I've been thinking about children's literature a lot lately. My students are currently reading The Hundred Dresses, a book I read in elementary school about a million years ago and remember liking very much. That got me thinking about other books I read as a kid, and while I may not remember everything about the stories, do remember enjoying them. There are a few specific titles that are standing out, and I think I will hunt down copies of them. One of them I actually have a copy of, Miracle on 34th Street, by Valentine Davies...and my particular copy has illustrations by Tomie dePaola. (Whoo!) I hadn't thought about that book in years, but saw one of my students reading it today; the same edition, too. I've decided to read it again sometime between now and Christmas, and then track down copies of the other books, read them, and write about them. I feel that these few titles are ones I should have; they've stuck in my mind for some reason, and I'd like to remember why.