I love this children’s book (The Mixed Up Files..) so much! I don’t know how many times I read it as a girl (lol but also YES to the description of Claudia as a HSP).
Now with all these little boys of mine I can’t tell you how often I’ve thought of the scene where Jamie has to keep his winter coat zipped to muffle the jangling change, but it’s okay because little boys “like sweat and complications.” This is absolutely, unequivocally true 😂.
I introduced my children to the book this year, and they did the customary whining about how they weren’t going to like it, but then listened several times through on audio, quoting lines back to me and laughing uproariously. There are certain authors, Beverly Cleary’s “Ramona” series come to mind, that delight me with how well they observe and reflect the actual quirks and charms of children — when you get the sense in a narrative that the child characters are allowed to be “born persons”. I think it’s good for our children to see themselves in these books, but maybe it’s even better for parents to be reminded that our kids have their own narratives too.
What is it with kids and new books? My boys are always so whiney with new books, and after a few chapters they can't stop. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this -- YES great children's writers reflect actual childhood so well.
That was one of my favorite books as a child, too. Another was My Side of the Mountain. And of course, the Chronicles of Narnia series.
I guess I loved the thought of children facing difficult challenges on their own, with minimal interference from adults because I always felt like I could and should be doing something more than just going to school and playing.
Yes! What I thought was so unique in Mixed Up Files was how it was a "survive on your own" but a city version. So it's figuring out how to make your money stretch and where to take a bath... different "survival" problems, but interesting! I think that longing for independence and to do something of value is real in kids, and those books tap into that! Thanks for sharing!
I love this children’s book (The Mixed Up Files..) so much! I don’t know how many times I read it as a girl (lol but also YES to the description of Claudia as a HSP).
Now with all these little boys of mine I can’t tell you how often I’ve thought of the scene where Jamie has to keep his winter coat zipped to muffle the jangling change, but it’s okay because little boys “like sweat and complications.” This is absolutely, unequivocally true 😂.
I introduced my children to the book this year, and they did the customary whining about how they weren’t going to like it, but then listened several times through on audio, quoting lines back to me and laughing uproariously. There are certain authors, Beverly Cleary’s “Ramona” series come to mind, that delight me with how well they observe and reflect the actual quirks and charms of children — when you get the sense in a narrative that the child characters are allowed to be “born persons”. I think it’s good for our children to see themselves in these books, but maybe it’s even better for parents to be reminded that our kids have their own narratives too.
What is it with kids and new books? My boys are always so whiney with new books, and after a few chapters they can't stop. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this -- YES great children's writers reflect actual childhood so well.
That was one of my favorite books as a child, too. Another was My Side of the Mountain. And of course, the Chronicles of Narnia series.
I guess I loved the thought of children facing difficult challenges on their own, with minimal interference from adults because I always felt like I could and should be doing something more than just going to school and playing.
Yes! What I thought was so unique in Mixed Up Files was how it was a "survive on your own" but a city version. So it's figuring out how to make your money stretch and where to take a bath... different "survival" problems, but interesting! I think that longing for independence and to do something of value is real in kids, and those books tap into that! Thanks for sharing!