What Do You Read to Your Girls?

One of the many sweet things about having a daughter has been sharing with her my love of books. I recently checked a few of my old faves out of the library and set about  reading them to Summer at bedtime. 

What kind of weird kid was I?

First we read Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards. I remembered it as achingly beautiful. I think it was the first book I read that made me really sad when I finished because I couldn't live it in any longer. When I read it this time, it seemed overly dark and melodramatic. The orphan Mandy is, like, almost emotionally disturbed. Summer didn't dig it too much. On her daily reading log, she has to leave a review in the form of a smiley or frowny face; her faces for Mandy had a straight line for a mouth. 

Next I tried Magic Elizabeth by Nora Kassirer, which I remembered as a wonderful time-traveling adventure about a doll lost in the early 1900s or so. But the first two chapters I read to Summer were so literally dark and stormy--all creaking gates, driving rain, and witches at the door--that she insisted I give it up. "Dolls are kind of creepy anyway," she said. (Even though she has two American Girl dolls that she loves.)

So I guess A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle is totally out of the question. 

Summer reads and likes a lot of books. She likes Nancy Drew books, which I did not like but my mother loved--maybe Nancy skips a generation. She's read all of Harry Potter except the Deathly Hallows, and lots of series about fairies, horses, and kittens. So I'm not looking for suggestions for books for her to read. But I'd like to hear what you loved when you were a girl that also captured the heart of your daughter. 

I'll start you off with one that was a match for both of us: All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor. Perfection on the page. 

Comments

[Paula]

I remember adoring anything Beverly Cleary, particulary Ramona and Her Father. I also loved The Black Stallion (followed by the movie, of course). And I remember reading an abridged Robinson Crusoe. Strange bedfellows when they are listed together, though I guess I see a desert island theme emerging.

[Heather Z.]

AGZ loved Mandy. I have not read it, though. She has read every Nancy Drew book that I poured over on summer camping trips. She thought Bridge to Terabithia was too sad, although it is among my all time favorites. (We have not tried Tuck Everlasting yet.) Both my girls love Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Where the Sidewalk Ends. AGZ loved Island of the Blue Dolphins, as did I. I adored Anne of Green Gables, but not until I was a little older than Abigail. So I'm holding off on suggesting it. Because if she does not love it, I may have to disown her.

[Julia]

I loved Nancy Drew, too, until I realized they were all the same formula. That was devastating. I loved Beverly Cleary, too. I don't have a daughter, but I book I loved that my dad also loved was "Cheaper By the Dozen" (NOTHING like the movie, thank god).

[Michelle L.]

Mandy! I loved that book. I still have the copy I read many times as a child (on my bookshelf next to Gone With the Wind). What I remember loving was the idea of a place all to ones own to garden and clean. I reread it as an adult and remember finding it kind of blah. I can't think of any other ideas that haven't already been mentioned here.

[Julie]

Trixie Belden - who was at the time a more modern day Nancy - I remember one mystery that involved a Waldorf salad. And who is the candy striper turned nurse (cherry ames?) that was one my mom passed on to me. And then that large family with all the sisters...having some retrieval problems.

[Hazel]

Alas, yes, I think Nancy Drew skips a generation: I saved all 54 for my daughter(s) to be, lugging them from apartment to apartment over the years, but they sit there dusty and ignored (perhaps Summer would like to borrow them?) I also picked up old Cherry Ames and Trixie Beldens at yard sales and on Ebay, to find that I'm the only one enjoying those too, sigh.

[Lauren]

Little House on the Prarie :)

[Alissa]

Mom, Kerry and I all loved reading Little Women. We were all big fans of the Beverly Cleary books too.

[Jill]

Did all the Little House. She has read Beverly Cleary on her own, and also likes Clementine, Ivy and Bean, and Just Grace. We've done some Judy Blume (the young ones, not the teen ones). Another fail: From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I will also try The Hideaway. Again, a little dark. Probably won't work. Keep the suggestions coming.

[jennifer]

From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankenworth!!!