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Children's books

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Original poster

What really stands out when you think of your childhood books?

306 replies

invisiblegorilla · 30/12/2015 19:58

For me:

The Chalet School series. The early ones, when Jo was still a pupil! I brought them second hand. Eustacia, Elisaveta and so on. I remember when Jo and co. were given their prefect rooms in the new building and being in love with the descriptions/idea of it all.

Nancy Drew. Can't remember which ones, it's just a lot of investigations and stories blended it together in my memory.

The Chronicles of Narnia. I found the last book a little strange, but I read the first three over and over again.

And anything by Roald Dahl. There's a lot more (anything to do with boarding schools and midnight feasts had me obsessed) but I'm curious about what books other people remember the most.

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TheWeeBabySeamus1 · 30/12/2015 21:14

TheCrazyDuchess I think I know what series you mean ( but once again my memory completely fails me ). There were a few books all about teenage vampires/werewolves etc. They all had names like Willow or Jade/Amber etc. This was in the mid 90s - was that when you meant?

ShadowsCollideIsSurroundedByAd · 30/12/2015 21:13

Sweet Valley Twins / High
The Babysitters Club
Point Horror
The Power (anyone else remember these?) A series of books about a teenage psychic called Mackenzie Gold. There was a book called 'The Catacombs' that I found particularly chilling aged twelve. I've been trying to buy these On Amazon / eBay to no avail Blush.
The Saddle Club
Scrambled Legs

I didn't exactly have great taste in literature as a child Grin.

Oh, I also loved Judy Blume and Paula Danzinger. I've actually read some one of Judy Blue's adult novels and quite enjoyed it.

RiverTam · 30/12/2015 21:11

There's a second one in the series which used to be called The Other Way Round, though I think the title has changed now. Do read it, it's just as good.

PestoFestivio · 30/12/2015 21:09

From when I was really young,

Ant & Bee
Harry the dirty dog
Teddy Robinson

TheCrazyDuchess · 30/12/2015 21:08

Can anyone remember what the "Twilight" series if that year was?? I am sure there was some kind of magical type book series?? (Or maybe I am out of my mind??)

DansonslaCapucine · 30/12/2015 21:07

Childhood - Enid Blyton and Nancy Drew.

Age 11 to 13 - everything Judy Blume wrote. 'Deenie' and 'Are You There God, It's Me Margaret?' stand out.

Sweet Valley High books were next. All of them. Cried when Regina died.

Then the Christopher Pike horror books. Nice boys in my second year Science class lent me them all.

Lots of other books too. I borrowed from the library prolifically.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 30/12/2015 21:07

All of Enid Blyton
Trebizon
Sue Barton Nursing books
Ann of Green Gables
Sweet Valley High / Cheerleaders
Judy Bloom

TheCrazyDuchess · 30/12/2015 21:05

Sweet valley high Grin

MiddleAgeMiddleEngland · 30/12/2015 21:03

Virtually all Enid Bylton, from Noddy to all the school stories. (I went on to get a degree in Eng Lit so all the fuss about them seems irrelevant Grin).

Alison Uttley's Sam Pig books - I loved those and read them so many times.

What Katie Did, etc, and the Anne of Green Gables books.

The Secret Garden and A Little Princess. I once read The Secret Garden three times in a row, curled up in a big armchair, aged about 8. Bliss.

Also, lots of Ladybird books, non-fiction like What to Look for at the Seaside, What to Look for in Spring, etc. I had a whole collection of them but now only have a few left. I sometimes buy myself replacements if I see nice copies in secondhand bookshops.

SweetestThing · 30/12/2015 21:02

Chalet School, Malory Towers and St Clare's, most other Enid Blyton, Anne of Green Gables, Ballet Shoes, Bobbsey Twins.

I read Michelle Magorian as an adult and wished her books had been around when I was a child. A Little Love Song is a beautiful book.

Original poster
invisiblegorilla · 30/12/2015 20:59

YES! I've been googling bits of the plot on and off for years and have never been able to find the title. Ahh, and it was set during the 1930s, which makes much more sense. Thank you!

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Friendlystories · 30/12/2015 20:59

Anything and everything by Enid Blyton and Rumer Goddens' Miss Happiness and Miss Flower which I've just read to DD who loved it as much as I did. I was a prolific reader so there's probably about a million more but they're the ones that spring immediately to mind.

TheWeeBabySeamus1 · 30/12/2015 20:58

A Little Love Song - by the same author as Goodnight Mr Tom.

Roald Dahl - all of them! But my favourite was Danny The Champion of the World, beautiful story.

There's another one that really sticks in my mind and I cannot for the life of me remember the title or author. It was set in the US and was about a girl who had a really difficult relationship with her mum but was really close to her dad. Her mum was really harsh and jealous of her being close to her dad ( think the dads name was Zeke ) and lets slip one day that Zeke isn't her real dad, she fell pregnant and Zeke was in love with her so married her. There was a theme about birds and flying throughout - but I can't remember the significance.

I read it in the 90s but think it may have been written in the 70s/80s. Does anyone have an idea of the name of it? Would love to re-read to see if it's as good as I remember. ☺

jellycake · 30/12/2015 20:58

Onemouseplace oh I loved Flambards I read them soon much. I even have the series on DVD. I wanted to marry Will.

Anne of Greengables was another I read and read, went through the whole series.

The Chalet School books Grin

RiverTam · 30/12/2015 20:57

invisuble are you thinking of the Judith Kerr ones, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit?

Kraggle · 30/12/2015 20:56

The Five Find Outers
Magic Faraway Tree
Mr Pinkwhistle
The Ghost of Thomas Kempe
All the Horrible History books
Harry Potter
And there was one about a young girl set after the war who had a stack of paper bought for her after her mum saved up so wrote a diary and she found an unexplored bomb on a beach. (I think that's the gist of it but I can't remember what it's called!)

chocoholicanon · 30/12/2015 20:55

All the Enid Blyton books I devoured, Famous Five, Secret Seven, Magic Faraway Tree.
Heidi was another favourite and the Gentle Giant by Oscar Wilde is s book I've sought out as an adult.

GinandJag · 30/12/2015 20:51

Anything by Enid Blyton - Adventure Series, Secret Seven, Famous Five, Malory Towers etc.

Original poster
invisiblegorilla · 30/12/2015 20:49

There were definitely a lot of books set during WW1 and WW2 on the bookshelves at home and at school, usually from the POV of child protagonists. I remember really enjoying one set during WW2 about a girl who escaped with her family and eventually ended up in France, and her struggle to learn the language and pass the school exams. Can't remember the name or the other details though.

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clopper · 30/12/2015 20:49

Fattipuffs And thinnifers and the faraway tree stand out in my mind from when I was young.

Kingfisherfree · 30/12/2015 20:47

And of course all the Penguin books Porridge Pot, Chicken Licken, Enormous Turnip, Princess and the Pea. My mil has the whole collection I read them myself!

Muskey · 30/12/2015 20:45

Anne of green gables, wind in the willows (my all time favourite book) and Jane eyre

Kingfisherfree · 30/12/2015 20:45

Mrs Pepperpot
The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
A Christmas Carol
Aesops Fables
Adventure Game Booms, eg Citidel of Chaos, Island of the Lizard King and The Forest of Doom.
Judy Bloom books
Gobolina the Witches' cat
Great Expectations
Giant, Myths and Legends
Spike Milligan funny verse

Ludoole · 30/12/2015 20:44

My favourite book was the original penguin paperback of 'Worzel Gummidge'
When i was very small i loved the Blackberry Farm books Smile

KeyserSophie · 30/12/2015 20:41

Roald Dahl, but especially the BFG and the Enormous Crocodile.

Ramona Quimby- was fascinated by all the American terminology. Spent ridiculous amount of time figuring our what a Graham Cracker was.

5 Children and It and the Phoenix and the Carpet.

Goodnight Mr Tom and a book about a post-holocaust society called "Brother in the Land".

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