Emily's Runaway Imagination...random thoughts

Well, I've finally finished up a few books. I'm sure you'll be thankful that I'm sparing you reviews of The Endocrine and Reproductive Systems and The Human Lifecycle. However, if you ever are in the market for some middle school level books on the subject, I can definitely recommend both.

Okay, now on to Emily's Runaway Imagination. It seems hard to believe, but I'm pretty sure this is the first book I've ever read by Beverly Cleary. While I was a pretty avid reader as a kid, I do not remember ever reading any of her books. It's possible I may have, but if so, they didn't leave an impression. The impetus for trying her out now was Becky's Celebrate the Author Challenge. Each of my selections for this challenge was made with the boys in mind. But I must admit that Emily's Runaway Imagination was not the book I had originally chosen. I had planned on reading Ralph S. Mouse, as that sounded like a book both the boys and I would enjoy. Well, wouldn't you know it, the very day we were going to start reading it, Gray's teacher started reading it to the class. But as luck would have it, that very day, Annie brought me up a pile of books to post on Paperback Swap. They were books she'd outgrown and didn't think the boys would like. And right there in that pile was Emily's Runaway Imagination...a book by Beverly Cleary to fill in the gap.

I admit I was a bit worried that the boys wouldn't like it. They are both at a very girl-a-phobic stage, and I didn't think having a female for a main character was going to go over very well! But they gave it a chance, and they both ended up enjoying it a great deal (though neither will actually admit it). Tell-tale hints: asking me to read an extra chapter, laughing aloud, asking multitudes of questions...

And I also admit, I wasn't sure I would enjoy it either. Books written for this age are just generally not among my favorites. I love picture books. And I love books written for middle/high school age. But in general, these elementary level books just don't do a lot for me. This one surprised me. I didn't fall madly in love with it or anything, but it was enjoyable.

Emily is a girl with spunk, and as you can guess from the title, a very vivid imagination. Each chapter is somewhat of a story in itself, another antic from Emily's life. By far, our favorite chapter was the one in which Emily innocently fed the pigs fermented apples and the drunken pigs caused quite an uproar at her mother's fancy party. But Emily's other adventures were amusing as well. And running throughout the book is the story of the library. At the beginning of the book, Pitchfork has no library. But through one little girl's desire to read Black Beauty, and much work on her mother's part, their little town not only sees a library born, but watches it grow. And I suppose it will surprise no one, knowing what a total sap I can be, that I was left with a tear in my eye at the sweet, tender ending of the story.

Thanks again, Becky, for hosting this...it's really been a lot of fun so far!