Well, maybe not “define,” but I do think our favorite childhood books influence us throughout life.  Apparently, FlavorWire does, too.  Read the article, here.

Of course, FlavorWire’s is not a comprehensive list.  (That could be a book by itself.)  I did find a couple of things interesting, though.

1.  My Favorite on the List.

The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander – According to FlavorWire, “Sure, your job sucks now, but you’re not about to sweat it. As soon as you pay your dues, you’re going to shoot right to the top of the company.”

THAT is hysterical!  …kind of eerie, too, but hysterical!

2.  FlavorWire’s List Mostly Teen/Tween Books
I personally found it a little odd that the list was mostly of teen/tween/ juvenile fiction books…not what I’d call “childhood” favorites. 

I probably shouldn’t find this too odd.  I started to enjoy reading in late elementary school, but I didn’t really start to LOVE it until I was a ‘tween, hence, The Book of Three. 

Shortly thereafter, my dad introduced me to the works of David Eddings, Christopher Stasheff, and Robert Asprin. Oh, it was ON, then.  Lloyd Alexander’s The Chronicles of Prydain books were probably the last juvenile fiction I read from that point on (until Harry Potter).  Sci-Fi/Fantasy was the bomb!  (Yes, it was the 80’s.)

When I think about CHILDHOOD books and stories, though, I remember the hundreds of stories I loved (and I KNOW influenced me) from the pre-reading days.  Either my mom read the stories to me, or I used these wonderful Read-along-books (the one’s with the 45s).  I shudder to imagine what FlavorWire might surmise from those actual “childhood” influences.

Let’s see…

* I think much of life can be celebrated in verse (Nursery Rhymes).

* Pretty much ANYTHING can happen (Mother Goose and Arabian Nights).

* Not all stories have happy endings (The Brothers, Grimm), but much of life is beautiful (Hans Christian Andersen).

* We should learn from stories (Aesop’s Fables).

* There’s just not much better than being a southerner (Uncle Remus).

* I LOVE it when someone reads to me or tells me a story  (explains my addiction to audiobooks/audible.com).

What about the rest of you on the porch?  What were your favorite childhood and young adult stories/books?  How have they influenced you?  …you can admit it.  You know they have.  🙂