Another marker of time, in childhood (at least in this household) is reading "Where the Red Fern Grows." Perfect for my 5th grade son, our whole family listened to this beautiful tale on audio tape as my family drove from Chicago to the heart of Indiana. Wilson Rawls does such an amazing job of capturing both the joys and pains of growing up (for both mother and child), all while telling a harrowing tale of a boy, his beloved dogs, and the greatest coon hunting competition ever.
I know...I know... I don't seem quite the coon hunting type - but beautifully crafted storytelling? That is surely "one of my favorite things"!