My favourite was Bobsey twins, its that long ago I don't know who wrote it.
Used to got to library for them
By special request, let’s discuss our favourite Classic Music and why?
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Me and my granny (book giveaway)
Being the granddaughter of a successful author isn't always easy, as Ottilie Kark knows. Through her grandmother, Nina, Ottilie enjoyed a privileged look into the world of publishing, and saw the on-screen creation of Nina's most famous book - Carrie's War.
Nina and Ottilie on a family holiday.
My granny, Nina Bawden, and I were not always close. When I was six years old I lived with my grandparents in their Islington home while my mother was on tour as a stage manager in Australia and Japan for six months. As I was so close to my mother, being abandoned and left to live with my grandparents made me a very angry little girl.
My granddad would spoil me rotten but my granny was strict and made me brush my teeth and hair. After one big row I stormed upstairs, stomping on each step as I went. I got to my room, which was the very top room, slammed the door and wrote in the biggest writing I could ever do, "Granny is a pig!". I stuck it on my bedroom door and slammed the door extra hard.
A few moments later, granny came up and stood outside my room laughing. I said in a very cross little voice, "What you laughing at?". She then pointed out that the sign I had written actually said "Granny is a pag". Not pig! We laughed a lot about this small mistake and from that moment on we became closer and we started writing a book together called "Granny the Pag". I was very lucky to be so close to my granny in her later years. We only lived twenty minutes away and I would see her nearly every weekend and talk to her every day.
Growing up with an author as a granny you get the privilege, but also the embarrassment, of having them asked to come into your school to talk to your classmates.
Growing up with an author as a granny you get the privilege, but also the embarrassment, of having them asked to come into your school to talk to your classmates. Everyone used to find it exciting that I was related to someone famous, but I would find it embarrassing when she would tell stories about me in assembly... Though looking back on this, it was rather cool! It meant that I was lucky enough to be part of book launches, press nights and, very excitingly, I was able to see the filming of Carrie’s War.
When my mother was growing up she went with my grandparents to see the filming of the 1974 television series and then in 2004 me, my granny and her evacuation friend Jean went to see the filming of the latest version. It was wonderful to be able to see the process and to feel part of this really amazing story has not only lasted for generations, but is also part of my own family history. For Jean and granny to revisit one of the places they were evacuated to, is something I am so pleased to have shared with them.
From Charlotte’s Web to Goodnight Mister Tom, Watership Down to Tarka the Otter, we have a full set of Puffin's 20 beautiful A Puffin Book children's stories to give away, as well as five individual books, all with newly designed covers and previously unseen extras. To enter into the draw, just let us know your favourite childhood books below. Giveaway will end on the 15 July at 5.30pm.
By Ottillie Kark
Twitter: @PuffinBooks
Anything about ponies as I knew it was very unlikely that I would ever have my own pony (unless my Great Uncle Albert won the Pools! ).
I had a lovely edition of The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley when I was very young - but have no idea what happened to it 
As well as Enid Blyton when I was very young I loved books by Malcolm Saville and trekked over the Lond Mynd and Stiperstones where his books were set when I was older.
'Wish For a Pony' by Monica Edwards was a favourite. DD2 is called after one of the characters in the book.
I enjoyed books by Lorna Hill, particularly the 'Marjorie & Co' series set in Northumberland.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorna_Hill
And of course, What Katy Did, Alice and Heidi amongst other classics.
I just can't pick a favourite!
I was taught to read before I started school by my beloved Grandma who we lived with. She used the Noddy books by Enid Blyton. At primary school we couldn't afford many books so I frequented the local library. 60 years later I can still remember the thrill I got when I found a Famous Five or Secret Seven book that I hadn't read. My daughter recently gave me all the Famous Five stories for my Kindle but I'm struggling. They are so dated. Times have really changed
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