Three days of book challenge postings

Since my early book posts were relatively short, I'm including three days' worth in this blog - days two through four. Enjoy!

Day 2 - Old Yeller - Fred Gibson

This is Day 2 of the challenge to share my favorite books from my childhood. Number 2/10 is a book I imagine my mother read to me first, as a Golden Book edition. Then, when I was a bit older, I read the children's book. Published in the mid-50s, there was a read-aloud edition by the original author (Fred Gibson), which I also may have had. It made me cry. We're just two books into this challenge, but we may be seeing a trend. 




Day 3 - Brighty of the Grand Canyon - Marguerite Henry

This is Day 3 of the challenge to share my favorite books from my childhood. Number 3/10 is a book I think I acquired in the fourth grade, Brighty of the Grand Canyon. We had some sort of book fair, and I begged my parents to buy me this book. Since then, I've had a soft spot for author Marguerite Henry (Misty of Chincoteague and Justin Morgan Had a Horse) and burros. We adopted two wild burros in 2007, Jennet "Janet" Reno and Donkey Hoadie, now about 22 and 15 years old.




Day 4 - The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas

On day 4 of the challenge to share 10 books that influenced me as a child, I'm including The Count of Monte Cristo, not so much for the book itself, although it did make an impression, but the story behind my acquisition of the book. As an avid reader and bike rider, I often ended up at my library, which I thought was the most wonderful place in the world. Then it was referred to as the MacNider Library, for the family who donated seven acres on which to build the public library. I spent so much time there that if my sister suspected that the library was my ultimate destination, she would refuse to accompany me on bike rides.

One day, I was browsing the shelves, as I usually did, and the blurb on the dust cover for the Count of Monte Cristo (not the edition pictured) caught my attention, so I took it to the desk to check it out. I was in the third grade, so the librarian was skeptical. "Do you think you can finish this?"

"Yes," I insisted. "Why else would I check it out?"

"It's a pretty big book."

"Yes," I agreed. About 1000 pages, I couldn't disagree.

"I don't think you can finish it in two weeks, when it's due," she said.

"Isn't that why you have renewals?" I asked. I had her there. She checked it out. I read it in about four days. I'm not certain I understood all of it, but I read it - and enjoyed it. After that, I never let a "big" book deter me - except for Ulysses and War & Peace - just couldn't get into those two.

On day 4 of the challenge to share 10 books that influenced me as a child, I'm including The Count of Monte Cristo, not so much for the book itself, although it did make an impression, but the story behind my acquisition of the book. As an avid reader and bike rider, I often ended up at my public  library in Mason City, Iowa, which I thought was the most wonderful place in the world. Back then, everyone referred to it as the MacNider Library, after the family who donated the seven acres of property the library stood on. I spent so much time there that if my sister suspected that the library was my ultimate destination, she would refuse to accompany me on bike rides. 


One day, I was browsing the shelves, as I often did, and the blurb on the dust cover for the Count of Monte Cristo (not the edition pictured) caught my attention, so I took it to the desk to check it out. I was in the third grade, so the librarian was skeptical. "Do you think you can finish this?" 
"Yes," I insisted. "Why else would I check it out?" 
"It's a pretty big book." 
"Yes," I agreed. About 1000 pages, I couldn't disagree. 
"I don't think you can finish it in two weeks, when it's due," she said. 
"Isn't that why you have renewals?" I asked. I had her there. She checked it out. I read it in about four days. I'm not certain I understood all of it, but I read it - and enjoyed it. After that, I never let a "big" book deter me - except for Ulysses and War & Peace - just couldn't get into those two. On day 4 of the challenge to share 10 books that influenced me as a child, I'm including The Count of Monte Cristo, not so much for the book itself, although it did make an impression, but the story behind my acquisition of the book. As an avid reader and bike rider, I often ended up at my public  library in Mason City, Iowa, which I thought was the most wonderful place in the world. Back then, everyone referred to it as the MacNider Library, after the family who donated the seven acres of property the library stood on. I spent so much time there that if my sister suspected that the library was my ultimate destination, she would refuse to accompany me on bike rides. 


One day, I was browsing the shelves, as I often did, and the blurb on the dust cover for the Count of Monte Cristo (not the edition pictured) caught my attention, so I took it to the desk to check it out. I was in the third grade, so the librarian was skeptical. "Do you think you can finish this?" 
"Yes," I insisted. "Why else would I check it out?" 
"It's a pretty big book." 
"Yes," I agreed. About 1000 pages, I couldn't disagree. 
"I don't think you can finish it in two weeks, when it's due," she said. 
"Isn't that why you have renewals?" I asked. I had her there. She checked it out. I read it in about four days. I'm not certain I understood all of it, but I read it - and enjoyed it. After that, I never let a "big" book deter me - except for Ulysses and War & Peace - just couldn't get into those two. 

On day 4 of the challenge to share 10 books that influenced me as a child, I'm including The Count of Monte Cristo, not so much for the book itself, although it did make an impression, but the story behind my acquisition of the book. As an avid reader and bike rider, I often ended up at my public library in Mason City, Iowa, which I thought was the most wonderful place in the world. Back then, everyone referred to it as the MacNider Library, after the family who donated the seven acres of property the library stood on. I spent so much time there that if my sister suspected that the library was my ultimate destination, she would refuse to accompany me on bike rides.

One day, I was browsing the shelves, as I often did, and the blurb on the dust cover for the Count of Monte Cristo (not the edition pictured) caught my attention, so I took it to the desk to check it out. I was in the third grade, so the librarian was skeptical. "Do you think you can finish this?"

"Yes," I insisted. "Why else would I check it out?"

"It's a pretty big book."

"Yes," I agreed. About 1000 pages, I couldn't disagree.

"I don't think you can finish it in two weeks, when it's due," she said.

"Isn't that why you have renewals?" I asked. I had her there. She checked it out. I read it in about four days. I'm not certain I understood all of it, but I read it - and enjoyed it. After that, I never let a "big" book deter me - except for Ulysses and War & Peace - just couldn't get into those tw