Some of the most impactful books in our lives are the ones we read as children. There are the books our parents bought for us or the ones we picked up in school when we first started learning. However, you discovered them, they made a lasting impression and became the most memorable books from your childhood.
We thought we’d put together a list of what most people say are the books they most remember from their youth. It’s a great way to take a look back on what inspired us and some of our earliest reading influences. Do any of their themes still hold true for you today?
The Real Tooth Fairy
Many of us learned about the fantasy of the tooth fairy from this book written by Marilyn Kaye. It follows the journey of the fairy and illustrates how she comes at night while we’re sleeping. Sound familiar?
Frog and Toad Are Friends
One of the first chapter books many of us read, this story about friendship cemented beliefs around friendship in our minds. For many of us, it was our first time stepping away from picture books and diving into a “real” book.
Matilda
We may have been scarred by some of the events that happen in Matilda. Still, many of us carry the adventure of that youthful book with us today. It still remains one of the most read childhood books.
Sweet Valley High
Most young girls have read at least a few of the Sweet Valley High books. They prepared us for what we thought high school was going to be like long before we walked through the halls. Maybe it wasn’t accurate, but it was impactful.
Any Book by Dr. Seuss
Whether it’s Green Eggs and Ham, The Birthday Book, or The Grinch, each of us has some memory of Dr. Seuss as part of our childhood. The colorful illustrations and poetic life lessons were carried with us long after we shut their colored pages.
Charlotte’s Web
Following the friendship of a trusty piglet and his spider friend, this heartbreaking story had us all crying. At the same time, we were incredibly excited that Wilbur escaped what was sure to be his own tragedy. It’s a wonder more of us didn’t come out of this book vegan.
The Secret Garden
As we got a bit older, another chapter book that made a big splash with us kids was The Secret Garden. I don’t think a single one of us didn’t wish we could find our private garden to escape to when things got hard.
Harry Potter
For those of us that were kids more recently, we grew up with the Harry Potter series in many ways. The world of fantasy mixed with real-life lessons that have us committed to the house we sorted ourselves in well into adulthood.
Books are a world of imagination for young children. It’s no wonder that we all remember these childhood books with such vivid clarity. Did your favorite childhood book make the list?