My Favorite Childhood Books

Books have been at the center of my heart and interest since elementary school. (Nerdy much?) I could always completely lose myself in a good book, and my reading journey has gone through many phases since I first learned to read. I've explored classics, romance, thrillers, and countless books assigned in school. I've had to dissect and analyze texts for years. But sometimes, what relieves me of any pressure or annoyance from reading out of obligation is going back and reflecting on the simplicity of the books that fostered my love for reading. The books that had no deep plot, just vibes. The ones that made me laugh and had super colorful covers. So, I wanted to share some of these cheesy books—not necessarily my "childhood favorites," but the ones that taught me how fun reading could be.

Dork Diaries by Rachel Renée Russell and Nikki Russell

I think fifth-grade me single-handedly made up 90 percent of these book sales. I was the number one Dork Diaries fan—you have no idea. Maybe I wanted to be quirky and different, but Nikki Maxwell was my spirit animal, and I devoured these books like there was no tomorrow. They were so funny, and the illustrations were perfect. The level of drama was something my real-life experiences could never measure up to. When I thought of being a teenager, I thought of everything Nikki went through in Dork Diaries. I’ve been rooting for her and Brandon since day one, but I can concede that Mackenzie was honestly iconic. The CCP (the cute, cool, and popular clique) honestly made me jealous of how fashionable their illustrations were. The Russells’ target audience was 10-year-old me in my sparkly Justice clothing, and they successfully reached me with every release.

Land of Stories by Chris Colfer

Chris Colfer knew exactly what he was doing when he wrote these books, because they were (and still are) so good. I grew up reading classic fairytales and fawning over Disney princess movies, so this series holds a special place in my heart. Seeing childhood favorites become new characters with elaborate storylines and adventurous developments was so fun for me. Like, Red Riding Hood had her own kingdom, and Goldilocks is somehow a fugitive? And, I mean, the classic evil characters are hot on their trail? Journeying to crack codes left by the Grimm Brothers? It’s literary gold. When I was younger, it felt like I fell into this land of fairytales, and it felt like I was the one exploring these fantastical, magical lands and creatures. When the fairy-tale world and the “real world” collided, it only deepened this feeling, and my vivid imagination fell right in line with all that these stories offered.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Literally, name one series more entertaining and witty than this one. I don’t think Kinney ever failed to make me laugh as a kid, through the funniest plotlines and stories Greg told, even with the illustrations. The Heffley family’s dynamics were so fun to read about, especially all their ruined family vacations and unfortunate situations Greg put them into. And Greg himself was such an awkwardly amusing person, and his recounting of stories and interactions with people still makes me laugh. Every side character added so much, with their own lore and personal additions to each story. It was filled with adventures and the embarrassing moments that come with growing up. These books were so easy to read and escape into. Sometimes all you really need is a lighthearted tale to make your day better.

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

One of the most memorable and ultimately comforting reads from my childhood was Charlotte’s Web. It’s a sweet tale of an unlikely, life-changing friendship between a pig and a spider. Wilbur was adorable. Like, how could you not be rooting for him? And for being a spider, Charlotte was genuinely selfless and a true hero for saving Wilbur. Talk about finding friendship and love in the most unlikely of places. As a devoted animal lover, I loved how much courage and endearing humanity were added to them. Not to mention the ending, where a saddened Wilbur literally watches over Charlotte’s eggs since she couldn’t. Only E.B. White could add so much lovable personality to a pig and a spider. One of my absolute favorites, for sure.