Win a copy of Philippa Gregory's Dark Tracks *NOW CLOSED*

It would be Richmal Crompton’s “William the conquerer” for me, I just loved the anarchy and the way that the boys absolutely ran rings round Violet Elizabeth Bott (was there ever a more hateful, insipid female antagonist?)

I loved the Malory Towers series by Enid Blyton. Our teacher banned us from reading her books, but I think it was a way of getting us to read what was forbidden fruit! I used to believe that boarding school would have been wonderful. Little did I know the truth would have been different from fiction.

Hard to pick just one as I loved so many different books as a child. The 7 Little Australians & The family at Misrule by Ethel Turner because they belonged to my Grandfather & then my Dad. (Not dissimilar to Little Women). The Swish of the Curtain by Pamela Brown; I wanted to act . And of course I wanted to be Heidi living up a mountain with Grandfather and Peter! I still have all these books ...

Pippi Longstocking, I was there with her living through all her fantastic and outrageous adventures .

I was and still am absolutely mad about James Herriot i have read and own all the books and plan to go and holiday in ‘herriot’ country very soon. The call of the Yorkshire Dales in the 50s is so appealing but must have been a hard way of life living in the high nooks and crannies of the Pennines in the deepest winter. I feel another herriot reading session coming on.....

I loved the Malory Towers series.

Years later we drove past Roedean, the posh girls boarding school in Sussex. There stood Malory Towers by any other name....! At least, going by EB's decription.

I have tried re reading them fairly recently. Ugh!

Nowadays, I wonder about the Alm Uncle in Johanna Spryri's Heidi stories. They were magical.

I have always enjoyed reading, but I particularly remember
'The Black Tulip', author Alexander Dumas. This work of literature has certainly stood the test of time. I read a copy when I was fourteen years of age during the English class at the senior school which I attended. I am now an o.a.p. which goes to prove just how much I enjoyed the book.

The Pearl by John Steinbeck which explores the depth and meaning of family; the extremes of good v evil and perseverance.

I am now 85 and my favourite read as a child was 'The Swish of the Curtain' (by Pamela Brown if I recall correctly); I still have the book packed away in my garage so that my Grandchildren can also enjoy it. Now all I have to do is to find it...…..

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.I love horses and anything to do with them.

I loved Treasure Island and dreamed of running away to sea,.... sadly I can feel sick on the Isle of Wight ferry.

My favourite book as a child was Ballet Shoes

Any of the Famous Five books by Enid Blyton. I could relate to the characters and dream of sharing their adventures. My grandmother's dog, Timmy, would join me.

Always Enid Blyton for me, which my children loved and now my grandchildren too. Also the Bobbsy Twins which I used to read out loud to my younger siblings.

Doctor Who and the Sea Devils - escapism, adventure, original, sci fi at its best, 70s brilliance

What Katy Did - loved it to bits and read it over and over. The Faraway Tree was one of my husbands favourites and it has proved a great hit with our grandchildren! Not so much What Katy Did!

The Famous Five, Secret Garden, Heidi, Polyanna and Little Women.
I lovewd the above and read them over and over again

I used to love Enid Blyton books and would read everything from The Faraway Tree & The Adventures of The Wishing-Chair, The Naughtiest Girl in the School to Brer Rabbit, Noddy, The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, and I loved her Fairy Tales, poetry books, treasuries, annuals and nature books. Great escapism with magical worlds to visit and explore, characters and animals to get to know. So much to fire a young imagination and start me off with a life-long love of reading.

I adored the series of books by Louisa M. Alcott: Little Women, Good Wives, Jo's Boys and Little Men. Way before equality so doubt today's girls would get past the first chapter!

Mary Poppins all day long

I loved all of the famous five books by Enid blyton and now introducing them to my grandchildren

I loved the Heidi and Peter books and The Secret Garden and when I was about 12 in discovered Jane Eyre and later Wuthering Heights. Ivanhoe was another childhood love. But a lot of the stuff was dutch so could only read the translations if they existed!

I absolutely loved Famous Five books and devoured them every weekend when i went to the library. I always wanted a dog and never had one growing up so just loved Timmy being involved in the adventures

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was my absolute favourite as a child and is still one of my favourite books. I loved reading it again to my daughter.