Favourite memories?

[Michelle]

What are your memories when you were reading childrens books (yes, I know some of you still do, but you know what I mean!)?

Was it the usual, such as Enid Blyton, or do you remember more unusual books? Which have stuck in your mind?

[Kell]

The Tale of Two Bad Mice by Beatrix Potter was always (& remains to this day) one of my favourites. My Dad got me a tiny little hardback copy of this book when I was just a tot & I still have it now. Hunka Munka (the mouse) is my favourite Potter character, ranking even above Mrs Tiggywinkle! The pictures in that book are absolutely magical. I took a ceramics class when I was a teenager & actually painted Hunka Munka straight frmo the book. Managed to sell her for a fair bit too! It's the first book I remember being delighted about.

[Sugar]

Reading The Worst Witch books every year in the car as we travelled to a family friend's farm down in the west country. I remember the first time, I read one each way, the second time I read all 3 of them on the way down. Had to buy something new to come back with. Then for the next 4 years or so I would read the three of them on the journey!

I also remember being read Danny, the Champion of the World in class and being terrified of Danny being caught!

[Debbie]

There was a book being read to my class when I was 8 which was about some children who went under the sea, under the waves, which were called white horses, and lived and had an adventure in a world there. I was ill and missed the last episode, and never found out what happened. I can't even remember the name of the book or the author, but for 37 years I have wanted to know the end!

Debbie

[Icecream]

I remember some books about children n a school bus who went under the sea for adventures. I think it was a diff one to yours though..

[Maureen]

I was ill and missed the last episode, and never found out what happened. I can't even remember the name of the book or the author, but for 37 years I have wanted to know the end!

Debbie

Debbie - they lived happily ever after!

THE END

[Sugar]

I remember some books about children n a school bus who went under the sea for adventures. I think it was a diff one to yours though..

I think they might have been the Magic School Bus books - there was one where they went into the Human Body as well that I can remember really clearly!

[Janet]

I loved the 'Magic Woodland series' series by Beverly Nichols - sadly they are out of print now, but I still have my original copies - the only books from my childhood that I kept.

I also loved Enid Blyton, especially the Mallory Towers and St Clares series, not to mention 'The Land of Far Beyond' which was a child's version of A Pilgrim's Progress, if I remember correctly.

I also loved E Nesbit's books.

[Icecream]

Enid Blyton was my favourite too, especially the MAaic Faraway tree ones, so those Magic Woodland books look like something I would have enjoyed.

[Angel]

My firm favourites without doubt were Mallory Towers and St Claires. I also loved Charlottes Web :reading:

[Purple Poppy]

Sorry - joined this a bit late in the day. But my favourites were Enid Blyton (like everyone else), The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Graeme and the Chalet School series - Elinor Brent Dyer. My all time favourite was A traveller in Time by Alison Uttley. I still have quite a few of my childhood books, and there is one about a pixie which I used to love. Oh and Winnie the Pooh of course. The list is endless.

The children under the sea rings bells for me too, although I wonder if I am mixing it up with the Charles Kingsley book...(the name escapes me) which had a similar theme.

Gone on a bit haven't I? Sorry.

Susanna :hide:

[princessponti]

The Water Babies? I couldn't get into that (as an adult), might of liked it as a child though!

I used to read the Worst Witch too, loved those books! I never really got into Enid Blyton or anything like that. I loved Winnie the pooh and Beatrix Potter. My all time favourite books were 'Chilly Billy' about a little guy who lives in the fridge and 'the Karate Princess' (self explanatory!! - such a high brow reader I was!!

[Louiseog]

St Clares Enid Blyton and then later some of the teen romance ones Lois Lowry (can't remember the title) and Paul something beginning with Z. One was very sad!

[Angel]

St Clares and Mallory Towers were my firm favourites

[Louiseog]

Did you ever read Susan Digby's Trebizon series? They were great

[Angel]

No I didn't - were they good?

[Louiseog]

More up to date versions with boyfriends etc but still innocent. Anne Digby is the author, still boarding school I wanted to go

[madcow]

St Clares and Mallory Towers were my firm favourites


I loved those books too.

[Gyre]

Hello There..

I remember reading 'Elidor' by Alan Garner and thinking Wow...

:readingtwo:

[Purple Poppy]

Originally posted by Princessponti


The Water Babies? I couldn't get into that (as an adult), might of liked it as a child though!



The Water Babies of course. No I couldn't get into it either. Never finished it.

PP

[Sarahrob]

Did you ever read Susan Digby's Trebizon series? They were great

I loved Trebizon but hardly anyone has heard of them.

My booky memory is from when I was about six. I'd been really ill when we were away on holiday, so my mum bought me The Borrowers to cheer me up. Sadly I was so ill I just couldn't be bothered reading.
When I got better I tried to read it, but it just reminded me of being sick.

I've never managed to read it.

[Inver]

I loved being whisked away in the Famous Five & Secret Seven adventures....wanted to be in them.:readingtwo:

Also discovered Little House on the Prarie books when I got one at Christmas one year.....always thought it would be a great series on the telly and was delighted when it happened (if a bit goody goody now when you watch it).

[~V~]

i loved (at various ages):
- mallory towers/secret seven/faraway tree etc by the bylton
- the bobbsey twins
- rupert
- george orwell's animal farm
- nancy drew
- alfred hitchcock presents
- pan horror books
- agatha christie (i was about ten when i started to read these so guess they count)

but there was a series of books i loved as a kid and would love to read them again. thing is, i can't remember the author or the name of the books. so help please.

books were about a group of kids (siblings and cousins i think) who would go and stay with a great-uncle over the summer holidays and have 'adventures'. he was a retired sea captain (i remember thinking of captain birdseye type characters) and i'm sure the family were called the 'cherries/cherrys'

anyone?

[Tiger]

The Mousehole Cat for me

[Liz]

I LOVE Rupert the Bear.

[~V~]

I LOVE Rupert the Bear.

i taught myself to read using rupert (apparently) :)

[Liz]

I used to read the Little Miss and Mr Men books when I first started school.

[kernow_reader]

:readingtwo: My strongest memory of childhood reading is one of staying up 'till nearly midnight reading "The Railway Children" which my brother had just given me about 9pm that evening.

I also remeber him giving me a hardback copy of Enid Blyton's "Hollow Tree House" which I lived, slept and dreamt for weeks.

Another time he took me to the library and I got a book about a blue cat. All my life I have wanted to own a bright blue cat like the one in the book..
:22:

[Maureen]

I remember saving my pocket money to buy the latest Famous Five.....and trying to read it slowly so it would last more............as if it were a delicious bar of Twix that you never want to end........

[Purple Poppy]

I liked Rupert Bear, but he was spoilt for me as I had a nightmare when I was about 7 or 8 about the spikey little elf men who lived in the pine wood. I can't remember what they were called, but I still have an image in my head. (You can probably help me out here, Liz?) I was terrified, and it was years later when I picked Rupert up again. :hide:
PP :006:

[Janet]

I remember a creature called Raggety who was a 'baddie' but he wasn't an elf - I think he was made out of twigs, if my memory serves me correctly. He was quite scary!

[JudyB]

Oooh couldn't resist this thread.

Absolutely loved Enid Blyton - Secret Seven, Famous Five and Mallory Towers. Also had a book by her called Land of Far Beyond - don't know if anyone remembers that.

Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert O'Brien and The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken were read to us in class (4th year junior school) at the end of the day. Absolute bliss!

The Ghost of Thomas Kemp by Penelope Lively

The Little House on the Prairie series - read every single one - thought they were wonderful - real feel good books.

A Dog So Small by Philippa Pearce

Finn Family Moomintroll books

Sure there are many others - I've still got all those mentioned above and treasure them.

[Kell]

... Mallory Towers.
I loved those when I was a kid - i still have them since my Dad got everything out of his loft to move house. i've got them all on my "for sale" list - LOL!

The Little House on the Prairie series - read every single one - thought they were wonderful - real feel good books.
And these too!

Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert O'Brien I vividy remember reading and adoring this - it's so dark! If I remember correctly, I also once saw an animated film of it, but I could be wrong...

A Dog So Small by Philippa PearceThis was read by Dame Judy Dench on Jackanory once (many years before she was made a Dame). I saw it on a programme about this well-loved kids' show...

Finn Family Moomintroll booksI never read these books, but I loved the original TV programme. It was kind of creepy, but in a sweet way. I hated it when they revamped it a few years back - it was all brightly coloured and, somehow, wrong. Bring back the original Moomins, I say!

[thebottle]

I remember...
The Giver
The Hatchet
The Indian in the Cupboard
The Phantom Tollbooth
Chronicles of Narnia

I should get some of those and reread them.

[Janet]

Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert O'Brien I vividy remember reading and adoring this - it's so dark! If I remember correctly, I also once saw an animated film of it, but I could be wrong...
You do remember correctly. The film version was called The Secret Of Nimh, I believe.

[Gyre]

I remember reading 'Charlotte's Web' and crying afterwards, then being very protective of spiders, I even kept one in my 'first tree house', it was plastic toy that was a tree house but I loved it..:D

[JudyB]

:readingtwo:

I also remeber him giving me a hardback copy of Enid Blyton's "Hollow Tree House" which I lived, slept and dreamt for weeks.

:22:

Oh I loved this book - it really captured my imagination.

[madcow]

I remember reading 'Charlotte's Web' and crying afterwards
I cried too, and also after watching the animated version of it. My youngest has asked me to take her to see the new film and no doubt i will cry at that as well!

[thebottle]

I remember reading 'Charlotte's Web' and crying afterwards, then being very protective of spiders, I even kept one in my 'first tree house', it was plastic toy that was a tree house but I loved it..:D



That reminds me of another book that I am man enough to admit it had me fighting back tears when I was younger. Where the Red Fern Grows

[Nici76]

I used to really enjoy the Enid Blyton series "The _________ of Adventure" series. I even had them on tape as well. Very fond memories :)

[Purple Poppy]

Paula said

I remember reading 'Charlotte's Web' and crying afterwards, then being very protective of spiders, I even kept one in my 'first tree house', it was plastic toy that was a tree house but I loved it..:D




LOL. I've just got a copy of this. Perhaps I'd better buy some tissues in too?

[wrathofkublakhan]

My memory of children's books is when I was a young lad on my grandparent's farm. I discovered some books in the attic that my grandfather and then my father read -- Tom Swift and Tom Swift Jr.
The first Tom Swift series were written between 1910 and 1940 (Tom Swift and His Motorcycle). The second series, Tom Swift Jr. (1954 - 1971) were more modern, obviously.
I associated Tom Swift with my grandfather's era and Jr. with my dad. So, I enjoyed these books so much even though they were "old and in the past" books - spending long summer days in the attic or on the porch reading through all the adventures.
Posting this memory, I looked it up on wikipedia and learned that they were ghost-written by many authors! Astonishing!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Swift


Which, of course, spawned the famous Tom Swifties....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Swifty

Examples include:
"Pass me the shellfish," said Tom crabbily.
"Can I go looking for the Grail (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Grail) again?" Tom requested.
"I unclogged the drain with a vacuum cleaner," Tom said succinctly.
"I might as well be dead," Tom croaked.
"They had to amputate them both at the ankles," Tom said defeatedly.

[Fiona]

I'd say the books I read most as a young kid - when I was about five to six was probably Edind Blyton, I grew up on the Magical Faraway Tree and Mr Pinkwhistle.

I also read Roald Dahl a little after that and then Brian Jaques Redwall series. Swallows and Amazon was also a childhood favourite, I'd love to read those again but I'm afraid I won't enjoy them so much or in the same way.

I can't really get into Redwall anymore, which is a shame whereas I adored them as a kid. I think I discovered Martin the Warrior when I was about ten. It was winter and I'd just come out of the dentist. I remember it was winter because it was dark and cold outside. And of course I dragged dad down the bookshop and I found this book with a colourful picture of a mouse on it and that attracted me to begin with. It looked good so Dad bought it for me. I read all of Redwall up to Lord Brocktree. I think that's when I realised I'd grown out of them... which is sad.

I haven't grown out of Diana Wynne Jones yet though. :D

[wrathofkublakhan]

I remember reading The Sterile Cuckoo by John Nichols when I was about twelve years old.
I was in El Salvador where my father was doing some work - it was one of those "self aware" moments so rare for kids. I was suddenly conscious of myself in this strange house (with a pet parrot!), blue skies and an interesting book to read, almost like a camera was aimed at me I could see myself.

[kitty_kitty]

I loved havingthe chronicles of narnia and the roald dahl books reda out to us at first school

[Child.of.God.1989]

Which, of course, spawned the famous Tom Swifties....
Examples include:
"Pass me the shellfish," said Tom crabbily.
"Can I go looking for the Grail (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Grail) again?" Tom requested.
"I unclogged the drain with a vacuum cleaner," Tom said succinctly.
"I might as well be dead," Tom croaked.
"They had to amputate them both at the ankles," Tom said defeatedly.

Those are clever - I heard of them on fun-with-words.com a long time ago but forgot them all. Fun-with-words' anagram page (http://www.fun-with-words.com/anag_example.html) is pretty interesting! I have to check those out for my nine-year-old nephew and me to read!

[Louiseog]

I read Charlotte's Web to my eldest son. Had to stop at the end because I was crying! My sister had to take over, he still remembers and loves the idea

[writeoff]

I remember my Godparents giving me a fantastic book that had everything in it. There was Shakespeare, fairy tales, greek myths and legends as well as classic children's stories. It was a real hotchpotch and I can't remember the title but it was the best book I ever read as a child.

[KW]

Memories OF reading children's books: lying on my stomach on my bed, windows open, Southern California cool breeze scented with eucalyptus trees coming through the windows. All quiet in the old house.

[writeoff]

I loved to read by torchlight under the bedcovers. There was something magical about following that circle of light along the page. Also there was the fact that I wasn't supposed to be doing it that made it more of a buzz.

[Adam]

I remember my mom reading to me. She would read me books about trucks and everything really. There was this one book called Haggity Peg, about a witch, I was so scared of it, but I always wanted her to read it to me :lol:

[Echo]

I remember reading The Baby-sitter's Club and Amelia Bedelia. I also remember reading the Goldbug books with my little brother, and some old children's etiquette books and some books about human sexuality. There was a picture of a sperm in a top hat and my little brother used to draw him. :lol:

[Kylie]

I used to read under the covers with my torch too, until I got caught and got into a lot of trouble :mrgreen:

I have memories of my Mum standing in the hallway between my brother's room and mine, and reading Roald Dahl poetry out to us when we were in bed. She was very good at it :smile2:

[fireball]

Am I the only one on here who remembers Malcolm Saville.?

Wonderful writer (1901 - 1982)

check these out. : http://www.witchend.com/

http://www.btinternet.com/~ajarvis/saville.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Saville

http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/saville.htm

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/s/malcolm-saville/

Thing about his characters they progressed in each book and so at every stage of your growth you could still identify with them.

You WANT mystery? you got it, you WANT adventure? you want to go to different parts of England with them? you got it, you WANT history ALSO, you got it.:D

And does David once and for all finally fall for 'Peter' Petronella
Sterling.? Yehh God help us,! there is romance, still we've got the twins and not for getting Macbeth, now how'd the dog get his name again.?!

I was shamed and mortified to read not ONE fellow brit mentioned him.

You girls really had a deprived child hood.

[Adam]

I also remember going to the library and reading all the baseball books. Its all I did one summer. It was so much fun :D

[supergran71]

My childhood was so free and happy. Although born in 1935 and being a child during the war (I was 10 when it ended). When sweets came off ration, I didnt know what to have there was so much. I didnt know what a banana was!! Imagine that eh? Most of all I remember cycling everywhere, to school, or during the holidays miles and miles all around where I lived. I was such a free spirit. Despite historians recording that the 40s and 50s were times of austerity, I just remember being happy, never felt deprived, it truly was a wonderful time.

[JudyB]

Like Supergran I had a happy childhood. I was a child of the 70's and looking back it was like the sun was always shining and everything was so colourful because of the bright fashions of the time. We loved going on our bikes - on the edge of the green belt we had loads of country lanes to explore.

[Janet]

Am I the only one on here who remembers Malcolm Saville.?

I was shamed and mortified to read not ONE fellow brit mentioned him.

You girls really had a deprived child hood.
You felt shamed that we hadn't read them. Good grief - overreaction or what?! :roll:

For your information, I don't feel my childhood was deprived - quite the opposite actually.

[fireball]

Janet, overreaction or what?! not really I was just saddened that no-one even mentioned, and now even read the man.
He was truly brilliant, and he'd enhance your childhood greatly if you had. I at least remember him, and I'm grateful for the action and adventure and yes romance. He brought his books alive; I can still remember when Tom lost his memory, and the effect it had not only his girlfriend but also how it effected the rest of the Lone Pine.
Or how about the German that "peter" (Petronella) had fallen for at the crucial stage of the on going romance with David, who's nose was very much knocked out of joint I tell you.

Sorry you think the way you do, the way Mr. Saville wrote you did care how they behaved, not only to each other but to others too. David was, of sorts dragging his feet and sort of taking her for granted, and "Peter" wasn't having it. How REAL can THAT be.!?

Years ahead of Potter, and just as good.:D

[Janet]

Sorry you think the way you do,
I didn't say I wouldn't have liked them.

I just feel rather insulted that a) you are shamed by anyone that hasn't read them and b) you think my childhood is lacking due to not having read them. I had a fantastic childhood thank you very much.

[burghead lass]

Good Afterrnoon All

I have not heard of this author Malcolm Saville and I had a good childhood. My mun took me to the library aand bought me books but my favorite author was Enid Blyton I especially loved her Famous 5 books.

Just because someone has not heard or read an author does not mean that they are deprived in anyway whatsoever.

Although I have added my tupance worth to this thread my greatest fear is that it is going to get out of control annd eveyone will be angry with each other. I have seen it happen before and it is not a pretty sight.

My advice is toi forget the suject and go on to some thing new.

Heather

[happyanddandy]

I have memories of being a child living in Tooting, SW London and going to the Co-op shop at the end of the road where there was a selection of Puffin books. I would use my pocket money to buy Dr Dolittle books and Nigel Molesworth books. I loved their newness and the cartoon drawings.

[Janet]

In a similar vein, I loved going to 'The Little Shop' in our village and spending my savings on their books. They stocked a set with a different coloured dragon on the back - colour coded for age (I wonder what they were called* - I'd forgotten all about them until I started posting!).

It was there I got my copy of The Land of Far Beyond my Enid Blyton. It was an interpretation of A Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan (although I didn't know that at the time) and I used to often re-read that book!

ETA: *Rather predictably they were called Dragon Books!