Childhood Story Books that I Loved

YaYa (my grandchildren call me that instead of grandma) tell me a story is often requested while driving in the car or when they are trying to avoid bedtime.

When I was growing up I was taken to the local library weekly by my father, my mother was the story teller in the family reciting famous fairy tales with her own twist. Often my mother would tell me about her childhood growing up in Mooseheart the City of Children, run by the Loyal Order of Moose, who provide a home for children of deceased members of the Moose club. That story will be in another post.

I remember sitting in the living room with my parents, my father in his red leather recliner, my mother on one end of the couch, while I sat on the other end, reading in the golden glow provided by the lamps on the end tables.

Many of stories that I was told, read to, or read myself have stayed with me and have become my go to stories that I tell my grandchildren.

One of my favorite stories is The Story of Little Black Sambo, I don't have a copy of this book, but I retell the story to the children about the little boy dressed in his fine new clothes who is surrounded by tigers. The little boy gives his beautiful clothes to the tigers so he won't be eaten, each tiger thinks he is the best dress and the most handsome. They began to chase each other around a tree they run faster and faster until they melt into a puddle of butter. The boy gets his clothes back and takes the butter to his mother who makes pancakes.  

Today this story is not politically correct, and when I tell my grandchildren this story little boy has no name, I just call him;  the little boy. 

To this day I can see the illustration of the tigers running around the tree melting into butter. How I wish I had that book.

My most requested story to be told is; The Three Billy Goats Gruff, if I deviate from the story the children will immediately tell me, "...that's not how it goes."

I enjoy learning about new stories to read or tell my grandchildren. What is your favorite childhood story?

Cheerfully,
Paulette