Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

MNHQ

Which book(s) made you or your child love reading? Tell us for a chance to win A Child of Books goodie bag including book caddy!

144 replies

SorchaMumsnet · 07/09/2016 10:14

From picture book giant Oliver Jeffers and typographic artist Sam Winston comes a magical and unforgettable new story - which will encourage readers of all ages to question, explore and imagine.

A Child of Books tells the tale of a little girl who sails a raft across a sea of words and invites a little boy to come away with her on an adventure through a land of stories.

The book uses Oliver’s signature handwriting and artwork together with Sam’s typographic landscapes, shaped from printed extracts of 42 classic books and lullabies.

To celebrate the publication of A Child of Books, just tell us the book (or books) that first made you or your child love reading. Post your answer here for a chance to win a signed copy of the book, a limited edition print and tote bag, plus a brilliant book caddy to store your books at home.

This discussion is sponsored by Walker Books and will end on 5 October

Books T&Cs apply

Which book(s) made you or your child love reading? Tell us for a chance to win A Child of Books goodie bag including book caddy!
OP posts:
Leiajulie · 09/09/2016 16:20

all of the faraway tree books by enid blyton

fuzzywuzzy · 09/09/2016 15:53

My youngest used to hate reading because she struggled a bit and none of the books available particularly interested her.

Then one year using her world book day voucher (which she was refusing to use) I got her the Holly Webb book 'The Clever little Kitten' I bought it as she likes animals.

It totally transformed her, she actually asked me for the next book in the series for her birthday I bought the box set for her. She actually used to carry the books around with her wherever she went, and got all her friends into Holly Webb books and they'd swap books and get excited when the next one came out.

I credit that world book day book as the turning point in engaging my DD and starting a love of reading for her.

rachelmi · 09/09/2016 15:44

My son loved Usbourne 100 first words book

jakesmum1179 · 09/09/2016 13:19

I was a huge fan of Enid Blyton and had most of her books handed down to me from my sisters. I still have our original copy of The Faraway Tree and The Wishing Chair.

freefan · 09/09/2016 12:45

I used to love the 'Read it Yourself' series of books with the writing on one side and a large picture on the other, My babies have had books right from the start and their favourite just now is The Very Hungry Caterpillar

PseudoBadger · 09/09/2016 12:27

DS is finally spellbound by Winnie the Pooh! Although he has enjoyed picture books before (the Fergus series was a particular favourite) and usborne non-fiction books, WtP seems to be just right for him now.
DD however loves all books and I can't wait for her to be able to read!

Bubblebloodypop · 09/09/2016 12:24

The Faraway Tree stories were the first ones to really capture my imagination. They took me away into another world and I spend many happy hours there.

alibabbaskeggy · 09/09/2016 12:22

I loved any roald dahl books they were just so magical

liz1970 · 09/09/2016 12:11

I used to love anything by Enid Blyton when i was younger, The Magic Faraway tree being my favourite :)

Ferryfairy · 09/09/2016 12:07

Secret seven, Famous Five and Mallory Towers for me!

aimeecmp · 09/09/2016 11:07

My eldest was an early reader (preschool). She loved Big Mum Plum about a Mummy pig and piglets. Then it was Julia Donaldson's Songbird Collection 1 as she could learn to read with it.

Annieg1234 · 09/09/2016 10:58

when I was a child I think the first book that had a massive impact on me was 'Goodnight Mr Tom' such an amazing story. My daughter began her love of books with the Gruffulo and Hungry Caterpillar.

funkyfish586 · 09/09/2016 10:55

My children love to read but the books they love the most are Diary of a wimpy kid, Jacqueline Wilson, Goosebumps and Captain underpants

asuwere · 09/09/2016 10:34

For me it was The Folk of the Faraway Tree - my mum started reading it to me and I loved it, I had to finish it then I got the rest of the books in the series. Still love reading it now and hope it captures the imagination of my DC.

IAmAPaleontologist · 09/09/2016 10:26

We've always read to the kids. Lots of picture books when small (we have lots of Oliver Jeffers) and moving on following their interests. They have all enjoyed Roald Dahl and such. I think I consider the pivotal point as being a book which made them really want to read and not stop rather than just me reading a chapter with them before bed. For the biggest that happened last summer at age 8 and a half. Before then he read short bits and bobs, comics and fact books but had never been totally dragged into a story until we started Phillip Pullman Adventures of the New Cut Gang and he started sneaking the book to bed to keep reading. I was thrilled. Since then he has got into Pratchett and gaiman, has read the hobbit, swallows and amazons and all sorts.

Dd has always been a reader, it just happened with her, she needs no encouragement just a steady supply of books!

Ds2 isn't reading independently yet but loves to listen and adores audio books.

BellaWella86 · 09/09/2016 10:23

For me - It was 'Jacqueline Wilson' books. For my daughter, its Biff, Chip and Kipper!

witchywoohoo · 09/09/2016 10:16

My little boy has always adored being read to and reading but I will always remember the morning I woke up and could hear him chattering away to himself. I crept next door to his room and stood at the door to find this tiny three year old creature reciting The Giant Jam Sandwich word for word. He loved the cadence and the rhyme and the alliteration. Now he's six and has moved on to Big boy books but he still creeps in to the room when I am reading it to his two year old sister.

firawla · 09/09/2016 10:13

Harry Potter made a big impact on ds1, that's the first series he's been desperate to read. My younger ones were similar with the dragon masters series which is also really good!

katiefish · 09/09/2016 10:11

For me it was the jolly postman for my little one is disney fairy tales

BL0SS0M · 09/09/2016 10:11

My daughter loves her dr seuss boxset which has three different reading abilities stages (yellow, green and blue backed books) and great rhymes! She has really come on in leaps and bounds since she started them!

allthecarbs · 09/09/2016 10:08

Too many to mention! I LOVED the brambly hedge books, they became so real to me that I forget they're a book.
Also loved the Jacqueline Wilson books, Angus thongs and perfect snogging as a young teen. I still do love the Harry Potter books, they meant so much to me.

TippiNoodlegruder · 09/09/2016 10:03

My eldest started with Mr Men! Now at nearly 12 he's a voracious reader, with particular favourites being Neil Gaiman's Fortunately The Milk and the Tom Gates series.

4 year old started his bedtime story tradition at 2 with "Wake Up" (and up, and up) every night for a week and a half. He now knows many books off by heart, and is looking forward to learning to read himself!

Youngest is a huge fan of Wibbly Pig.

I love reading with my children and I'm so glad they all enjoy books as much as I do as an adult!

CopperPan · 09/09/2016 09:49

DD's favourite was Where the Wild Things Are, she used to ask for it every single night for a while.

Other favourites were the Mr Men books and Thomas the Tank Engine.

ahigney · 09/09/2016 09:42

For me that special book was Anne of Green Gables,but for my son Diary of Wimpy Kid!How the times have changed!!

Elizasmum02 · 09/09/2016 08:58

im such a bookworm i will literally read anything,my daughter wasnt a huge fan until i read her toms midnight garden now she loves to read as much as i do !