Filipino Friday #2: Kids and Books

1. What were your favorite books as a kid?

 I was not as much of a reader back then, I can probably name more 90s cartoons and family computer games than I could book titles. But I did love fairy tales and fables and Disney stories. The Ladybird storybooks were my favorite. As well as a variety of thick anthologies of fairy tales from Grimm, Andersen, Perrault, as well as Russian and Germal folk tales. I also enjoyed and consumed a voracious number of Archie Comics.  
 
2. Do you still read children's books?

 Oh yes. I just got off reading Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman, which I very much enjoyed. In fact, most kidlit that I have read, I read only sometime after college. A couple of favorites include: A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, The Time Warp Trio, Matilda, Ella Enchanted, The Graveyard Book, Bud, not Buddy, The Westing Game, The Egypt Game, Father Christmas, Percy Jackson series, Harry Potter series, His Dark Materials Trilogy, and Bartimaeus Trilogy. I think the main thing that draws me into children's literature is the earnestness of the characters, and or the story. And of course a big plus if they are adventure-filled and silly and funny. And if they have kid characters who are geniuses, or are sharp and witty.  

 3. If you would give a book to your younger self, what would it be?

 Only one book? That's hard. But, I think I'd go with Bud, not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. I think my younger self would benefit from the history lesson and the moral lesson found in this book. Plus, Bud is an honest, brave, smart, and witty kid and story has quite a number of funny dialogues from him, which may just help my kid self to loosen up a bit. And as a runner-up, Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud because my younger self would love the magic and the humor and it could have filled the Harry Potter shaped hole in my heart when that particular series ended. 
The 3rd Filipino Reader Con: What Do Readers Want? is happening on November 9, 2013, at Rizal Library in ADMU. 
 Drop by the FILIPINO READERCON page to learn more about this meme and the upcoming ReaderCon event.

Comments

  1. LynaiOctober 18, 2013 at 6:56 AM

    Archie comics! Hah! :) Neil Gaiman are wonderful reads but I think my younger self can take all the eerie-ness and creepiness. I was a scaredy cat back then! Haha. :D

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    Replies
    1. TinOctober 19, 2013 at 6:07 PM

      I remember a few of us once made an Archie Comic lending business in grade school, unbeknownst to the teachers of course. Haha! I probably even know the full names of most of the Archie characters, even some of the minor ones. Hee.

      I probably won't get Neil Gaiman had I read him when I was younger. I am not big on creepy stuff back then too. Even Alice in Wonderland freaked me out. :D

      Delete
  2. Katherine (Curiosa Kat)October 18, 2013 at 6:46 PM

    It was depressing when HP ended. And I get more teary-eyed and nostalgic whenever I start re-reading the books. *sigh* OK, I'll try Bartimaeus Trilogy then. :)

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    Replies
    1. TinOctober 19, 2013 at 6:10 PM

      Hi Kat! Hay, so true. I think HP is the book that I've re-read the most. I think I've read Prisoner of Azkaban, thrice already. Bartimaeus Trilogy is quite different from HP save for the "magic" and "London". But it is pretty darned good. So yes, definitely, try it! :D

      Delete

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