Forgotten Classics

[beatricequimby]

Any recommendations for an 8 year old girl? I am a bit of a children's book hoarder so we have all the obvious ones - Katy books, E Nesbits, Frances Hodgson Burnetts, Little Women, Noel Streatfeilds etc.

Recently discovered Nancy and Plum by Betty MacDonald which I had never heard of. It's lovely and perfect for an 8 year old.

So has anyone got any forgotten classic recommendations? The

What about the Children of Greene Knowe books? I remember being captivated by the tv series they did of that when I was about 8 yrs old. Also all the different Enid Blyton series, or Just William? Obv old fashionned but still good. i'm a librarian by trade so could go on and on with this!

I liked the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary (or something like that). And some of Judy Blume's books would be suitable for that age (eg: Blubber). Not sure if those are not as classic as you're looking for or too American?

Am reading Jennings to DD. She loves it. It's quite hard, language-wise which is why I'm reading it to her but she thinks it's funny. Will do Swallows &Amazons next.

Also a mention of my all time favourite book for this age group is quite unknown but still available. Animal Family by Randall Jarrell about a hunter who meets a mermaid and their family of animals. Simple and lovely.

I loved "My Naughty Little Sister" books by Dorothy Edwards at about the same age.

Is she the right age for Rumer Godden? I remember reading Little Plum and Miss Happiness & Miss Flower in primary school. I loved them.

The Ordinary Princess by MM Kaye is another favourite of mine.

Apologies if these aren't 'forgotten' enough

One End Street series
The various sequels to Wizard of Oz
Michael Bond non-Paddington books esp the Thursday ones
Wombles chapter books
Other Elisabeth Beresford books esp the Magic series (eg Dangerous Magic )
Edward Eager Half Magic books - absolutely perfect for an 8 y/o who enjoys the classics, there are lots of references to EE Nesbit's books.

Saturdays series esp the Four Storey Mistake

If you haven't discovered this, I found that you can get generally old 'classic' childrens books on abebooks for pennies.

Would also add the Box of Delights etc though prob not 'forgotten'

Children of the new forest not sure who it's by but set at the time of the civil war

The Water Babies. The children of the new forest. Anne of green gables. Magic faraway tree. When hitler stole my pink rabbit. Little princess. Nina's war. Charlotte's web.

I like the Frank Richards Billy Bunter stories.
Swallows and Amazons is good; if not duffers, will not die!
I read my dd a story called Lyrico about a flying horse when she was 8. I read it myself at the same age. It's really a gripping story, although it might not be cannonical.
A modern classic is Coram Boy, but I think more for 11s than 8 year olds.

Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden.

The Melendy Family/Saturdays series by Elizabeth Enright

When Marnie Was There by Joan G Robinson

Astrid Lindgren books, like Mio's Kingdom or the brothers Lionheart?

The Milly Molly Mandy stories

My favourite children's books that no one mentions are Diddakoi by Rumer Godden, and Dominic by William Steig. The former is about a half-gypsy (I suppose we would now say traveller or Romany, but that is the language the book uses) girl who lives in a small village. Dominic is a book about a dog who sets off to see the world. Both books are wonderfully atmospheric and vivid. I can still remember scenes from them now, and could probably recite bits, if I tried hard enough.
I must buy them for my daughters!

The snow spider-jenny nimmo. Fabulous book!

The Little House In The Big Woods and the others in that series.

The Tree That Sat Down and The Stream That Stood Still by Beverley Nichols. I loved these books so much as a child that I bought them second hand as an adult so I could re-read them. (They were/are out of print.)

Elizabeth Goudge, Henrietta's House, Linnets and Valerians
Kate Douglas Wiggin, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
Elsie J Oxenham, Abbey series
Elfrida Vipont, The Lark in the Morn
Dr Dolittle books

Animals of farthing wood
Green smoke
Clever Polly and the stupid wolf

Professor branestawm was a favourite of mine too

Joan Aitkin - a necklace of raindrops (or any other of her short story books). I loved this book, the stories weren't like anything I had read before. Although some are a bit dark, so might depend on your 8 yr old.

Loved the phantom tollbooth and the wolves of Willoughby chase

DD has enjoyed the borrowers and bedknobs and broomsticks

I love Dr Dolittle: try the "Adventures of Dr Dolittle"
Beverly Cleary, Ramona books are great, straightforward, well written, picture of daily life. All my kids loved them.
Elizabeth Enright books about the Melendy children, might be slightly hard to read for an 8 year old

Sorry I meant "The Voyages of Dr Dolittle"

Wow - I LOVED A Necklace of Raindrops. What a blast from the past.
Happy memories :0)