Students recall favorite childhood book

For many students, the books they read in elementary school weren’t just simple stories, they were the first things that made them love reading. Even as teens juggling classes, sports, and clubs, some say those childhood favorites still shape the way they think today.

One book senior Laura James mentioned was If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. She said she not only remembers the book for its humor, but its message. “It’s funny, but it also teaches you how little action can lead to a whole chain of events,” James said. “Honestly, that’s pretty accurate for high school life too.”

Sophomore Liam Smith  said he prefers books with a little more chaos. “No, David! It was the first book that actually made me laugh out loud,” Smith said. “David’s chaos reminded me of how wild and fun being a kid really was.”

Senior Ethan Clarke said the I Survived book series pushed him toward his current interest in history. “They were intense but exciting, they made history feel more like an adventure than a lesson,” Clarke said.

Junior Caleb Foster said Green Eggs and Ham was a personal favorite. “Honestly, I just liked the nonstop arguing,” Foster said. “It just felt so chaotic and funny at the time.”

Even though students have moved on to more complex reading, the memories tied to those early books remain strong. Whether it’s a mischievous character, a pair of argumentative friends, or a survival story that kept them turning pages, teens say those stories helped them become the readers they are now.