Share your favourite Eva Ibbotson book for a chance to WIN her entire back catalogue

[TinaMumsnet]

Christmas is coming – and what better gift than a book for young readers?

Eva Ibbotson's extensive and brilliant range of books offer something for readers from ages eight up to sixteen, and make timeless classics to read over and over again.

For a chance to WIN a full set of this celebrated author's work, simply tell us which Ibbotson book is the favourite in your family and why. If you haven't read any yet, don't worry; let us know which one you'd like to share with your DC this Christmas for a chance to win.

For more information about her books simply follow the links below:

8+ - For readers who like a giggle, Eva Ibbotson was one of the original, classic funny fiction authors. These books will have young boys and girls in fits of laughter:
The Ogre of Oglefort
Which Witch?
Not Just a Witch

8+ - Boys and girls who love a spooky read will adore this selection of magical mysteries:
Dial A Ghost
The Great Ghost Rescue
The Haunting of Hiram

8+ - If your young reader is a Harry Potter fan, why not pick up one of these Eva Ibbotson reads:
The Beasts of Clawstone Castle
The Secret of Platform 13
Monster Mission

10+ - Slightly older readers will absolutely devour these novels – perfect for escaping the cold weather and disappearing to faraway landscapes:
Journey to the River Sea
The Dragonfly Pool
The Star of Kazan

12+ - Eva Ibbotson's books for teenagers can be loved by all age 12 years and up, and blend together the magic of feisty heroines, historical romance and a strong sense of place:
The Company of Swans
Magic Flutes
The Morning Gift
The Secret Countess
A Song for Summer
The Christmas Star

We'll pick the winner on the 7 December and post their nickname on this thread.

This discussion is sponsored by Pan Macmillan

My ds absolutely adored One Dog and his Boy. It really struck a chord with him somehow - our dog really is his best friend

I LOVE Eva Ibbotson's books! I grew up reading them and my favourites when I was younger were Which Witch and The Secret of Platform 13. My mum bought me Journey to the River Sea and The Morning Gift and I loved them too. I think that most of her books are suitable for either gender and even as an adult I enjoy re-reading them when I want something to take me away from the stress of daily life

My 16yo DD says this:

I absolutely love all of Eva Ibbotson's books and I have read almost all of them, there isn't a bad book that she has written. She has a great habit of making it plain how the story is going to end and then throwing in a sharp left turn. I was very upset when I found out that she had died while I liked her books and I didn't know at the time.

The Star of Kazan is my favourite because I really love every aspect of it. The setting of pre-war Vienna gives me a vivid and beautiful mental image and it really deserves the title she gives it: "the Golden City". It is quite light-hearted, especially at the beginning, and it makes a nice change from the "servant who is constantly treated cruelly and has to battle for happiness" trope. The descriptions, of the professors' house, and, on the other end, of Spittal and of Grossenfluss, are very vivid, and really conjure up the atmosphere of the place. The descriptions of people, as well, are brilliant, and they are all very realistic, so that you don't really know who to like and who to distrust - often like real people can be. The ending is also very good, I didn't see any of that coming. Another thing I like about Eva Ibbotson is how, at the end, she says what happens to pretty much every character, even those of middling importance. That is something I try to include in my own writing, as well as other aspects of her work.

That'll do.

The Beasts of Clawstone Castle - loved it, adventure in the scottish borders.

Loved Which Witch as a child...my son couldn't believe it was written that long ago. I explained that classics do that......

Which Witch - brings back so many childhood laughing memories

I've taken a long time to review The Ogre of Oglefort as I had a backlog of other books, but my daughter has been badgering me to read it since she read it herself and loved it (a cynical 13 year old - can there be a better critic!).

Other reviewers have gone over the plot (and there is nothing worse than spoilers) so I won't need to. What I will say is that the story is great fun, with characters going against the usual cliches - sort of like Shrek in a way, it's that sort of humour. I found that Ogre had "just a few more pages" appeal and couldn't wait to see what happened next - more fun than adult books.

Overall, thoroughly enjoyable read, if not a bit disturbing in places! I've got a copy of Dial A Ghost to read next, again it looks like a lot of morbid fun!

We loved the Abominables and then One Dog and his Boy. Looks like we've still got quite a few left to discover!

Which Witch would be great to share with my daughter for the first time! And my class of 8/9 year olds.

I remember my stepdaughters reading and loving Journey To The River Sea. I hope my 2 younger daughters will enjoy it as much :)

Hello have not read any your books yet, but the title of Magic Flutes ,sounds magical just like Christmas.

All of these books have titles that make you want to open them ??. But as irs n3arly christmas I would live to introduce my daughter by giving her 'Christmas Star' then she would find the rest ????

I feel awful as I never have read any but what a find .................. thank you.
I would start my son on 'Which Witch' or 'Dial a Ghost', as he is in a non-reading mode at the moment. I think just the titles will spark his interest and having read the reviews, the story lines will keep his interest.

Journey to the River Sea would be my favourite

We haven't heard of this author before. I will look out for her. I quite fancied The Secret of Platform 13, but DS, who to be fair is the 8 year old the book is aimed for, plumped for The Ogre of Ogrefort. He thought it sounded very funny.

Which Witch , I read this to my daughter,and re read it myself. Enjoyed it, as I have a love of anything by Eva.

This is such a coincidence as DD (8 yrs) and I have literally just finished 'Journey to the River Sea' and I can honestly say it is one of the most amazing children's books I've ever read! The descriptions of Brazil and the rainforest just draw you into the scenery and the world of the Amazon. I read to DD until I'd almost lost my voice some nights because we couldn't wait to find out what happens next!

I couldn't quite believe it was so 'recently' written as it reads like a classic. Wonderful book - would thoroughly recommend to both children and adults as a real page turner :-)

We now have 'The Star of Kazan' to look forward to! Really useful to have a list of all her other books too.

I was given Which Witch? as a gift when I was a youngster, it captivated me when I read it at the time. So incredibly well written, wonderful humour, fantastic plot and really quite disturbing in places! My kind of book
I have a collection of my favourite children's books on my bookshelves which I take down and read from time to time and Which Witch? is one of them. It still comes up fresh and still makes me laugh now. That for me proves what a classic it really is.
I'm very much looking forward to introducing my children to the enchanting world of Eva Ibbotson

Which Witch

It was my absolute favourite as a child. I read it over and over.

This year I read it again with DD (8) and it was just as good and so much fun to share it with her.

We love the characters. I read the wizard watcher with a Brummie accent 'he cometh not from the North..'. I always feel it is a bit Pythonesque. The witches are all so well drawn too.

Our favourite bit is the raising of the Kraken. I think the comic timing is just so good. We were LOL when it wees on Arrimans foot and calls him daddy.

DD was so disappointed there is no sequel that she wanted to write her own.

I love most of Eva Ibbotson's books they are completely unmoralistic and not so dark and dense as Harry Potter etc. but still have the fantasy element. My absolute favourite is, The Secret of Platform 13, the ending makes me teary every time.
They are a good example of the underdog winning out which is always very satisfying.
The Dragonfly Pool is also highly recommended.

Not read any of her books yet but like to share"dial a ghost" with my son,who loves spooky story

Another Which Witch fan. Brings back many happy memories.

The children in the library where I volunteer seem to love the Secret of Platform 13 best.

I haven't read any, but my God-daughter who is 9 recommended them to me, so I must get on it! I'm going to start with Journey to the River Sea. Incidentally the whole back catalogue would be a great Christmas present for her!

I have not read any of her books with DS yet. However he might know her books. As he is a Harry Potter fan, I think The Secret of Platform 13 would appeal to him. Which Witch? also sounds great, as he likes funny stories. He is one of those kids, who is happy to read anything if it is entertaining enough.

The Dragonfly Pool was my absolute favourite when DD and I read it together. She preferred One Dog and His Boy and pupils at school love that one too.

Choose me. DD has read them all but they would be a really popular addition to the tiny library in my school.