Top Ten Children’s Books
Today’s Top Ten post is all about Children’s Books, or as Americans classify them: Middle-Grade Books.
These are my childhood faves. Have you read any? Which other children’s books would you recommend? Let me know in the comments below.
Top Ten Children’s Books
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The first classic I remember picking up for myself at school and loving. I didn’t want silent reading time in English class to stop when I was reading this book. Completely transcendent and wonderful read.
The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
This was a classic for many young children, I and my siblings were not exempt. I had a gorgeous picture book edition which I read many times over, and I later read the complete unabridged version when I was about 13-14 years old.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
I actually didn’t read the Harry Potter books until I was fifteen years old. I had grown up with the movies and I didn’t want to know what happened until the series was complete…or until I read the final book first. Sadist behaviour, I know! I love the series now though and re-read the books every summer.
Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman
I’ve yet to read any of the other books in this series but I did really enjoy Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman. I felt like I had a daemon while I was reading this as they felt so real and completely normal. I think the reason I didn’t pick up the latter two books in the series is because of the multi-world element. I’m really not a fan of that trope at all.
The Girl Who Saved Christmas by Matt Haig
I’ve yet to read any of Matt Haig’s adult fiction or non-fiction but I do really enjoy his Christmas children’s books, in particular The Girl Who Saved Christmas. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Carey Mulligan, over Christmas 2017 and loved it. Set in Victorian England but with a fun, childish Elvish world where Father Christmas lives, it was simply a fun read.
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
Did anyone not cry when they read this book? A tragic story of two brothers during the First World War. The ending completely traumatised me, but it’s such an important book which tells children of the darker side of the war beyond the glorified version we often heard as children.
Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian
Probably my all-time favourite children’s book. I adore Goodnight Mister Tom. I’ve read it multiple times, and I imagine I’ll re-read it again soon. This is a beautiful story of a domestically abused boy who is evacuated to the country and ends up living with a crotchety old man, and the two of them bring each other out of their shells. It’s a real story of love and family.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
How many times was I read this story as a child? I’ve lost count! It’s an absolute classic and still gorgeous to this day, although I’m pretty sure I could recite it backwards. Love Beatrix Potter and all of her stories, but I have a particular soft spot for Peter Rabbit.
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild
My mum introduced me to Noel Streatfeild with the Gemma series, which I loved, but when I saw the Ballet Shoes adaptation on BBC one Christmas I completely fell for the Fossil sisters.
Utterly Me, Clarice Bean by Lauren Child
My mum reminded me of how much I loved the Clarice Bean books the other day. I used to love cuddling up to my mum who would read books to me. We both giggled profusely about one scene: Clarice Bean was told to rescue a brick at the bottom of a swimming pool… but why? It’s a brick? Why does it need rescuing? This a question I still ask myself now.
What are your favourite children’s books? Did I mention any in my Top Ten? Let me know in the comments below.
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