Does anybody else love children's picture books? The odd title of this post, in case you're wondering, comes from a Caldecott Honor book from last year that I just happened to be thinking about (I work at the library, so I end up seeing a lot of children's books). Anyway, the real reason for this post is that it suddenly occurred to me that, although this is highly unlikely, someone on this forum might know the names of some favorite children's books of mine that were either sold in a garage sale several years ago (!) or have been sucked through a vortex in our basement. So, the three main ones I'm thinking about are:
1. A Noah's-ark-type story in which a woman lives in a giant tree house. Of course, everyone makes fun of her until a flood comes and they all have to take refuge in her tree, swinging in hammocks and having one big happy sleep-over. Or something like that.
2. A small book about a little boy who keeps seeing sinister shadows in the dark that turn out to be ordinary things, like a branch tapping on the window looks like a witch's hand, his baseball glove looks like something, and so on. I think one of his parents comes in and turns on the light each time to show him what the shadows really are.
And finally,
3. A book about a boy who feels useless at home, so he decides to run away and ends up helping different storekeepers, like the butcher and I think maybe the baker; I can't remember much about it. At the end he decides to go back home and realizes that he really is wanted at home. I remember the impression of long shadows in a quiet afternoon (in the book, I mean). It's funny the impressions that you keep from childhood.
Anyway, if you think you recognize any of those books, let me know the titles. Or even if you don't, list some of your favorite children's books, it might make an interesting thread. Thanks!