What's the First Book You Remember Reading?

[nps_marina]

Not as in fairytale your parents read to you or anything!

In my case, there were these series of a traveling chihuahua I really liked. And then some push-up/pull-out or whatever their name is books on the 5 senses and stuff.
But my real plunging into literature, I believe was Laura Ingall's Wilder and her Little House books.
And then Dahl. And Silverstein's poems.
And from there to eternity.
You people?

[CountingSheep]

I guess Dr. Seuss doesn't count? I really loved the Goosebumps series. I devoured one of those every night when I was teeny. I remember reading a book called The Transall Saga that I found in a park numerous times. I don't remember the first book I read that wasn't geared towards teens, but the first book I read an fell madly in love with would be 1984.

[ladymacbeth]

Charlotte's Web about thirty times. Then I moved on to The Call of the Wild which is a great book for young readers.

[Debrasue]

Ha Ha!! Dr. Seuss....Go! Dog! Go! LOL!! But seriously........Hmmmmm.....Sherlock Holmes for Boys.......the title caught my attention....just had to see what the boys were up to & what was so different...and it was a bigger book than the "girlie version?" I love big books!

Debrasue

[CountingSheep]

Ha Ha!! Dr. Seuss....Go! Dog! Go!

Actually I prefered Oh, the Places You'll Go, and Green Eggs and Ham!:D

[Debrasue]

CountingSheep,
Yeah....those were cool also! Took me about 2 hours to memorize....then I didn't need the book anymore! LOL! Does that maybe imply a future voracious reader......another book please! I remember Charlotte's Web, Little House on the Prairie, and a book of short stories I can't remember the title of. Funk & Wagnall's Encyclopedias were next.........

Debrasue

[grace86]

I remember so many. I read L.M. Montgomery, Goosebumps, Baby Sitters Club (and Little Sisters-I don't know if anyone else here has read them), I read Dr. Suess, Shel Silverstein, Dahl, I loved Charlotte's Web, James and the Giant Peach, and the Wizard of Oz. I read some Judy Blume too. I had a favorite book at the time called Phoenix Rising.

I loved to read as a kid just as much as I do now.

[mtpspur]

After thinking it over for quite awhile the first 'book' that got my attention and reading was probably Bomba the Jungle Boy on Jaguar island (#4 in the series) which helped lead to a life long fear of snakes and a devotion to series characters with contunued stories. I had to been around age 6 or 7.

[nps_marina]

Go Dr Seuss, definitely. I love The Lorax and The Butter-Battle Book and naturally Green Eggs & Ham...

But perhaps my fav is that good 'ol Lorax. Not too long ago I read it to my kid cousin and he was al aghast about the poor Barbaloots and the Truffula Trees.

By the way, I certainly had forgotten all about the BSC, but certainly I read those some time later. Boy did my sister and I manage to stack a serious collection there... but eventually we gave it away to the library. Oh I'm smiling now, remembering those first chapters in which they inariably described you the girls... hehehe. Hilarious.

[Aunty-lion]

Yay for childrens literature!
I remember reading Moominsummer madness by Tove Janson. If anyone else is into Moomintroll books, please let me know! I think Janson is one of the best writers of fiction, for children or adults, in the world.

[Silvia]

mm....I started reading with Mickey Mouse, which I still read today:blush: , but the first "book" I've read is Bandiera (flag) by Mario Lodi. It tells the story of a leaf going through all the seasons and as far as I remember I enjoyed it very much. Some time ago I found it in a bookshop and bought it, just to have it with me!

[kiz_paws]

...the first "book" I've read is Bandiera (flag) by Mario Lodi. It tells the story of a leaf going through all the seasons and as far as I remember I enjoyed it very much. Some time ago I found it in a bookshop and bought it, just to have it with me!

Aww, that sounds sweet, I know the feeling.

Well, the first 'real' book that I took out of the library (as a six year old) was The Patchwork Girl of Oz, the seventh of L. Frank Baum's books.

Patchwork Information Link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Patchwork_Girl_of_Oz)

Strangely enough, I felt compelled at this early age, to try to read all the books that Baum wrote in the Oz series. Over the course of time, I did do this... :lol:

Good thread, thanks! :)

[bazarov]

Ivana Brlić Mažurnić - Unusual happenings of apprentice Hlapić; it was really a great book.

[smile]

I think it was a childrens book, here's a quote (or something along the lines of it) that I can remember:

"Did I tell ya? Did I tell ya? There's a lot of crazy creatures bounding through Australia!"

I got the gist of it right but a few words might be out haha. It was a little children's book. :)

[malwethien]

One of the first books I remember reading was Pippi Longstockings and a book called The Castle In The Attic.

[soumyakans]

As a school girl, i had read several comic strips like Archies. Richie Rich and cartoon based stories such as Asterix and Tintin. i also came across abridged versions of many great novels and short stories in school. However, the first full length unabridged novel read by me was "The Razor's Edge" by Somerset Maugham. i was about sixteen years old then and had picked this book from my father's collection to kill time in my summer vacation. This made a wonderful read and since then Classics and Somerset Maugham in particular have stayed on to be my favourites.

[Aiculík]

The very first book I read by myself were adventures of Ferdy the Ant (written by Czech author, Ondrej Sekora) when I was six. I still remember how I pretended to read do my homework while in fact reading that book. :lol: I was hiding it below my notebook but it was difficult as it was one of the biggest books I had, while notebooks for first-years are quite thin.

And Tom and Jerry comics. And then Pippi but I didn't like the book because pictures were ugly - back then, it was very important criterium. :D

[Adolescent09]

Carlo Collodi's (sp?) Pinocchiowhich I absolutely adored and still consider one of the greatest children's books ever written.

A Cricket in Time's Square and The Wind in the Willows are also enduring classics I read between 3rd-5th grades. I personally would suggest these books to anyone at any age because they are heartfelt and even consoling when you're in a morose mood.

I loved Pippi Longstockings as well and am glad malwethien mentioned it. Oh.. the memories :D

[vheissu]

The first book I remember reading was Peter Pan. That was when I was still in Italy, so must have been 6 or 7. And I kept losing the book and every so often discover it under the bed or some other obscure place and re-read it!Then some sort of series of books with fairies, witches and dwarves, a really big edition because it was illustrated and even had a case! Or maybe it looked big at the time. Anyway, those were actually sad because the witches, which were good, all died!
I also had a little box with Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit books and maybe Pippi Logstockings, but I might be confusing it with the film...

I'm sure there were other children't books I had, but can't remember them very well. I definetely had a large amount of Tom & Jerry comics and later on started reading Asterix and Obelix and Roald Dahl's books.

[scotpgot]

I remember Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein (sorry if either name is misspelled). Even remember (more or less) the first line of one of my favorite Silverstein poems:

"I cannot go to school today said little Peggy Ann McKay." (not sure if the name is right)

The first "literature" I remember reading was C.S. Lewis' Narnia series. Man! I loved those books.

[Toryssa]

I loved Nancy Drew and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle stories when I was a small tree. The first book that I remember making a huge impression on me, though, is Matilda by Roald Dahl. I read that book over and over. I still read it from time to time, when I am feeling nostalgic. And I still love it.

[scotpgot]

Ah, yes. Ronald Dahl. I remember Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Great Glass Elevator (is that right?).

Also remember checking out a book from the primary school library. Something like "1.000" about a guy who played baseball who never got a hit and never struck out. Always walked. Anybody out there remember this book?

[kenikki]

I remember bring really obsessed with A Christmas Carol by Dickens when i was really young. I carried and read my colour picture copy everywhere. But then I had a thing for Victorian literature at a young age. *Ahem*

[Il Penseroso]

The Berenstein Bears and the Spookey Old Tree, although I don't think I read so much as memorized it.

[truth_forest]

When I was 6 years old, I started reading. My first book is Laura Ingall's Wilder and her little house book that my mom gave to me. At first, she read to me before bedtime. But it's too slow that I can't stand ...so, I practice reading and I can read it by myself.
I love the book so much caz it gives details of the period clearly. I see the hard time of American people.

[malwethien]

When I was 6 years old, I started reading. My first book is Laura Ingall's Wilder and her little house book that my mom gave to me. At first, she read to me before bedtime. But it's too slow that I can't stand ...so, I practice reading and I can read it by myself.
I love the book so much caz it gives details of the period clearly. I see the hard time of American people.

I Loved the Little House on the Praire and the story of Laura and Alfonso :)

[nps_marina]

Only that it was ALMANZO!!!!
ROTFL
Don't be mad Malwethien...
We all loved The Little House Books, certainly. I still have them, and I still read them on occasion, and they make me cry and all (according to necessity of running plot)...

[Slangalang18ca]

Baby-sitters Club, Berenstein Bears, Nancy Drew, Dr. Seuss... I read anything I could get my hands on when I was little. My favourite book was A Friend Like Zilla by Rachna Gilmore.

[kenikki]

ohhh not forgetting Sweet Valley High and Point Horror books!

[Adras]

Either the picture version of the bible which my dad would read to me everynight before bed. I would freak out if he didn'. I refused to go to sleep because I didn't get what I called "MY time with Jesus" haha. Otherwise my 1st grade teacher had me read my first chapte book about the Titanic and I remember going home to my mom all proud because I read a chapter book. It took me a month to read it the first time and 1 day to read it the second time. :D

[Domer121]

The first book that I remember reading and really loving was Charottes Web... my family had gone on a road trip to Texas and since I was in theater I had to finish a few shows before my brother and I coud fly down.. and every night he would read me Charlottes Web, and I think the reason I loved it so much was the fact that I was able to listen to the sound of his voice as I fell asleep and spend time with my big brother..

I miss stuff like that..:bawling:

[Panflute]

Very difficult to tell. It could be 'Het Spiegelkasteel' (The Castle of Mirrors), by the late Dutch children's author, Paul Biegel. It could also be 'Bijna Iedereen Kon Omvallen' (Almost Everyone Could Fall Down), an hilarious book with short stories for children (but also very readable of adults), by Toon Tellegen.

Both bring back fond memories. :)

[morgane]

The very first "real" book I remember reading was The Little Prince by Saint-Exupéry. I must have been 6 or 7. When I was about the same age, I also remember reading Collodi's Pinnochio, which I liked very much. I also read all Roald Dahl's novels, he was my favourite author when I was a child, I read all his books 10 times at least!

[nps_marina]

and every night he would read me Charlottes Web, and I think the reason I loved it so much was the fact that I was able to listen to the sound of his voice as I fell asleep and spend time with my big brother..

that's such an awesome memory, Domer...!
I also have memories of my sister 'reading' to me, only she wasn't reading. Well, she was reading the Lord of the Rings at that time, and when we went out to dinner with my parents and I was kind of knocked, they'd let us go sleep in the car as they stayed talking for a while longer.
So, my sister would tell me stories- and she would tell me The Lord of the Rings. Further I remember getting was when the 'main characters were getting eaten by a tree...' and then I asked my sister: 'and what happens next?!' and she replied: 'Well, I don't know yet either!'.

This was the Tom Bombadil chapter, I later discovered.

[LizB]

The Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle. Now loved by my children.

Also remember vividly 'Where the Wild Things Are'.

Devoured many books in the early years (Little House books, Watership Down etc) but Roadl Dahl had a huge impact on my early literary life, in particular his autobiographical works.

[metal134]

I don't remember! :D

[Nossa]

My first book in 'English' was Sense and Sensibility...it was for my freshmen novel course...I tried reading it again, but couldn't finish it alone...lol
The first book I read on my own, like not for uni. and all..was Pride and Prejudice, I can officially thank Jane Austen for getting me hooked on reading ever since..lol

[Taliesin]

The first book we remember reading was some version of the Black Cauldron bastardized for four-year-olds. Considering we were four then...

But We are quite certain it wasn't the first since we got the book as a gift from our parents for learning to read, we remembering feeling: "Duh! We have known how to read about for half a year already and now you notice."

Other early books we remember are some Greek mythology books, lots of fairy-tale books, Dr Dolittle, Hobbit, Astrid Lindgren books, Estonian children authors books, however, we don't remember reading any of them (with the possible exception of the last two) before that Black Cauldron which could not have been the first.
A puzzle, really.

[damianswife]

My first book was "The Magic Faraway Tree" by Enid Blyton...now I am showing my age!!

[nps_marina]

hey Tal! (What's with the majestatic plural, btw????)
I also read a lot of greek mythology as a kid. I loved it. Especially this book called Daularies' Book of Greek Myths. Which I can name so speedily because, when I was older, I madea point of buying it.
Along with all those others I had ransacked from the library in earlier years- The Little Houses, the Shel Silversteins, Narnia...
My sister is the one who keeps most of the Dahls, but last year this book popped up, a compilation of some of his stories (either whole, or excerpts) and other what-not, and even though she (my sis) had it already, I couldn't resist it. It's called The Roald Dahl Treasury.
Sometimes I do that. Buy books just because I HAVE to have them. Capitalism to its highest level.

[aluren]

The first book I remember reading by myself and really enjoying was Charlottes webb. I must admit when I saw the recent adaptation of it, I was very excited. It fell short of the real joy I had felt when I read it the first time. It was good though....

My daughter too has read the book on my reccomendtion and feels exactly the same about the book.

[malwethien]

Only that it was ALMANZO!!!!
ROTFL
Don't be mad Malwethien...
We all loved The Little House Books, certainly. I still have them, and I still read them on occasion, and they make me cry and all (according to necessity of running plot)...

Was it really?!?! LOL...all this time I rememberd him as Alfonso LOL! Almanzo, really?! :lol: :lol:

[CountingSheep]

The Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle. Now loved by my children.



I love that book too! It has awesome illustrations from what I can remember.

[Captain Pike]

Go Dog, Go! P. D. Eastman It Was Great. Back then, I thought anything was possible.

[katie9trent]

First book ever reading was Tom, Dick, and Jane books.:)

[plainjane]

The Wizard of Oz
Grandpa in Oz
All Nancy Drew books
The Bobbsey Twins (another series)
Cherry Ames, Nurse (yet another series0
hmmmm do I detect a pattern here....:D

But I started reading "real" novels when I was around 11 or 12. In fact oddly enough I just finished rereading one of the first "grown-up" book I read...
Watcher in the Shadows by Geoffrey Household. And I seem to remember a book called "The Scent of New Mown Hay"...some sort of creepy book, at least it was to me as a kid.....
I'm going to have to look that one up.

[Geoffrey]

I remember in fourth grade i LOVED and I mean LOVED the book Redwall by Brian Jacques.

My god - remembering that is a trip and a half.

[Jennyfrijole]

Not including the reader they give you to learn with in school, the first book I read was How to Hide an Elephant - I can vividly remember walking into my first grade class on the first day and being shown to my assigned desk and there was a book on it - and everyone else's. I couldn't read the title and I can remember feeling stupid *L* We had to keep the books for the rest of the year till we could read the whole thing.

She was a horrible teacher, really. Nobody liked her. Why do mean people become the teacher's of little kids? Anywhoo, I did horrible in reading, had to carry my First Grade Reader over to second grade - so embarrassing! But I got the coolest and most-wanted teacher that year and he ROCKED and I was beyond caught up by the end of the year and by the middle of third grade I had moved up to a junior high reading level and was reading Christopher Pike books *way beyond my maturity level, though, yikes*

So, YEAH! BOO-YAH, Ms. Swanson! Take that!

[stella]

the first book i ever read was "the house number 95" it is a part of a local series in which 5 friends try to solve crimes that happen in their neighborhood but my first real book was Oliver Twist i liked it but i found the ending annoying ,
anyone who agrees?

[ebil_minions]

A small book titled Serendipity. It was about a pink sea monster who saved the oceans from pollution. I lost it and never found it...Or maybe it was Listen Buddy! I forget xD

[Mortis Anarchy]

My First Dictionary and something about Pinnochio and candy...

Then I think the Puddlelane books...I went to a school in Annapolis and my teacher was British...she gave us these books to read...She was the greatest...I think that was kindergarten.


A small book titled Serendipity. It was about a pink sea monster who saved the oceans from pollution. I lost it and never found it...Or maybe it was Listen Buddy! I forget xD

OH! I remember this book! Totally cool!:D :D

[*Classic*Charm*]

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Man I was young when I first read that. I know that I read alot before that though...childrens' books and all that as well.

[Dark Star]

Hmm...not including some second and third grade text books whose names are lost to me now, I'd have to say my first books would have been the Goosebumps series from around that same time.

[MaryLupin]

When I was four my father taught me to read with The Cat in the Hat. I read it over and over until I got all the words right. I am sure there were other's of the same author - I have a strong memory of a stack of those thin hard colorful books on the coffee table in front of the couch where we would sit until I could read the story. After that, the first book I remember being deeply attached to was a very old copy of Grimms that my grandmother had given me. It had been hers at one time. I remember reading the story of the goose girl over and over. Later I took to VanNostrum's Scientific Encyclopaedia. I remember reading that on my parent's hard wood floor with this record playing (I think it was called "Blue Chiffon" and the light coming in through the small panes of the window. By then I was about 8 or so.

[ampoule]

I had a ton of those Little Golden Books but I can't remember when I started reading them myself.
I loved Heidi and Black Beauty and Grimm's Fairytales. I read part of the Trixie Belden series, like Nancy Drew.

[Domer121]

Charlottes Web~~ E.B White