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Children's books

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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?

OP posts:
francagoestohollywood · 05/03/2009 13:27

And Pollyanna

francagoestohollywood · 05/03/2009 13:26

At around her age my favourite were:

Little Women

The diary of Anne Frank

Astrid Lindgren "Madicken"

OrmIrian · 05/03/2009 13:24

Oh I forgot Carbonel! I loved those

Also Wolves of Willoughby Chase and the rest of the series. Joan Aiken I think. Brilliant!

BlueCowWonderss · 05/03/2009 13:19

Series of Unfortunate events? My dd addicted to the audio book! but loves the real books too

Notquitegrownup · 05/03/2009 13:18

Echoing lots of the suggestions above - I think I might now want a dd so that we can read Anne of Green Gables together!!

I also remember discovering and loving the Mary Poppins books at around that age. Don't know if they are still in print, but they were great fun. Haven't thought about them in more than 30 years

silverfrog · 05/03/2009 13:16

Oh, Nina Bawden stuff was great, as were some of the Penelope Lively books too.

Oh, can't wait fo rmy dds to be old enough to read all these

Original poster
castille · 05/03/2009 13:15

Yes we've got the original French version of Le Petit Prince (DH is French) which she would read if I could find it....

OP posts:
PestoMonster · 05/03/2009 13:14

the

Carbonel series was pretty impressive and both my dds (11 and 9) loved 'em.

Also would second other peeps' suggestions of Noel Streatfield books, Mary Plain series by Gwynnedd Rae and Arthur Ransome's Swallows & Amazons series.

BlueCowWonderss · 05/03/2009 13:13

or The secret passage - Nina Bawden. My dc loved it read aloud, but dd also reread herself. Is Carrie's war too scary? (I remember being frightened!).

Or what about the indian in the cupboard - Lynne Reid Banks. Just started it and seems to be good, although I don't know how it ends!

Iklboo · 05/03/2009 13:13

I loved

Rufus (about a boy in a children's home)
Bogwoppit
The Katy Did series
Little Women

Gorionine · 05/03/2009 13:10

This is a book I loved when I was a child I might have been a bit younger than your DD and read it in the original French version.

fishie · 05/03/2009 13:10

a little princess
the wind on teh moon - eric linklater
any e nesbit

Original poster
castille · 05/03/2009 13:08

She's read and enjoyed Ballet Shoes (and other Streatfeild) and Pippi Longstocking...

Lots of great ideas, thank you all, those should keep her busy for ages

OP posts:
cocolepew · 05/03/2009 13:08

Malory Towers
St Clairs
Judy Blume books, though some may be a little old for her, depending on how much about puberty she knows.

silverfrog · 05/03/2009 13:05

Haven't read the whole thread, so will probably be repeating a lot, but at that age I was reading:

Narnia series
Anne of green Gables series
Dr Dolittle books (re-reading really, they can be quite young)
Finn family Moomintroll series
Ballet shoes (and others, so White Boots, the Painted garden, etc)
I am David
Secret garden
Over Sea Under Stone (plus the rest - a bit grown up, maybe?)

will have a think about more

BlueCowWonderss · 05/03/2009 13:03

Ballet shoes and Gemma series by Noel Stretfeild

EachPeachPearMum · 05/03/2009 13:01

Swallows and Amazons (best one is actually Swallowdale)
Pippi Longstocking
Malory Towers
Chalet School
Weirdstone of Brisingamen
Anne of Green Gables
The Box of Delights
Mary Plain

LoveMyGirls · 05/03/2009 13:00

Far away tree by enid blyton, I loved Enid when I was a child still do.

Hotcrossbunny · 05/03/2009 12:54

When Hitler Stole Pink rabbit - Judith Kerr

Angela Brazil stories were a huge favourite.

Loved Pollyanna

Ballet Shoes etc

Second Kizzy

I can't wait for dd(5) to be able to read these.

Original poster
castille · 05/03/2009 12:51

Ah yes, Kizzy! I read that in class at primary school and loved it.

OP posts:
Simplysally · 05/03/2009 12:48

Rumer Goden books are in my local library - poss as the librarian is ancient.

Original poster
castille · 05/03/2009 12:47

I don't know Little White Horse, Green Smoke or Ingo books, but will have a look. She likes easy books as much as hard ones - she still re-reads the Naughtiest Girl in the School and other Blyton often ans would def like Malory Towers etc.

The Narnias and Swallows & Amazons are at my parents' house so will pick them up next time.

OP posts:
Merrylegs · 05/03/2009 12:46

Rumer Godden. 'Miss Happiness and Miss Flower'.

(still in print and poss on Amazon!)

Bliss!

renaldo · 05/03/2009 12:45

pollyanna

Simplysally · 05/03/2009 12:43

I loved The Family at One-End Street (another series) but it may not be readily available now [old emoticon].

Also the Drina series about a girl who wants to be a ballerina. Probably very hard to get now.

For more adventure books, Malcolm Saville wrote a couple of series: The Lone Pine Club books which are mostly set in Wales but some are in Sussex. There was another series for slightly younger children. I forget the name now but the characters were Mandy, Prue, Tim, their friends and Mandy's widowed father who was called the Gaffer . Will google and come back with title.

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