As I am busy writing my own children’s story, I wondered about the childhood stories I had enjoyed. Which stories made a strong impression upon my young mind and left an imprint on my life, so that I can still remember them to this day?
It is easy to download a book on Kindle these days, and I have enjoyed reading books to my children including the classics and new authors such as David Walliams, Jeff Kinney, Dave Pilkey, Stephen Pastis, Liz Pichon, Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton, Andy Shepherd, Jack Ryder and Matt Haig. However, when I was younger books were not so accessible. I had to rely on hand me downs, jumble sales, and rarely, the library (at least until I could walk there myself).
When I was smaller illustrations were important, the pictures brought the stories and the characters to life. I enjoyed stories about friendship and adventures that could ignite my imagination. As I got older, I wanted to read stories about children like me, who got into mischief and experienced real life situations so I could learn more about the world around me. When I got to ten/eleven I delved into the world of fantasy, the hero’s journey, adult themes, good against evil, before reading horror in my teens.
Here is a selection of my favourite books, that I can still remember and hold dearly in my heart.
Five Little Kittens (1955) by A. J. Macgregor and W. Perring (A Ladybird Book)
A wonderful poem with fantastic illustrations about a mother cat going shopping and the children getting into trouble while she is gone. This is a book I adored before I could read and I can still recite a number of lines by heart.
“Mrs Tibbets going shopping, wasn’t pleased enough to purr, “Kitties, PLEASE!” she said quite crossly, “How can Mummy brush her fur?”
I wonder how many times my poor mother had to read this book to me, so that I can remember it clearly, so many years later.
Little Grey Rabbit’s Birthday by Alison Uttley, Illustrated by Margaret Tempest (1978)
A story that was released the year I was born. I have loved it so deeply, that I have kept it with me to this very day. It is a beautifully illustrated story about two friends planning a surprise birthday party for their friend. There are some mishaps for the organizers of the party and some hurt feelings for the birthday rabbit. However, they finally manage to pull off a great party with the help of many of their woodland friends.
Each Peach Pear Plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg (1978)
The King and Queen of Children’s books when I was younger, and this book was one of my favourites. I desperately wanted my parents to buy this book, after reading it at school. I loved the illustrations and the silly rhyme, wondering who would I spy next?
“Each, peach, pear, plum, I spy Tom Thumb.”
Please Mrs Butler by Allan Ahlberg (1983)
Another Ahlberg book! This one is a very relatable book of poetry about school life which was extremely popular among my school friends. It was many years later that I could buy the book and my kids have enjoyed listening to me read it. My absolute favourite poem is Dog in the Playground.
“Dog in the playground Suddenly there. Smile on his face, Tail in the air. Dog in the playground Bit of a fuss: I know that dog – Lives next to us! . . .”
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White (1952)
The only story I remember any teacher reading out loud. I can still picture myself sat on the rug crossed leg with the rest of my class, our teacher on a high backed chair. The autumn sun filtering through the classroom windows, in the afternoon before the bell would ring for the end of day. I remember being caught up in the story, the imagery of the farm, the pig, the magic of a spider and friendship.
“You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing.” – Wilbur
Adventures of the Wishing Chair (1937) and The Treasure Hunters (1940) by Enid Blyton
I have read many of Enid Blyton Books, however these two were my favourite. Both were donated to me by my neighbour. I loved the Wishing Chair because I wanted a chair just like it, to travel wherever I wished. I don’t exactly know where I wanted to go, but the yearning for adventure and freedom was there. The Treasure Hunters is filled with mystery, danger, and excitement. There is lost treasure, a discovery of a treasure map and some baddies who want the family treasure for themselves. It is a race against time to see who can find it. A more grown up story, portraying financial problems, and dangerous criminals.
Milly-Molly-Mandy by Joyce Lankester Brisley (1925 – 1967)
A story about a girl who lives in a small village and is always busy along with her friend’s Susan and Billy Blunt. She has a good heart and always tries to do her best: helping somebody, minding the village shop, earning money for a party, or running errands. However, what I remember is that although she is good intentioned, things didn’t often go to plan and she would often unintentionally find herself in trouble, before everything got resolved.
“And then Milly-Molly-Mandy knew that the little storeroom was to be her very own little bedroom, and she said “O-h-h-h!” in a very hushed voice, as she looked round her room. Then suddenly she tore downstairs back into the kitchen, and just hugged Father and Mother and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty; and they all said she was their favourite jam-pot and pretended to eat her up! And Milly-Molly-Mandy didn’t know how to wait till bedtime, because she was so eager to go to sleep in the little room that was her Very Own.”
Willow’s Luck by Gabriel Alington (1977)
This is a story set in WW2 when Willow is sent to live with her uncle in the country. During the course of her stay, she finds a downed German airman in the woods and they become friends as she helps him to remain undiscovered and brings him food. This book introduced me to the concept of war and the consequences. When I think of the story, it still disturbs me. I remember Willow’s moral dilemma, her fear, the risk she took to do the right thing, in spite of the danger and the fact that her country was at war with Germany.
Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl (1975)
A wonderful story about the relationship between a boy and his father. Danny discovers more to his father than meets the eye and that leads to an exciting and dangerous adventure for the pair.
“Most of the really exciting things we do in our lives scare us to death. They wouldn’t be exciting if they didn’t.”
Quick Get Me Out of Here! By Michael Rosen and Illustrated by Quentin Blake. (1983)
One of the first books I ever bought. It is a book of childhood poetry. Topics included siblings, chocolate cake, bath time, go-carts, and summersaults. The poems made me smile and some are very silly. I kept this book for many years, dipping into it, often. I still enjoy the poems today, they are timeless.
“. . . It’s gone. You haven’t eaten it have you?” “I don’t know.” “You don’t know if you’ve eaten a whole chocolate cake or not? When? When did you eat it?” So I told her, and she said well what could she say? “That’s the last time I give you any cake to take to school. Now go. Get out. . .”
The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954)
The Lord of the Rings is one of my absolute favourite books of all time and I have adored the films.
“It’s like in the great stories, Mr Frodo. The ones that really mattered, full of darkness and danger they were. Sometimes you don’t want to know the end, because how could the end be happy. How could the world go back to the way it was when there’s so much bad that had happened? But in the end it’s only a passing thing, this shadow: even darkness must must pass.” – Samwise Gamgee