May 13-19 is Children’s Book Week! One of the greatest week-long celebrations of the year. A tribute to the magnificent world of children’s literature, my personal favorite continent on Planet Literature.
For the greater majority of us, Kid Lit is at the root of our love of reading; it’s where it all began and as parent or teacher or librarian or author, we fall for it over and over again. I bet each of us can list and handful of books from the juvenile literature shelves which were major factors in the development of our love of story.
Children’s books are marvelous and fantastic things. They bring us knowledge and experiences and take us on memorable journeys. They stoke the fires of imagination and language, and show us the beauty in the everyday mundane to the extraordinary magical.
I write middle grade kid lit, mostly from a boy point of view. It is the way I see the stories rolling around in my head. From my own past as a slow, reluctant boy reader, I hope I write stories that appeal to that section of the young reading community.
To celebrate Children’s Book Week in proper fashion, I’m participating in a wonderful event hosted by Mother Daughter Book Reviews and Youth Literature Reviews called the Kid Lit Giveaway Hop.
Hosted by:
Mike Hays Books Giveaway
In honor of Children’s Book Week, I will give away a $10 Amazon Gift Certificate to spend on whatever your heart desires at the Big A, maybe even on a wonderful book (may I suggest my THE YOUNGER DAYS and/or other books from MuseItYoung imprint of MuseItUp Publishing).
To the victor shall go the spoils, so the winner will be a randomly selected person who leaves their all-time favorite children’s book title and author in a comment on this post.
Please, only one title/author entry per comment, so if you’re like me and have a super-tie of your many, many favorites, enter many, many comments. Deadline for entries is the stroke of midnight on May 19, 2013.
Happy Children’s Book Week! A big thank you to the hosts of this Kid Lit Giveaway Hop. Be sure to check out the Linky List of KidLit Awesomeness to visit other sites participating.
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Click here to view this Kid Lit Giveaway Hop Linky List.
Books and Writing by Mike Hays 
Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink I loved that book, and still do. (I have 7 kids now. )
Becky – I had to look up Baby Island and it sounds very cool, and very unique adventure story. Thanks!
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Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
Heidi – I’ve heard TONS of good stuff about the Fablehaven series, but haven’t read any yet. I think you’ve convinced me to get off the Fablehaven sidelines. Thanks for stopping by.
I grew up on Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater. I love that book so much.
Constance – Mr. Popper’s Penguins = Classic. Thanks for sharing.
I loved Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda 🙂
Lexie – The Rowan series looks very intriguing. Thanks for adding it to the list.
I love a good classic like Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I still have the same book I had as a kid. 🙂
Elisabeth – Being a native Kansan, Little House of the Prairie always hits the sweet spot for me, but I must admit, I liked Little House in the Big Woods better.
My all time favorite book as a child was Harriet The Spy. But my all time favorite author is Shel Silverstein.
Georgia – Harriet The Spy! I spent many evening reading and giggling with my kids to the wonders of Shel Silverstein. Why? Because seven eight nine…
We like Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pinkney
Joy – Everything Jerry Pinkney does is magic. John Henry is my favorite.
Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham is the best of all time for me 🙂
Renata – Do you love green eggs and ham? My favorite Green Eggs and Ham moment has to be Rev. Jesse Jackson reading the book on Saturday Night Live. Great moment to Book/TV history.
You know what? I just went to youtube to see that again, and can’t stop laughing. It’s awesome, thank you, Mike, for the memory 😀
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle~<3 Thank you for the hop!
Misha – It took several readings and some years under my belt before I began to appreciate A Wrinkle In Time. I am a late bloomer, I guess.
sweet valley high series by francine pascal
Nicole – I will take your word on the Sweet Valley High series. I’ve never read one, but man alive, they were everywhere back in the day.
It’s so difficult, but since my copy’s followed me around all these years of house moves, I’m voting for Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. Good luck with your giveaway and books, Mike 🙂
Rainbow Goblins by Ul de Rico!
Greensleeves by Eloise Jarvis McGraw – so sadly out of print!
also love pretty much everything by Madeline L’Engle, but I’ll pick Many Waters since you said only one book per entry 🙂
I also really loved Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry. I could go on and on, but I think I’d better stop here! Thanks for being a part of this fun week of giveaways! I’ve enjoyed it!
I love Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.
Oh wow! Where do I begin? Ok, I’m going to go with The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Now THAT’s a book you can escape into! Thanks for joining us in the Kid Lit Giveaway Hop!
Be sure to check out our Kid Lit Question of the Day. This week we are talking about the category of books, YA.
http://motherdaughterbookreviews.com/kid-lit-question-of-the-day-what-is-a-young-adult-anyways/
Renee – Thanks for hosting the event. It was a blast! So much fun to see such a celebration of kidlit.
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is one of those few rarefied air books in the children’s literature canon.
My favorite younger book now is Tamora Pierce’s Protector of the Small Quartet. 🙂
But my favorite book as a kid was I Need A Hug. 🙂
And of course everything written by Dr. Seuss has a special place in my heart. Hahaha thanks for the chance!
My favorite book from when I was a kid was Watership Down, by Richard Adams. I read it over and over. I still own that book, and I’ve got pre-teens of my own now.
I really loved “Little Women” by Lousia May Alcott.
I loved all of Hans Christian Anderson’s tales such as “The Little Mermaid”, “The Emperor’s New Clothes”, “The Princess and the Pea”.
I will always love the “Uncle Remus” tales about Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Bear, Br’er Fox, and Tar Baby. These tales are timeless.
I absolutely loved (probably my favorite) “Pippi Longstocking” by Astrid Lindgren.
The “Call of the Wild” by Jack London is another excellent book. I even watched the movie when it came out.
Mark Twain’s “Tom Sawyer” and “Huckleberry Finn” are such classics. I love them and read the books over and over.
I have read all of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s “Little House” books–another classic series.
“Swiss Family Robinson” by Johann David Wyss is another great classic that I love.
Probably my all time favorite is “Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox” possibly told by James MacGillivray. There is some controversy about who first wrote about Paul Bunyan, but no mind, I still love to read the book and read it to my children and grandchildren.
Gosh, I can’t shut up until I tell you my favorite poem, “Robinson Crusoe’s Story” by Charles E. Carryl. I will give you the first verse and then I will close this:
THE night was thick and hazy
When the “Piccadilly Daisy”
Carried down the crew and captain in the sea;
And I think the water drowned ’em;
For they never, never found ’em, 5
And I know they didn’t come ashore with me.