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Children's books

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Original poster

Children's books still enjoyable for adults

86 replies

Tigertots · 05/10/2017 11:06

Anne of Green Gables

Richmal Crompton's William books

Jacqueline Wilson (my own personal faves being Sleepovers, Candyfloss, and Bad Girls)

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett: I first read it when I was 14, nearly 15, having seen it in WHSmith's, and correctly identified it as a book with "Anne of Green Gables appeal". When my English teacher learned I was reading ALP, she said "That's very young for you; really good stuff, but it is a book for 11-year-olds."

Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce, and Cold Christmas by Nina Beachcroft (two very similar books; the latter is, sadly, out-of-print and under-rated).

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 30/10/2017 20:34

The Michael Morpurgo chikdren’s novels. I couldn’t put down “When the Wales Came”.

LouiseBrooks · 30/10/2017 20:26

"How about Pamela Hill's 'Swish of the Curtain'?"

Bless I haven't thought about this for years, thank you for reminding me. It was one of my favourite books when I was young. (I'm 61 btw.)

BelligerentGardenPixies · 30/10/2017 20:23

The Sea of Trolls trilogy.

tarheelbaby · 30/10/2017 20:22

Yy to Laura Ingalls Wilder. I re-read these recently with DD and loved them all over again. If you like them I recommend the annotations which explain some things Laura glosses over. Although they are stories, I don't think they can be beat for a picture of daily life in that era.

Frances Hodgson Burnett has also stood the test. I read Secret Garden and Little Princess to DD and loved them all over again too.

Did any of you read the Nancy Drew mysteries? I also enjoyed All of a Kind Family when I was young. This series followed a Jewish family recently arrived in NYC in the early 1900s.

I haven't re-read any of Judy Blume's books for children but still remember the Fudge books.

BikeRunSki · 30/10/2017 20:08

Actually, very good point YouCanStay. I was trying to say that AM books are not children’s books - that you have to be at least teenage - and you’ve said it much better than me. Smile

Youcanstayundermyumbrella · 30/10/2017 19:52

But a lot of the jokes in the first two Adrian Mole books won't be obvious to someone his age. Some because they only really strike home once you're out of adolescence yourself (the general teenage stuff) and some because they're written in a deliberately naive way - does another 13 year old spot his mother's affair for example? The 'real time' account of the school trip is funny when you read it as a young person but far funnier once you read it through the eyes of the teachers.

BikeRunSki · 30/10/2017 19:47

I have read and enjoyed I Capture The Castle as a child and an adult. Also The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

I think to understand and enjoy Adrian Mole, you need to be roughly the same age as him in each book. I was 13 when the first one was published and grew up with him, as they are written roughly in real time.

BlessYourCottonSocks · 30/10/2017 19:39

I love Joan Aiken! Also still read Milly Molly Mandy.

Yes, also to Malcolm Saville (love the username Witchend) I wanted to be Peter as a child. She was fabulous.

Pony books for me were Pullein-Thompson or the 'Jill' series by Ruby Ferguson. Lorna Hill books on ballet (as well as Ballet Shoes). How about Pamela Hill's 'Swish of the Curtain'?

It's interesting that we've all read lots of the same books - how old are you, folks? (I'm 51)

MaroonPencil · 30/10/2017 17:57

Oh, also The Stolen Lake by Joan Aiken!

MaroonPencil · 30/10/2017 17:57

I regularly re-read The Children of Green Knowe (every Christmas), The Dark is Rising, A Country Child and Magic in my Pocket, both by Alison Uttley, and The Changeover. Also the Narnia books, and a book called Camerons at the Castle which I used to love. Oh, and a set of books about Susan - Susan Rushes In etc. Also The Once and Future King and The Wizard of Earthsea series but I really think those are more like adult books, especially later on the series.

DoraChance · 30/10/2017 17:51

Omg thanks for the Green Knowe tip, I’m planning a visit!

Witchend · 30/10/2017 16:15

Monica Edwards
Malcolm Saville
Violet Needham
Antonia Forest
Gwendoline Courtney
Chalet School
Arthur Catherall
Elizabeth Goudge
John Pudney (Fred and I books)
Geoffrey Trease
Noel Streatfield
Diana Wynne Jones
Joan Aiken's (esp Saddle the sea group)

GrockleBocs · 30/10/2017 14:46

I like Mr Gum books. I'm 47

CoolCarrie · 30/10/2017 14:44

Love Milly Molly Mandy, with Little Friend Susan, and those wonderful line drawings.

MrsMarigold · 30/10/2017 14:41

I read my DC The Little Princess now on Little Lord Fauntleroy and recently reread 101 Dalmatians.

I see therein a new Anne of Green Gables tv series on Netflix kids and when I was ill I watched some.

SolidHair · 30/10/2017 14:31

I still read my ‘Milly Molly Mandy’ books Halloween Blush!

Wobblebeans · 30/10/2017 14:23

Goodnight Mr Tom

Harry Potter

A little princess

I end up re-reading these every couple of years

catkind · 30/10/2017 14:18

Ooh, I used to love the changeover, lost my copy somewhere over the years. Perhaps I'll buy it again. There was another Mahy one but I only have a vague impression of a teenager with a walkman and a leather jacket, and I don't know if that was my interpretation or actually in the book! Of course there's the risk that they'll be disappointing on adult reading, a lot of things have been.

EBearhug · 30/10/2017 14:14

Margaret Mahy, not May.

Stupid autocorrect. Smile

CMOTDibbler · 30/10/2017 14:12

EBearHug - oh yes, I love The Changeover, and The Catalogue of the Universe

catkind · 30/10/2017 14:11

I'm a serial rereader of Diana Wynne Jones. Not sure about the literary merit, but they're fantastic comfort food.

Youcanstayundermyumbrella · 30/10/2017 14:06

Adrian Mole was written for adults!

BlessYourCottonSocks · 30/10/2017 14:04

ooh...anyone remember Quest for Orion? I loved that.

EBearhug · 30/10/2017 14:03

Margaret May - I loved her young adult ones, especially the Changeover. Also John Marsden's ^Tomorrow When the War Began" series.

BowiesJumper · 30/10/2017 14:03

Apart from lots mentioned here already, Rosemary Sutcliffe books - Eagle of The Ninth and others.