How You Move

Illustration by Louise Fitzhugh. This image originally posted on The Shelia Variations

"Well Harriet (hollered Mrs Gibbs) haven't see you in a long time. Have a nice summer?... Talked to your mother the other day. Has Janie told you about dancing school? Your mother's all for it and I am too. You need a few graces, you know, turning into young women any day now, don't want to be clumps on the dance floor, nothing more embarrassing than a wallflower. Your mother's worried about the way you move Harriet.' And she suddenly focused on Harriet, waking her out of a reverie.

'Fast,' Harriet said, 'that's the way I move, fast. What's wrong with that?'

Mrs. Gibbs, not having any idea how to take Harriet's comment, decided that the best thing was to laugh it off. She gave an enormous whoop of laughter. Harriet saw Janie's shoulders go up in a quick little embarrassed cringe."

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I am re-reading Harriet The Spy. Which is on my top ten all time best books EVER (a list which, in truth Brain, actually contains about 30 books at any given time and is somewhat flexible according to the mood I'm in, but Harriet is ALWAYS on there!). It was SUCH a relief as a kid to read a book about a girl you could relate to.

Here are a few more of my favorites in no particular order (I will confine myself to "kid's" books this time) These are the ones I still read over and over. They are a part of me and I love them like family!


Mrs Frisby And The Rats Of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

Z is For Zachariah also by Robert C. O'Brien

The Abhorsen Series by Garth Nix

The Chronicles Of Prydain by Lloyd Alexander

The Silver Crown Robert C. O'Brien again

The Animal Family by Randal Jarrell

The Claidi Journals by Tanith Lee

Any book at all by NATALIE BABBIT ( but paticularly Tuck Everlasting and The Search For Delicious and Kneeknock Rise)

The Very Persistent Gappers Of Frip by George Saunders (illustrated by the incredible Lane Smith) (and ps, if you click on the link and watch the video be aware that somemoron has edited out the last part of the book. The last part of the book goes, "It's a book, Jackass!!!")

Fly By Night by Frances Hardinge

Beauty by Robin McKinley

and finally
The Bat Poet by Randell Jarrell (illustrated by Maurice Sendak what a treat!)