More on Syd Hoff...

Soon after my post on the first book I ever read, Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff, I received this e-mail from Carol Edmonston, Syd Hoff's niece:

"I thought you might like to know I have created the "official website" dedicated to preserving and honoring the legacy of my late uncle, Syd Hoff, one of the most beloved children's authors and cartoonists. www.SydHoff.org is filled with articles, photos, letters, book list and much more. The site is still being created so do check back from time to time. Let me know if you ever find a copy of "Muscles and Brains" (by Syd). That was one of my favorite books to read as a kid. Unfortunately, its long out of print.

Warmly,

Carol Edmonston

PO Box 5023

Fullerton, CA 92838 USA

(714) 870-5695 ph/fax"

I didn't realize Hoff had written so many books! The only ones I remember from my childhood are Danny & the Dinosaur and Sammy the Seal; more recently I've read many more of them, and they are all delightful! There's a full bibliography on the website -- and some are out of print. Many are still being published as part of the "I Can Read" series.

What was the First Book You Ever Read?

The first book I remember reading, and thinking to myself, "hey, I am reading!" was Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff. I even remember where I was -- in our sun-filled playroom, sitting in my rocking chair. I was 4 -- the first "generation" of kids to watch Sesame Street and I'm certain that was the main reason I was the only kid in my kindergarten class who could read! The other main reason was my mother, who had my sister and I enrolled in every book club -- the I Can Read Club, the Dr. Seuss Beginning Books Book Club, the Parents' Magazine Press Book Club -- and we could always choose books from the Scholastic catalog.

Danny and the Dinosaur, still in print, was part of the I Can Read Book Club. 40 years later, "I Can Read" is still going strong, still published in hard cover and paperback, and divided into "Levels" depending on a child's reading ability. Many publishers have similar "learning to read" series, modeled on I Can Read.

What is the first book you remember reading on your own?

Tell us Your Favorite Children's Books!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by during our Open House on Wednesday! And congratulations to Anna Perrone, winner of the Guessing Game Contest -- there were 219 buttons in the jar, hers was the closest guess with 202!

We mixed and mingled and shared ideas about our favorite children's books. Here are the lists submitted by folks who stopped by the Open House. Feel free to add your own 10 favorites! These are by no means "top tens" -- we all agreed it would be nearly impossible to really put them in any sort of order, but obviously there are some we love more than others.

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1. The Witches
2. The Twits
3. My Side of the Mountain
4. Little House on the Prairie (all of them!)
5. The Hatchet
6. Dogsong
7. Charlie & the Chocolate Factory
8. Charlie & the Great Glass Elevator
9. Amelia Bedelia
10. “Cartooning” -- an illustration book by someone named Bill something…can’t remember

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1. Old Hat New Hat
2. Charlotte’s Web
3. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
4. Pop Up Moby Dick
5. Where the Wild Things Are
6. Tuesday
7. Amelia Bedelia
8. Caps for Sale
9. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Day
10. Love You Forever
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1. Chicken’s Aren’t the Only Ones
2. Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing
3. The Celery Stalks at Midnight
4. Do Something Day
5. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
6. Through the Looking Glass
7. Freckle Juice
8. Where the Sidewalk Ends
9. A Light in the Attic
10. Lyle Lyle Crocodile

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1. Frances Books by Russell and Lillian Hoban
2. Very Hungry Caterpillar
3. The Swamp Angel
4. Ramona Books
5. Clifford Books
6. The Little Fur Family
7. Pippi Longstocking
8. The Wrinkle in Time series
9. Stuart Little
10. Charlotte’s Web

Open House March 4th 6 - 9 p.m.

Join us on Wednesday evening -- we'll be open 6 - 9 as part of the Wallingford Art Walk, the first Wednesday of every month!

Enjoy refreshments, enter a raffle, and save 25% on everything in the store!