Then there are the classic series, e.g., the Laura Ingalls Wilder (“Little House on the Praire”) and “Anne of Green Gables” series. All of C.S. Lewis’ books are wonderful–his “Narnia” series and all the rest.

My children have grown up reading these books I loved, and I have enjoyed getting to know new authors–J.K. Rowling, for example!

I think I could have been quite happy working as a children’s book librarian!

Kerri » We were wise beyond our years and therefore we were reading much more mature subject matter. Ha! Okay, I don’t remember totally so I must attribute it to the coma. I do remember an incident with my darling brother in the library and I believe we might have been asked to leave. Do you remember?

My mom does read this from time to time. She actually reads and enjoys the comments more than what I write so I’m sure she’ll enjoy yours especially after the coconut-throwing trauma. I would write about it but I vowed to try to stay in the present and only write about the family I have now. (Except stuff about Julie with her permission!)

Has anyone read the Janet Evanovich “Stephanie Plum” series? I laugh out loud reading them and I’ve even got my husband started on them. Another favorite author is Karl Hiassen. Both have very unique characters and are great beach reads.

By the way, in case I haven’t mentioned, I love your blog! It is such a great way to reconnect with an old friend. And your stories of motherhood just crack me up. You sound just like I remember your mom. Who knew SHE was so funny? Keep up the good work!

When the girls were little I know I memorized Inside A Barn in The Country and The Escape of Marvin the Ape not to mention every Barney book on the planet!! I highly recommend the book titled The Twelve Gifts of Birth by Charlene Costanzo. It is actually a favorite gift that I give to parents to be. Oh, and one last favorite that still to this day makes me cry like a big blubbering baby…I Love You Forever…I need a tissue just thinking about it!

Kerri » That library is filled with such great memories – I’m so glad it hasn’t changed. Did I know you were reading inappropriate books back in the 4th and 5th grade???? Those Judy Blume books do get racy if you read them when you’re too young!

Melinda » So there is hope for the non-reading twin? She does love People magazine (a guilty pleasure I’m sure I helped her develop). The *boys* love SciFi and it’s a genre I just can’t get into. I’m just glad we all read!

We loved The Boxcar Children as well but I was a lover of horses so I read all of the Walter Farley series about The Black Stallion. Of course I liked dog books too so Lassie Come Home was a fav as well as Big Red by Jim Kjelgaard. I passed some of that along as well. One of the twins has read all of those as well.

My 10 yr old son just read Marley, a dog like no other by John Grogan and loved that. I’ve purchased Cormac by Sonny Brewer for him to read next. He loves anything by Bill Wallace.

I’m into mysteries myself these days although I have been known to read some romance when I’m totally out of anything else. My favorite author of all time is probably Dick Francis. He’s about to retire and it’s killing me.

Really prefer fiction and don’t like self help books at all. I don’t think I’ve ever finished one of those. I do buy cookbooks too even though I’m not much of a cook.