The Nanny Book Project is a project that I started last year, for my twin charges. While I am no longer their nanny, I do still take care of them. The project involves people telling the twins what their favourite children’s books were and why. All of this was inspired by the children’s literature segment of the London 2012 Opening Ceremonies. The response has been massive. I’ve had responses from television stars, to comedians, to Oscar and Grammy winners. Last week, I promised that there would be answers from several members of the I’m With Geek team. I’ll be spreading the answers out over several articles, so that there will be updates – you never know what may happen over the next little while. Here they are!
When it came to deciding upon my favourite children’s book, it was a toughie. I have enjoyed stories and reading since I was taught how to read as a toddler, so I have picked up a lot of favourites since then. One which always stands out for me however is The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr. First published in 1968, twenty three years before I was born, it is still being distributed and republished today, over forty years later. It is a story of imagination and excitement, about a tiger who invited himself to have tea with Sophie and her mother. It is one I used to read over and over, and would still happily read it now due to fond memories of it!
It was pointed out to me, that while I was (actually, I still am) in the middle of doing this project, nobody had asked me what my favourite children’s book was. Mind you, I hadn’t even considered my choice – it didn’t seem relevant at the time! I was read to countlessly when I was a child. I considered books to be my friends (sad, sad confession there). However, if I had to pick one book, I’d have to pick Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter. It’s one of the books I clearly remember standing out on my book shelves, and one that I remember reading over and over. The illustrations seemed to come to life, the story was simple and easy – but seemed so much bigger when I was younger, and the book fit right into my hands. I loved every minute of it. As a nanny, it still gives me great joy when I find Beatrix Potter books in the collections of the children I care for. To me, it means that there are several more children being exposed to this glorious, beautiful world of Beatrix Potter and her animals.
Check in with us in a week or two, to see what other answers we’ll reveal!
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