Earlier, I was thinking about the children's book characters who have helped me become who I am.
Here is are a few of mine:
Ms. Frizzle, from the "Magic School Bus"
Miss Rumphius aka the Lupin Lady, from "Miss rumphius"
***Princess Cirmorene***, from The "Enchanted Forest Chronicals" (I really think they should make these into a movie series).
Elmer, from "My Father".
Claudia, from "The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
Anne, from "Anne of Green Gables".
Elizabeth, from "The Paper Bag Princess".
Harry and Hermione, from "Harry Potter".
EVERY single character in EVERY one of Roald Dahl's books. *Especially* Sophie, Matilda and the characters in "The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More".
It's not a book, but Natty Gann, from the movie, "The Journey of Natty Gann". *Sigh*. I wanted to be her when I grew up.
Gandolf, from "The Hobit".
Julie, from "Julie of the wolves".
There's many I'm missing ;-)
Wondering who your favorite book heroes are. Have a fantastic night!
Well, I would have to add (showing my age, lol) Heidi, the girls from Little Women, and Anne from the Diary of Anne Frank.
Well I liked as a kid, and still love the books & characters from:
A Wrinkle in Time
Redwall series
Watership Down
Mrs. Frisby & The Rats of Nimh
Xena Warrior Princess (yah the tv show and books).
Harry Potter
LotR characters
The children from The Chronicles of Narnia
Aslan and Mr. Tumnus
Prince Caspian
Princess Cimorene
The BFG
Charlie Bucket from "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"
Jo March
The little mermaid (doesn't really have a name in the story)
Thumbelina
Cinderella
Beauty from "Beauty and the Beast"
Peter Pan
Wendy Darling
Absolutely the first characters I think of are the Ingalls family in Laura Ingalls Wilder's books. They made me think about things I never would have considered otherwise when I was growing up. In one book, Laura goes away to teach and can only come home on weekends, and it's an eye-opening (and scary) experience for her: "She had never realized before how saying 'good morning' made the morning good."
I discovered some of the Maida books (by Inez Haynes Irwin) when I was a child, and found the joy of learning to be both independent and loyal to one's friends.
I loved Marguerite de Angeli's characters in her many books (and I loved the illustrations, too), such as the little Quaker girl in "Thee, Hannah!" and the Amish family in "Henner's Lydia." There are many de Angeli books, and I think they're coming back into print.
I'm referring back to my own childhood memories, but I'm older than many of you moms. When I started reading to my children, we discovered Frances the Badger in the Hoban books, Taran and his companions in Lloyd Alexander's "Prydain Chronicles," the wonderful "Chronicles of Narnia" characters, Gordon Korman's Bruno and Boots... and many more!
Now my grandchildren and I are meeting the "My Father's Dragon" people (and non-people) and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. When they're older they'll meet the Girl of the Limberlost, Meg/Jo/Beth/Amy, the Railway Children, and Bilbo! I can also hardly wait for them to be ready for Mole, Rat, and Mr. Toad in "The Wind in the Willows" - but that's a book for older children and grownups, not tots!
harry potter, of course, and the LOTR characters.
but we did a lot of old books, so i'd add the wart from the once and future king, anne shirley, toad of toad hall, charlotte and wilbur, alice and friends, and the lovely panoply from norse and greek mythology.
:) khairete
S.
Meg Murray from "A Wrinkle in Time"
Laura Ingalls Wilder in all of the Little House books (and even now, I'm inspired by her writings for the local paper in Rocky Ridge on agriculture)
Jo March from "Little Women"
Menolly from Anne McCaffery's "Dragonsinger/Dragonsong" books
Lois Lane-- I know, sounds silly, but my uncle had a trunk of Superman comics which I read most of one summer when I was 12. Lois was nosy and got into it anyways, danger or not.
Danny from Roald Dahl's "Danny, Champion of the World"
Anne Shirley from "Anne of Green Gables" (lovely books)
Trixie Belden and Honey Wheeler (Trixie Belden mysteries)
I'm sure there are many, many more.
I'm not sure if these are technically children's books but you mentioned harry potter and they are in the same category :P
Most of the characters from the series Red Wall
Matilda
The 3 main characters in The Hunger Games (katniss, peeta, gale)
The Giver main character (his name escapes me lol)
The fireman in farenheit 451
I know there are more and there are more that are traditionally kid's books but I can't think of them right now. Most of these are older kid books, but I love the heroes in them.
awesome question!!!
laura ingalls off the top of my head, i'll have to think about the others.
Any of the characters from the Moomin books. I'm re-reading them now with my 5-year old, and love them just as much.
Anne "Anne of Green Gables"
Dicey "Dicey's Song"
Kit "Witch of Blackbird Pond"
Med "A Wrinkle in Time"
Thanks to the authors with awesome girls to aspire to!
