When I was in fourth grade, I just devoured books. I loved Roald Dahl classics like The BFG, Matilda, and James and the Giant Peach. Tied for favorite with The BFG was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There was a specific copy at my elementary school’s library that I would take out over and over again. I knew it was the same one because someone had sprayed perfume on it at some point. If I could smell that particular perfume today, I’m certain I could taste that delicious chocolate with Charlie again. Along with Roald Dahl, I loved Beverly Cleary (all the Ramona books!) and Judy Blume (all books Fudge!) I owned quite a few books from the Goosebumps series and who didn’t love The Boxcar Children? I just had to pull the retro book covers from Google for nostalgia.
I’m watching my daughters obsess over Raina Telgemeier graphic novels (which I love to read when they’re done! She grew up around the same time I did, so it felt like it could’ve been my childhood), anything by W. Bruce Cameron (even the novels meant for the older crowd), and so many non-fiction books about dogs that I couldn’t keep track if I tried. I have read aloud all seven Harry Potter books and we’re all obsessed. My son is 6 and just starting out with the whole reading thing. I can’t even guess what he will love the most.
