Can you remember the first book that really captured your imagination as a child?
For me it was a story about a man called Mr Flop who was a flower collector. Mr Flop gathered up faded and dying flowers and whisked them off on a flying apple-tree branch (sort of prototype of Harry Potter’s Nimbus 2000) to the Kingdom of Flowers where they ‘regained their lost beauty and perfume and became more beautiful than ever’.
I loved the idea, but even more appealing was that Mr Flop whisked off the young heroine for a magical visit to the Kingdom on his flying branch. And what was the young heroine’s name? Alice? Dorothy? Wendy? No, they’d already had their fun. It was Laurette.
Unbelievers check out the title
Vaguely my five-year-old brain sensed that Justice had been done, and a Divine Finger pointed. Books became a passion.
Is the American Bookworm becoming a threatened species? Fortunately not all was doom and gloom. Sifting through the statistics, the author ended on a fairly optimistic note, at least as far as the 18-to-21-year-old group of readers was concerned.
But this was in the US. Skipping across the ocean, the outlook is much brighter. Four months earlier the BBC News Magazine (October 2013) had revealed that Icelanders are not only passionate readers, one in ten of them will actually publish a book:
…this island nation of just over 300,000 people has more writers, more books published and more books read, per head, than anywhere else in the world.
Hooray! A mutated strain of the American Bookworm is alive and well among the geysers.
Passionate readers, passionate writers. Which brings me nicely to the idea behind this blog, talking about things that people are passionate about. Maybe a book, maybe an author, maybe a character. Maybe a bee. Or a tomato. Or a white cube. Whatever gets me, and hopefully you, going.
Before signing off, here’s an interesting footnote. I looked up Laurette Meets Mr Flop on the Internet, naturellement. It’s out of print, but there are images of the cover that look a lot like my battered survivor.
And, if you’re interested, there’s a second-hand copy for sale, for a mere €63.82. Vindication for all hoarders.
Describing its condition, the vendor has the most charmingly persuasive phrase:
‘The book,’ he says, ‘has obviously been enjoyed.’
P.S Thanks to Ian for sending me a picture of his copy of ‘Where’s Wumpus?’ (see comments). Great cosy domestic scene with animals. And another book that ‘has obviously been enjoyed.’
23 thoughts on “Can you remember the first book that really captured your imagination as a child?”
Laurette, no wonder Mr Flops captured your young heart … the sweetest of stories and a heroine that shares your name! My very earliest book memory was when I was still in Sweden aged about three and it was about a cute duckling called Annika who was looking for her mother! With the help of other animals, she eventually found her way home!
Wow! I’m impressed with the number of writers in Iceland, that is good news! Here in the UK, I feel there are fewer readers each year. I take the occasional straw poll amongst family and friends I knew were big readers and barely any have time. Very sad!
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting Annika! I love the fact that you too identified with a character who had the same name as you. As you can see by the comments many people are marked by particular books read as children. Have you thought that in years from now adults might be writing to bloggers saying ‘I remember this wonderful book about a little boy called Oskar…” 😉 Let’s hope children keep on reading! Have a great Christmas… (Details of Annika’s new book, about a little boy called Oskar, can be found here: https://annikaperry.com/2019/12/03/oskars-quest-newbook/
My favorite book was “Heidi.” Or should I say it was the book I read the most often…..
My parents had a cabin by the river that we visited every weekend and in this cabin was exactly one book: Heidi. I read it every weekend.
Don’t ask me why I never thought to bring another book with me. I didn’t! I just read Heidi, over and over…..
Thanks for that comment Karen, it conjures up a lovely image of a (log?)cabin by a river and a child with her nose in a much-thumbed book – which maybe you still have?
That book inspired a generation of parents looking for names for their baby daughters, wonder what are the big literary favourites today, must be a few Hermiones out there… 😉
I was writing books at seven, fascinated by words in print. Among early books I loved “Bunny Blue” by Catherine Stahlmann and I still have a copy – I’m not sure whether it was my original one or a copy I bought for my children. It’s about a toy rabbit who has lost his pink ribbon, looks all over for it while his child is sleeping, and finally finds it in the toybox where he started.
For older children, two of my favorites were “Understood Betsy” by Dorothy Canfield Fisher and “Nobody’s Girl” by Hector Malot. Both dealt with little girls who overcame barriers and learned strength, resilience, and the ability to assert themselves and win through. There were almost no other books at the time that portrayed young female protagonists as plucky and smart. Unfortunately I couldn’t interest either my daughter or my granddaughter in them!
Hi Leslie, I have to admit I have never heard of these books, off to check with Dr Google. But it’s interesting isn’t it the fascination that animals have for us when we are small (Wind in the Willows, Beatrice Potter plus the books mentioned by other readers here). As for your pioneering little girls, do you think one reason your daughter and granddaughter weren’t interested is because a lot of the feminist battles had already been won by the time they were growing up? Maybe they just took it all for granted!
Interesting to read that you were a young author, any dog-eared manuscripts lying in a drawer, hoping?? Or is all your time taken up with painting now?
Thanks for these interesting comments, bonne lecture and…bon appétit 😉
Oh, I didn’t see that you had replied. I think that kids aren’t interested in the books I loved because the time period no longer seems relevant and they can’t related to such a different world. Both middle-year books I mentioned were quite old-fashioned when I read them, but the subject matter transcended the time period. And yes, I do still have my chef d’oeuvres from age 7, “The Kitten Who Found A Name” and “Imaginary Girl.” They are dog-eared but still lie in a drawer…The book I wrote when I was ten or eleven, a much larger tome, I tossed when my mother was moving.
Funny how we hang on to these early writings. Mine are mainly in a notepad with ruled lines and a gold-embossed grey cover, I must have thought it was the bees knees when my parents gave it to me. ‘Imaginary Girl’ sounds as if it’s about the imaginary friend that lots of kids have…?
Dear Matt, You had me at dodecahedron 😉
Of course then I had to Google ‘Phantom Tollbooth’. So, I learned it is an absolutely amazing story which has sold more than 3 000 000 copies! Jules Ffeifer I knew, but Norton Juster not. Research is underway, amazing. Thanks for that, a new avenue to explore. Will a tollbooth or dodecahedron somehow slip into the next Dane Curse epic??? We all hope so… xx
Your blog brought back some great memories, Laurette. One of my favorite books as a child was “The Story of Ferdinand,” by Munro Leaf. The illustrations by Robert Lawson of a robust, yet docile bull who wanted to smell the flowers in the fields rather than fight in a bullfight, added the perfect touch to this charming story.
Oh Ferdinand the Bull! That brings back memories, what a totally captivating little chap he was. We should all take time to smell the flowers!
Thanks for that Linda 😉
Hi Erin
Here’s a reply to your post, just 9 months late! Eek! I’m so sorry, have sent you a message on Goodreads, think the oversight occurred when I was in Paris without a computer. Well I’m glad I was looking through all the comments and spotted the lapse (a wrinkle in time??) as I have now had the chance to find out more about the book and author. What an amazing person. I see that ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ has 2015 comments on Amazon, and suggested books that come up alongside are ‘The Phantom Tollbooth’, already mentioned on here, and ‘Charlotte’s Web’, which was one of my all time favourites. It exists in Kindle version, I’ll be doing a download…Thanks so much for pointing me in Madeleine’s direction, also your kind comments, and renewed apologies ;-(
Where’s Wumpus by Elleston Trevor. My gran used to read it to me every night, so much so that if she changed the wording even slightly I’d correct her1 Happy, happy memories
Hi Ian
Why haven’t I heard of this one? Very happy memories I bet. Have you kept up the family tradition, maybe with the very same edition??
Any good summer reads on the cards? My brother’s just given me The World According to Clarkson, strictly for adults 😉
Nice to hear from you
Laurette
Hi again Ian
Thanks so much for sending me a picture of ‘Where’s Wumpus?’ I’ve added it to the post (I hope) so everyone can go ‘aww’. Is it still in print do you know?
This was a new one for me, I remember being mad about The Famous Five. I’ve just checked it out on Dr Google, it says there’s a whole series. Do you know ‘Goodreads’, a site for readers and writers? The book (or series) has 21,203 ratings from readers! I also read that it’s being turned into a film by Sam Mendes.
Thanks for your comment!
Loving the blog! My first real book was Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingels Wilder. I loved all the descriptions of their daily routine and Inparticularly remember how they tapped the maple trees for syrop. Mmmm
Hi Jo
Can’t believe I missed this one, must have skipped straight to the Prairie! OK, heading for a download pronto. Isn’t it strange how those daily routines were subjects of total fascination? And across the generations too. I just checked out the Prairie one on Goodreads, it has 145, 742 ratings!!!! There are some fascinating comments on the site about why the books are so eternally popular.
Thanks for being the first person to share your favourite book 😉
Laurette, no wonder Mr Flops captured your young heart … the sweetest of stories and a heroine that shares your name! My very earliest book memory was when I was still in Sweden aged about three and it was about a cute duckling called Annika who was looking for her mother! With the help of other animals, she eventually found her way home!
Wow! I’m impressed with the number of writers in Iceland, that is good news! Here in the UK, I feel there are fewer readers each year. I take the occasional straw poll amongst family and friends I knew were big readers and barely any have time. Very sad!
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting Annika! I love the fact that you too identified with a character who had the same name as you. As you can see by the comments many people are marked by particular books read as children. Have you thought that in years from now adults might be writing to bloggers saying ‘I remember this wonderful book about a little boy called Oskar…” 😉 Let’s hope children keep on reading! Have a great Christmas… (Details of Annika’s new book, about a little boy called Oskar, can be found here: https://annikaperry.com/2019/12/03/oskars-quest-newbook/
My favorite book was “Heidi.” Or should I say it was the book I read the most often…..
My parents had a cabin by the river that we visited every weekend and in this cabin was exactly one book: Heidi. I read it every weekend.
Don’t ask me why I never thought to bring another book with me. I didn’t! I just read Heidi, over and over…..
Thanks for that comment Karen, it conjures up a lovely image of a (log?)cabin by a river and a child with her nose in a much-thumbed book – which maybe you still have?
That book inspired a generation of parents looking for names for their baby daughters, wonder what are the big literary favourites today, must be a few Hermiones out there… 😉
I was writing books at seven, fascinated by words in print. Among early books I loved “Bunny Blue” by Catherine Stahlmann and I still have a copy – I’m not sure whether it was my original one or a copy I bought for my children. It’s about a toy rabbit who has lost his pink ribbon, looks all over for it while his child is sleeping, and finally finds it in the toybox where he started.
For older children, two of my favorites were “Understood Betsy” by Dorothy Canfield Fisher and “Nobody’s Girl” by Hector Malot. Both dealt with little girls who overcame barriers and learned strength, resilience, and the ability to assert themselves and win through. There were almost no other books at the time that portrayed young female protagonists as plucky and smart. Unfortunately I couldn’t interest either my daughter or my granddaughter in them!
Hi Leslie, I have to admit I have never heard of these books, off to check with Dr Google. But it’s interesting isn’t it the fascination that animals have for us when we are small (Wind in the Willows, Beatrice Potter plus the books mentioned by other readers here). As for your pioneering little girls, do you think one reason your daughter and granddaughter weren’t interested is because a lot of the feminist battles had already been won by the time they were growing up? Maybe they just took it all for granted!
Interesting to read that you were a young author, any dog-eared manuscripts lying in a drawer, hoping?? Or is all your time taken up with painting now?
Thanks for these interesting comments, bonne lecture and…bon appétit 😉
Oh, I didn’t see that you had replied. I think that kids aren’t interested in the books I loved because the time period no longer seems relevant and they can’t related to such a different world. Both middle-year books I mentioned were quite old-fashioned when I read them, but the subject matter transcended the time period. And yes, I do still have my chef d’oeuvres from age 7, “The Kitten Who Found A Name” and “Imaginary Girl.” They are dog-eared but still lie in a drawer…The book I wrote when I was ten or eleven, a much larger tome, I tossed when my mother was moving.
Funny how we hang on to these early writings. Mine are mainly in a notepad with ruled lines and a gold-embossed grey cover, I must have thought it was the bees knees when my parents gave it to me. ‘Imaginary Girl’ sounds as if it’s about the imaginary friend that lots of kids have…?
Phantom Tollbooth. Hands down. It’s the only reason why I know what a dodecahedron is.
Dear Matt, You had me at dodecahedron 😉
Of course then I had to Google ‘Phantom Tollbooth’. So, I learned it is an absolutely amazing story which has sold more than 3 000 000 copies! Jules Ffeifer I knew, but Norton Juster not. Research is underway, amazing. Thanks for that, a new avenue to explore. Will a tollbooth or dodecahedron somehow slip into the next Dane Curse epic??? We all hope so… xx
Your blog brought back some great memories, Laurette. One of my favorite books as a child was “The Story of Ferdinand,” by Munro Leaf. The illustrations by Robert Lawson of a robust, yet docile bull who wanted to smell the flowers in the fields rather than fight in a bullfight, added the perfect touch to this charming story.
Oh Ferdinand the Bull! That brings back memories, what a totally captivating little chap he was. We should all take time to smell the flowers!
Thanks for that Linda 😉
Just discovered your blog via Goodreads and enjoy your style and sense of humor.
The one book that stands out for me from my childhood is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.
Hi Erin
Here’s a reply to your post, just 9 months late! Eek! I’m so sorry, have sent you a message on Goodreads, think the oversight occurred when I was in Paris without a computer. Well I’m glad I was looking through all the comments and spotted the lapse (a wrinkle in time??) as I have now had the chance to find out more about the book and author. What an amazing person. I see that ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ has 2015 comments on Amazon, and suggested books that come up alongside are ‘The Phantom Tollbooth’, already mentioned on here, and ‘Charlotte’s Web’, which was one of my all time favourites. It exists in Kindle version, I’ll be doing a download…Thanks so much for pointing me in Madeleine’s direction, also your kind comments, and renewed apologies ;-(
Where’s Wumpus by Elleston Trevor. My gran used to read it to me every night, so much so that if she changed the wording even slightly I’d correct her1 Happy, happy memories
Hi Ian
Why haven’t I heard of this one? Very happy memories I bet. Have you kept up the family tradition, maybe with the very same edition??
Any good summer reads on the cards? My brother’s just given me The World According to Clarkson, strictly for adults 😉
Nice to hear from you
Laurette
Hi again Ian
Thanks so much for sending me a picture of ‘Where’s Wumpus?’ I’ve added it to the post (I hope) so everyone can go ‘aww’. Is it still in print do you know?
My favourite book was The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
Hi Joanna
This was a new one for me, I remember being mad about The Famous Five. I’ve just checked it out on Dr Google, it says there’s a whole series. Do you know ‘Goodreads’, a site for readers and writers? The book (or series) has 21,203 ratings from readers! I also read that it’s being turned into a film by Sam Mendes.
Thanks for your comment!
Laurette
Loving the blog! My first real book was Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingels Wilder. I loved all the descriptions of their daily routine and Inparticularly remember how they tapped the maple trees for syrop. Mmmm
Hi Jo
Can’t believe I missed this one, must have skipped straight to the Prairie! OK, heading for a download pronto. Isn’t it strange how those daily routines were subjects of total fascination? And across the generations too. I just checked out the Prairie one on Goodreads, it has 145, 742 ratings!!!! There are some fascinating comments on the site about why the books are so eternally popular.
Thanks for being the first person to share your favourite book 😉
Laurette
Good luck !
I guess I got by with a little help from my friends….many thanks!
Laurette