Identifying a childhood book
March 22, 2005 12:32 PM Subscribe
Fuzzy Memories Please help me identify a book I read as a child.
Oddly, I can remember everything about it except the title and author. It was a slim volume of four short stories. It was likely published in the seventies. One story was about a boy who is forced by his mother to invite his grade’s social outcast (a dyslexic boy named Jason) to his birthday party. Another was about a girl whose parents ship her off to fat camp for the summer, and her subsequent experience of getting to know a mysterious camp counsellor. Another was about a girl who is the first black child to attend a newly integrated white school, and who impresses everyone with her blackboard drawing of Noah’s Ark. The final one is about a boy who goes to the park with his grandmother to watch a comet or a meteor shower or something similar – except that it doesn’t happen.
Oddly, I can remember everything about it except the title and author. It was a slim volume of four short stories. It was likely published in the seventies. One story was about a boy who is forced by his mother to invite his grade’s social outcast (a dyslexic boy named Jason) to his birthday party. Another was about a girl whose parents ship her off to fat camp for the summer, and her subsequent experience of getting to know a mysterious camp counsellor. Another was about a girl who is the first black child to attend a newly integrated white school, and who impresses everyone with her blackboard drawing of Noah’s Ark. The final one is about a boy who goes to the park with his grandmother to watch a comet or a meteor shower or something similar – except that it doesn’t happen.
Response by poster: Wow, that was quick. I barely even dared to hope that anyone would know the title, but thought it was worth a shot. Thanks, LinnTate!
posted by orange swan at 1:11 PM on March 22, 2005
posted by orange swan at 1:11 PM on March 22, 2005
Just to piggyback on this thread, there was I believe a MeFi thread a couple of years ago about "creepiest children's book". Someone pointed out a story where a mother takes care of her child, and many years later the child is taking care of his mother. I think the full text/pages are online. Any idea which book this was?
posted by rolypolyman at 1:44 PM on March 22, 2005
posted by rolypolyman at 1:44 PM on March 22, 2005
Response by poster: Was it Robert Munsch's Love You Forever?
Rolypolyman, not that I mind you using this thread, but I think you might have better success finding an answer if you posted it as a separate question.
posted by orange swan at 2:13 PM on March 22, 2005
Rolypolyman, not that I mind you using this thread, but I think you might have better success finding an answer if you posted it as a separate question.
posted by orange swan at 2:13 PM on March 22, 2005
The only creepy part of the book is that, even when the man is an adult, his mother drives her car with a ladder on it across town to get into his bedroom and cuddle him while he's asleep. I'm strongly considering taping the pages together so we don't read that part to my toddlers. The rest of the book is lovely; that is creepy.
posted by Raspberry at 2:20 PM on March 22, 2005
posted by Raspberry at 2:20 PM on March 22, 2005
Sorry, orange swan, I wouldn't have done it if the question wasn't answered and "best answer" not marked. I'm kinda new here. But thanks, I think you answered it (and it fits with Raspberry's description).
posted by rolypolyman at 2:25 PM on March 22, 2005
posted by rolypolyman at 2:25 PM on March 22, 2005
Raspberry, you read Love You Forever to your toddlers!? I don't think of it as a kids book... gave it to my Mother, she cried tears of joy. Awesome Mother's Day present!
posted by Rash at 3:56 PM on March 22, 2005
posted by Rash at 3:56 PM on March 22, 2005
Raspberry, you read Love You Forever to your toddlers!? I don't think of it as a kids book
Dude, the ending pages of Love You Forever are among the creepiest things I've ever seen.
posted by jonmc at 5:21 PM on March 22, 2005
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by LinnTate at 12:48 PM on March 22, 2005