Friday, November 18, 2005

A spot of happy regression

RevGal's Friday Five: Kiddie Lit Edition

1) Earliest book you remember (read to you or by you)
I think it was probably Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Jemima Puddleduck", which I have very clear memories of reading it with "Hat" (you try and articulate "Mrs White" at the age of 2) who looked after me while my mother was in hospital for some months around my 2nd birthday.

2) Picture Book you would like to climb into
For sheer beauty of pictures, anything illustrated by Brian Wildsmith. Perhaps I could go for his re-telling of the Christmas Story,- or is that being too obvious?

3) Favorite series of books (then or now)Close run thing, this....The Chronicles of Narnia may be a tad obvious as well, but have undoubtedly been a huge influence on almost every aspect of my life (not for nothing does DarlingDaughter's name begin with L...)while I love, love love
Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series. Or what about Lucy M. Boston's Green Knowe books?? This is so hard.

4) Character you would most like to meet
How to choose? I would love to have tea with Mr Tumnus,- but what about Lucinda from Roller Skates? or Gandalf? or even Mr Toad....I'll just have to have an extravagant literary tea party, and hope they all turn up.

5) Last childhood book you re-read (for yourself or to someone)
Every Christmas Eve since I've been a mum, when we get back from the Crib Service, I read Ursual Moray Williams "The Good Little Christmas Tree" to my increasingly hulking teenagers. They promise me that they'll still let me do this, year on year, as they push me in my bathchair into a gin-sodden old-age!

That was a very happy diversion...thanks to Songbird, who thought of it.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

If you ever receive that invitation to tea with Mr. Tumnus, I hope you will invite me along!

Karen Sapio said...

I love Madeline L'Engle's suggestion that in heaven we are not only reuinted with loved ones but are also greeted by our favorite literary characters . . .

Kathryn said...

I knew I loved Madeline L'Engle...that is the most splendid idea...Well, after all, they too are products of the great Creative Mind, are they not....so they should be there..please..

Cal said...

I posted a comment post Greenbelt but have been holding back ever since. But just can't stop myself now - I too love Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series and rarely meet others who know of it. Fab.

Clare

PS Have a blog now, though not a frequent poster, and (be proud) you're the first person I've told about it!

Kathryn said...

oooh, clare, you are tantalising.
First you tell me that you didn't come and say Hi at Greenbelt. Then you tell me that you have a blog, but there is no link to it from your blogger profile...PLEASE emerge from hiding more often. I think I have about 3 more non work books to go before I allow myself to take "The Dark is Rising" down from the shelf...Reading that particular volume is an essential part of Christmas for me, and latterly for the children too. Only knew "Over Sea, Under Stone" when I was a child myself...so am making up for lost time on an annual basis!

Cal said...

Sorry. Technologically inept as I am I assumed it would link straight through to the blog but apparently I needed to change some settings. Think it works now. (But please don't be expecting anything wonderful after all this build up!!)

Think I might have to go and find my Susan Coopers now.