A Drift of Quills: The Doors to Whimsy

What doors to whimsy opened for A Drift of Quills when we were small? Today we delve into childhood book stacks. What book did we read again and again when we were youngsters? Is it still around today? (Boy, does that make us sound old…!)

I was born into family of bibliophiles. Probably the best thing that ever happened to me. No matter where I lived (like way out in the sticks), I always had places to go, people to see, and things to do. I found them first in the family bookshelves. The doors to whimsy surrounded me, and I was not afraid to open them and explore! My mother had these amazing old encyclopedias (several sets) that always fascinated me. I probably read those most often. And the National Geographic magazines. (Mom had some whose covers predated photos.) I was a weird child. You can imagine what I am like now…

What Book(s) Did I Read?

Along with those decidedly non-fiction tomes, I loved adventures! The Marguerite Henry horse books, E.B. White’s wonderful children’s books, the Ralph Mouse series by Beverly Cleary, all of Franklin Dixon’s Hardy Boys mysteries… When I reached elementary school, I was introduced to heaven in the form of the Weekly Reader Children’s Book Club and the library. Wow, oh wow. Heaven! And somehow my mom always had a little money set aside for purchases. Books, books, and more books!

With so many options available, I didn’t often re-read “old” books. Why go on the same adventure when there were new ones to tempt me? Well… I did read a few favorites. Those mentioned above, and I have a gently worn (very gently!) copy of Thornton Burgess’s Mother West Wind’s Neighbors. The book was originally published in 1913, and the copyright date on mine is 1941. I’m pretty sure it was printed in the early 70s, though!

Either way, it is a collection of timeless tales from the world of the Green Forest.

In this classic of children’s literature, readers find out why Johnny Chuck doesn’t like Blacky the Crow and why Ol’ Mistah Buzzard has a bald head. They’ll learn what is in Mrs. Possum’s big pocket and how Hooty the Owl gets even. They’ll even find out who stole Mrs. Grouse’s eggs, discover why Sammy Jay cries “Thief,” and uncover other secrets of Mother West Wind’s neighbors.

Brimming with gentle humor and real lessons about nature, these enchanting tales will captivate today’s youngsters as much as they charmed audiences generations ago.

Much to my delight, the book is available on Amazon in several versions, including hardback, paperback, and kindle. Pick up a copy and venture through the doors of whimsy. Go ahead. Indulge yourself!

P.S. BROADDUS

Author of The Unseen Chronicles
Parker’s website

“I can’t imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once.” ― C.S. Lewis

I read and re-read many stories growing up. Some are still on my shelf today. Call it Courage, by Armstrong Sperry. Another is The Wolfling, by Sterling North, (best known for the children’s novel Rascal, a bestseller in 1963). It’s a coming of age story about…

PATRICIA REDING

Author of the Oathtaker Series
Patricia’s website

I’m just going to come right out and say it: I’m cheating this time. You see, there is a great, great work for children, that I wish I had read as a child, but alas, I did not. I did not read it until I was an adult. However, from the very opening words, I can say that this tale is not just for children. In many ways, it is most especially for adults. (This is probably true of any great “children’s classic,” don’t you think?) And for some reason, this story has been on my mind of late. (I suspect it is time that I re-read it …)

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What was your favorite book when you were a child? Tell us in the comments below!

(Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash)