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Original poster

What children's book did you first enjoy as an an adult?

116 replies

PunchyAnts · 04/08/2022 12:10

I only read L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables for the first time earlier this year. I watched the series with my Granny and loved it but never got around to the book. It was a rare (for me) case of hoping the book lived up to my happy memories of the film and thankfully it really did.

As a side note, I watched 9 minutes of Anne with an E on Netflix last night and sorry to anyone who adores it, but there's only room in my heart for one Anne.

Any children's books you read first as an adult and enjoyed?

OP posts:
Fairislefandango · 24/08/2022 08:25

Harry Potter and His Dark Matetials. Also Diana Wynne Jones books that I hadn't read as a child. My favourite is Archer's Goon.

MajorCarolDanvers · 24/08/2022 08:26

Harry Potter series

SushiSuave · 24/08/2022 20:31

The faraway tree by Enid blyton.

Ballyhoobird · 30/08/2022 00:46

Like others, was in my 20s when HP series came out and loved them, total fangirl. Ditto for TPs Tiffany Aching series, although they just slot in with the rest of the discworld I suppose.

The most recent is The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge, bought for me as an adult by an older friend who had loved the book as a kid. I don't think I got into it at the time, but later read it to my kids and fell in love with it (as did they). Just very lovely to read aloud perhaps.

Also has the added bonus of being an enthusiastically requested bedtime book, but guarantees sleeping children within a couple of pages, unlike HP et al where they're still up 2 chapters later & desperate to hear what happens next...

939300EJL · 30/08/2022 00:50

SushiSuave · 24/08/2022 20:31

The faraway tree by Enid blyton.

That was my favourite book …am going to order it today!

DorritLittle · 30/08/2022 20:51

Marianne Dreams and Carrie's War I read only as an adult and loved. I have yet to read Harry Potter!

happysunr1se · 30/08/2022 21:02

The knife of never letting go by Patrick Ness, also like garth nix and the windsinger books.

Annettyy · 31/08/2022 09:59

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Midwinterblues · 31/08/2022 22:06

Love Carrie’s War too.
Also Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt - utterly beautiful.

LikeAnOldFriend · 03/09/2022 20:14

Op keep reading.... there are some things wonderful Anne books later in the series. My very favourite is Anne's House of Dreams right in the middle.

LikeAnOldFriend · 03/09/2022 20:15

Meant to say it is the Anne books that are that for me - I think I read the first one as a child but could barely remember it, discovered them in adulthood and they are my favourite comfort.

LikeAnOldFriend · 03/09/2022 20:16

(My username is a quote from them but I promise no spoilers!)

Newuser82 · 03/09/2022 20:38

Harry Potter! Oh and I love the velveteen rabbit and before you sleep books that I have for my kids .

Offredismysister · 03/09/2022 20:44

War Horse. I never considered it a Children's book. But everyone says it is.

Bouledeneige · 03/09/2022 20:46

I really enjoyed reading 'Ballet Shoes' by Noel Streatfield to my DD - I really re-captured my feeling as a little girl reading it first time around. Despite it being very old fashioned DD loved it too. I also really enjoyed reading the Young Bond series - 'Silverfin' etc by Charlie Gibson to my DS (DD snuck in too to listen). Adventurous, nerve wracking and funny too. We laughed a lot.

ScarletWitchM · 03/09/2022 20:49

I started reading DS the Percy Jackson books
& ended up reading on my own!
i also really liked the Stone Heart series by Charlie Fletcher

resuwen · 03/09/2022 20:53

Ballyhoobird · 30/08/2022 00:46

Like others, was in my 20s when HP series came out and loved them, total fangirl. Ditto for TPs Tiffany Aching series, although they just slot in with the rest of the discworld I suppose.

The most recent is The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge, bought for me as an adult by an older friend who had loved the book as a kid. I don't think I got into it at the time, but later read it to my kids and fell in love with it (as did they). Just very lovely to read aloud perhaps.

Also has the added bonus of being an enthusiastically requested bedtime book, but guarantees sleeping children within a couple of pages, unlike HP et al where they're still up 2 chapters later & desperate to hear what happens next...

I was obsessed with The Little White Horse as a child, I made up my own tunes to all the songs and remember the scenery of the book as vividly as a real place, I spent so much time there in my head. I have very much enjoyed rereading it as an adult too.

pastapestoparmesan · 03/09/2022 20:54

Arthur ransome
Jacqueline wilson
katya balen
little house on the prairie

SerotinaPickeler · 03/09/2022 20:57

The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper. Life got in the way! Love it now.

EspeciallyDivided · 03/09/2022 21:03

I’ve just finished the Harry Potters for the first time in my mid 50s. We’ve had them on audio for years and the DCs have “read” them that way without needing me to read with them, DD has been nagging me to read them for ages so I have just spent the last 6 months listening to them on audio. I’ve enjoyed them but not loved them.

I also tried the Percy Jackson's after DD loved them but just couldn’t get into them.

Cotswoldmama · 03/09/2022 21:04

I've read loads of children's books as an adult and enjoyed them. Recently for my family WhatsApp reading group we read October, October by Katya Balen. We all loved it so much. I also recently read The thing about jellyfish by Ali Benjamin Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah.

Livinthedream84 · 04/09/2022 17:36

Never read famous five as a child always read the secret seven. Read them in my early 30s and absolutely loved them. Although a bit rude, racist etc now I can see they were ‘of the time’

never read or watched Harry Potter but am keen to give it a try now.

UsefulSmartPrettyHappy · 11/01/2023 22:45

Charlotte Sometimes

DuchessOfDisco · 12/01/2023 21:57

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton.
never read it as a child but I read it to dd and fell in love with all the characters and the story.

Forthelast · 12/01/2023 21:57

The wind in the willows

A monster calls