Remember reading chapter books with pictures and large print and kids that did amazing things like travel back in time in a tree house or solve mysteries all on their own? Children’s books are awesome!

When I thought of this topic as one of my 31 planned posts I got pretty excited! I wrote out a list of books I could remember really enjoying as a kid, and went to the library to check them out. Normally when I go the library I don’t spend much time in the children’s section so it was fun to go back and be reminded of some excellent books I got to read when I was younger.  I’m thankful for all the adventures I was able to experience within the pages of these books!

Frindle by Andrew Clements – Such a rule breaker book! How dare an elementary school kid call a pen a “frindle!” It caused quite a stir throughout the whole town!

The New Adventures of Mary-Kate & Ashley series– How could a 90s kid like myself not include something from MK & A? I’m pretty sure every girl my age wanted to be them.

Secrets of Droon series by Tony Abbott – When I first wrote out my list of books I didn’t think about this series. But then I saw it on the shelf at the library and was completely thrown back to 3^rd grade when I read these books and did multiple book reports on them. And just look at this cheerful pillow on the back cover!

Amazing Days of Abby Hayes series by Anne Mazer – My favorite thing about these books is when Abby writes in her diary, THE PRINT IS PURPLE IN THE BOOK. So cool! And when I wrote in my journal back then, I WROTE IN PURPLE PEN TOO SO WE COULD BE TWINNERS! 

The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids series – I read SOOO many of these! Is their teacher really a vampire?  Is the softball coach a mummy? Is the new neighbor a genie?? We will never know!!

Magic Tree House series by Mary Pop Osborne – Aren’t they on, like, #347 of these books? It’s like the Land Before Time series. It just never ends. But these books are truly amazing. You got to go back in time with Jack and Annie and hopefully learn something about that historical time or event. And who can forget this memorable phrase in every. single. book. . . 

Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park – I liked reading Junie B. Jones because she was hilarious. But I also felt bad for her because her mom only allowed her to wear clear nail polish.  Despite the many drawbacks of clear nail polish, Junie had many entertaining experiences that were fun to read.

Sammy Keyes series by Wendelin Van Draanen – I absolutely love this series, and I own *almost* every book. I know these are considered a 4^th or 5^th grade reading level, but that has never stopped me from being just as excited as a 5^th grader to read the latest mystery Sammy Keyes is trying to solve.

Marvin Redpost series by Louis Sachar – Good ol’ Marvin Redpost. Just a regular, red-headed kid that has weird things happen to him like think he’s a girl after he licks his elbow or finds himself alone at his teacher’s house.

Magic Attic Club – Where is my tree house/attic/wardrobe to take me back in time or to a magical land?? Obviously, we all need one since there are so many kids’ books about them.

Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix – I read this book multiple times throughout elementary school and junior high. It’s just so good! I may even re-read it in the near future to experience its mystery and suspense once more.

Thank you for reading! I hope you experienced a nice blast from the past with this post.

Did you read any of these books as a kid?