirth of them.
Before I went to school I was given a copy of Pookie by Ivy Wallace, published the year I was born and that was sometime time ago!I adord this book and cried everytime I read the book when Pookie left home carrying his whole world in a red handerchief tied to a stick. Pookie is a white rabbit with wings!!My Mother gave my copy away and I am stiil in therapy because of that! However, the Pookie books have been reprinted and I have a beautiful new copy of Pookie plus old copies of other titles I have bought over the over the internet.Long live Pookie!
Pauline,
I too grew up with Pookie and have tried many times, pre interent, to locate a copy. My most enduring memory is Pookie going off to find his fortune!!! Last night I watched a TV vet show about a cat called Pookie and thought, why not try the net. I'm so glad I did. Now I am on a mission to find him. thanks for posting your comments.
i love "where the wild things are" because its a cool story and i cant wait untill the movie comes out!
My first book that got me hooked was the Geronimo Stilton series. I thought that the author was very creative, being the main character too. The story line is so unexpected and different fonts in the text makes the page more attactive to read. I especially love Geronimo stilton and the Secret of the mona lisa.
I can't remember the first book that got me hooked on reading, but the books I'm totally hooked on now is the series 'Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging.' I love this series because the humour is awesome, the language is fantastic and the way it is written from the main characters point of view is awesome. If you have a sick sense of humour like me this book is perfect for you! I can't put these books down and the movie is the cherry on the sundae!
i loved the stories by Dr suess with the funny rhyming words that makes you interested in the story! these books are one of my favourites because its so creative and even though its make believe the story line is awesome! the cartoons describe the writing so well!I LOVE THESE BOOKS!
The first book that got me into reading adventure books or any book at all was the Jane Blonde series. It was really addictive and it kept me hooked. It was very modern and adventurous. I loved it.
HAIRY MACLEARY IS COOL because it has cool pictures and rhymes.
HAIRY MACLEARY IS COOL because it has cool pictures and rhymes.
The book that got me hooked was Chinatown Girl. The my story series. Even though I like the piture books like The Cat in the Hat, this one got me hooked into chapter books. I recommend this story to people who want to find out what happen in New Zealand in the olden days and who love a moving book.
My first book I was hooked onto were the Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey.The crazy story blew me into laughter. the author was very creative and his imagination is excellent. Everything is so unexpected and different in every single story.
One of my favourite books that got me hooked easily was the Evernight series, Evernight and Stargazer. Also my other favourite book that got me hooked was the mediator series. Both were a type of make believe characters, like vampires, vampire slayer and a girl who can see ghosts.
Both are a type of Romance.
Both are great books. I recommended my friends to read it and they LOVED IT!!!!
One series that got me hooked was the Famous five series. As soon as I started reading it I could not put it down. Each of the unique characters make the adventures unforgettable. There is lots of adventure and suspense in these books. All the suspense make you want to read more and more. This book is for all ages. I recommend it to anyone.
I can't really remember which was my first but the first REALLY good book I ever read was My Sisters Keeper!! It was quite slow moving at the start but about a third of the way through it was like you can't put it down!!! But right at the end you thought everything worked out perfectly and then in the last few pages... get out your tissues! I can't wait to read her next books!I really recommend this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The books that got me reading were books from Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton because they were full of fantasy and now i still like reading fantasy books. I also liked reading Spot the Dog when i was about 3 or 4 years old.
i like dr suess because he rhymes
MATT.K/7BRN
the book that got me hooked was the micky mouse travels around the world I loved them becouse I always wanted to travel around the world when i was a kid
the book that got me hooked was stormbreaker because i couldnt stop reading it
The best book I have read is THE SISTER HOOD OF THE TRAVELLING PANTS!!! I read it in exactly 5 days when I was in Hong Kong. I have seen the movie and it is great. I am now on the 2nd book. I like the books because it tells a lot about real life. The book is about 4 girls: Tibby, Lena, Carmen and Bridget and there is a pair of pants that magically fit all of them. The holidays are leading up and it's their first holiday apart, Lena is going to Greece, bridget is going to Mexico, Carmen is going to South Carolina and Tibby stays at home working at Wallmans. This is about Drama and ups and downs of teen life!!!
The book that got me hooked was the Cherub Series. I read one of the books after that I just had to read the others. I really liked the book because it was really like none other book. The mix of comedy, romance and action was really out of this world. Robert Muchamore is the best author I have known.
The best book I'v read is The Gorgon's Gaze and the resin why is becouse it is very interesting and it is adventurous and after that I'v been reading more books ever since and interesting book that I like is The Lion THe Withc and The Wordrobe.All the books I have read are mostly Fantasy and adventure and a few comics.
The book that got me hooked into reading big books was a series about a family who use magic. Book 1 is called Magyk if you want to read it.
The Wild Dog .It is about a dog which was set free and it journy of its life. It is sad, has action and is addicive like catnip to a cat. At the end of the book the dog dies by getting shot.
It is awsome. I wish I had the book so i could read it again.
I recommend it to any action thrillers out there.
Connor Mclinden 7LIS
I really like the book magyk because i can relate to it and because it is very interesting, i strongly advise you to give this book a try. it is book 1 in a series of 4. It is spelt magyk. Trust me...
The book that got me hooked was:
Jacky Daydream.
its all about Jacquline Wilson's
childhood. I like it because its telling you all about how she lived as a child,when you think about its completely different to how we live now!
I really like this book because i is very interesting and i can understand it easily. I reccomend this book.
my favourite author is anthony horowitz- hees british.
i really hate New Zealand Books
their horrible- im sayng this even thow im an NZ'ER
anyway,
my favrit series of his is alex rider
i also like "powr of five"
my favurit book of that series is nightrise
i love all the alex rider books thoe,
i even cant wheit for crokidle tears to come out
im even desprit for a new power of five book to be realised
night rise was so cool because it had the most action in it
but i hate ravens gate because it has to much eeevvviiilll in it
i also like the irish auther Eoin Colfer
ilike artimhis foul $ arman
The book that got me hooked was ...Avalon High by Meg Cabot.It's about the new girl and the school jock falling in love. He thought he knew her from another life.Turns out he did, they are re-incarnations (sounds boring ,i know but it's not)and they have to work together to save the world !!!
thanks
The Book that got me hooked was:
Jacky Daydream its a story about
Jacquline wilson's childhood.
I havent read it all yet but i really like it so far!
The book that got me hooked was Life On The Edge by Richard Hamond because I realy do like fast cars.
I remember when the first book I read was "The Cat in the Hat". I didn't exactly read it, I just looked and starred at the pictures. I kept going back every day to check out the book. Very entertaining book for children.
lord of the rings
this was an awesome book I never stopped reading it.I was excited when I found out it was a movie as well I all ways read it even today
ghost ride rules and has mean actio
The Famous Five
This book was one of the very first books that got me into reading. It is full of mystery, action, adventure and leaves you wanting more. This book takes you to places you have wanted to go and makes your imagination go wild. I think this book would be a great read for every kid or adult who wants a good adventure.
When I was about eight I started reading books by Roald Dahl and got totally hooked!I loved the book Fantastic Mr Fox and James and The Giant Peach. My mum bought me the whole set of Roald Dahl books for my birthday.
The book that got me into reading was the first book of the Famous Five series. I've read the whol series. It's a really good story!
But then, as I got older, I started to look at more teen books, so I got into the Meg Cabot books like Princess Diaries and Teen Idol and the Mediator Series. I'm reading all of the Mediator Series again, its really x1000000000000000 GOOd!
I Recommend readers from 12 and up to start reading books by Meg Cabot.
If there are younger readers who also want to read books by Meg Cabot, she's writing a new series called 'Allie Finkel'.
TWILIGHT!!!
Obviously.I finished it in two day (so proud) Great and interesting storyline and definitely original. It looks at vampires at a different perspective and Edward is H.O.T.
Clean Break
This book got me hooked because it has lots of funny moments and sad moments too.It's about a family whose family broke up because of the husband it is so sad it's a to die for book.
The book that got me hooked is Paul Jennings Uncanny, Undone and Unbelievable, because they are soooo coo!
I just started reading paul jennings book i just finished unbelievable it is an awesome book next im gona read undone/uncanny and quirky tales
A book that got me hooked was Holes, we had to read it at school and as soon as I started reading it i got addicited to it, when you read it you feel as if you're there, its so awesome!
A book that got me hooked was 'Holes' We have started reading it in english at school and when we read it in class I can't put it down. Its interesting with different charactors. Theres lots of things happening but im not going to tell cause you'll have to read it for yourself.(: It's a very cool book !(:
i think that holes was da best book ever createdd in mankind it is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo catchy and the story line is mint it is about lizards and snakes and people and shoes and death and treasure and hotness and water and food and jail and steaking and the coolest of all onions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i like it :) :)
the book that got me hooked was holes , we are currently reading it in english class . I like the characters personalitys and i like how they tell you what happened before they had the dry land and how everything fits into th story .
Holes is awesome because its got heaps of things that aren't in the movie and it's much interesting to read!XD! READ Holes it's the bomb...
The book that got me hooked was a book that my english class is currently reading which is called HOLES. It is very interesting, I like this book because the boy called Stanley his last name is spelt backwards, and when he is sent to camp Green Lake he thought that there was a lake but there was nothing but dry land, the boys that attend camp have to dig holes everyday which i can imagine very tiring. ! (:
The book that got me hooked was May motors it is inspiring and inventive and full of humour
The book that got me hooked was 'Holes' by Louis Sachar.
The book is cool.
We are currently reading it in English and since I've read it I can't put the book down.
I think holes is the best book ever!!!!! because it's cool
The book that got me hooked was Holes because it shows a really tight friendship between the 5 boys and boys now a days don't really show that they have a tight friendship like that in real life
holes is a good book. full of holes
Holes = Good.
i love holes because it is mean
i love the part when he wacked mr pen dance ski with a shovel FUNNNNY got ZERO HAHAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
bye bye bye bye :)
I think Holes is the best book ever because it's the best book ever!!.
I DONT LIKE HOLES BECAUSE MY TEACHER IS MAKING MY CLASS READ IT.
Another book that got me hooked was actually a series called 'The Spiderwick Chronicles'the movie was made into a movie, but i think the books are better because it feels like your really there. The movie is good too. Read them !:) :)
The book that got me hooked is from the Sweet Valley High series it's called the Last Wish and it's Jessica's and Elizabeth's 17th birthday but is it there last one?????????
Holes is about holes and is good
:)
i lovvvvvvvvvvve it
when zero smacked hem in the head
llllloooooollllll
I've been reading lots and lots of books but so far out of all of them my favourite book is Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit. I really loved the part about Jesse giving Winnie the spring water and how he looked for her after a few years but Winnie didn't drink the water because she wanted to live.
It also teaches a good lesson- If you fear death, you're actually fearing life; because life isn't life without death.
I have read heaps and heaps of books so I'm not sure which was the first book that I read but I remember that when I was about 7 or 8 I loved reading the Famous five.
Now I just read millions and millions of books. WHAt a SUPRISE!!!!
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