We listened to Emily’s Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary as an audiobook, and let’s just say I was enchanted along with my kids by this story.
Emily Bartlett lives on a farm in a small Oregon town in the 1920’s. She longs for a library, like the one her cousin writes her about, so she is overjoyed when her mom decides to try and organize a chapter of the library in their town. As this sweet story progresses, Emily must learn to deal with various embarrassments, disappointments, and challenges that stem from her runaway imagination.
This book is sweet and funny, and it will delight you and your children.
I love Emily’s development as a character! She is a sweet girl who is easy to love. Your children will identify with Emily as she makes mistakes like any other kid. They will experience the unfamiliar setting of a small farming town near the turn of the century through Emily’s vivid perspective.
I always appreciate books in which the main character is someone with a kind temperament: someone that I would want my kids to emulate. Emily’s Runaway Imagination passes this test.
I highly recommend this book, especially for elementary-age girls. The audiobook was lovely as well.
I think Emily’s Runaway Imagination is my favorite Beverly Cleary book so far.
Do you have a favorite Beverly Cleary book?
Sounds like a fun book! I know you said you recommend this for elementary aged girls, but at what age did you start doing audio books with your kids? I’m considering starting with my son but I’m not sure if he’s too young.
I started my older kids on audiobooks around age four (so the littles have been hearing them since birth). My kids are 10, 8, 5, and 2, and I think my 5-year-old tracked pretty well with the story and enjoyed it. We listened to this one in the car together, and all of the kids liked it as much as I did. Except maybe the 2-year-old! 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
This sounds wonderful, and I think we might be ready for books like this. FYI, whilst reading your post, a very odd audio add came up about online gambling. LOL Thanks for joining the hop.
Oh no! This is the first I’ve heard of it! 🙁 I’ll look into it, and I really appreciate you letting me know!
This sounds like a good book. Thanks for the review. We have been listening to audio books since my son was three. Our public library has a wonderful audio collection. I hopped over from the Kid Lit blog hop.
Yes, I hadn’t heard of it before either, but our library had it. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Missed this one by Beverly Cleary. Thanks for sharing on the Kid Lit Blog Hop!
This definitely sounds like a fun book! I have three daughters so this sounds right up their alley! 🙂 We would probably end up purchasing a physical copy of it because my oldest is like me and just has to have a hard copy in her hands, but the audio book sounds fun too! You could easily play games or bake or just do other fun things while listening! Thanks for sharing. Visiting from Kit lit blog hop!
Those are great ideas for listening time! We tend to do most of our audiobooks in the car. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Thanks for sharing on Literacy Musing Mondays. I pinned and tweeted. 🙂 I love Beverly Cleary and had not heard of this title yet.