THE FIRST BATTLE OF BULL RUN: Donald J. Sobol, author of the Encyclopedia Brown series of mysteries for kids, has passed away. Bugs Meany could not be reached for comment.
When my sister and I were quite young and still shared a room, I used to retell her Encyclopedia Brown stories, (changing the name to Karen McGrath, which was the name of a friend from school) as we were falling asleep. For years she thought I made those stories up and had a stellar imagination.
When my sister and I were quite young and still shared a room, I used to retell her Encyclopedia Brown stories, (changing the name to Karen McGrath, which was the name of a friend from school) as we were falling asleep. For years she thought I made those stories up and had a stellar imagination.
Mine too. And a lot of the solutions are still stuck in my head from the early 80s. Spoiler alerts: "An ARROW flight away." "The paint drops were FAR APART." "The seat was STILL WARM."
Now I'm just sad all the brilliant Modern Humorist parodies of Encyclopedia Brown ("Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of Death Row Dubya", "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Missing Olympic Magic", etc) are no longer on the web.
You guys, I'm starting to get concerned. I haven't read MOST of the beloved childhood books posted on this blog. I'd never even HEARD of this Phantom Tollbooth book until like 3 years ago. Why was my house some sort of beloved-childhood-book-FREE zone? I feel like I have to buy ALL these books for my niece so she'll be able to talk about these books when she's older.
One of the books had a contest at the end- there was a case, and then a promise to give the solution in the next book. Not that I remember the case now, but I never did see that solution.
Nothing to add but that I audibly went "awwwww" when I read this and realized I sound just like my mother does when she watches the news and hears about some celeb/author/whoever she is interested in dying.
Central Florida. Same dif. My mom used to take Harry Potter books to work with her, and got some flack from her coworkers for the devil books. You know the county in Florida that banned 50 Shades? That's the county I grew up in. I gaurantee you, if someone was concerned about a book's contents, it wasn't at the library or taught in school. And a word in a title is enough. "a PHANTOM tollbooth? Must be about the supernatural. BANNED."
Premorse.
ReplyDeleteThese books were absolutely where I learned how to read upside down, a skill I still find comes in handy now.
ReplyDeleteWhen my sister and I were quite young and still shared a room, I used to retell her Encyclopedia Brown stories, (changing the name to Karen McGrath, which was the name of a friend from school) as we were falling asleep. For years she thought I made those stories up and had a stellar imagination.
ReplyDeleteWhen my sister and I were quite young and still shared a room, I used to retell her Encyclopedia Brown stories, (changing the name to Karen McGrath, which was the name of a friend from school) as we were falling asleep. For years she thought I made those stories up and had a stellar imagination.
ReplyDeleteMy little one loved these, even though they're totally dated and I needed to explain certain things that make no sense to someone born in 2003.
ReplyDeleteMine too.
ReplyDeleteMine too. And a lot of the solutions are still stuck in my head from the early 80s. Spoiler alerts: "An ARROW flight away." "The paint drops were FAR APART." "The seat was STILL WARM."
ReplyDeleteNow I'm just sad all the brilliant Modern Humorist parodies of Encyclopedia Brown ("Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of Death Row Dubya", "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Missing Olympic Magic", etc) are no longer on the web.
ReplyDeleteYou guys, I'm starting to get concerned. I haven't read MOST of the beloved childhood books posted on this blog. I'd never even HEARD of this Phantom Tollbooth book until like 3 years ago. Why was my house some sort of beloved-childhood-book-FREE zone? I feel like I have to buy ALL these books for my niece so she'll be able to talk about these books when she's older.
ReplyDeleteOne of the books had a contest at the end- there was a case, and then a promise to give the solution in the next book. Not that I remember the case now, but I never did see that solution.
ReplyDeleteBookkeeper.
He'll be missed. Encyclopedia Brown was right up there with the Hardy Boys and Boxcar Children for me as frequent reads when in elementary school.
ReplyDeleteYou had never heard of Phantom Tollbooth? Jesus H. Christ, were you raised in North Korea?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theagitator.com/2012/07/16/leroy-brown-1963-2012/
ReplyDelete--bd
AND Kitty Wells!
ReplyDeleteChildhood mystery! Encyclopedia Brown, the Bobbsey Twins, The Three Investigators, Nancy Drew....man, I loved all those.
ReplyDeleteDude, I had never heard of it either.
ReplyDeleteNothing to add but that I audibly went "awwwww" when I read this and realized I sound just like my mother does when she watches the news and hears about some celeb/author/whoever she is interested in dying.
ReplyDeleteNext you'll be telling me you eat when you get hungry, and stop when you're full.
ReplyDeleteCentral Florida. Same dif. My mom used to take Harry Potter books to work with her, and got some flack from her coworkers for the devil books. You know the county in Florida that banned 50 Shades? That's the county I grew up in. I gaurantee you, if someone was concerned about a book's contents, it wasn't at the library or taught in school. And a word in a title is enough. "a PHANTOM tollbooth? Must be about the supernatural. BANNED."
ReplyDeleteI was a Trixie Belden girl, myself.
ReplyDeleteBecca, if you want to catch up and enjoy some good kids' books, read the ones on this list. And/or give them to your niece.
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2012/07/07/top-100-chapter-book-poll-results/
Needless to say, I'm a Trixie fan, myself. Mouthy redhead? Damn skippy.
ReplyDeleteMy mom bought the entire Trixie Belden set at a garage sale. Love that plucky mystery solver.
ReplyDeleteMe read Hardy Boys. Learn what Jalopy is did I.
ReplyDelete