Rereading Our Childhood Mary Grace McGeehan and Deborah Kalb

Mary Grace and Deborah discuss Ellen Raskin’s 1971 mystery romp, The Mysterious Disappearance of Leon (I Mean Noel), about a woman’s decades-long search for her husband, whom she married as a child. (It’s a long story.) The book is full of word games, puzzles, and creative illustrations by Raskin, who was also a graphic artist.Other books by Ellen Raskin:Nothing Ever Happens on My Block (1967). This picture book, a childhood favorite of Mary Grace’s, was the first book Raskin wrote after illu...

Mary Grace and Deborah discuss Misty of Chincoteague, Marguerite Henry's classic 1947 novel about Misty and her mother Phantom, wild ponies from the island of Assateague, and Paul and Maureen, a brother and sister from the neighboring island of Chincoteague who long to own them. Other books by Henry:Stormy, Misty’s Foal (1963)Justin Morgan Had a Horse (1945), a Newbery Honor BookKing of the Wind (1948), winner of the 1949 Newbery MedalSea Star, Orphan of Chincoteague (1949)Misty’s ...

Mary Grace and Deborah discuss The Book of Three (1964) by Lloyd Alexander. Other books in the series:The Black Cauldron (1965)The Castle of Llyr (1966)Taran Wanderer (1967)The High King (1968)Other books by Alexander:Time Cat (1963), discussed by Deborah on a blog postAnd Let the Credit Go (1955)Janine is French (1960)The Wizard in the Tree (1974)Park Avenue Vet (1960)Fifty Years in the Doghouse (1964)The King's Fountain (1971)Also mentioned:A 2012 School Library Journal pollSam, Banks, and ...

Deborah and Mary Grace discuss Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery's beloved 1908 tale of a strong-willed and imaginative orphan.Other books in the series:Anne of AvonleaAnne of the IslandAnne of Windy PoplarsAnne's House of DreamsAnne of InglesideThe Blythes are Quoted (short stories)Also mentioned:Some books and poems that Anne reads:"Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight" by Rose Hartwick Thorpe"The Lady of Shallot" by Alfred, Lord TennysonBen Hur by Lew Wallace"Marmion" by Sir Walter Scott...

Mary Grace introduces Deborah to John Verney’s 1961 novel February’s Road. Other books by Verney:Friday’s Tunnel (1959)Ismo (1964)Seven Sunflower Seeds (1968)Samson’s Hoard (1973)Going to the Wars (1955)A Dinner of Herbs (1966)Also mentioned:The Arm of the Starfish (1965) by Madeleine L’Engle,Verney’s illustrations.A post on the blog Clothes in Books.The illustrations of Edward Ardizzone.An obituary of Verney in The Independent.A post on the Farnham Trust’s website about Verney. Joj...

Deborah and Mary Grace reread Stuart Little, E.B. White's 1945 classic about the adventures of a New York boy who looks exactly like a mouse. They discuss their early memories of reading Stuart Little (or, in Mary Grace's case, having her mom read it to her), Garth Williams' wonderful illustrations, and pioneering children's librarian Annie Carroll Moore's vehement opposition to the book. Mentioned on this episode:Charlotte's Web by E.B. WhiteThe Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. WhiteTh...