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Original poster

Which children's books do you STILL read and enjoy?

282 replies

Swizzler · 11/04/2007 19:10

Am re-reading Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising sequence and yes, it is still good

So which children's books did you enjoy as a child and still read - read for your own pleasure, that is, not read to your DCs.

OP posts:
Aloha · 11/04/2007 19:39

I used to love Shirley Temple films as a child - she also had these fabulous frilly bedrooms that I wanted so much. Actually I still watch films just for the decor.
Rooms stay with me in films and literature. I am very shallow!

DrMarthaMcMoo · 11/04/2007 19:38

I longed to live in a garrett and endure Real Hardship

Another book I adored as a child (and must re-read) was The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge. My copy is falling apart at the seams. I read an interview with JK Rowling where she said she'd loved it as a child too and that was the level of detail she strived to put in the Harry Potter books - Goudge has pages and pages describing the food they ate, the crusts on pies etc. Like the list of what Harry will need to take to Hogwarts in the first book - it's all down to Elizabeth Goudge, you know.

JanH · 11/04/2007 19:37

I recently saw an old film of A Little Princess starring Shirley Temple - they mucked about with the story something chronic (Queen Victoria was in it ) but ST could act, there was a fab scene where she chucked her panful of ashes over snotty Lavinia

Original poster
Swizzler · 11/04/2007 19:37

DH introduced me to the William books as an adult and I loved them

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Chocadora · 11/04/2007 19:36

Oh and just finished Treasure Island with my son - oh it was exciting to read it again after so long.

Aloha · 11/04/2007 19:36

Loved Tom's Midnight Garden, Marianne Dreams (so spooky!), I capture the castle, also a thing about a girl going back to the times of Mary Queen of Scots...re-read it recently can't remember the title

Original poster
Swizzler · 11/04/2007 19:35

E Nesbit - found a copy of Hardings Luck recently and was ridiculously excited

OP posts:
Original poster
Swizzler · 11/04/2007 19:35

and gives most of them to an even poorer child

how did I not end up a complete prig? Or perhaps I did

OP posts:
Chocadora · 11/04/2007 19:35

This might get a bit long ..
Dodie Smith (my husband and I used to read this to each other every night)
Asterix
E Nesbit
Elizabeth Goudge
Philippa Pearce
KM Peyton
Green Knowe books
Alison Uttley
All Winnie the Pooh
Wind in the Willows
Lewis Carroll
Walter Farley
Mark Twain
Beatrix Potter
There's be more...

We have so many expressions in our family that come from these books that I love to read them and explain to my children. About to start the Railway Children with them - can't wait!!

Aloha · 11/04/2007 19:33

There is a bit when she is poor with a bag of warm spiced buns that seemed surreally vivid to me as a child.

hana · 11/04/2007 19:33

it is littlefish, I loved that book too

Original poster
Swizzler · 11/04/2007 19:33

Little Women, obviously (and the other ones, though not as good)

OP posts:
Aloha · 11/04/2007 19:33

I yearned to live in her posh room! With a real fire in it - swoon - and cake in a special cupboard!

Original poster
Swizzler · 11/04/2007 19:33

Yes, that's the one . I loved it too, but found it all a bit much re-reading it.

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Littlefish · 11/04/2007 19:32

Oooh Swizzler - is the Little Princess the one where her mother is French, her father dies out in South Africa thinking he's lost all his money in the diamond mines, and she ends up living as a servant in the school she used to attend?

If it is, I absolutely loved that story - desparately wanted to live in the attic!

DrMarthaMcMoo · 11/04/2007 19:31

I'll have to re-read them both now

Original poster
Swizzler · 11/04/2007 19:31

The one big thig I regret about having a boy is that he is unlikely to love the books I did - can't see Ballet Shoes having much appeal

OP posts:
Littlefish · 11/04/2007 19:30

Did anyone ever read Noel Streatfield's "A Vicarage Family". It was one of the later ones I think. I must dig out my copy. It was the first book that ever made me cry.

Original poster
Swizzler · 11/04/2007 19:30

Re-read Secret Garden and Little Princess recentluy - loved LP much more as a child but found SG much better as an adult (if that makes sense)

Not enough to call a child of mine Dickon though

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DrMarthaMcMoo · 11/04/2007 19:28

Sorry...A Little Princess.

Oooh and The Secret Garden of course.

hana · 11/04/2007 19:28

I got out some Little House on the Prairie books a few months ago to read to dd, they were a bit old for her, but I read them to myslef anyways

hana · 11/04/2007 19:27

can't get over how popular the Anne books are - I grew up not far from the red sands of PEI..... have visited her 'home' many times growing up , and as an adult as well! The movies are pretty good too, they were made for tv. still have my set for the dds should they ever be interested!

DrMarthaMcMoo · 11/04/2007 19:27

Oh and "The Little Princess" - Frances Hodgson Burnett - I love that book, must read it again.

JanH · 11/04/2007 19:25

Most (not sure if all) Noel Streatfeilds
Any Anne books, even the grown-up ones
I am David
The Saturdays etc (E Enright)
E Nesbit

Marina · 11/04/2007 19:24

Anne of Green Gables right through to Anne of Ingleside
Elizabeth George Speare: The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Elfrida Vipont: The Lark in the Morn and The Lark on the Wing
Rosemary Sutcliffe: Eagle of the Ninth

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