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Original poster

DD2 (9) wants to know what your best ever children's book is

137 replies

castille · 05/03/2009 12:10

She recently read Heidi and loved it, and wants to read some more "brilliant stories".

Any suggestions?

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MorocconOil · 14/03/2009 11:55

The silver Sword is a great book. I am going to get it for the DSs.

Thumbwitch, think I may read the Emma books again. We were on holiday in Scotland this year and went to some islands. Bet Emma's Isand is set on one of the Inner Hebrides.

mumzy · 14/03/2009 07:09

Carrie's War - Nina Bawden
The Secret Garden- Frances Hodgson-Burnett
All the Roahl Dahl books
All the Harry Potter books
The Diddakoi - Rumer Godden
I am David
The Railway Children - E.Nesbit
Anne of Green Gables -LM Montgomery
I like these books as the are unsentimental but sensitively portrays the world as it is and people as the flawed individuals they often are

thumbwitch · 13/03/2009 22:25

oh yes, I have the silver sword somewhere too..
loved all the moomin books.

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 13/03/2009 22:23

I have treasured copies them Eight Cousins and Rose In Bloom too Thumbwitch - DD1 (11) has read them and loves them too. Also another couple of books by LMA: An Old-Fashioned Girl and Underneath the Lilacs.

GodzillasBumcheek · 13/03/2009 22:22

The Hobbit

Or alternatively, 'Comet In moominland' by Tove Janssen.

maxpower · 13/03/2009 22:20

The Silver Sword by Ian Serallier

thumbwitch · 13/03/2009 21:56

Talking of less well known books by authors of really famous series - I have 2 by L.M.Alcott (of Little women etc. fame) called Eight Cousins (or the Aunt
Hill) and Rose in Bloom. Perfect for the same age group as Little Women - I love them. But I got them in a second hand book shop when I was young, so goodness knows how you'd get hold of them now!

thumbwitch · 13/03/2009 21:53

Yes mimizan - The High House was the first one, then Emma's Island - can't remember whether or not I have Emma in Love but I have the first 2. Good books - liked them!

MorocconOil · 13/03/2009 15:06

Takver, didn't read those ones.
Pinkteddy, I loved MMM, as have my DC. My Dad refused to read them to me as he thought they were reactionary.

Jux · 13/03/2009 15:06

Takver, dd is 9 now, but I started reading The Princess & the Goblin to her about 18m ago. She said it was boring

Fennel · 13/03/2009 15:04

Oh yes, I know the Emma series. I liked those. Honor Arundel. The high house (?) was the first, Emma's Island, Emma in love. She wrote other books about Scottish teenagers too, I remember The longest weekend about a teenage mother.

pinkteddy · 13/03/2009 15:00

Lucy Mangan's book corner is the Guardian family section every week. This is no 3 - Book corner - she is up to no 21 at the moment. Some great reading suggestions for children and a very funny column.

Takver · 13/03/2009 15:00

Don't remember those - but they reminded me of Emily of New Moon - by LM Montgomery of Anne of GG fame - I almost liked them more, but maybe just because I felt they were 'special' to me, whereas everyone read Anne of GG.

MorocconOil · 13/03/2009 14:52

'Emma in Love' was another series of four about a girl who was orphaned and went to live with her bohemian aunt in Edinburgh. Can anyone remember that series?

Takver · 13/03/2009 14:50

You're quite right Mimizan - had forgotten the fourth one, is Goodbye Gemma (just looked on Amazon!)

MorocconOil · 13/03/2009 14:47

Just googled it, and it's Good-bye Gemma.

MorocconOil · 13/03/2009 14:45

Takver, I think there were four. Possibly Gemma in Love??

Mumcentreplus · 13/03/2009 14:44

Yes mimizan...my mum still has mine in her attic gathering dust somewhere!

MorocconOil · 13/03/2009 14:44

Ah Gemma. They were great books. I remember reading them all one summer holiday when we went to Suffolk. I loved the photos on the cover. Must see if they are still at my Mum's house.

Takver · 13/03/2009 14:39

There were 3 I think - Gemma, Gemma & Sisters & Gemma Alone. I have them stashed in my box of childhood books (perhaps this is the best advantage of being an only child? DH has lost all of his childhood books to the general family melee )

MorocconOil · 13/03/2009 14:36

Was that 'Gemma and her Sisters', about a family who were all very theatrical/musical?

Mumcentreplus · 13/03/2009 14:29

Charlotte's Web was my abso fav,loved Secret Seven and Famous five books too and the 'Gemma' books...

Fennel · 13/03/2009 14:28

George MacDonald would be for older children wouldn't he? There's rather a lot of death in his books. As a child I was scared by the Princess and the goblins and the Princess and Curdie and At the back of the north wind, but I'm sure I was quite a bit older than 6 or 7.

Takver · 13/03/2009 14:25

How old is your DD, Jux?
I have put Princess & the Goblins aside as I reckoned my DD was a bit young yet - I bought it to read aloud to her, but I think she will enjoy it more in a year or so (she is 6 going on 7).

MissM · 13/03/2009 14:05

I also have all three! Hurrah - can sell when old and destitute. Although I'm more excited that there are people out there who have actually read them as no-one I knew had. As far as I was concerned I was the only child in the entire world to have even heard of them.

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