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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what your favourite children's book is/was

412 replies

LaVieEstBelle159 · 13/04/2022 20:36

The book or books that bring back comforting and happy memories.

Mine are Magic Faraway Tree, Mallory Towers and St Clares, all by Enid Blyton.

What are yours?

OP posts:
Seasidemumma77 · 13/04/2022 21:55

My Naughty Little Sister

autienotnaughty · 13/04/2022 21:56

Milly Molly Mandy
Heidi
Sweet valley high

BorisBooster · 13/04/2022 21:58

Loved The Borrowers.

SunshineLollipopsAndRainbows · 13/04/2022 21:59

And how could I have forgotten the Mrs Pepperpot stories! Absolutely loved them!
I had a record of Wendy Craig telling stories & they were absolutely lovely.

MangyInseam · 13/04/2022 21:59

I was quite fond of EB too - I liked Noddy, and there was a story called Treacle Pudding Town I used to take a perverse delight in. And her fairy stories.

For picture books I really liked The Story About Ping by Rosemary Sutcliff, and a Maurice Sendak one called Higglety PIgglety Pop, or There Must Be More To Life. Also one by Wlliam Steig called Caleb and Kate. And all of Beatrix Potter, but I especially loved Jemima Puddle Duck and the Two Bad Mice. Uncle Wiggley and the Sugar Cookie, mainly because it had a map in it and similarly the Fern Hollow books.

For older kids books I was very fond of the Madeline L'Engle books, both the Wrinkle in Time and Meet the Austins, I loved The Secret Garden, Black Beauty, My Side of the Mountain, The Dark Is Rising sequence, Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIHM. I also spent a lot of time reading mythology at that age, mostly though not exclusively Greek and Norse. Though at the time all of them kind of ran together in my mind. The Mysterious Tadpole by Steven Kellog. Miss Nelson is Missing.

I work in a library and I will say that there aren't huge numbers of newer children's books that catch my eye, they tend to be very didactic with rather poor story telling. I do rather like the Gregor the Overlander books, which have a great narrative tale. Not really newer but an adult discovery for me is the book A Teeny Tiny Baby which is often found as a board book. I'm sure there must be some good modern picture books but none come right to the front of my mind as favourites.

Neverreturntoathread · 13/04/2022 22:00

Velveteen Rabbit

The Sheep Pig and other stories by that author

Girlmama · 13/04/2022 22:00

Little Women! Mallory Towers and the point horror books as a pre-teen

RoseMartha · 13/04/2022 22:01

The secret island by Enid Blyton

Naughtiest girl in the school series by Enid Blyton

In fact most Enid Blyton

Little Women by Louisa Alcott

Family from one end street series by Eve Garnett

Heidi by J Spyri

MangyInseam · 13/04/2022 22:02

@SunshineLollipopsAndRainbows

Oscar Wilde’s “ The Little Prince”. So hauntingly beautiful.
I think that one was "The Happy Prince".

It made me cry and so I didn't read it again until I was an adult.

caringcarer · 13/04/2022 22:03

Mallory Towers, St Clair's, Black Stallion books.

JanisMoplin · 13/04/2022 22:06

Several but especially Watership Down. I think it is one of the best books ever written, not just children's books.

Minniem2020 · 13/04/2022 22:09

When I was small "The Owl who was afraid of the dark" then I loved Nancy Drew as I got older.

Countryquine · 13/04/2022 22:09

The Selfish Giant. I head it as part of the Story Teller series and it always stuck with me. I read it to my daughter now.

bluechameleon · 13/04/2022 22:11

I loved Back Home, A Little Princess and Goodnight Mr Tom.

Minibea · 13/04/2022 22:11

My Naughty Little Sister - am currently reading this to my 4yo and am getting ALL the feels from my own childhood reading it to her.

The Little White Horse - I have a copy which wa any mum’s when she was a little girl and it is still a go-to comfort read for me.

Will also second the Worst Witch, plus the Anne of Green Gables series, Little Women and Cold Comfort Farm!

Raindancer411 · 13/04/2022 22:11

@packedlunches

Paddington - as a young child

Point Horror books as a tween/teen

Did you read the Teacher Pet PH?
SunshineLollipopsAndRainbows · 13/04/2022 22:14

Swallows & Amazons
The Water Babies
Stig of the Dump
The Family From One End St
Alice in Wonderland
Charlotte Sometimes
Marianne Dreams

Lovesabadboy · 13/04/2022 22:15

Mr Pinkwhistle
Famous Five
St Clare's and Mallory Towers
Black Beauty
The My Friend Flikca/Thunderhead/Green Grass of Wyoming trilogy

So, so many! I always had my nose in a book as a child! Books were my friends!

NameChangeCity123 · 13/04/2022 22:16

Matilda and good night mr Tom for me. My son is only 10 months and loves the gruffalo and Jack and the flum flum tree

ButtockUp · 13/04/2022 22:20

A Pony in the Luggage by Gunnel Linde.

midsomermurderess · 13/04/2022 22:21

@SquirrelFan, yes Marianne Dreams. I'd never have remembered that. Thank you!

Justlovedogs · 13/04/2022 22:24

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Best. Book. Ever. Grin

So many happy memories in these replies, though. Mallory Towers, Magic Faraway Tree, Chicken Licken. Anybody else read the Sue Barton series?

MegMogandOg · 13/04/2022 22:25

The lion, the witch and the wardrobe.

TotalRhubarb · 13/04/2022 22:28

Moondial
The Five Findouters
The Children of Cherry Tree Farm
Mallory Towers and St Clares
Charlotte’s Web
Private Keep Out
Fantastic Mr Fox
Nancy Drew
All the Ramona Quimby books

TheVolturi · 13/04/2022 22:28

@LaVieEstBelle159

The book or books that bring back comforting and happy memories.

Mine are Magic Faraway Tree, Mallory Towers and St Clares, all by Enid Blyton.

What are yours?

Oh my goodness! I read the title and came to say EXACTLY what you said op!