erastes

There was a list of 15 YA/Children's book you should read the other day, and it was an odd list. Very American based - Hardy Boys and books I'd never heard of. I'd only read three(Narnia, Tom Sawyer and Heinlein).

So for interest's sake, here's my list of Children's Books everyone should read. (in no particular order)

1. The Narnia Books by CS Lewis (my personal favourite is The Horse's Boy) I didn't see the Christian messages in the books when I was young, and my mother certainly didn't point them out, she left me to read and to ask questions if I wasn't sure about anything. I was in LOVE with Narnia, so much it hurt I could never go. I've never got over that love.

2. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien (although I also love Father Giles of Ham) Brilliant. And it stays brilliant. I got the audio book recently and I still laughed in so many places—and worried in others.

3. Treasure Island by RL Stevenson. When I was a kid I loved Long John Silver. When I read the book a few years ago I was amazed—he's dreadful. A brilliant character.

4. 101 Dalmatians (and the sequel, The Twilight Barking) by Dodie Smith - I wonder how many kids these days have read the original book, and experienced that absolutely magical section where they are taken in by an elderly spaniel whose master thinks that Pongo and Missus were ghosts.

5. The Borrowers by Mary Norton (can't tell you how delighted I was when I found that after 20 years she'd written a fifth book in 1982) The characterisation is so, SO fabulous in these books that I know I'll never write anyone as vivid as the Clock family.

6. The Silver Sword by Ian Serrallier. Absolutely fantastic book about the liberation of Warsaw and the plight of children and refugees

7. Mary Poppins by PL Travers. (and all the sequels) Again, nothing at all like the film, and full of absolutely fabulous characters and some truly heart breaking moments.

8. Winnie-the-Pooh by AA Milne. I always have had a copy of this, and yes, I still re-read it.

9. The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley. Terrible story, really—full of violence and bullies and danger and excitement. Educational too, as you learned more about sweeps than you ever wanted to know. The sweeps in Frost Fair was influenced by this book.

10. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield – i still haven't read all the Shoes stories, but I also love White Boots. Really feel good stories with pre-echoes of Tracy Beaker, only because they were 50 years before her, the kids are much better behaved, even when misbehaving.

11. When the Wind Blows by Raymond Briggs. Oh dear lord. *shudder* I'm actually glad I was grown up when I read this. Horrific. (Father Christmas goes on Holiday is also fabulous)

12. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graeme. The chapters "Dolce Donum" and "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" make me cry every time. And yes, of course Ratty loves Mole. It's obvious.

13. Peter Pan by JM Barrie. The prose is so fabulous, it caused me to fall violently in love with Capn Jas. Hook a lover of fair play, and a disturbing representation of Father Issues.

14. The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. I don't see this on many "lists" but I absolutely loved Pippi. I wanted to be her. I wanted to live on my own and go on adventures.

15. King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry. Better known for her book Misty of Chincoteague, I read that one and then found this (I had hundreds of horse books, could do a list purely on those). I adored the fictionalised account of the life of the Godolphin Arabian and the character of Agba and his love for Sham, the ill-fated stallion were beautiful written. Gorgeous illustrations. When I went to Ely last year I visited Wicken Fen which is where (in the book) Sham was exiled for a year after disgracing himself.

16. The Land of Green Ginger by Noel Langley – what happened after Aladdin got married? Find out! This is one of the funniest children's stories I know of, and it probably gave me the "I'm sorry I haven't a clue" brand of sense of humour. If you read it, the portion where the Master of the Horse has trouble with his pencil? Absolute quiet comedy genius. Button Nose Tortoise! Boomalakka Wee!

So, that's mine! Please do your own and leave a link, or simply add a favourite or two here, if you like. I could name dozen of others, The Jill books, Maurice and his Educated Rodents, Horses in the Glen, Pat and her Polo Pony, Gobbolino the Witch's Cat, Borrobil (oh god, how could I miss these off!!!!) but I'll never stop if I get started….