Which children's books do you STILL read and enjoy?

[Swizzler]

Am re-reading Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising sequence and yes, it is still good

So which children's books did you enjoy as a child and still read - read for your own pleasure, that is, not read to your DCs.

Cazzybabs, yes, Sweet Valley High - they made a tv series of it. Used to read were they Sweet Dreams books too - all about high school and sophomores and jocks called Brad And Judy Blume.

Anyone else read the Ramona books? She had a big sister she called Beezus, iirc.

Also, I remember reading a book about a girl who set an alarm clock and woke up at the age she set it. She went back to being a baby and told someone to piss off from her pram (which appealed to me!) and then it got a bit sad as she went to the future and saw herself as a downtrodden wife with a semi-abusive husband - but with two lovely children. She woke up back at her present and realised that she'd have to ditch her boyfriend (the future husband), but knew it meant she'd never see the son and daughter she'd got so fond of.

Try, with something that doesn't mean as much to you to begin with. It would be such a shame if you couldn't share the books you loved with your children - I know what a massive part of my childhood books were.

Anyone read Trebizon books?

I loved reading my 2 dds The Secret Garden. They have asked me to read it again to them.

I remember flicking through Judy Blume guiltily knowing they were too old for me...

God,also a bizarre series of 'teen' (very 70s that) books my sister had.One was about a girl whose mother was unspeakably horrible.She had a boyfriend called Terry who her mother banned her from seeing.Eventually kindly Terry managed to get the mother to tell him that the reason she hated her daughter was that she had accidentally killed her baby brother by reaching for a ball under his pram and dislodging the brake,sending it hurtling into path of nearest car.

Yes,will do Hunker.
Do Brat do story books?

Oh, yes, the Jill books!

And oh, yes, Ramona - although I was quite old when I first met those - ditto Judy Blume's Fudge and Lois Lowry's Anastasia - all hilarious.

We had one Bobbsey Twins book when I was small ("at Big Bear Pond") - never met them again - did have the Fell Farm books though which I think included at least one set of twins.

oh i still read m Trebizon books in the bath
still annoyed they stopped after the fifth form...

Ahh Ramona Quimby aged 8 I remember those. My aunty got me that one for my eighth Birthday then I read all the others, I loved them at the time. I always rememebr how she was upset because she thought her teacher had called her a nuisance but her teacher had actually said what a nuisance it was that she wasn't feeling well!

a bit older, but anyone else read Caroline Akrill's Eventing Trilogy?

god pony and school books are the best
would go on but onehanded typing way too much work

oh Ramona and Henry Higgins, Ribsy and Beezus! loved those books too

ooh yes, Ramona, Little House on the Prairie et al, Judy Blume, worrying amount of Babysitters and Sweet Valley High (and the amazing amount of spin offs) , the Jill books.

There was a lovely book called the Little Gymnast; can't remember who by, but I have that one on my shelf at home.

I'm reading Noel Stretfield to my dd - for my pleasure and hers. We're halfway through The Circus is Coming at the moment. Tried her on the Chalet School but she didn't like it so I haven't got that excuse -just have to admit reading them for myself! Antonia Forest is wonderful - why did she write so little? Monica Edwards - I was in love with Meryon for years!

occasionally take books from my 9 year old's book bag, a dick king smith book Ace, about a pig, related to Babe, and quite a lot that are in her bookbags.. I am such a fast reader

Seeker, Antonia Forest wrote quite a few books that have recently been reprinted

most people only read the "school" titles which were reprinted in the 80s, but there are several "home" titles too, set in the holidays, which are simply wonderful

oh and two historical novels about the Marlow's ancestors

Mostly out of print again now but a list of stockists here

UCM, you're thinking of Ruth Manning Sanders' anthologies. I loved them too and have managed to get hold of several copies second hand

Anything by Enid Blyton.

Secret 7 and Malory Towers especially.

Cant wait til the girls are old enough for them!

FraneyandZooey - she still didn't write many compared to - say - Monica Edwards.(Not to mention the Enid Blyton factory!!) I think Falconer's Lure is one of my favourite books, adult or children's and I would recommend it to anyone.

Hunkermunker - my dd is reading the Trebizon books ATM - and the Jill books as well. I was a bit disappointed in them - I don't think they have "survived"as well of some others.

Is the "cave"one - Swallowdale by Arthur Ransome, Maccapacca?

hunker I know the alarm clock timetravel book you mean
freaky

Sorry, seeker, I assumed you were just talking about the school stories

Perhaps that is one of the reasons her books are so insanely good?

another vote for the Chalet School, but I haven't got many left now - Mum took some to the charity shop without asking me ages ago. Including one belonging to my friend! She wasn't amused as she has them all!
Also loved Kizzy - Rumer Godden. Bought that one again on Amazon.

Elidor - and the Owl Service
And especially The Weirdstone of Brisingamen and its sequel the Moon of Gomrath

Has anyone read The Thuggery Affair (Antonia Forest)? I couldn't manage to read it at all (which disappointed me a lot).

Rilla of Ingleside made me cry .