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

[HappyHomebird]

The Secret of Platform 13 is my favourite as it ticks all the boxes for me - London, old stations, magical characters and secret worlds. Love it.

[Fleur78]

I haven't read an Eva Ibbotson book before but my eight year old son is a very keen reader. The moment he is given a book he has to get it started. He has just started to show an interest in Harry Potter and loves books with mystery and wit. I often hear laughter from his room as he like to read in his room with the door shut to stop his little sister from bothering him!
I'm sure he would love the chance to try these books. I image the 'Not just a Witch' would be the perfect place to start.

[mazgoli]

I haven't read any of these books, but I would love to share them with my Grandchildren. The Christmas Star looks lovely, I guess as I'm gearing up for Christmas now, that one really stuck out.

[LegoUniverse]

My first set of kids (now in their 20s) loved the Which Witch cluster, and also, when they got a bit older, Journey to The River Sea (which I still think is one of the best of the hundreds of books I read to them). Smallest boy, now 10, loved One Dog and His Boy though. It's a classic!

[youngishsam]

My dd is reading Journey to the River Sea as her school reading book - lovely to see her motivated again to read something provided by school. I'm sure we'd both enjoy more by Eva Ibbotson.

[poopoopoo]

Which Witch is my favourite of Eva Ibbotson's book (mainly because it is the only one I had the opportunity to read as a child). I do not own a copy and would love to be able to share this with my children. Looking at all the others covers and titles in the pictures above, I can see there are so many I would like to read; I only hope I will have the time to share all these wonderful stories with my children before they grow up. Stories give us a wonderful escape. Time is precious...

[babyowl]

I haven't had a chance to read any of Eva Ibbotson's books yet but I'm really keen read them with dd as the descriptions for all her stories sound like just the sort of magical adventures that we would love to escape to!

I also love the idea that JK Rowling got the concept of platform 9&3/4 from The Secret of Platform 13, so we might start with that one. Fingers crossed!

[poule]

The Ogre of Oglefort!!
Such a funny, melancholic, and gentle book.
Life is not what it used to be for magical creatures. A group of them shares a house in London, doing dead-end jobs and longing for the old days and their home countries. Together with an orphan boy they get roped into a mission to rescue a princess (who doesn't actually want rescuing). It's a book which stays with you for a long time.

[blogmumjd]

My boys haven't read any of these yet but as huge Harry Potter fans, they like the sound of The Beasts of Clawstone Castle.

[barbsbarbs]

I would love to read the dragonfly pool, it sounds just what my DC would love.!!

[ThemisA]

I haven't read any but 'Dial a ghost' looks right up our street

[TracyKNixon]

To Catch A Star by Oliver Jeffers is a lovely book to share with any young child before bedtime. I think most children and adults can relate to this beautiful tale. The illustrations are lovely too!

[winterpark]

I haven't read any yet but I'm sure my boys would love the spooky tales :)

[Stujobohm]

I haven't read any yet but would love to try which witch? I think my daughter would enjoy these

[sweetsomethings]

Has to be The Beasts of Clawstone Castle i love that it set in the Scottish Borders and the adventures are great

[evatrelfa]

My daughter adores dial a ghost and it is a favorite bedtime read for us. we would love to have more of Eva's books to read. My daughter thinks she is wonderful due to wirting good books and having the samew name as her mummy (me!) lol

[grannybiker]

Just approaching the age where Eva's books will be appreciated.
Her "Song for Summer" aimed at adults was superb.

[LovelyFriend]

I haven't read any of these books - my 8yo has just started getting into Harry Potter, so Which Witch? sounds like a good place to start.

[midi1975]

I must admit we haven't read any of these. They all look like exciting titles so it's hard to

choose one to begin with.

We have eventually decided that we will begin with Dial a Ghost.

Wishing everyone 'Happy Reading!'

[dragon60]

These are not familiar to me,they all sound fab though, We love a giggle, so perhaps Which Witch? is a good one to start with.

[Julieguy]

I haven't read any yet, but as my daughters are enormous fans of Harry Potter, the book The Secret Platform 13 sounds ideal.

[sleepyhead]

Spooky! I was just thinking about Eva Ibbotson, the context being reading something that mentioned Krakens which made me think of the one in Which Witch that needs a nappy to stop it widdling on Arriman (that may be a bit of a spoiler)

I absolutely loved Which Witch. EE also wrote some really good adult fiction.

[Oakmaiden]

My daughter has asked me to share that her favourite book is "The Dragonfly Pool". She is a real lover of fantasy and adventure, and likes the book because she identifies with the characters (they are girls around her age who dance), and it has boarding schools in it, which is a theme she enjoys very much (along with orphans/workhouses etc). She thinks the best part of the book is when the "Prince" swaps jumpers with another boy, and the boy is kidnapped in his place. She says it is very exciting. Exciting is good.

I like the books for her because they are really well written.

[cluckyhen]

I haven't read any but would love to read Which Witch after reading peoples comments

[Shaler]

Hadn't come across Eva Ibbotson until now but think my daughter would love "Which Witch? " because it sounds hilarious.