I'm never good at "What's your favorite 'X'." I have dozens. Hundreds. Of about anything. But I haven't always been that way. When I was a kid I kept a journal... about once a year. And every entry was the same. A list of my favorite things then. Siblings. Friends. Food. Dessert. Movie. Book. To save all of you the pain of seeing my exceedingly awful child penmanship - which has now grown up to exceedingly awful adult penmanship - I won't dig out said journal.
I'll just dig out the good ol' near photographic memory. The above picture is a smattering of the thousands of books I've read, loved & owned starting from when I was about 4 probably. These are books that are still in my possession today. I'll mention at least each of them in the picture in the coming month.
But you know what's missing? My very favorite book from when I was a second grader!
Yup. I don't own Dr. Seuss' brilliant gem I adored more than any other book when I was 7-8 years old. My elementary school library that year probably had their copy of The Lorax on their shelves for less time that year than I had it in my little paws. Dr. Seuss is without a doubt, one of my childhood heroes & The Lorax embodies my love for nature & animals that I've had for as long as I can remember. Save the Swammy Swans & the Bears in their Barbaloot Suits. And the Beautiful Truffula Trees! Though there's still part of me that thinks I need a Thneed.
I read The Lorax again and again and again that year. There was an animated version that I think we probably watched in Miss Finch's class early that year & my imagination glommed onto it & never let go to this day.
I've still got so much of it memorized floating around in my brain as well. "You poor stupid guy, you never can tell what some people will buy!"
And ultimately... the Unless left as the Lorax was lifted away. Probably why I still love planting trees and whatever else magically will grow if you put a seed in the ground & water & care for it. Thank you so much Theodore Seuss Geisel! You were brilliant & sparked my imagination in so many ways!
Why is the Lorax not on my shelf? NO IDEA. But - as a motivator for me to write a little post every day for the next 30 days... I'm going to get myself a copy at the end.
So what's your favorite book from your childhood? Love to hear from you!