Childhood Favorites

This post is inspired by a conversation that I had with my dad today concerning my favorite book as a child. This got me thinking about all of my favorite books as a child.

Over the past few years a few of my favorite children's books have been changed into movies. Starting with...

I loved this book when I was little. The pictures were amazing and the story was great. I was excited when I first found out about the movie. However, the movie kind of creeped me out. There animated characters seemed too real and the hobo on the train was kind of scary.

The graphics were impressive but it was weird. I also didn't like how much they added to make it a movie.

The next was...

Again, great book. One of my favorites. Again, I was excited for the movie but after the previews came out I got a little nervous. Probably one of the weirdest movies I have ever seen.

The boy and the wild things had some serious issues. Max doesn't even end up "where the wild things are" in the same way. I also felt like I was missing something the entire time.

The final book to movie...

The town of Chew and Swallow. I actually liked this movie. I thought it was cute. But it is still so different. I mean the book didn't have a clumsy inventor who made water into food. In the book the weather just is food. Also amazing to me, the color difference. Compare the book cover to the movie...

Ok now to the real point of this post. My all time favorite children's book. It will likely never be made into a movie but it was my favorite growing up and I will read it to my kids and to their kids.

For those of you who don't know this story it is about Ferdinand the bull. He loves to sit under a tree and smell the wildflowers. Through a series of events this peaceful bull finds himself the "star" of a bullfight. I don't know why I loved this book so much. The pictures have little to no color and I feel like color pictures is a big draw to little kids. I guess the story just got me.

My dad called me this evening said he thought of me because my mom had just purchased this book for a little boy. My dad read the book and had a little laugh remembering how much I loved it. Apparently it was in the movie Blind Side which makes me happy. If you have not read this book READ IT! It will take five minutes and it will make you happy. I need to find a copy to have for my kids. I'm almost positive my childhood copy is still on the bookshelf in my room at home.

Reading

I have always loved to read, and since I graduated and I am currently looking for employment I have more time to read. My current read is The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. (I have been wanting to read it since I saw the movie.)

I am almost done and I am kind of sad. I hate finishing a good book. I know that sounds weird but I do, because then it is over. I love when I find a book that I really enjoy and I can't wait to read. Every night before I go to bed, I read a "few" pages and I just get engrossed in it and end up reading for half an hour (or more.) This also sounds weird, but I feel like I appreciate things more when I'm reading a lot. It's like I try to think about things how an author would describe them. What can I say, I love reading! The question is what book do I read next? If any one has suggestions please let me know! Also, if you haven't read The Time Traveler's Wife I would recommend it. There is some strong language and sexual references but it is still great.

Shopping

For my internship I had to read the book Trust or Consequences by Al Golin. It was pretty interesting but not really the subject of this post. It is more one thing he said in the book. He said someone once called him a dinosaur because he said he didn't think that online shopping would ever completely replace in store shopping. I totally agree. There are the obvious reasons (or at least what I consider obvious reasons) that online will not cut it. First online shopping does not allow you to try on the clothes you purchase which is important for fit and look. There have been times I have tried on things that look a little weird on the hanger but look good on. Second, there is an added time, cost and hassle for shipping for online purchases. But for me these are not the main reason. Online shopping cannot replace the experience of shopping in a store. I love going into a store and seeing all the new clothes. I love walking between all the racks looking through all the clothes. Finding a cute new dress or shirt, trying it on and having it fit perfectly, taking it to the register and having them hand it back to you in a bag. It's so great to leave the store with the bag that shows it belongs to you. The best are the real paper bags with the cord handles. How could online shopping ever replace Christmas shopping at the mall with all the people and the decorations? Also, without in store shopping I would never get to go to the towel room at Bed, Beth and Beyond! I don't knew who the guy was who called Golin a dinosaur but he obviously is shopping with the wrong people. Hopefully this doesn't make me seem materialistic or anything. I don't always buy things when I shop, most of the time I just like to go for the experience