Gransnet forums

Books/book club

The children’s book you remember best

(518 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.

Annaram1 Wed 23-Mar-22 11:51:24

I hope somebody can enlighten me as to the author and detilas of this book, a real beauty. It was about a couple of children who find an old empty house in the woods and explore it. It had a staircase with what appeared to be rabbits footprints on it. Years later the children, now adults, get married and live in the house. There is a mysterious scary man dressed all in black who changes into a crow. The woman tries to save the rabbits from him... Can't remember any more and if anyone can give me details I will try to find a second hand copy.

hf59 Wed 23-Mar-22 11:53:29

The Family From One End Street

WendyBT Wed 23-Mar-22 11:53:42

Five on Kirren Island.

A much older friend gave me her copy and I read it while sick with measles.

Theoddbird Wed 23-Mar-22 11:55:35

I loved The Twins at St Clare's. I think it was escapism. Also remember The Family at 1 End Street and the Jennings books. Anthony Buckeridge came to my school so started reading those. I was an avid reader from an early age.

Pudding123 Wed 23-Mar-22 11:57:50

Just William and Enid Blyton Mallory Towers ,I always wanted to have a midnight feast...

Suemid Wed 23-Mar-22 11:58:54

Loved Black Beauty, Heidi, Little women Robinson Crusoe Treasure Island, what Katy did Oliver Twist all books really l loved reading

sweetcakes Wed 23-Mar-22 11:59:00

Malcom Saville and the Lone Pine Five I would save my pocket money to buy them. I treasured them until my mother gave them away saying I was too old for them she didn't look at the bigger picture!!

grannybuy Wed 23-Mar-22 11:59:24

My copy of Anne of Green Gables - it was my mother’s school prize book in 1939. I knew nothing about it until, while staying with an aunt, I found it in my cousin’s bookcase. I was ‘hooked’.

Bankhurst Wed 23-Mar-22 12:01:31

To me ‘RSVP’ has always meant ‘rat shan’t visit party’ as explained by Little Grey Rabbit

Alioop Wed 23-Mar-22 12:02:56

All the Famous Five books as they remind of going to our caravan. I got a new one to read each holiday, I just loved them.

Dancinggran Wed 23-Mar-22 12:03:32

I was an avid reader as a child loved Enid Blyton especially the Famous Five, the Faraway Tree books but also Heidi, What Katy Did, Black Beauty but one I always remember was a book serialised in a magazine and read to us by our teacher 'Children on the Oregan Trail' by Anna Rutgers Van Der Loeff, we were 8 years old and couldn't wait for our Friday afternoon storytime to find out what would happen next on their journey.

bunny17 Wed 23-Mar-22 12:04:03

Toms midnight garden

MummyJoJo62 Wed 23-Mar-22 12:06:22

Mary Plain and The Owl Man
It got me into reading

Nanny27 Wed 23-Mar-22 12:09:46

Absolutely loved The Family from One End Street.
The Katy series by Susan Coolidge
The mystery stories by Enid Blyton.
I wonder if today’s children read books over and over again like we did.

Rileysnana Wed 23-Mar-22 12:10:17

Enid Blytons were my favourites. The Faraway Tree especially.

DanniRae Wed 23-Mar-22 12:15:27

I had "The Wind in the Willows" was read to me at school and I really loved it smile

missdeke Wed 23-Mar-22 12:17:47

I enjoyed so many of the classic children's books, but 2 particular favourites were Heidi, given to me by an aunt who had received it from my nan for her 12th birthday, and Children of the New Forest which encouraged my lifelong love of history.

DutchDoll Wed 23-Mar-22 12:19:00

The Water Babies,
Children of the New Forest, Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare, The Famous Five books,
Alice in Wonderland.
Shirley Flight Air Hostess.

GrandmasueUK Wed 23-Mar-22 12:19:47

Started with Enid Blyton’s Noddy books, followed by all the other series, which I have been buying for grandsons now. The Tree that Sat Down,The Borrowers, Chalet School series (and now in-fills from GGBP), Timpetill, Marianne Dreams and Miss Happiness and Miss Flower are all books that I still have and read and enjoy occasionally.

Eva3 Wed 23-Mar-22 12:20:08

As with so many of you, it was the books read aloud to us chapter by chapter at the end of the school day - last year of Primary - which have stayed with me. Our head teacher read to us and we really looked forward to that part of the day. We were allowed to rest our heads on the desk. My head mistress was also my auntie (not always to my advantage!) so that made the reading extra special. I remember especially:
'Jeremy' by Hugh Walpole, 'Jennie' by Paul Gallico and 'Emile and the detectives'

Eva3 Wed 23-Mar-22 12:21:57

'Family from One End Street' - oh yes! I can see the cover now.

hicaz46 Wed 23-Mar-22 12:22:02

I really enjoyed Children of the New Forest which most people
don't remember compared to the likes of Little Women and Heidi etc.

Startingover61 Wed 23-Mar-22 12:22:27

Impossible to name just one book! I’m another fan of the Little Grey Rabbit books; I used to borrow them from our local library. My aunt gave me some of her classics when I was about 9: Little Women, Good Wives, Heidi, and Peter Pan to name just a few. The one book that stands out for me when I was a teenager is Jane Eyre. I was given a 30p Penguin copy of it at school when I was 13 (I still have it 41 years later) and devoured it one weekend. It’s still my favourite book of all time. I bought another copy a few years ago as the original has been read so many times; it cost more than 30p though! I couldn’t imagine life without books!

ayse Wed 23-Mar-22 12:22:47

My Mum used to read to me every night. My favourites were the Jungle Book - I am the Cat that Walks by Itself and Riki Tikki Tavi; Rudgyard Kipling (mmm?). The others were the Alice books although later on I liked Frances Hodgson Burnett. At about 11, I moved on to Ian Fleming, Georgette Hayes, Dennis Wheatley etc.

Zoejory Wed 23-Mar-22 12:23:01

One of my favourites is one I found in my Grandparent's library. They had thousands of books of all genres and I'd spend hours in there

I came across this one day and read it, absolutely captivated by the horror if it all. Written in the mid 1800's I think by a German author.

It was designed to get children to behave well or face dreadful consequences. Sort of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory on speed.

I've not forgotten it. I still have that same copy. Not read it to the grandchildren though!