What did you read?

Gillby1

What a lovely thread!

This finally made me track down my favourite series of childhood books - The 'Adventure' Series by Willard Price. I started with the Whale Adventure, then read the lot. Described as 'The fourteen-book series chronicles the exploits of budding teenage zoologists Hal and Roger Hunt, as they travel around the world capturing exotic and dangerous animals for their father's wildlife collection.', they were the most exiting books i'd ever come across!

I was also a keen Enid Blyton reader.

Gilly

KxMx

Pippi Longstocking, Lottie and Lisa, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit

Lyger

Here are some of the books I read as a young 'un:

Wild Magic (Tamora Pierce) - this is the first in the Immortals series. Maybe avoid the last book in the series until the little one is a wee bit older, as there is some mention of sex in that one (though nothing graphic). The series follows a girl who has magic that lets her talk to animals.

Tamora Pierce is a teen fiction author, and I'd reccomend all of her work - though avoid the Song of the Lioness series (following the adventures of the only female knight in the kingdom) until again your kid is a bit older, as it also contains mild references to more adult topics! I reccomend her highly, as she still stands out as one of my favourite authors even now.

Some other books/series I'd recommend in addition are:

Tintin
Asterix and Olbelix
Lucky Luke (These are pretty much comics/graphical books, but I enjoy them even now! Plus, I learnt roman numerals from Asterix and Obelix!)

This is actually harder than I thought - I think back to the things I was reading at that age, and I have to admit I was probably reading things that were a bit too adult/teen for my age.

For when she's a bit older, David Eddings, whislt not graphic, writes feel-good fantasy fiction. However, there are still a few adult themes touched upon in his books also.

FatVonD

I loved Elidor by Alan Garner

http://alangarner.atspace.org/essay4.html

make_me_wise

I teach 8 year olds and they love the '!!!!!! King Smith' books. Dr. Seuss books are also great. Famous five, Horrid Henry and Just William books are brilliant too.

lostinrates

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Not a genuis at all, I was precocious, but got stuck (-:

I was definitely given Jane Eyre for Christmas in my last year at primary school, when I was 9, by my godmother. I really enjoyed it. Had to ask my mother about some words, of course!

I didn't read Jane Eyre until about eleven, but a couple of years before had read The Wild Sargasso Sea, which was exciting and sad and a little easier to read, but a little more ''adult'' in presentation of the other angle of the story. The joy of many great books, both classics and modern greats, is that they can be read again and again which enjoyment and what speaks to one from a great book changes and developes over time. e.g. I know my neices and I also enjoyed ballet, opera and classical music which we heard at home and saw in perfomance at very young ages. How we appreciate it as we have grown has changed, but the seed of that was planted young.

OTOH I can't stand most Dickenls, and I'm sure that was from trying too kmuch too young and being somewhat bored. Maybe in serialisation it might have been more enjoyable to a young but enthusiastic reader!

thorsoak

I'm another avid fan of Little White Horse, by Elizabeth Goudge - introduced my DD to it, who, in turn, has introduced her DD plus several God-daughters!

I also enjoyed Pamela Browne - The Swish of the Curtain and Blue Door Theatre - when I was about 11. Also anything by Dodie Smith - 101 Dalmations. And I was another "horsey" reader - anything by the Pullein-Thompson sisters (I think there were three of them) - loved those too.

I'm delighted to see that What Katy Did etc are free books on Kindle ....time to indulge in some MSE nostalgic reading!

mrs_marty

Thanks so much everyone! Really enjoyed everyone's responses. Looking forward to making up her reading hamper for Christmas, hopefully something she will treasure and encourage her reading.

It's nice to see other peoples childhood favourites too.

So many I had forgotten about and some I have never read but will try and track down. Thanks again folks

dangers

This thread has brought back many happy memories to me.

Unfortunately, all the suggestions I had have already been mentioned.

I loved the Little House on the Prairie books and still have the whole set.
The Chalet School books - just hope I still have the odd one or two in the attic. They were great
Malory Towers and the St Clare books
Trebizon as well.

I hope your dd enjoys her Christmas present.

milliebear00001

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

Not a genuis at all, I was precocious, but got stuck (-:

I was definitely given Jane Eyre for Christmas in my last year at primary school, when I was 9, by my godmother. I really enjoyed it. Had to ask my mother about some words, of course!

LOL! I had a reading age of 14 hen I was 8, but still only managed to get half way through Jane Eyre when I was twelve! It is a very 'adult' book, and although the first half is a great (if extremely sad - I cried buckets over it) story, it won't be understood fully by a young child. Similarly, Lord of the Flies, altough superficially readable, is a very adult, multi-layered book that requires an older audience. Animal Farm (mentioned elsewhere in the thread) is ostensibly suitable for kids, but was written as an allegory for Stalinist Russia! I enjoyed all those books immensely in my mid-teens, but they really aren't suitable for an eight year old!

I forgot to mention The Indian in the Cupboard, The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Family from One End Street and Tom's Midnight Garden!