Spell the Month in Books: November

Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Jana at Reviews from the Stacks. To participate, find a book title that starts with each letter in the month’s name, make a list, share your link, and that’s it! You can share anytime by the end of the month. Some months have additional themes, but feel free to participate however you’d like!

This month’s theme is Nostalgia! I’m spotlighting books that hold fond memories for me — some from my childhood, some that I’ve enjoyed with my children, and some that just make me remember how happy I was when I first read them.

Here are my NOVEMBER books:

N:

No Flying in the House by Betty Brock
Nostalgia factor: I was OBSESSED with this book as a child! Especially the “fact” that you could tell if someone was actually a fairy by seeing if they could kiss their own elbow. Did I spend a lot of time trying? Of course I did!

O:

On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Nostalgia factor: I’m including this book as a stand-in for the entire Little House series — which I enjoyed during my own childhood and then enjoyed all over again once my daughter was old enough to be interested.

V:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Nostalgia factor: Endless times reading this book with my kids! And always so much fun, especially when they’d read aloud with me.

E:

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
Nostalgia factor: One of my daughter’s favorites! She insisted that I read this one the second she finished it.

M:

Merry, Rose, and Christmas-Tree June by Doris Orgel
Nostalgia factor: I remember loving this book! I don’t remember the entire story, but I know there were three special dolls. As a kid, I didn’t know enough to be excited that the illustrations were by Edward Gorey, but as an adult, that makes me even more determined to track down a copy!

B:

Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
Nostalgia factor: Nightly read-alouds with my kids… and just so sweet and charming

E:

The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King
Nostalgia factor: I’ve read this at several points in my life, and each time it’s been a great experience. This wasn’t my first King novel by any means, but I have such warm memories of how I felt while reading it.

R:

Rose Daughter by Robin McKinley
Nostaglia factor: At one point, many years ago, I could not get enough of Robin McKinley’s fairy tale retellings (and I still think they’re amazing) — and then had the joy of seeing my daughter become just as crazy about them.