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Children's books

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Original poster

If you grew up in the 80's what books did you enjoy?

91 replies

wume · 30/04/2015 13:19

I am on the hunt for books I read as a child to give to dd1.

I read lots but can only remember Enid Blyton books.

What did you read that may trigger my memories?

OP posts:
crumpet · 09/05/2015 23:50

Chalet school books
Lots of pony books - flambards, pullein Thompson sisters, the Jill books etc.

AbiBranning · 09/05/2015 20:30

I loved Faraway tree, Judy Blume etc, also the Anne Digby - Trebizon books.

cosytoaster · 09/05/2015 20:28

Many of the books already mentioned. Also 'When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit' by Judith Kerr, although I was probably 9 or 10 when I read it.

Chiefbumwiper · 09/05/2015 20:21

Pooh and I loved a book called Houdini which was abouts hamster who liked to escape!

Chiefbumwiper · 09/05/2015 20:20

Fox!

Chiefbumwiper · 09/05/2015 20:20

Fantastic Mr doc

mewkins · 09/05/2015 20:16

Oh and Lois Lowry books...esp Anastasia books and Summer to Die (which is terribly sad but brilliant).

mewkins · 09/05/2015 20:13

Lots of Roald Dahl, Chronicles of Narnia, The Babysitters Club, Sweet Valley, Goodnight Mr Tom and the other one about the evacuee returning home was brilliant! the Scrambled Legs series, Gillian Cross books eg. The Demon Headmaster etc which are great!!
Judy Bloom, Bridge to Terabithia..

dingalong · 09/05/2015 20:12

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SisterJulienne · 09/05/2015 20:08

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EBearhug · 09/05/2015 20:04

Oh, I forgot Catherine Storr - Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf. She also wrote Puss and Cat, which I remember mainly because I knew a Priscilla who was Cilla, and Puss would obviously have been a much better option.

EBearhug · 09/05/2015 19:58

Many of those listed above - Elyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby series were a particular favourite, and the reason why I insisted on going to the Snowy Mountains when I went to Australia. I read lots of pony books, ballet stories, school stories, and adventure books, particularly Enid Blyton. I was introduced to Narnia a little before I turned 7.

Also:
Paddington
Gwyneth Rae's Mary books
Rosemary Manning's Green Dragon books
Malcolm Saville
Roger Lancelyn Green - around age 8, I was totally hooked on Tales of the Greek Heroes, but he also did one on King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table and on Robin Hood.
I loved Ruth Manning-Sanders various retellings of fairy tales, which were illustrated by the wonderful Robin Jacques. (Actually, I've always loved fairytales/folk tales/myths and legends, and recently read Philip Pullman's Grimms Tales.)
Cynthia Harnett - The Wool Pack
Dorothy Edwards - My Naughty Little Sister
Elizabeth Enright - The Melendy Family series
KM Peyton - some of them are written for older readers, but there are some which others would be okay for some younger readers.
Margaret Mahy - I loved her books for teenagers, but she wrote for younger readers, too, like the Downhill Crocodile Whizz.

Howaboutthisone · 09/05/2015 19:52

Also loved Lottie and Lisa that they then based a film on.

Howaboutthisone · 09/05/2015 19:50

Sweet valley twins then high
The babysitters club
Mrs pepperpot
Magic faraway tree?
Point horror- I think I pretended to like these as they were the thing at the time!
Judy Blume

Tanaqui · 09/05/2015 19:45

The noel streatfeild books were only published as a loose "shoes" series in the US- dancing shoes was original wintles wonders, skating shoes was white boots,party shoes was party frock- they work better as stand alone books I think.

HenriettaTurkey · 09/05/2015 19:44

I loved The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier.

Tanaqui · 09/05/2015 19:42

The alanna books are by Tamora Pierce- the first one is song of the lioness.

I don't know the travelling children one but it sounds good!

Also love noel streatfeild, Diana wynne jones, chalet school, Antonio forest's Marlowe books.

More recent authors to try might be Hilary McKay, or Sarah Rees Brennan? (Older than 7!)

HappySpills · 09/05/2015 19:40

The Bagthorpe Saga, starting with Ordinary Jack, by Helen Cresswell, was great.

Yellowaveo59 · 09/05/2015 19:39

Goosebumps

ConcreteElephant · 09/05/2015 19:36

Siiiiiiiigh, I loved Milly Molly Mandy!

DMIL has just bought DD a reissued vintage looking edition (her DD enjoyed it as a child but she had no idea I'd loved it too) and the memories have come flooding back as I read it with DD. It's just delightful and I find I almost remember it word for word.

I also really liked Five Dolls in a House. I wish I'd kept that one.

siiiiiiiiigh · 09/05/2015 19:28

stig of the dump
skellig
my friend flicka
milly molly mandy
The Midnight Fox - betsy byres. A totally underrated, US author. If you have an introverted 8 year old boy - wow. Her characters are just beautifully written.

EnlightenedOwl · 09/05/2015 19:09

Judith M Berrisford "Jackie and Misty" "Skipper" (books about white Alsatian)
Trebizon
Enid Blyton - Malory Towers St Clares Secret Seven Famous Five, Findouters, also by Blyton Shadow the Sheepdog, Children of Green Meadows (nice book that),
Ruby Ferguson - Jill Pony books
Mary Gervaise pony books - Georgie and Spot
Patricia Leitch - Jinny and Shantih, Dream of Fair Horses, etc
Chalet School

balletnotlacrosse · 06/05/2015 11:19

I agree that White Boots isn't one of Noel Streatfeild's best. But books like The Painted Garden, Tennis Shoes, and Curtain Up are excellent, although none of her books lives up to Ballet Shoes which is a classic.

MissRabbitsCV · 05/05/2015 21:53

What about the Lorna Hill Sadlers Wells books? Are they even published anymore?!

HammerToFall · 05/05/2015 21:43

Don't know if it's been mentioned but definitely Paul danziger

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