What were your favorite OBSCURE(?) children's books?

[Sigmagirl]

Originally Posted by Tara57

The All-Of-A-Kind Family books, by Sydney Taylor, about a family of five girls and one boy growing up in New York City before and during World War I. The family was Jewish. Preparations and celebrations of the Sabbath and holidays were described in detail.

and

The Moffat family books by Eleanor Estes, about a large family growing up in Connecticut during World War II.

Oh, yes, I've read all of those. I don't think they quite qualify as obscure; especially the Moffat books, as the third book in the series, Rufus M., won a Newbery. I loved the Moffat Museum, the Oldest Inhabitant, and when they tried to buy Mama a "broceted" bag? Her pronunciation of "brocade."

[Deegeea]

Many of the books mentioned in this thread were also some of my favorites, too. One of the few that came to mind that wasn't mentioned was "Odyssey from River Bend" by Tom McGowen, my absolute favorite book in 2nd-3rd grade.

Another favorite not mentioned is Mind Call by Wilanne Belden. And last of the not-mentioned that came to mind first as obscure favorites, Confessions of a Toe Hanger by Christie Harris.

Also Norma Johnston, whose Keeping Days series was one of my favorites as a middle schooler. And one of my favorite obscure kids SF writers, Jean E. Karl.

Thanks for mentioning the wonderful books and series by Estes, Eager, Snyder, Pinkwater, Corbett, Raskin, Sleator, Taylor, and Julie Andrews - all childhood favorites of mine! And the one about the twins at camp, too; when I read it, the title was "Lisalottie" - all one word (must have been changed many times).

[Sailboat]

I also recall being fond of The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet, although I recognize now that it wasn't very sophisticated. Maybe I liked it more because I found it on my own and nobody I knew had read it.

[Neo-Calredic]

Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep
The Headless Horseman Rides Tonight: More Poems to Trouble Your Sleep

Both by Jack Prelutsky, with awesome illustrations by Arnold Lobel. They really did trouble my sleep, too.

[ScareyFaerie]

I am late to this thread so don't know if this has been posted before, but since I'm in the UK I somehow doubt it! Plop, the Owl who was afraid of the dark - it is one of my favourite childhood memories as far as books are concerned, and has just come around as a stage play!

[MacSpon]

Originally Posted by Sailboat

I also recall being fond of The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet, although I recognize now that it wasn't very sophisticated. Maybe I liked it more because I found it on my own and nobody I knew had read it.

I liked Wonderful Flight when I was a kid ... but I liked the sequels better. At least, two of them, because I never did find all five books. I liked Stowaway to the Mushroom Planet, I could never find the next two (Mr Bass's Planetoid and A Mystery for Mr Bass) but I loved Time and Mr Bass.

Sure wish I could find those books again (at a sane price).

[Luvablois]

Thank all of you for the wonderful, wonderful memories. I registered just now primarily so that I could thank you, but would like to throw in a couple of books, as well.

The "Princess" books by George MacDonald - "The Princess and the Goblin" and "The Princess and Curdie."

Another Scholastic book (how many of us they unknowingly brought together in their universes....) - "The Funny Guy" by Grace Allen Hogarth, an odd little book about a "different" young girl with whom I definitely identified on a number of levels, as I always felt a bit like an outcast, myself.

I always enjoyed reading the Encyclopedia Brown books, was a voracious reader of Nancy Drew (nonobscure but many happy hours) from the first one in the second grade.

Particular loves that have been previously named are Shadow Castle, Black and Blue Magic (I felt like I was the only one who had ever read that!), and OH, would I love to get my hands on a copy of Mischief in Fez (without having to sell my grandchild to do it!!)! So very many I can't remember titles or even the plots in some cases, as I trained myself early to "forget" my favorite books so that I could read them again and again....

But the vivid imaginations of these authors built worlds into which we could escape; and contributed greatly - as I am certain they did for each of the wonderful people in this thread - to shaping the person I became.

Thanks again for the walk through my childhood. I wish much Love and Blessings for each of you as we take this trek together; because one way and another, it is very obvious we are all kindred spirits.

[Snowboarder Bo]

Welcome to the Dope, Luvablois! Glad to have you with us!

[Zuzu's Petals]

This thread is forcing me to de-lurk! I just went and plucked The Hero From Otherwhere off the shelf for a happy day's reading.

No one's mentioned the Melendy quartet yet, by Elizabeth Enright: The Saturdays, The Four-Story Mistake, And Then There Were Five and Spiderweb for Two. I LOVED the Melendys, and very very very muchly wanted them to adopt me.

And what about Lloyd Alexander? His Prydain Chronicles might be too mainstream for this thread (The Book of Three et al) - but does anyone remember The Wonderful Misadventures of Sebastian?

Or Dominic, by William Steig? Or Abel's Island?

And one of my absolute faves: The Gammage Cup, by Carol Kendall.

[GuanoLad]

Originally Posted by MacSpon

I liked Stowaway to the Mushroom Planet

Wow! That was my brother's favourite book when he was a kid! It was his gateway to his ongoing love of Science Fiction. I had totally forgotten all about it! (I never read it myself, I'm more of a Fantasy fan) The book that I loved as a kid was called The Shark In Charlie's Window.

[Mona Lisa Simpson]

Originally Posted by 3acresandatruck

The Golden Book Encyclopedias, as seen in this eBay auction. If I did eBay, I'd buy this set - ours were severely worn. My Mom bought them, one each week, at our local Kroger grocery store when I was about 5. It was the first thing to make my parents think I was 'a scary-wierd kid', when they realized I was reading the volumes cover-to-cover, in sequence. They never tried to discourage me, though...when I finished the set, they bought the Golden Home and High School Encyclopedias; by the time I was in 8th grade, they bought the Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia. I know they considered buying Encyclopedia Britannica (I remember lusting over the sample volume when the salesman was at our house), but it was just too expensive for them.

I was also quite fond of spending hours sprawled on the living room floor, reading our Random House Unabridged Dictionary. You couldn't hold it in your lap; it was so huge that it would cut off the circulation in your legs and you'd fall over when you tried to stand up.

Both of these, to my uttler delight and social doom

[Mona Lisa Simpson]

Couldnt finish (or correct the spelling in my last post) but the other book was Reader's digest Great World Atlas. Huge oversized book I would open to various pages and pour over for hours. The solar system, the rocks and minerals, the death of the sun, which distressed me for years... I must have been the oddest 8 year old nihilist being upset then resigned to the eventual death of the sun.

[Dendarii Dame]

I also enjoyed The Liberation of Clementine Tipton (about a girl growing up in 1870's Philadelphia) and One Hundred and Eight Bells (about a girl growing up in 1950's Tokyo), both by Jane Flory.

[Sailboat]

I don't know is this is too mainstream for this thread, but I liked Jane Langton's books, The Swing in the Summerhouse and The Diamond in the Window.

I just went to look up the author's name, and was startled to see there are six more books in the series, of which I was completely unaware!

It appears I have some catching up to do.