Favourite children's books if you were born circa 1979

[recklessgran]

I've come up with the idea of giving one of my DD's a bundle of her favourite childhood books as part of her Christmas present so that she can read them again with her 3 year old over the coming years. I know this will mean a lot to her. The problem is that I'm struggling to think of enough of them. So far I've got the Velveteen Rabbit, Grandfather Gregory and the Brambly Hedge seasons books. I would really appreciate any help as I am struggling to remember which of the books we had belonged to which era given that I had 5 DD's spread out over 16 years. TIA

Oh and the garden gang books - they were amazing!

@Sunbird24

Did everyone else have the reading books at school with the Yellowhats, Redhats and Bluehats?

Someone’s already mentioned all the Winnie the Pooh books haven’t they? What about the Wombles?

Yes! Roger Red Hat, Billy Blue Hat, Jennifer Yellow Gat and Percy(?) Green Hat

Dogger

Anne of Green Gables
The Worst Witch
Charlotte's Web
The Little Vampire
Sweet Valley High
Anything by Enid Blyton

How could I forget Little Grey Rabbit? I loved Hare, so funny

Loved the Garden Gang. And the Munch Bunch!

@gurglebelly

I loved the Enid Blyton books - St Clair's, Mallory towers, secret seven, famous five, children of cherry tree farm (I so wanted a pet squirrel)

Also loved the x 'o'clock tales', which were short stories there was one I loved which had stories of a matchbox girl, and a naughty pixie that came good, but can't for the life of me find it now!

The other one I loved included a story of a boy that thought an aubergine was growing in the garden but it was actually a whale (?), and there was another story in the same book about a coconut spider called Ariadne

I'm sure I didn't make these up as I vividly remember them and would love to find them again, but sadly suspect they may have been 'of their time' and are no longer available due to sexist/racist undertones (which I completely agree with but doesn't stop me being nostalgic for books that formed a big part of my childhood.....)

I’m not sure it’s the one you’re referring to, but in the Ted Hughes book “How the Whale Became”, the whale grows “in god’s garden”, and it looks like a shiny black egg that keeps doubling in size. But there isn’t a spider story in there, so not sure it’s what you mean.

You cant seem to get Little Grey Rabbit now

I just found an edition of King of the Copper Mountains on Abe Books. Fingers crossed it won't be in bad nick.

BTW it appears Abe books are pretty much the only place you'll find it unless you get lucky in a second hand bookshop. There are about 7 copies left on there so you'd better work fast if you want one!

I am very very excited to have been reminded of it though!

Going to buy Brambly Hedge Treasury now!

@Enough4me

I don't remember the scary book, but remember this noisy clock!

Loved my clock, I think it played 'My Granfather' s Clock' quite an existential tune for a 5 year old!

@Cutesbabasmummy

You cant seem to get Little Grey Rabbit now

Loads on Ebay

Off topic but I've just remembered I also had a Little Grey Rabbit card game!

The one with Pete, Bob and Jupiter is The Three Investigators.

I remember loving a book series called Vlad the Drac.

How could I have forgotten the Garden Gang? I've been stalking e-bay for some of those - 2 ordered so far. Got loads of stuff in my Amazon basket too. Please keep them coming!

Oh my, I'd forgotten the garden gang! Sadly I think I've missed the boat with them, my youngest is 8. They were written by a child IIRC?

What about the Masquerade picture book by Kit Williams?

For young kids:
The very Hungry Caterpillar
Mog the Forgetful Cat
Topsy and Tim series
Miffy Rabbit series

Older kids:
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
Goodnight Mr Tom
Flat Stanley

oh yes Mog!

Some of the pictures stayed in my mind. So odd to see it again after so long

A Brambly Hedge poster of their tree and a few others

Mog’s tail being stood on

Visually imprinted

The faraway tree.
The wishing chair
Brambly Hedge
Danny the champion of the world
The BFG
The Witches

The very hungry caterpillar
The Beatrix potter series
The Mr Men

@Talipesmum thank you! My mum doesn't remember it and I always wondered if I'd made it up! I will keep an eye out now though

Wake up Charlie dragon by Brenda Smith
And
Geraldine's blanket here
Were my 2 favourite books (84 baby)

merchantofvenom yes!!!! I had my mums copy of Struwellpeter and was obsessed with it!!! It was hideously vile but I loved it 🤣

Yes to almost all the books mentioned here, I was a voracious reader and devoured nearly all of them, my very first memories are of Ant and Bee and the Rainbow.