TOpicks: Throwback Tuesday – Favourites From Your Childhood
Most people have cherished childhood books which inspired their imaginations and nurtured their love of reading. The same can be said about our favourite movies and music from our early years – they inspired or shocked us in ways that still influence us today. These memories help us grow and shape who we are as adults. We're sharing some of our childhood favourites here, as well as on Twitter.
Join our chat on Tuesday, June 11, 12:00 – 1:00 pm by following #TOpicks on Twitter and share your favourite throwbacks from your childhood!
Here are some throwbacks from our #TOpicks team:
TPLBRNDN
Follow Brendon on Twitter @TPLBRNDN.
My dad loves Peanuts and had almost the entire collection in paperback. I remember reading them, laughing and enjoying the stories but not really understanding why Charlie Brown was sad most of the time. Most people who love Peanuts often have the same refrain, “now that I am older, I understand Peanuts”– I agree with them. What hasn’t changed is my favourite character is still the philosophical, intelligent, witty and calm Linus: the anti-Calvin from Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes. Mercilessly abused by his older sister Lucy, it made me cherish the fact that I was an only child.
My mother bought me the entire collection of Beatrix Potter books (in two amazing boxes with straps), and I read each from cover to cover multiple times. My favourite was The Tale of Two Bad Mice – a tale of the impact of vandalism, and the power of remorse. I found her illustrations enchanting, and because the animals were not really anthropomorphized in the traditional ways of Looney Tunes, I identified with them because some of them looked like my cat.
I have read all of Road Dahl’s books. I have never been a series reader, and I think Roald Dahl cemented that for me. Every work was a living thing which existed to bring you joy for that fleeting moment of time. Each of his books existed within its own wonderfully twisted universe, some populated with characters publishers would likely resist including in today’s climate. I got the sense that Roald Dahl was a mischievous schemer, a kindred “forever boy” rebel against adult authority, who delighted in his imaginative prose which was sometimes peppered with gross-out shock humour. Yet each book was surprisingly touching, with some deep philosophical heft that didn’t compromise on the endings.
RoboCop (1987)
I saw this R-rated movie when I was nine years old, and I have been a fan of director Paul Verhoeven ever since. What 9-year old boy doesn’t want to see a movie called “RoboCop”?! This was the ultimate cinematic forbidden fruit for my friends. RoboCop looked so cool on the poster, coming out of that police car looking like he was going to sort things out with relentlessly efficient cyborg policing. I rented it (that’s a whole other story), and the first scene with ED-209 made me rubberneck to make sure that my paren'ts didn’t see what I had just seen (what they would have seen is my childhood innocence being eviscerated by military weaponry). I had never been so enraptured by a piece of cinema, yet so simultaneously thrilled and horrified by so much filthy language, mature themes (which I didn’t understand) and wanton violence. I remember making a pact with myself at the end of the movie, “If that is what the adult world is like, I will make sure I never grow up. Now to watch it again.”
TPLWendy
Follow Wendy on Twitter @TPLWendy.
First: I wish that reading as an adult felt the same as reading as a kid did. I remember how immersed I got in The Wind in the Willows, Charlotte’s Web, the Chronicles of Narnia. These were classics that took advantage of their niche status as kid-lit to deliver outsized mystical/emotional payoffs that no author of grown-up books could get away with. And I was there for it, one hundred percent.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
We also had a large collection of Depression-era kids’ books, culled from my grandmother’s basement, that instilled in me an unshakable belief that thrift is the greatest of all virtues: The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes, As Told to Jennifer by Du Bose Heyward.
But if I had to choose one author who really affected me, I’d have to call out Daniel Pinkwater. His 70s and 80s kids’ books were all about funny-looking weirdo kids having wild adventures involving talking lizards, giant chickens, space bikers, anarchic outdoor saloons at the edge of town, all-night movie theatres and one small sentient popsicle that (somehow movingly!) embodied all the good in the universe. He made kids like me feel at home in the world.
Alan Mendelsohn, The Boy From Mars by Daniel Pinkwater
4 Fantastic Novels by Daniel Pinkwater
TPLChristie
Follow Christie on Twitter @TPLChristie.
Before I made the move to adult librarianship, I worked with children and youth in the library for the better part of 6 years. One of the things I loved most about being a children’s and youth-focused librarian, was reliving my favourite books, favourite movies, and favourite music from when I was a child and teenager. Granted, I still work in some capacity with teens and children, but there was something so gratifying about suggesting one of your favourite titles to a child looking for their next read, and having them seek you out weeks later to tell you how much they loved it! It really gets you in all the feels! 😊
Here are some of my favourite throwbacks from my childhood and youth:
Moira’s Birthday by Robert Munsch
I could not get enough of this classic Munsch picture book when I was a kid. I always found myself in a fit of giggles when I read it, and I will still read it aloud to classes that visit the branch. The way Moira wants to invite grades 1-6 to her birthday party and her paren'ts put their foot down that she can only invite 6 (that’s six: 1-2-3-4-5-6 thankyouverymuch!) and she really does try to keep the number down, but ends up somehow inviting all the kids from grades 1-6 aaaaaaand Kindergarten by the end of the day. The disasters that arise, including the bakery and the pizza parlour being unable to make the large order she asks for, and the mess that occurs in the house from having hundreds upon hundreds of schoolkids made for quite a hilarious read. But the way all of the kids ended up helping to clean, and Moira giving all of her presents away in return, definitely pulled at the heartstrings. Far-fetched? Perhaps. Heartwarming and hilarious? Absolutely.
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Four orphaned siblings come upon an abandoned boxcar in a forest and begin to create a home for themselves there, until they are discovered by their grandfather. Thus begins a series in which the Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny find themselves in all sorts of adventures and mysteries. A great series of junior sleuthing, and I read all nineteen, that were written by Gertrude Chandler Warner, more than once. The series was so popular that subsequent books were written by other authors. There are about 100 titles under The Boxcar Children heading, but I do prefer the originals, myself.
The Lion King – Disney (1994)
I saw this movie in theatres and I remember being in total awe. I laughed, I cried, I laughed some more! To this day, The Lion King remains my favourite animated Disney movie of all time. I used to watch this movie countless times on VHS; rewinding and singing along (completely offkey, mind) over and over again.
Will I be seeing the live-action remake in theatres this summer, you ask?
Oh yes, I will be there! Along with all the other adults who watched the animated movie in theatres as a kid; with my popcorn and my soda, and you bet that I will sing along – offkey and everything. Hakuna Matata! 😉
SpiceWorld – Spice Girls
I cannot quite believe I’m putting this here. Unlike my close friends, I was never a fan of pop music as a teenager. I was mostly into rock and grunge: Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Tragically Hip, Metallica etc.
However, as far as nostalgia goes, the rise of the boy and girl pop bands are way up there in my memory. I was on vacation in London, England last month, and my friend and I had taken an Afternoon Tea on a Bus tour, which was such a great time! In between pointing out famous landmarks, the music on the bus were all songs of famous British bands and singers: Beatles, Oasis…and then Spice Up Your Life came pounding through the speakers. And for two women who are not big pop fans, you better believe we sang along, remembering just about every lyric, animatedly. Talk about being thrown back into your teens! Sing it with me, you know you know it:
Slam it to the left, If you’re having a good time
Shake it to the right, If you know that you feel fine
Chicas to the front, Ha! Ha! Go ‘round
Slam it to the left, If you’re having a good time
Shake it to the right, If you know that you feel fine
Chicas to the front, Ha! Ha!
Hai, si, ja, hold tight! 😀
TPLMaggie
Follow Maggie on Twitter @TPLMaggie.
I recently discovered some of my childhood books stashed in my mother's basement. Beyond nurturing my love of reading, the books I read as a child really shaped who I am as a person.
My friends and I watched reruns of the TV show after school and even reenacted episodes. As you can see, I loved it so much that I even acquired some novelizations. The books and the show describe the adventures of Maxwell Smart, a bumbling spy who worked tirelessly to foil the plans of the evil (and equally inept) KAOS organization. Watching the show today can be uncomfortable as some of the episodes depend on offensive racial and ethic stereotypes but it has left me with a lifelong interest in international affairs, skepticism of political leadership and love of Mel Brooks who created the show with Buck Henry. Toronto Public Library unfortunately doesn't have the books in the system (must be an oversight) but you can watch the series on DVD.
Get Smart Television Show on DVD
I have fond memories of Double Spell by Janet Lunn. My copy shown here has the original title: Twin Spell. I loved this book about twin sisters who buy an antique doll. Soon they experience visions of the past and bad things happen – an elderly aunt falls down stairs, for example. It was the first book I remember reading that was set in Toronto. It was a thrill to read about the girls walking down Yonge Street and seeing myself – a girl who occasionally walked down Yonge Street. At one point I also had a creepy antique doll, too!
In Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer, a young girl at boarding school lives in two different eras on alternating days after she wakes up unexpectedly in 1918 swapping places with a girl named Clare. The girls communicate by leaving notes for each other. This book inspired the song Charlotte Sometimes by The Cure.
Speaking of boarding school fiction, I was a big fan of Enid Blyton's series St. Clare's and Malory Towers. I couldn't find the Malory Towers books in my personal collection–they're probably in a box I haven't unpacked yet. These books portray an idyllic England of long ago. Although originally published between 1941-1945, World War II never comes up. Everyone is probably too busy with French lessons, tennis and secret midnight feasts to worry about the outside world, I suppose. Speaking of those midnight feasts: I was bitterly disappointed the first time I tried ginger beer. I shouldn't have been surprised–other "treats" the girls enjoyed included sardines, anchovy paste and pickled onions. I would have hated boarding school.
The library doesn't have any of the St. Clare's books but has a few in the Malory Towers series. They are only available in the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books reference collection.
Fun fact: for years (years!) I believed the author's first name was Gnid, pronounced GA-nid because I misread her signature and wasn't smart enough to look at the title page.
Join the Conversation
Please get nostalgic with us at our TOpicks chat on Tuesday, June 11, 12:00 – 1:00 pm and follow #TOpicks on Twitter and share your favourite throwbacks from your childhood!
Not on Twitter? Share your favourites in the comments below.
17 thoughts on “TOpicks: Throwback Tuesday – Favourites From Your Childhood”
Maggie,
I always used to read her signature as “Guid” (said “Geed” with a hard “G”), and thought of her as Guid Blyton for many years. I also never thought to look at the title page as a child!
My favourite books were the On the Farm series (Children of Cherry-Tree Farm, The Children of Willow Farm and More Adventures at Willow Farm). I still own an omnibus edition from Scotland. As a child, I wanted my paren’ts to change my name to Penny!
This is great! Brought back a lot of memories. I also enjoyed Beatrix Potter and the Narnia books. A few more that I loved and read over and over were Enid Blyton’s Adventures of the Wishing-Chair, Danger on Panther Peak by Bill Wallace, Witch’s Sister (book 1 of a great series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and then I got into the Fear Street books!
Thanks for all the great childhood favourites! I remember enjoying any Robert McCloskey titles (“One Morning in Maine” and “Blueberries for Sal” in particular), and I recall my father reading to me, with great gusto, “The Duchess Bakes a Cake.” What could be better than a “lovely light luscious delectable cake!”
I’m somewhat surprised that Anne of Green Gables didn’t make this list. I also loved reading The Baby Sitter’s Club books.
I remember going to the library with my sister and two brothers (who had to bring their cards) so we could take out enough books to last a week: there was a 10-book maximum for kids! How cruel. We could only go on Saturdays, and 10 books wasn’t nearly enough. When I was 11, I decided to read every book in the Fiction section. I only made it to the Ts, though.
I remember loving: Ursula K. LeGuin (literally anything); Janet Lunn (the root cellar, double spell, lavender-green magic); The Children of Green Knowe by LM Boston; E. Nesbit (The five children and It, Phoenix and the Carpet, the Enchanted castle. all those, not the treasure-seekers so much); Edward Eager (so funny); Phillipa Pearce (Tom’s Midnight Garden, A dog so small); Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons series (esp. Ruth, er..no, Nancy); Walter Farleigh; Oh, The Diamond in the Window!!!! by Jane Langton, (a banned book available only in the library) and Spiderweb for two. Andre Norton! Sir Thomas Malory. TH White! Lang’s colourful fairy books. George MacDonald’s On the back of the north wind and his goblin books. Alan Garner’s Weirdstone of Brisengamen STILL makes me hyperventilate! also, his Owl Service. The Horse and His Boy by CS Lewis was my back-door into the Wardrobe. Who didn’t fall in love with Dickon in the Secret Garden? Doctor Dolittle. Fiver in Watership Down. The Borrowers!
Oh, man. I’d better stop. I have an excess of joy.
Thank you.
My all time childhood favourite was Maggie Muggins! TPL has copies in the Osborne collection. The CBC radio and television series ran from 1947 to 1962, with fabulous performers and voices. The book series by Mary Grannan was very close to my heart; my Aunt P would buy them for my birthday!
I love that The Baby Sitter’s Club are being re-released as graphic novels. It’s so nice that they’re going to find a new audience.
If you’re interested in checking them out, here’s the catalogue link:
https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/search.jsp?Erp=25&N=4289148009+37874&view=grid
Doctor Seuss: Marvin K. Mooney, will you please go now! and To Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street were faves. Also, CS Lewis and Tolkien: a memory that stands out is my mom reading all three books of Lord of the Rings (plus the Hobbit!) aloud to us. We’d sit on the “balcony” (really the gravelly rooftop of the garage) on warm summer evenings listening to her read and being drawn into those worlds. And LM Montgomery: Anne of Green Gables was mentioned in the comments above, but I was definitely an Emily of New Moon girl!
Paddle to the Sea, any by Ernest Thompson Seton, any by Thornton Burgess.
Great list! I loved another one of Janet Lunn’s – “The Hollow Tree”.
One of my favourites I read around the age of 11 was a chapter book called “Blueberries and Whipped Cream” by Sylvia McNicoll.
Oh man, now I’ve got Spice Girls stuck in my head! Thanks TPLChristie! 😉
I also find myself singing to Backstreet Boys, when it comes on the radio. I wonder if older generations thought the same way about The Beatles and The Rolling Stones…
My mom used to read me these! I loved them, too. “I wonder WHAT will happen tomorrow?”
Right?!! So many memories!! Did you encounter John Bellairs (The House with the Clock in its Walls, etc.)? And Susan B. Cooper? I feel like those would also fit on this list. Reading as a kid was the best.
I feel like “Anne vs. Emily” could be a personality test question on the Myers-Briggs or something.
Haha you are more than welcome, Karen! It was stuck in my head for days after that bus tour, and I genuinely believe in ‘sharing is caring’ 😁
Peanuts was one of the very few things I read as a little kid that portrayed children and childhood in a manner that reflected the highs *and* lows of being that age. I’ve got a Charlie Brown tattoo, because he was definitely the character I related to the most, and I’m still a fan to this day (although I think it peaked in the ’50s and early ’60s).
Also, Robocop rules. It and Die Hard are probably the best two Hollywood action movies of the ’80s. There’s a director’s cut with even *more* over-the-top violence (especially the ED-209 scene at the beginning).
Love Susan B. Cooper! Over sea, under stone and the whole series it kicks off.