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Children's books

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Share your FAVOURITE CHILDREN'S BOOK for a chance to win £100 to spend at Wordery

361 replies

UrsulaMumsnet · 04/01/2016 10:00

The books you love as a child stay with you forever, they live inside your imagination and shape the way you see the world. There's nothing quite like sharing these stories with a new generation. Watching as their imaginations are captured by the very same tales of giants, magical lands and adventures that once enthralled us.

That's why this year we want to put together the ultimate children's reading list; the comprehensive guide to stories you think no child should grow up without. We'd like you to share your favourites, old or new, and tell us all the reasons why you think they deserve a place on this list.

We'll take the recommendations from this thread and scour the boards for more, to create the ultimate list of children's books. Then we'll put it to vote in attempt to find the best children's book ever written. Because well, who doesn't love a poll?

So, tell us why you think the books you love should make the list, and you'll be entered into a prize draw to win £100 to spend at online book retailer Wordery

Share your FAVOURITE CHILDREN'S BOOK for a chance to win £100 to spend at Wordery
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InternationalHouseofToast · 09/02/2016 11:43

Gosh, I've just seen the message in my Mumsnet Inbox - I never win anything. Thank you Oliver Postgate!

I am so chuffed Grin. DH may be less delighted at how many books we can buy with £100. We've never bought that many books at one time. Grin DS will be thrilled.

Toomanycats99 · 05/02/2016 20:13

Too many to choose from. Probably the faraway tree set from Enid blyton. I have bought them all again as an adult.

Cupcakemumma11 · 05/02/2016 20:08

It always has been and always will be Matilda for me. I always loved the book and now my daughter shares the same love for the book too :0)

UrsulaMumsnet · 02/02/2016 14:33

This competition has now closed and the winner is InternationalHouseofToast! Congratulations! Thank you everyone for your wonderful recommendations. We've made a list of the most popular books and set up a poll so that you can vote! Go to this page to choose your favourite.

OP posts:
RoosterCogburn · 01/02/2016 19:45

Antonia Forest's Marlow series - I can't choose one because I loved them all. Sadly they are out of print now although GGBP are re-reprinting them slowly.

If I had to choose an available book it would probably be Charley or When Marnie was there by Joan G Robinson

Crackers83 · 01/02/2016 19:36

I loved The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton, The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy, and also Stanley Bagshawe books - my Dad used to read them to us and we loved them. For Younger children i Love each peach pear plum and going on a bear hunt. Stories and books were so magical to me as a child and I love the fact my daughter loves reading too. My mum always said that you always have a friend with a book and I'd have to agree x

Lucynraffi · 01/02/2016 17:42

The phantom tollbooth by Norton Juster is a magical journey through the English language. It works on many levels for readers of all ages as its unlikely hero Milo attempts to rescue the two princesses, Rhyme and Reason.

lornies79 · 01/02/2016 09:10

Roald Dahl's The BFG. My childhood fave by far!

marymod · 31/01/2016 23:29

My favourite was The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge, the book is still on my shelf and I recently discovered it had been filmed and bought myself the DVD as a treat to myself.

1stWorldProblems · 31/01/2016 23:25

Best book for kids ever - so much so I've just had to have my copy (from childhood) rebound, is Richard Scarry's 'What Do People Do All Day' - it's full of useful information about how the world works - how roads are built, post delivered, cotton manufactured, etc. with cheerful illustrations & animals (instead of people) explaining complicated concepts far more clearly than I as an adult can. A friend's child called it the "Explains Everything book" and he was right. It's brill - though try to track down the older (92-page) editions rather than the newer (62-page for no obvious reason) ones.

sofaloafbanana · 31/01/2016 23:07

The three books I read over and over were Charlotte's Web, Bridge to Terabithia, and From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler. The first was my introduction to love and loss, the second was a tearjerker that made me understand the true emotional power that books can have, and the third had the character I wanted to be--a strong, free-willed, rebellious, twelve year old. Amazing books.

GeorgeW78 · 25/01/2016 23:59

The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton, it really captured my imagination as a child. I read it numerous times, it turned me into a reader!

Sugarkane81 · 25/01/2016 19:21

I used to adore reading the puddle lane books as a child.

WowOoo · 25/01/2016 18:19

Goodnight Moon by Margaret W Brown has very happy/ tired memories for me.
I can recite it off by heart the number of times my son used to ask for it. Sometimes at 3 am!

When we were 'sorting' old books to donate to the charity shop he told me to keep it as he still thinks the pictures are 'random, but cool'... After all these years.

Poppycooo · 25/01/2016 18:17

We have just recently gotten into the Secret Kingdom books, and I must say, I can never wait for the next chapter!

piggypoo · 25/01/2016 17:58

A favourite book of our childhood, was Faeries, by Brian Froud, the illustrations are so beautiful and it kept us, and our kids entertained for hours, just looking at the beautiful art work.

nanoobaku · 25/01/2016 17:12

Loved stig of the dump and a trip to Stonehenge gave a sense of realism to it

tishist · 25/01/2016 15:33

Alice in Wonderland - such an impression

avery64 · 25/01/2016 15:24

As a retired teacher there were many books that I used to inspire a love of reading in my pupils but the outstanding one has to be Kensuke's Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo. I used to save it until the stresses and strains of SATs were over and then in the summer term we would share this treat in our literacy lessons every morning. It is an amazing story that even the toughest of my Y6 boys have been known to 'rub their eyes' as the story reaches its moving conclusion. It is also one that leaves the reader guessing whether the story is fact or fiction. A gem that is worthy of a place in the top 10 let alone the top 100. In my heart it will always be number one :)

cathyov · 25/01/2016 14:58

I loved Enid Blyton when I was a child but the book I loved reading most with my family was Five Minutes Peace by Jill Murphy - I think I would have made a very good Mrs Large!

hutchina1986 · 25/01/2016 13:54

My favourite ever childrens book is 'The Magic Faraway Tree' by Enid Blyton. I've lost count how many times I have read it and i'm now reading it to my 5 year old

keshimonster · 25/01/2016 13:35

My favourite was Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner. It is a timeless classic loved by old and young :)

lexiemac13 · 25/01/2016 13:00

My favourite book as a child was Noddy and the Magic Rubber by Enid Blyton. I have fond memories of my nana reading that to me when I was younger and I spent many nights reading it to myself in bed as a young child too! I've chosen it as my favourite also because I now enjoy reading the same story to my two children and sharing my memories with them too. It takes me back to being a child :)

castleton · 25/01/2016 12:56

My favourite is the Narnia books

meggysar · 25/01/2016 12:34

I love all the classic fairytale books like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty Three Little Pigs etc. These are just timeless.