The definitive list of books every child should read

[TheNightIsDark]

As chosen by you! They don't have to be masterpieces literary speaking but brilliant stories, strong characters etc

I'll start:

The Railway Children
Junk (older teen though!)
Harry Potter
A Little Princess
The Gruffalo

Nancy75 yay! My DH had never heard of them an thought I was making them up!

Thanks everyone. Just picked up 2 Diana Wynne Jones books, ballet shoes, worst witch strikes again and Sophie's Lucky by Dick K-S for 20p each in charity shop

I do mean the Judy Blume Forever. A must read, at a certain age. Many other Judy Blume and Paula Danziger books are excellent for young teens

In particular, Deenie, Are you there God it's me Margaret? and Blubber

I agree Melonribena, just had completely forgotten about it! I seem to remember it involving tissues and a mirror at various points...

I loved the Family from One End Street stories when I was a child but unfortunately did not keep my copies of the books. Wish I had. Have been able to get a copy of the first book, but not my favourite, Holiday at the Dew Drop Inn, unless I want to pay silly prices

I know, it's really annoying isn't it. I'm going to have a dig around at my mum's, she's a terrible hoarder with a bit of luck my copies will still be there...

Check out charity shops. We have one just for books and it's amazing what you find in them.

Watership down. Sob!

The wrestling princess by judy corbalis - short stories that turn the traditional fairy tails on thir heads

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit
Carrie's War
The Machine Gunners
Bit of a war theme there!

Swallows and Amazons, The Hobbit, Milly Molly Mandy, Narnia series, Paddington Bear, Little House series.

Liking lots of these suggestions. How about Alan Garner, Weirdstone of Brisingamen, Owl Service, Elidor.

Anne of Green gables series by LM Montgomery and the books that came after Little Women... Jo's Boys etc

And Swallows and Amazons and Stig of the Dump.

Bogwoppit
Owl Service
Green Knowe
Narnia

My mum read me something about King Arthur and an army of sleepers that I remember I loved but I can't think what it was called.

Grimm

Goodnight Mr Tom
Tom's Midnight Garden

A book about 'midnight blue' with a hot air balloon- anyone know it?? Another half memory of an amazing book.

Bogwoppit! Genius!

The Phantom Tollbooth.

we're going on a bear hunt.
the grufallo.
giraffes can't dance.
the three little wolves and the big bad pig.
ignis.
a series of unfortunate events (series)
the indian in the cupboard.
skulduggery pleasant series.
harry potter series.
divergent series.
the fault in our stars.
the hobbit.

oh - anything in the alfie and annie rose series....

The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden deals with bullying and discrimination against Gypsies. Still contemporary today.

Black Hearts in Battersea (or any) by Joan Aitken

Harold and the Big Purple Crayon - no limits to the imagination of a baby with a drawing implement!

The Big Blue Balloon by Mick Inkpen (such a favourite)

What Katy Did/Did At School/Did Next

A Country Child by Allison Uttley

Snoopy / Peanuts - Snoopy is a philosopher/social commentator/politician and psychiatrist in one dog.

The Family at 1 End Street by Eve Garner - just innocent fun

The Darling Buds of May by H E Bates -I read this when I was ten and just loved the bucolic 'Forever Summer' setting.

The Wool Pack by Cynthia Harnett

The Princess and Curdie / The Princess and the Goblin by George McDonald

Holes by Louis Sachar.

Been racking my brains or other books I loved as a child

My family and other animals- I remember just loving this book
A traveler in time - I think by Alison uttley
There must be more, I spent my whole childhood with my nose in a book!

I really don't like the thread title.

My naughty little sister
Enid Blyton's Castle of adventure etc
Noel Streatfield (any, but my favourite was Curtain up)
Eagle of the Ninth trilogy
Wind in the Willows
Gobbolino the Witch's cat
I am David
Worst Witch
At the back of the north wind
LM Montgomery "Emily" books
Little house on the prairie
My side of the mountain
Cue for Treason

You choose - nick sharratt
Funnybones

Yy to the Diddakoi and also the Dolls House series by Rumer Godden. Lovely books.

The Big Pink by Ann Pilling, about bullying, dealing with change.

The Borrowers series.