Book Run

Got out this morning and got Sam some books. Our haul?

– Magic Tree House, books 7-12 (they’re like the potato chips of kid books; finish one in a couple of bedtime reading sessions and jump right into the next)
– Noodle, from the “Puppy Place” series (looks like books about lost dogs and kids who track down their owners)
– The Case of the Fleeing Fang from the “Nate the Great and Me” series
– Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds
– Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (which Sam said they read in kindergarten, but which he really, really wanted to get, anyway)
– The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet from “The Secrets of Droon” series
– Your Very Own Robot Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book
– Tales of the Catwings
– A Song for Aunt Polly from “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” series
– Dudes, the School is Haunted!, from R. L. Stine’s “Rotten School” series
– The Great Smelling Bee, also from the “Rotten School” series
– Go, Pack, Go! (Sigh. )

Of course, Gabe couldn’t be left out entirely, so he selected Leo, the Late Bloomer for himself. All things old are new again, aren’t they? I remember listening to that one on my little record player when I was a little girl, thumbing along in my own copy, which is probably still on my bookshelf back in Maryland.

Lots of memories in this selection of books, really. Cam Jansen was a friend of mine once, too, and I have recollections of spending a few afternoons with Nate the Great. I may not have read that particular Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book, but since it was originally written in 1982, I wouldn’t bet that Eric, who read more of the series than I did, hasn’t. And Tom Sawyer? I thought I’d have to wait a few more years to share him with my kids, so it’s nice to see him branching out a bit.

Now, to wait for Sam to come back inside from playing with the herd of neighbor kids, so we can actually crack into this pile of goodness!