Musings on...Overly Sentimental Ornaments
From the Archives: A Little Nostalgia for a Blog Born of Our Bookish Adventures
I’ve always been bookish, and I had a habit of writing reports on books and topics I loved. I actually assigned myself the task of writing book reports for no grade or recognition. In my free time, for fun! As an adult, I turned my teenage habit into its modern iteration- a book blog. Let’s be honest: a book blog is just a book report with SEO. After some technical issues beyond my coding ability, my website imploded. I was dragging my feet deciding if I should have it redesigned, when I thought of this Substack. Since I’m always musing about books, I’ll just house it here alongside my other miscellany and revisit the archives from time to time. Substack is also free, so my decision may have been heavily influenced, but thanks for nothing GoDaddy Tech Support.
This is the first Christmas both my children are returning home as college students. I like to embarrass them by defiantly hanging the crafted ornaments they made in elementary school. I think they love that I insist on giving the ornaments pride of place despite their protests of how cringe it is. I’m feeling a little nostalgic as I slowly realize they aren’t the little munchkins pictured on those ornaments. They were my little willing accomplices in whatever I conjured under the guise of an ‘adventure”.
The very idea of Pretty Page Turner book blog was inspired by our exploits. I was laid off from my job in 2009 in what became known as the Great Recession. As my job search proved fruitless and with more time and less money than usual, the kids and I developed a low-cost weekly routine. We would go to the downtown Starbucks and get a ‘bebbage’ (beverage). Drinks in hand, we would walk across the street to Barnes and Noble. They would stand patiently as I grabbed a pile of magazines. We went hand-in-hand down the escalator to the children’s section. I would sit in those terribly low child-sized chairs while they enjoyed the books. After finishing my pile of magazines and cracking my aching back, I wandered the store and took photos of the books I wanted to purchase when my income rebounded. That became my ‘books to buy’ list before lists on Amazon was a thing.
One day I realized my phone had just as many pictures of books as of my children. Could my obsessive bookish ways a thing? Perhaps a blog? This post originally appeared on my book blog in 2015, documenting our routine, even as we moved across country and they grew older. Originally published as Great Books for Kids and the Parents that Love Them, the books and the tradition I shared with my kids is a beloved memory. Many of the titles are considered classics today and now have collectible box sets. I’m not calling this a gift guide, but the days until Christmas are getting closer, and perhaps you have a kid in your life with room on their bookshelf. No pressure, just saying.
November 3, 2015
There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all. Jacqueline Kennedy
I will be honest and disclose that I often sneak more than a peak at my kids' books and end up loving them just as much as they do. Below are some of my kids (and my) favorite books and book series. We have a 11-year old daughter and a 9 year-old son, so their tastes are essentially different, but many of these book series they've enjoyed equally. Remember, Christmas is coming, so grab the link and start adding to your Amazon wish list.
The moment I saw the cover of this book, I knew it was for my extra-girly, sparkle-loving daughter. I love the premise of this book series. I love vintage clothing and fashion history, so the idea that a piece of clothing can take you back in time is too delicious to ignore. From the deck of the Titanic, Cleopatra's palace and Marie Antoinette's court, you visit the style of the time with each page. Beautifully illustrated, it is an unique way to sneak history into your child's life.
Jeff Kinney has my children entranced with the diary recollections of Greg Heffley. I can't tell how many times I've discussed Wimpy Kid release dates with other school parents. It was reminiscent of my love for Judy Blume’s Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, as the middle school student just trying to keep his head above the fray. His misadventures, thoughts and opinions about how to be cool and fit in will keep everyone in stitches.
First, the heroine's name is Nikki, so I knew she would be awesome. It's not a new tale-Nikki is entering eighth grade and she experiences all the anxiety of growing up, but her voice is so funny and accurate to the thought process of her age group that you can't help but love her and her goal of upgrading her "not so fabulous life". The companion website is worth a visit www.dorkdiaries.com it's a great, safe internet space for her readers featuring a tab for "The Dork World" and "Dork Stuff" as well as an "Ask Nikki" column for her fans. Being a dork has it's benefits.
I added this to the list because this was one of MY favorite book series. Encyclopedia Brown was the smartest kid I knew and I loved to try to help solve his multiple mysteries. I was excited to know that E.B. was still around when my kids brought home a couple of books from the school library. Encyclopedia is a classic and I often wonder if my early detective adventures were the seeds for my obsessive predilection to the Law and Order TV show.
I heard of this book watching Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer on a morning talk show. A poor reader as a child, she suffered with dyslexia, but once she received the proper guidance, she began to love reading. This mystery series is great middle school fun as Randi and her besties D.C. and Fudge combine their Bruce Lee obsession with mystery-solving prowess. The premise seems comical, but Ms. Spencer explained that she always wanted to be an actress, but thought she might become a detective if that career plan didn't work out. The Ninja comes into play from her youthful love with Tae Kwon Do, which she admits to not being good at. I love that such a motley collection of interests and ideas can come together in one place. It is beneficial to teach children that everything they love has value and makes them a more interesting individual. Randi and her fellow ninjas are a fun bunch for the kids to spend a weekend with. I really love this book: I mentioned it here and here!
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I love your bookstore tradition! Thanks for the list!