It is interesting to note that most of the books I loved best when I was a child were fantasies. Some of these I still occasionally pick up and read.
Fantasy by Astrid Lindgren: The Brothers Lionheart. About 2 brothers who are reunited after death in a fantasy world where an evil warlord armed with a dragon has part of the land in thrall and is trying to invade the free parts. Mio, my Mio. About an orphan who discovers that he is really a prince. He ends up fighting an evil knight who steals people and animals from his father’s kingdom. Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter is a more lighthearted story about a girl who grows up as the only child in a group of rowdy robbers, and finally finds a friend when she meets a boy, the son of the leader of another group of robbers. All sorts of mayhem ensues when the two robber kings start fighting for territory and the children decide to teach the adults a lesson. I was never very fond of the Pippi Longstocking books, perhaps because I was already in my teens when I first read them.
The Village that Slept by Manique P. de Ladebat. Two children who have survived a plane crash in the Pyrenees have to make it on their own for about 8 months, in an abandoned village. I borrowed it repeatedly from the library when I was a child and teenager, and have been looking for a copy to buy for several years. Since I wrote this, I was able to re-read it, and although it’s an enjoyable enough story, I don’t think I will bother to try to find a copy to own, unless one day I have children I can read it to.
A fantasy novel by Peruvian author Carlota Carvallo de Nunez, for which I have not been able to find an English title. In Spanish it’s Rutsi, el pequeno alucinado. It is the story of an immortal jungle spirit who wants to experience being human, so he takes on the form of a young boy and has all sorts of adventures as he travels from jungle to village to city and back to the jungle. It transported me into a world full of wonder and magic.
I am David by Anne Holm. I was about 12 when I read this beautiful story of a young boy who escapes from a prison camp in Greece and makes his way across the continent to Denmark, finding his destiny along the way. I still pick it up occasionally when I want to read something that will make me feel good.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Another favourite that I discovered at the library and borrowed over and over again. About a young orphan girl who finds a hidden garden and discovers she has a hypochondriac cousin. Together they make over the neglected garden and bring joy and happiness to themselves and the boy’s father. I didn’t read A Little Princess until I was an adult, but would probably not have liked it as much as a child – Sara is so incredibly good and perfect, and I hated such characters in stories.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Fantasy. Another book belonging to my brother that I wanted for myself. It’s just as related to fairy-tales as The Hobbit is, and an added bonus is the echoes of one of my favourite tales by Hans Christian Andersen: The Snow Queen. I also recommend the rest of the series.
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. Fantasy. About a boy who is transported into a fantasy adventure through the book he is reading. A wonderful story about the power of a good book. Later, when I was in my teens, I discovered Momo, which I like even better, and will discuss later.
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. I read it and two of its sequels as a child and loved them all.
Readers: Please post your favourite children’s books in Comments. I still like to read children’s books and I am always on the lookout for new ones.
Added Wed. 28 September: I have just realised that I need to make a third post of favourite children's books, as I completely forgot Hugh Lofting and Enid Blyton.
posted by: BronwynJ (reply)
post date: 09.14.05 (2:52 am)
As a child, about thirty years ago, I absolutely loved a huge red covered hardback book of fairy tales which my primary school had. I loved the illustrations & stories too. I would dearly love to own a copy of it. I have never found a large beautifully illustrated hardback book of fairy tales which I like better, nowadays it seems only smaller collections are published, & the illustrations are only soso. Please visit me: http://bronwynj.tblog.com/
posted by: jmfausti (reply)
post date: 09.14.05 (4:09 am)
Welcome back. You've been missed. I hope all went well with your translation project.
I too loved The Secret Garden as a child. I still have my copy of Hans Christian Anderson's fairy tales from childhood, my absolute favorite being The Little Mermaid.
You can't forget the Pippi Longstocking books, The Velveteen Rabbit, Charlotte's Web, Harriet the Spy... ooh, I could go on forever.
posted by: Shelley (reply)
post date: 09.18.05 (10:23 am)
I dearly loved Shadow Castle by Marian Cockrell and Little Witch by Anna Bennett. Shadow Castle is available on Amazon.com with deleted chapters! Well I had to get it, but I was amazed at all the reviews of people who had it when they were young and were so happy to find the book again.
posted by: Marianne McA (reply)
post date: 09.26.05 (8:00 am)
Too many to mention. The Chalet School books by Elinor Brent-Dyer - my sister and I made fun of them, but loved them. Arthur Ransome's books - especially Swallows and Amazons & We didn't mean to go to sea. Hugh Walters space books - Passage to Pluto etc. Susan Cooper - The dark is rising series. Nearly anything written by Noel Streatfield, Elizabeth Goudge's Henrietta's House - the Molesworth books - Noel Langley's Land of Green Ginger. I loved some of the books you mentioned too - I think the thrill of A little Princess to the child was the transformation of the attic, rather than the character of Sara. That's the fun of Henrietta's House too - she finds in the woods an actual house identical to the one she had imagined with her poet father. (Talking of Anne sequels, did you read Rilla of Ingleside? Always made me cry.)
Wow, lots of books and authors here that I have never heard of. Must make a trip to the library soon.
Bronwyn, I remember a book like that, and you're right, you don't see many such books being published. I guess it's just too expensive.
Marianne, yes, I read Rilla, but not until I was grown up. Very good book. The two best books in the series were, in my opinion, Anne of Green Gables, and Rilla.
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About me
What this blog is about:
Reading and books.
If you’re wondering about the name 52 books, it stems from a book-a-week reading challenge I set myself. The challenge is over, but I'm still reading, and will continue to blog about the books I read and my reading experiences, and other stuff connected with books and reading.
I rate the books (if I feel like it), giving them stars ranging from zero to 5.
Books I have already read (sporadically updated):Cover gallery
Note: Some of the entries are linked to the months the reviews appeared in, because I made several entries for each book. I have marked those reviews with an asterix (*). If you want to read the whole review from beginning to end, you must scroll down and read from the bottom up (but you probably already knew that ;-) >
