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

Glad everything is ok. D wants to do all the stuff his big sisyter does and there is a 4 and half year age gap.

Hello mummyhill .

Have been very neglectful of the PN thread - I will come back again I promise . All well in the Dragon household. DD desperately wants to do everything DS does. And the 22 month age gap doens't bother her .

Hi Jack - Mummyhill waves to Idris "are you Ok? We haven't seen you on Post Natal recently. How is little one? Mummyhill now dives back under cover and goes to rummage the bookcase again.

Franny - I suppose you're right. There certainly isn't the slightest hint of "formula" about her books is there? I had to skip quite a bit when reading them to dd - all the stuff about the Catholic church fascinates me, but went straight over her head!

I have tried a few times. But no success yet . I think Antonia Forest said it might not have been one of her better ideas (or something like that) .

I've read (and still have) The Thuggery Affair - it is pretty hard work at times, isn't it?

Ohh memories. I have most of these on the book case, I liberated them from my mothers when I moved out otherwise dad would of gotten rid of them by now. Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising sequence, the "what Katy did" books, "A Little Princess" - Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden, Little Women, good wives and Little Men, Wind in the Willows, Lewis Carroll, Beatrix Potter, E Nesbitt, Treasure Island, The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge, A Painted Garden Noel Streatfeild, Narnia books, Chalet School series, Judy Blume, secret seven, Famous 5, Wishing Chair, Faraway Tree, Bogwoppitt, Punchbowl, Jill, Follyfoot books, Andre Norton, Earthsea Trillogy, Paddington, Box of Delights.

I am thoroughly enjoying reading lots of thes out loud to DD at bedtime.

I probably have many more as well, I kind of collect books as in the all end up being good friends and I can't get rid of any of them. This will cause problems later as I am sure the kids will want to take their books with them when they move out and I want to keep some of them myself. Especially the Lynley Dodd and Julia Donaldson books.

Rilla of Ingleside made me cry .

Has anyone read The Thuggery Affair (Antonia Forest)? I couldn't manage to read it at all (which disappointed me a lot).

Elidor - and the Owl Service
And especially The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and its sequel the Moon of Gomrath

another vote for the Chalet School, but I haven't got many left now - Mum took some to the charity shop without asking me ages ago. Including one belonging to my friend! She wasn't amused as she has them all!
Also loved Kizzy - Rumer Godden. Bought that one again on Amazon.

Sorry, seeker, I assumed you were just talking about the school stories

Perhaps that is one of the reasons her books are so insanely good?

hunker I know the alarm clock timetravel book you mean
freaky

Hunkermunker - my dd is reading the Trebizon books ATM - and the Jill books as well. I was a bit disappointed in them - I don't think they have "survived"as well of some others.

Is the "cave"one - Swallowdale by Arthur Ransome, Maccapacca?

FraneyandZooey - she still didn't write many compared to - say - Monica Edwards.(Not to mention the Enid Blyton factory!!) I think Falconer's Lure is one of my favourite books, adult or children's and I would recommend it to anyone.

Anything by Enid Blyton.

Secret 7 and Malory Towers especially.

Cant wait til the girls are old enough for them!

UCM, you're thinking of Ruth Manning Sanders' anthologies. I loved them too and have managed to get hold of several copies second hand

Seeker, Antonia Forest wrote quite a few books that have recently been reprinted

most people only read the "school" titles which were reprinted in the 80s, but there are several "home" titles too, set in the holidays, which are simply wonderful

oh and two historical novels about the Marlow's ancestors

Mostly out of print again now but a list of stockists here

occasionally take books from my 9 year old's book bag, a dick king smith book Ace, about a pig, related to Babe, and quite a lot that are in her bookbags.. I am such a fast reader

I'm reading Noel Stretfield to my dd - for my pleasure and hers. We're halfway through The Circus is Coming at the moment. Tried her on the Chalet School but she didn't like it so I haven't got that excuse -just have to admit reading them for myself! Antonia Forest is wonderful - why did she write so little? Monica Edwards - I was in love with Meryon for years!

ooh yes, Ramona, Little House on the Prairie et al, Judy Blume, worrying amount of Babysitters and Sweet Valley High (and the amazing amount of spin offs) , the Jill books.

There was a lovely book called the Little Gymnast; can't remember who by, but I have that one on my shelf at home.

oh Ramona and Henry Higgins, Ribsy and Beezus! loved those books too

a bit older, but anyone else read Caroline Akrill's Eventing Trilogy?

god pony and school books are the best
would go on but onehanded typing way too much work

Ahh Ramona Quimby aged 8 I remember those. My aunty got me that one for my eighth Birthday then I read all the others, I loved them at the time. I always rememebr how she was upset because she thought her teacher had called her a nuisance but her teacher had actually said what a nuisance it was that she wasn't feeling well!