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The children’s book you remember best

(522 Posts)
MawtheMerrier Tue 22-Mar-22 09:36:25

There are so many wonderful children’s books these days, from The Gruffalo to Amelia Fang, Gangsta Granny to Alex Rider.
But is there one book which made a special impact on you as a child?
For me it will always be Charlotte’s Web. It was read to me when I had Scarlet Fever , maybe not the ideal choice as I cried and cried, but for me a story I will never forget.

Happysexagenarian Wed 23-Mar-22 18:12:59

Another Enid Blyton fan here, Noddy books, Famous Five, Secret Seven, I devoured them all.

Rupert Bear annuals, I loved the rhyming narrative.

Milly Molly Mandy

The Secret Garden.

Heidi

Peter Pan

Little Women

Tom Sawyer stories

Black Beauty

The Silver Sword

Hans Christian Andersen stories

A Child's Garden of Verses.
It was a leather bound book of my mother's which I still have, over 100 years old now. The illustrations are lovely.

But the book that probably made the biggest impression on me was
White Fang (Jack London), read for O Levels. I gave my GD a copy last year, she said it was far too sad and how could they possibly give it to children to read. She's 15!

I don't remember being read to as a child, my Mum was always too busy. My GM taught me to read fluently before I started school, but didn't often read to me. At Christmas and birthdays I was always given books. They opened up a whole world of adventures for me.

So I've always been an avid reader and I still buy children's books for myself. My GC have asked why I have so many, and of course they're welcome to read them, or I'll read to them. I notice the younger GC don't have the patience to sit and listen, and they prefer books with lots of pictures or books that 'do' something.

Musicgirl Wed 23-Mar-22 18:10:54

Posted before uploading image. Here is the book.

Musicgirl Wed 23-Mar-22 18:09:59

This book, A Staircase of Stories, is very old and belonged to my father, who was born in 1940. He had inherited it from his older brother and two older sisters and I would imagine it was originally bought for his oldest sister in the early thirties. It is for a wide range of ages and has stories from all over the world including fairy tales and moral stories so beloved of the Victorians. It has some coloured plates and black and white illustrations and l loved it as a child. I am proud to have inherited it.

Elsine Wed 23-Mar-22 17:58:00

Faraway Tree for me but my first memory of wonder and awe was a tiny version of the Snow Queen with the most magical illustrations- was before I could readso i was about 3!

Hellogirl1 Wed 23-Mar-22 17:33:28

I read and loved all the Famous Five and Secret Seven books, but my all time love was Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott, I read it over and over, then followed it with the rest of the series.

MayBee70 Wed 23-Mar-22 17:32:55

Musicgirl

One of the books I reread every so often is Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce. It is a beautifully written time slip story and the ending never fails to bring a lump to the throat.

Oh ex. How could I have forgotten that one! I even made a point of visiting Ely Cathedral because of it.

Juliet27 Wed 23-Mar-22 17:28:56

nahsma even as an adult I bought myself a couple of Pookie books. I loved that little rabbit and his woodland friends…and Wendy of course!!

Juliet27 Wed 23-Mar-22 17:22:31

I enjoyed the Out With Romany series

Juliet27 Wed 23-Mar-22 17:19:39

Oh yes, musicgirl even being reminded of the ending made my eyes sting!

Musicgirl Wed 23-Mar-22 17:17:14

One of the books I reread every so often is Tom’s Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce. It is a beautifully written time slip story and the ending never fails to bring a lump to the throat.

gillyknits Wed 23-Mar-22 17:13:26

The borrowers was my favourite. I loved the way they made everyday objects into things for their house.

vivvq Wed 23-Mar-22 17:10:46

I loved "The Family from One End Street " by Eve Garnett. It was one of the first books that I purchased when I got a Kindle and I still enjoyed it. It was the first book that had working class children with the eldest going to grammar school just like mem

Tanjamaltija Wed 23-Mar-22 17:08:31

Comet in Moominland was the first book that was 'mine', i.e. not a hand-me-down from sister or cousins. I must have been about 7 years old when I got it, because my aunty brought it for me from Australia.

Incafarmer Wed 23-Mar-22 17:06:22

I loved Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield

BlueSapphire Wed 23-Mar-22 16:58:27

Oh, I can't choose, so many books and so many memories!

The Mary Mouse books.
Rupert Bear
Little Grey Rabbit
The Faraway Tree
What Katy Did
Famous Five
Winnie the Pooh books
Little Women

That takes me from about 3/4 years old to 12/13. I'd find it difficult to choose just one.
I bought the complete set of Little Grey Rabbit books when my daughter was about 4, read them at bedtime to her, and was transported back to my childhood.

Sweetpea60 Wed 23-Mar-22 16:54:08

My uncle bought me a beautiful book one Christmas when I was little it was black beauty I treasured it and read it no end of times ,I always remember the lovely vivid colors of the pictures.

Joesoap Wed 23-Mar-22 16:53:36

Milly Molly Many one of my favourites, cant remember the author, but its hidden away somewhere, must get it out.

gillyjp Wed 23-Mar-22 16:52:27

Black Beauty for me everytime.

Eskay10 Wed 23-Mar-22 16:45:40

Peter Rabbit. I couldn't read but I knew it off by heart.

Sweetness1 Wed 23-Mar-22 16:41:14

Ah I’ve just re read The Silver Sword..found it in a charity shop

blubber Wed 23-Mar-22 16:25:45

I loved Henny Penny and the Aeroplane.

Lizzies Wed 23-Mar-22 16:01:12

The Silver Sword by Ian Serrallier. It affected me very deeply when I read it only 20 years after the war.

Hattiehelga Wed 23-Mar-22 15:59:40

Heidi. It was magical. I still have my hard cover copy and it is in pristine condition 70 years on !!
I intend to give it to my granddaughter.

HazelGreen Wed 23-Mar-22 15:58:41

ah so many! and many already mentioned but I will chip in with "The little wooden horse" by Ursula Moray Williams
and "The Silver Sword" by Ian Serraillier

Anniel Wed 23-Mar-22 15:54:45

Witzend, I will never forget borrowing the William books from Dovecot library near us in Liverpool. It was war time and my mother never had the time, energy or money to buy me books as the war was on when I was only 5, so I went to the library with my sister. I loved the Jane books by Evadne Price too. When I went to a new school when I was 11, my mother filled a school satchel with books by Charles Dickens, but I did not take an interest then. As I was not in the Woke era I read avidly but Enid Blyton took me into an exciting world and I read all the famous 5 books. Interestingly, I had also read Charlotte’s Web and the Borrowers but that was when I was studying for my Australian Librarians Association qualification as I was in charge of School Libraries in Papua. That was in the 70s so we have quite a large spread of members here.

Can I say thank you to the OP for starting this thread. I love sharing childhood memories!