What books do you remember from childhood?

[Guest]

The early days: The Peter and Jane books from Ladybird, plus a host of other hardback Ladybird books, including several fairytales (Cinderella, The Princess and the Pea, Sleeping Beauty etc); the 'pirate' early reader books (Roderick the Red and his colourful pals); Topsy and Tim; Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree, Wishing Chair, Naughtiest Girl and Amelia Jane books, as well as her nature books (I remember particularly a lovely, dusty, very old hardback copy of her 'Book of the Year').

 

A little later: Enid Blyton again: Famous Five, the Adventure series, Malory Towers and St Clare's; Antonia Forest's school books; Sue Barton series. ETA: the I-Spy books.

 

Later Still: the early books in Anne Digby's Trebizon Series; Jean Ure (A Proper Little Nooryef stands out); Judy Blume; early Jaqueline Wilson (Waiting For the Sky to Fall, Nobody's Perfect); The first few Fighting Fantasy books (The Warlock of Firetop Mountain was the first one); Adrian Mole; collections of ghost stories, collected by an editor whose name I really should remember.

 

Even later: James Herbert, Stephen King, Graham Masterton et al.

 

There's a children's book I remember from the early 80s but I just can't recall the title. It was a ghost story about a family on holiday in Ireland, where the children are haunted by a little boy (perhaps more than one child) whose family died in the Potato Famine. Any ideas about the title?

Edited May 10, 2011 by Guest

[Fishcake 10]

Any Enid Blyton book.

 

The hardy boys?!?!??

 

The turbulent term of Tyke Tyler.

 

Sherlock Holmes.

 

I used to read an awful lot so there are loads of books I loved. Up to being about ten or eleven SHerlock Holmes was my favourite and I had read them all several times over.

 

Enid Blyton just becasue we had all her books and they were very English.

 

Hardy boys seemed cool when I was little.

 

The turbulent term of Tyke Tyler - great story and as I remember an unusual reveal at the end.

[shaznay 10]

I loved ladybird books

 

this was my absolute favourite

 

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QR%2Bu9O3LL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[Frank Sidney 11]

We had that book at school. The other kids loved it but I hated it.

 

 

Racist

[Frank Sidney 11]

The only 3 I can remember reading at school were, 101 Dalmations, Kes and The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe. These were all read by a student teacher we had who was so enthusiastic about them....

[horribleblob 213]

I particularly remember the novels of Geoffrey Trease - wherever we moved to, the local children's library was always well stocked with them I recall.

 

There's a children's book I remember from the early 80s but I just can't recall the title. It was a ghost story about a family on holiday in Ireland, where the children are haunted by a little boy (perhaps more than one child) whose family died in the Potato Famine. Any ideas about the title?

 

Ann Pilling's "Black Harvest".

[Guest]

...Ann Pilling's "Black Harvest".

You absolute star! Thank you. Yes, that's the one. I've been trying to remember that one for ages.

[wednesday1 10]

I had pretty much all the Enid Blyton secret seven/ famous five books. I also used to love her "School" series, "Mallory Towers" and "St Claires". I also enjoyed the "Adventure" series.

 

She wrote a series of books for slightly younger readers in the vein of the secret seven and famous five, called "The Five Find-Outers And Dog". (a year or two younger than the secret seven/ famous five books) which I loved to read.

 

 

My favourite Enid Blyton book was the Ring o Bells mystery.

[espadrille 10]

I loved Enid Blyton

 

The Folk of the faraway Tree

The Secret Seven books

The Famous Five books

 

The Island of Adventure

the Castle of Adventure.

 

I got all these from the Library. I hardly ever was given a book that was bought, until I got older and someone bought me 'Ballet shoes' by Noel Streatfield and I didn't like it so didnt read it all.

[taxman 12]

I remember the first books my Mum got me from the library. There was one about dolls escaping from a box in an attic I think.

 

The Big Hungry Caterpillar I also remember.

 

After that various Peter and Jane books at school and stuff like Little Red Hen and 3 Billy Goats Gruff (my first encounters with trolls until SF)

 

My first proper books were probably Wind in the Willows and The Hobbit.

[Tess 10]

I remember my teacher, in J4, reading the class a very touching book called "The Silver Sword", by Ian Serraillier.

 

It was set in Warsaw, during and immediately after the second-world war, and touches on refugees, and families being separated.

 

I said that in my last one, it was a lovely book from what I remember (which to be honest isn't that much!)

[mike-s 13]

A book I read when I was about ten has always stuck in my mind (in my 50s now) It was called 'The ghost of Dibble Hollow', I read it quite a few times and always enjoyed it.