Wandering Reader loves pop up books. She has an amazing collection (which is always expanding). When I asked about favorites from her childhood, it seems this interest was sparked by a special Hallmark book: A Visit to a Haunted House, by Dean Walley. (Wandering Reader also loves Halloween ... perhaps that started here, too?). From a google search I learned that the pictures were by Arlene Noel with the pops up engineered by Dick Dudley. This same review also said there was a good story line (seems this is not always the case) and that it was bold enough for 5 - 11 year olds, but not too scary to read to younger kids.

Another favorite was Abdul-Abul-bul Amir and Ivan Skavinsky Skavar by Deborah Ray, especially when read by her dad, who, I'm told, did wonderful accents. Fishes and Birds, both by Brian Wildsmith, were ones her mom read to her. As she moved on to chapter books she enjoyed the Encyclopedia Brown books and the Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators Series. She listed the Hardy Boys, too, but not Nancy Drew ... I may have to ask her about this!

Reading Hermit With Dog