What is your favourite children's book when you were a child,,?

[BabyBearRus]

What is the best children's book of all time? Any reason why?

Heidi. I did not have a grandfather and was so envious of her. I got an original edition for my 50th birthday.

My favourites were and are the Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome. Odd, as I have no interest in sailing and have never properly visited the Lake District, but I love them. There are 12 books and they're all great. If I had to pick one, it might be Winter Holiday, or it might be Pigeon Post.

Loved all the Noel Streatfield books. Party Frock was a particular favourite.

I really enjoyed historical fiction as a child. There were several lovely books by Gillian Avery, probably out of print now. The Elephant War was a particular favourite. Cynthia Harnett is probably also forgotten now, but I adored her books set in England in the 1400s.

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit, by Judith Kerr (Meg and Mog, The Tiger Who Came to Tea). Read this when I was 11 or 12.

I was also very keen on Joan Aiken's book The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, and its sequels. I was entranced by the idea of historical fiction set in an era that didn't happen - now a whole genre, alternative history. I am Scottish and as a child was wholeheartedly pro Stuart and anti Hanoverians, so a world where the Hanoverians were the villains and the Stuarts remained our ruling monarchs appealed to me enormously.

@Nannyamc

Heidi. I did not have a grandfather and was so envious of her. I got an original edition for my 50th birthday.

I still have Heidi by my bed, in my sixties.

The Family at Redroofs - Enid Blyton
The Long Winter - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Charlotte Sometimes - Penelope Farmer
Back Home - Michelle Magorian
Find a Stranger Say Goodbye - Lois Lowry
The railway Children- E Nesbitt

Loved reading as a child and still reread all of the above.

Flambards
National Velvet
The Little Princess
The Secret Garden

As a child I used to get so engrossed in books that I didn’t hear people speaking to me. I remember my dm saying sharply. “Andante! Auntie Susan is speaking to you!”
I hadn’t heard a thing.
However much I’m enjoying a book now, that would never happen.

Mog the Forgetful Cat

Anne of Green Gables
Tom's Midnight Garden

Even thinking about those two books give me warm feelings. Read them both so often they're etched on my heart.

Would love to own a first edition of both. Anne will forever be out of reach I suspect, but Tom is more accessible.

The Faraway Tree
Famous Five
St Clares and Mallory Towers series
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
Swallows and Amazons and all the Arthur Ransome books

Absolutely loved reading as a child!

I loved many of the above plus When Marnie was There, by Joan G. Robinson. When I was a bit older, I loved Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. It had an overarching story but each chapter was complete on its own - the book was one of the earliest "proper" books I read as a result.

Enid Blyton, Enid Blyton, Enid Blyton. Not so much affordable children's fiction around as today, so I relied on Birthday, Christmas and the library plus whatever was hanging around at home. We also had a set of Victorian Classics which I dipped into from time to time, and a very thick atlas. I still find maps fascinating.

Love that the Little White Horse has already had multiple mentions - that's my second favourite, topped only by Linnets and Valerians by the same author. @YouHaveNoAuthorityHereJackie @DoesHePlayTheFiddle if you haven't read it I would highly recommend seeking out a copy - I might comfort read both this winter

As a small child it was Dogger.
As an older child Ballet Shoes. I may have read my way through 3 copies (as in read them until they fell apart) Last time I needed to replace it I really struggled to find a copy I liked. (I'm mega fussy)

I also adored The Faraway Tree and A little Princess.

Harry Potter ranks very high on my list as a teen.

I was a prolific reader as a child, my favourites were:
The Chalet School series (I still read them now)
Enid Blyton - any of hers
Noel Streatfield - again any
The Little house on the prairie series

I loved Roald Dahl, especially George's Marvellous Medicine and The Twits

Most Enid Blyton, Just William and Milly Molly Mandy.
My DC love them too.

I loved The Secret Island by Enid Blyton. I inherited my sister's copy and I think it fell to pieces, I read it so often.

I love all of Roald Dahl's books as well, especially George's Marvellous Medicine, The Witches and The Twits

(I mainly read The Beano every week when I was a kid though!)

The Wool Pack by Cynthia Harnett Lovely illustrations. I see my copy is now worth about £80!

I also liked the JIll series by Ruby Ferguson and the Punchbowl and Rye series of books by Monica Edwards. Again I've got most of these in hardback some of the first editions are worth a fortune (picked up for pence at school fetes)

The Magic Faraway Tree was my favourite. Then The Famous Five. I wouldn't say either of those was the best children's book ever though!

Others that left their mark on me were:

Charmed Life by Diane Wynne Jones
The Phantom Toll Booth by Norton Juster
Heritage of the Star by Sylvia Engdahl
The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

Favourite book as a child and Best book fo all time are very different things for me.

Favourite book when younger according to my dad was The Flying Postman by VH Drummond

Favourite book as I got a bit older was The Ordinary Princess by MM Kaye

Favourite book of all time doesn't exist, it's all dependent on the mood

The Ladybird edition of The Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Like a pp I loved The Little Grey Men by BB and still have my childhood copy, very tatty but much loved.

Several by Roald Dahl- I couldn't possibly choose just one.

Loved (the original) The Enchanted Wood stories so much.

Also Charlotte Sometimes.

I loved Joan Aiken too. And Diana Wynne Jones - the Chrestomanci books. .

My favourite book was Playing Beattie Bow by Ruth Park. I just loved it.

When I was a bit younger I loved all the Laura Ingalls Wilder books.

Ballet Shoes 🩰
Absolutely adored it and still have the book