Which Book are You Currently Reading From the Top 100 List?

[Hufsa]

I'm glad you enjoyed Number the Stars! It is also one of my favorites :)

[Hufsa]

Based on everyone's recommendations, I decided to read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. I ended up reading the whole thing today - it is short, but very powerful. Like many others have said, this book is very emotional. I had tears in my eyes towards the end! I researched Sadako knowing that this book was based on a true story. I found out that there is a monument of Sadako in Japan, that remembers her along with all the other children who died due to the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Anyone interested should check it out on Google :)

[[deleted user]]

I Love to Read! wrote: "Based on everyone's recommendations, I decided to read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. I ended up reading the whole thing today - it is short, but very powerful. Like many others have said, t..."

Books based on true stories always affect me more.

[[deleted user]]

I just finished reading Winnie-the-Pooh. I thought it was a lovely story. I already liked Pooh from watching him on TV with my children but now that I have read the book I like him even more.

[Terris]

Julie wrote: "I just finished reading Winnie-the-Pooh. I thought it was a lovely story. I already liked Pooh from watching him on TV with my children but now that I have read the book I like him even more."

I loved Winnie-the-Pooh, and I was probably 25 when I first read it! It's one thing to see movies about it, etc., but it's another thing completely to read A.A. Milne's words. Again - loved it!

[Terris]

I just finished Anne of the Island Wonderful book! -- about the ongoing saga of Anne, her life, and her loves. This is book #3, and I will try to get to Book #4 "Anne's House of Dreams" as soon as possible!

[[deleted user]]

I've just started reading "Number the Stars". This is interesting for me because my Pop's (grandfather) family comes from Denmark. I also went to Copenhagen on holiday about 10 years ago.

[Terris]

Just started The Borrowers by Mary Norton. Really cute so far :)

[Jason]

I used to love those books when I was little.

[Terris]

Jason wrote: "I used to love those books when I was little."

I hadn't realized that is was a series until you mentioned it. I looked them up -- there are a ton of these books! How fun for kids!

[Terris]

The Borrowers by Mary Norton, 4****s
This is a fun children's book (on the 100 Top Children's Books list) about little people who live under the floorboards of the house. And they don't "steal" from the home owners, they just "borrow." Therefore, they are "The Borrowers." But their biggest fear is to be "seen" by one of the home owners who might bring a cat in to catch them! So this is part of the plot of this book which is the first in a series of five, written for children ages 7-10. Very cute, and would be fun to read to children in a classroom or to your own child/grandchild!

[Hufsa]

Terris wrote: "The Borrowers by Mary Norton, 4****s
This is a fun children's book (on the 100 Top Children's Books list) about little people who live under the floor..."

I'm glad you enjoyed it Terris! The Borrowers kind of remind me of the Doll People Series (great Children's Books, but not on the Top 100 List).

[Terris]

I Love to Read! wrote: "Terris wrote: "The Borrowers by Mary Norton, 4****s
This is a fun children's book (on the 100 Top Children's Books list) about little people who live ..."

Sounds cute! I'll look into it. Thanks :)

[Jason]

I think we're going to read The Invention of Hugo Cabret next. It's an interesting format. Most of the book is illustrations with some writing mixed in. My daughter loves the illustrations.

[Hufsa]

I have read the Inventions of Hugo Cabret! It is a good book - and yes, the illustrations are great! I read the book a very long time ago, but I do remember that while I was reading the book, paying attention to details in the illustrations was very important.

[Terris]

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, 4****s
Such a cute little book of Sara Crewe, whose father, stationed in India, sends her to boarding school in England. When she starts there she has lots of income which satisfies the insecure, jealous matron of the school. However, when things go downhill for Sara's father and his fortune, Sara's daily life takes a landslide downward. However, she is a very mature child and tries to act like she thinks a princess would act, with a fortune or without. And therein lays the story of her reaction to her situation and her encouragement of others. There is also an ongoing search for a mystery child which culminates at the end of the book. I enjoyed this children's book very much, and think it would be a wonderful book to read along with a child and discuss how he/she might react in a similar situation. I highly recommend this book :)

[[deleted user]]

A Little Princess sounds good. I plan on reading it sometime next year.

[[deleted user]]

I finished reading Number the Stars. I really enjoyed the story, the characters and reading about some places I had visited in Denmark. I found it interesting learning about what it was like in Denmark during WW2 and how the Jews were treated. Overall I gave it four stars.

[Terris]

Julie wrote: "I finished reading Number the Stars. I really enjoyed the story, the characters and reading about some places I had visited in Denmark. I found it interesting learning about what it was like in Den..."

I also read this recently and enjoyed it. It was a little different than some of the other WWII books that I've read. I also gave it 4 stars!
Now, I want to read more Lois Lowry :)

[Hufsa]

Terris - have you read The Giver? I know that one is by Lois Lowry :)

[Terris]

I Love to Read! wrote: "Terris - have you read The Giver? I know that one is by Lois Lowry :)"

I have read The Giver, Gossamer, and Number the Stars. On my list are: Gathering Blue (#1), Messenger (#2), and Son (#3), which I think is a series, in that order. Have you read any of those?

[Hufsa]

No, I haven't actually. As you were saying, those three books are all part of The Giver quartet. I read The Giver a while back, but I never read past that first book.

[Terris]

I Love to Read! wrote: "No, I haven't actually. As you were saying, those three books are all part of The Giver quartet. I read The Giver a while back, but I never read past that first book."

Same here. I haven't been sure that I wanted to read past "The Giver." But sometimes when I like the first book of the series, it's hard not to go ahead and read the rest! I'll let you know what I think :)

[Jennifer]

My son really enjoyed The Giver and Gathering Blue. He liked Messenger less and Son, really not at all. He read them as a young teen. I loved the 1st two but have never gotten around to reading the other two but I would love to. I am reading and enjoying The Book Of Ember now.

[[deleted user]]

I have just started reading "Mary Poppins". I'm not sure if I saw the movie as a child so it will be nice to read the book and then one day watch the movie with my children.

[Terris]

Julie wrote: "I have just started reading "Mary Poppins". I'm not sure if I saw the movie as a child so it will be nice to read the book and then one day watch the movie with my children."

Yes, it's a good one! And I did see the movie! I remember my parents taking me and my two brothers to the drive-in in our pajamas and taking our own popcorn in a brown paper bag! I was probably about 6 years old and my brothers were 5 & 3. It was so much fun! And a really nice memory :)
Enjoy the book!

[Jason]

We just finished The Invention of Hugo Cabret. It was good but a little longer to read than I thought it would be.

[Jason]

My daughter wanted to start Inside Out & Back Again last night. It's written in the same prose style as The Crossover. It's about a 10 yr old (??) girl that leaves Vietnam when Saigon falls and heads to Alabama. In the part we've read so far, it's talking about the girl's family and some of their customs in Vietnam.

I was trying to get my daughter to finish up a couple of books that we've started and haven't finished, like The Secret Garden and The Hobbit. My daughter says she doesn't like it but I love that book. I thought The Secret Garden was really interesting so far too. Maybe I'll finish both of those on my own.

[Terris]

I'm reading Esperanza Rising and enjoying it. Only about 1/3 of the way through, but starting to get the gist of why this would be an important book for children to read.

[Jason]

I like how there are quite few books on the list that cover different customs and countries.

[Terris]

Yes, I enjoy that too. I feel like this book is making some powerful statements. Quite apropos for today.

[[deleted user]]

I finished reading Mary Poppins. I haven't watched the movie (or if I did I can't remember it at all) so the Disney version of Mary Poppins hasn't affected my opinion of the book. I gave the book 2 stars as I didn't like the character of Mary Poppins. There was some ok magical things in the book but then there was also some weird and bizarre things like the chapter that features gingerbread. Thankfully I liked the brother and sister characters of Michael and Jane otherwise I may not have finished this book.

[Terris]

Julie wrote: "I finished reading Mary Poppins. I haven't watched the movie (or if I did I can't remember it at all) so the Disney version of Mary Poppins hasn't affected my opinion of the book. I gave the book 2..."

Ooh, sorry you didn't like it. I liked it but I had already seen the movie. But if I remember correctly, she wasn't always really nice in the book, was she?

[[deleted user]]

Terris wrote: "Julie wrote: "I finished reading Mary Poppins. I haven't watched the movie (or if I did I can't remember it at all) so the Disney version of Mary Poppins hasn't affected my opinion of the book. I g..."

She was hardly ever nice to Jane and Michael and she was so vain.

[Hufsa]

Julie wrote: "Terris wrote: "Julie wrote: "I finished reading Mary Poppins. I haven't watched the movie (or if I did I can't remember it at all) so the Disney version of Mary Poppins hasn't affected my opinion o..."

That is very interesting...from what I have heard, so many people love Mary Poppins. Do you think it is the movie that people like??

[Terris]

I Love to Read! wrote: "Julie wrote: "Terris wrote: "Julie wrote: "I finished reading Mary Poppins. I haven't watched the movie (or if I did I can't remember it at all) so the Disney version of Mary Poppins hasn't affecte..."

Yes! I really think that Walt Disney souped up Mary Poppins. And Dick VanDyke and Julie Andrews took it over from there. Because as Julie was mentioning, the book Mary Poppins is not nearly as nice and friendly as the movie Mary Poppins.
I personally didn't hate the book though, it was just different.

[slauderdale]

Yes! I really think that Walt Disney souped up Mary Poppins. And Dick VanDyke and Julie Andrews took it over from there. Because as Julie was mentioning, the book Mary Poppins is not nearly as nice and friendly as the movie Mary Poppins.
I personally didn't hate the book though, it was just different.

I've read the book a couple times, whereas I'm not sure I ever saw the movie start to finish more than once (as a kid. Though I did see the musical recently, which was fun.) I'm fond of the book, but I feel as if the Mary Poppins in the movie and musical adaptations might as well be a different character. In the book I always found her quite waspish - I never wanted her for *my* nanny - but enjoyed the constant weirdness. Snakes and edible fingers and magic compasses...oh my!

[[deleted user]]

slauderdale wrote: "I never wanted her for *my* nanny - but enjoyed the constant weirdness. Snakes and edible fingers and magic compasses..."

It was definitely weird. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[Jason]

We just finished Inside Out & Back Again. It was really good. The entire book is written in prose. It's about a 10 yr old girl who has to escape Vietnam during the war and comes to America. It was really relevant for me because I work with a lot of Vietnamese and Cambodians that had to leave their countries because of war. My daughter said she liked it too. I'm not sure what we'll start next.

[[deleted user]]

Jason wrote: "We just finished Inside Out & Back Again. It was really good. The entire book is written in prose. It's about a 10 yr old girl who has to escape Vietnam during the war and comes to A..."

That's good to know. I saw last year that my library had this and I thought after the made-up weirdness of "Mary Poppins" I wanted to read a book that was historical fiction or based on a true story.

[Terris]

I just finished Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Barrie, 4****s
This is the original Peter Pan story written in 1911. It is so funny, and I really enjoyed it! After seeing all the movies and stories over the years, it was interesting to read the original author's words. I would recommend this one!

[[deleted user]]

Terris wrote: "I just finished Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Barrie, 4****s
This is the original Peter Pan story written in 1911. It is so funny, and I really en..."

I didn't know that it was funny. I've never read the book and only ever seen the Disney version of the movie.

[Terris]

Julie wrote: "Terris wrote: "I just finished Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Barrie, 4****s
This is the original Peter Pan story written in 1911. It is so funny, ..."
Yes, it's cute. But I got info today from another Goodreads reader that told me that the original Peter Pan story is from 1902 called "The Little White Bird", so I've ordered that from my library. Have you ever heard of that? I certainly had not. I'll let you know what I think?

[[deleted user]]

Terris wrote: "Julie wrote: "Terris wrote: "I just finished Peter Pan and Wendy by J.M. Barrie, 4****s
This is the original Peter Pan story written in 1911. It..."

No, I hadn't heard of that. It will be interesting to hear from you, how the two books compare.

[Jason]

We just finished The Little Prince. It was a quick read but I think most of the message might have been lost on my daughter. We'll probably finish up Harry Potter next. ?

[Hufsa]

I am glad that all of you are continuing to read books off the Top 100 list. I took a little break from children's books the last few months, but now I am back to reading them! I just picked up The Crossover from my library and I hope to start reading it soon. It seems short, so I should be able to finish it pretty fast.

[Terris]

I Love to Read! wrote: "I am glad that all of you are continuing to read books off the Top 100 list. I took a little break from children's books the last few months, but now I am back to reading them! I just picked up The..."

Let me know what you think of it -- I just recently added it to my TBR list!

[Hufsa]

Terris: Sure :)

Everyone: I was looking back at when this conversation first started and how Jason was talking about Coraline the book vs. Coraline the movie, and how I said I watched the movie when it first came out. That reminded me that I re-watched the movie just over a month ago, and actually enjoyed it this time :) The animation was really good and I liked the plot in general. This makes me really excited to read the book so I can compare the two and see which one I like better!

[Jason]

I Love to Read! wrote: "I am glad that all of you are continuing to read books off the Top 100 list. I took a little break from children's books the last few months, but now I am back to reading them! I just picked up The..."

I really liked The Crossover. It was a good story and it was fun to read. I'd like to read his new book too. I can't remember the name right now but it's about soccer.

[[deleted user]]

I have started reading "Inside Out and Back Again". I think this might be the first book I have read in verse for a long time (or ever?). It definitely makes it faster to read.