Submitted and Written by Malarie W

The Big Friendly Giant was the first real chapter book in the 3rd Grade. Remember snozzcumbers, whizzpoppers, and frobscottle? Catching and manifesting good dreams during witching hours everywhere Roald Dahl’s BFG was the BEST BOOK EVER.

Roald Dahl’s charming, fantastical novels were the first chapter books for many. Other Dahl classics include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and the wonderful yet underrated The Witches.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox is being adapted into a stop-animation film directed by Wes Anderson. It actually looks pretty good; here’s the trailer.

What do you guys think of the other Roald Dahl movies?

Submitted by Amanda S

Who didn’t love the book series about the vegetable-draining vampire bunny? From the moment when the baby bunny’s new family discovers a white tomato in the kitchen, drained completely dry of juice, most kids were hooked!

James and Deborah Howe’s Bunnicula was first introduced in 1979, back before everything cool about vampire mythology was appropriated by moody, Hot Topic-loving teenagers.

Submitted by A Barbian

R.L. Stine’s hyper-popular Goosebumps series got a lot of kids reading their first chapter books. There were 62 books published between ‘92 and ‘97, as well as a television show and video game. I remember being addicted to Goosebumps — my favorites being The Haunted Mask II and The Ghost Next Door. Wikipedia has a full list of the titles. Which was your favorite?

Update: Featured Comments

Jester sez:

WIN. SO MUCH WIN. I still -have- all of the books. I could not bring myself to get rid of them.

coyote is fuzzy yet again replied:

Never get rid of a good book.

Submitted by cutekitten

Brian Jacques’s epic fantasy series Redwall was a cross between Watership Down and Lord of the Rings. I remember getting into a big fight in fourth grade over which of the books was best (it’s Martin the Warrior, obviously). Anyway, Jacques is still writing Redwall books and is now working his 21st addition to the series.

Update: Featured Comment

redreh sez:

GOD, these are the books that really, really got me into reading. I was lucky enough to get to meet Brain Jacques when he came to read in my town–he signed my 10th anniversary copy with hearts over his ‘i’s; I think I’m still just a little bit in love with him.

As for the best book in the series, I know that Martin the Warrior, Mossflower, Mariel, and Pearls of Lutra are some of the best, but Redwall, with Matthias, and all his adventures in that first book (not to mention Basil Stag) still have a special place in my heart. (It’s like A New Hope to Empire Strikes Back–it may not be the best movie, but I love it so!)

Anyway–EXCELLENT choice for nostalgia. It’s not just childhood for me–its true love.

Submitted by Laura F

Jannell Cannon’s children’s book Stellaluna was an enchanting story about a baby fruit bat separated from her mother. She ends up in a nest of birds, who teach her how to fly (which is kind of like the bat equivalent of being raised by wolves, I guess). Anyway, Stellaluna remains in our hearts as the world’s second coolest bat.