My initial list was forty-two. I had to devise a system to order them, to determine which was the most important. Important? To whom?
To me. These are my PERSONAL favorites (with reasoning duly noted):
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScaVVJp1AFI/AAAAAAAADJQ/nLi7ckcMvfI/s320/where-the-wild-things.jpg)
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScZxGwTj75I/AAAAAAAADIY/GlH_Zg1L-4Y/s200/Photo+2.jpg)
Favorite passage: “and it was still hot.”
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScaYvXwl1aI/AAAAAAAADKY/ufziqRKH4HI/s200/olivia.jpg)
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScZxHNlrpQI/AAAAAAAADIg/5tLOsEutwk4/s200/Photo+3.jpg)
Favorite passage: “ When they’ve finished reading, Olivia’s mother gives her a kiss and says, 'You know, you really wear me out. But I love you anyway.' And Olivia gives her a kiss back and says, 'I love you anyway too.'”
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScaWK5eXyOI/AAAAAAAADJg/uirAy5msFsM/s200/possum._SL500_AA240_.jpg)
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScZxGVeCESI/AAAAAAAADIQ/03M-lNPvziw/s200/Photo+17.jpg)
Great rhyming tale about a family from my neck of the woods. I LOVE to read this book aloud with my Hoosier twang in full glory.
Favorite passage: “ And I was just a sittin’
And a lookin’ out the winder
When I saw what I saw
Scoot up the old oak tree.”
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScaWwzH30DI/AAAAAAAADJo/X-JIIyrWo28/s200/e-.L.jpg)
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScZxH54IauI/AAAAAAAADIo/XFF-UzCe3Gg/s200/Photo+7.jpg)
Why is this one is out of print!?! It's soooo timely, cute and heartwarming. I just can’t understand. An amazing, witty story of acceptance and friendship.
Favorite Passage: ”They talked for hours over tea and told each other things they had never told anyone.”
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScaXBK4pRdI/AAAAAAAADJw/d83_32Mpb54/s200/dogzilla.jpg)
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScZxYT9y9EI/AAAAAAAADIw/qc1GPEjCwdA/s200/Photo+9.jpg)
Favorite Passage: “The Big Cheese tried to catch up to the hot dog with all the relish he could muster.”
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScaXOpqPGEI/AAAAAAAADJ4/cv3LkO_VY1Q/s200/Toot_and_Puddle_Christmas.jpg)
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScZxY05AdjI/AAAAAAAADI4/hiZzafdNROc/s200/Photo+11.jpg)
Favorite Passage: “ Toot told his friend of his adventure and how he finally got back to Woodcock Pocket. ‘I loved the sleigh ride,’ he said. ‘ It felt like we were flying.’ ‘I wonder who the driver was,’ said Puddle.”
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScaXlxI4NAI/AAAAAAAADKA/ufDP-Q2udp0/s320/escapeofmarvin.gif)
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScZxZVialcI/AAAAAAAADJA/eL2YzF8vYOw/s200/Photo+14.jpg)
Favorite passage: “Feeling rather hungry, Marvin stopped for a bite. ‘Ah, the Jungle Fruit Platter,’ said the waiter. ‘An excellent choice!’”
My final three books will not feature personal photos because I no longer own them. My children have taken them, along with my heart, into adulthood. I am choosing them purely for personal reasons; only remember them as emotion and not as writing or illustration.
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScaX3RewiSI/AAAAAAAADKI/FpthXvZUqaM/s320/mm.jpg)
For my oldest son (age 27). He loved all the Little Critter books and records (yes, little 45s were included with the books in the 80's & I can still sing the accompanying song!) I chose this particular one because as Grandma & Critter sit on their beach towel, a crab runs up and clicks his claws. I can still picture my son's surprise-filled toddler face every single time that crab appeared.
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScaYMwhYERI/AAAAAAAADKQ/f8kR3bulSuw/s320/stinky_cheese.jpg)
For my daughter (age 25). She loved this story for its play on fairy tales and rollicking silliness. She liked being ‘in’ on the joke and was never a happily-ever-after sort of gal. She read it into teen-dom and, in fact, may still be reading it while attending veterinary med. school.
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/ScabtzCoKpI/AAAAAAAADKg/c3VOGp3ZXMU/s400/MoonMouse.png)
As I planned this post I fell in love all over again. Thank you, Ms. Bird, for this great idea!
____________________________________________________________
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Xsm-i52HA8U/Sm8J_djgO-I/AAAAAAAAEI4/0Vu3BUN1EHs/s200/max-%26-thing-button.jpg)