Ode to Children's Books

When I was a child, I just loved books and reading which took me into different worlds and, in Kate's words, the book is a special friend who becomes your guide. My father was a voracious reader of both fiction and Civil War history and he would sink into one of the two large leather armchairs in our den and read. Good role model. As an adult, I rediscovered children's books and thought they were terrific. One of my favorites used to be the Snark Out Boys & Avacado of Death by Daniel Pinkwater. I'm not sure I actually remember much more than the title which always made me laugh. And when Kate outgrew some of her early books, we sat down together and went through them with me not wanting her to throw out anything, esp The Little Pig about a pig who falls in love with a painting at the Louvre or the Composer, I think that's the title....not tried and true kids books but also favorites. But the other day the New York Times ran a story about adults reading teen books and so I felt totally empowered to go out and get a book that I had been thinking Kate would like. Even though Kate has specifically warned me off buying her any books at al. So I thought I can read this by myself. It's the the first book, The Hunger Games in Suzanne Collins trilogy and so I started this morning while I waiting for my friend Anne to arrive at breakfast which by the way was a blueberry pancake extravaganza and so good. But this book was so dark and grim about a new world order and how the kids struggle. It sounds from page 7 -- I don't really know anything -- like a cross between Bladerunner and what? I don't know. But I am pushing on with the book.