Can you remember your childhood favourite books?
By oldchem1
@oldchem1 (8132)
December 16, 2010 6:01am CST
When I think of the books that I loved as a child of course there were many Enid Blyton's book and my Rupert Annual that I received every Christmas, but I ALWAYS remember what was my very favourite book from my childhood–-The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett; unbelievably this book is almost 100 years old, and I wonder just how many children have been mesmerized by this wonderful book over those years.
The story features an extremely spoilt 10 year old girl-Mary Lennox-who had lived in India all her life during the time of the Raj. The little girl was dumped on servants while her parents attended parties and entertained their friends. When her parents and her Ayah died during a cholera epidemic in India Mary is sent to England to live with her Uncle, Archibald Craven, at Misselthwaite Manor in Yorkshire - a man who is still grieving 10 years after the death of his wife.
I think that this is a true children's classic, what are your reading memories?
17 responses
@Auntiescarf (842)
•
16 Dec 10
I loved the Famous Five books, and there was a book called The Secret Island, it was about some youngsters who decided to run away and found this secret island to live on. It seemed like such a big adventure and made me wish there was an island near me!
@Nadinest1 (2016)
• Canada
27 Dec 10
I loved Little House on the Prairie books. A friend of mine had a few of these and I got to read them.
Now that I am an adult, I would love to read them again.
My mother used to read to use from The Bobbsey Twin books.....as they were favorites of hers.
@Nadinest1 (2016)
• Canada
27 Dec 10
There are a few books that i had to read in high school that i have re-read as an adult....I have a totally different perspective while reading it now.
I would live to read 1984 by George Orwell again. i read in in grade 8. I found it on the internet.....but I would like to have it in print to enjoy it more.
@Angelwriter (1954)
• United States
17 Dec 10
I had a lot of favorite childhood books, and some of them still are my favorites. I would say top of the list was Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It's about the four March sisters - Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy- during and just after the American Civil War. I'm in a minority, because most people liked Jo the best, but I always liked Beth. The book had two sequels, Little Men, and Jo's Boys, that I also like. Little Women was also a childhood favorite of my mom's, and she gave it to me to read. Funny thing is, when I first got the book, I didn't want to read it. The first line looked boring to me. It may have been a year after that I was bored and just picked it up because there was nothing else to do, and I fell in love with it. Now, over two decades later, I read it probably once a year and have seen 5 different versions of it acted out in movies and tv.
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
20 Dec 10
I read ahead of my age quite a bit. I had a children's classic King Arthur that I read many time and lost it eventually. I just got a copy of it last year,new reprint but with some of the same lovely illustrations. I read The Secret Garden after seeing it on television. I liked Alice's Adventures In Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. I had a lovely copy of that as well. I never went to the library as a child, not sure why not. My dad helped clean out foreclosed houses and he would bring home books and such, though. I always loved reading, and loved checking books out at school.
@wdiong (1815)
• Singapore
28 Dec 10
When I was a child and started reading independently, I remembered reading Enid Blyton books such as Famous Five, Secret Seven as well as other adventure and mystery as well as school stories written by her. Even now as an adult with two kids, I do sometimes reread these books when I have the time. It's easy and enjoyable reading and brings back memories of childhood.
@macdingolinger (10385)
• United States
16 Dec 10
I remember my mom reading to me when I was smaller. But then in my teen years I found the library and began my own reading. I think one of my favorite series was one my grandmother owned. I used to love borrowing her books and reading them too. She had all kinds of classics I read. I loved the Bobbsie Twins series. And then from the library I read all the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books!
@Jotomy (6322)
• India
17 Dec 10
Hi oldchem, when i was in kindergarten i had a book Cinderella, it was a short story with all the art work, that was my dad gift. I like this book so much. My dad still kept with him this book with him, he didn't given me after my marriage. When i go to my parents house he will show me and to my son also that book and other toys too. I feel so happy to see them. It is my favorite book.
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
17 Dec 10
I have all my daughters Roald Dahl,books here ( she adored them when she was a kid) I now read them to my grandkids when they come visiting.
It is good that your dad kept your childhood memories safe for you, it must bring back some happy memories when you see them!
@kodukodu84 (1567)
• Malaysia
17 Dec 10
I also have read the Secret Garden and it was one of my favourite story. Apart from that, I also read a lot of fairytale's stories and also investigation stories. I really loved reading when I was very young and I could a couple of novels in a day. I remember when my mu used to struggle to get me do something apart from reading. Thanks for sharing and have a nice day
@Memnon (2170)
•
17 Dec 10
Depends what might be considered childhood books. I know I read the standard learning material as a child, but I cannot recall anything that could be considered reading for enjoyment or interest. My parents were not ones for books. It wasn't until secondary school that I started discovering books. Now most of what I have is factual.
@ivanmarginal (675)
• Indonesia
16 Dec 10
That time I just read comics only. Mostly Japanese comics. Yes, I love to see the pictures there. I also love to read Donald Duck books. He always has many frictions with his uncle, the very rich man, Uncle Gober. I just can't imagine how this old man can have so much money like that, lol. This was nice experience. Some day I wanna re-read that again. But I'm not sure those books still exists in my house. I guess all have gone. Pity on me.
@ricextreme (964)
• Ecuador
16 Dec 10
When I was younger I read a book that I really loved. It was "The little prince". I continue reading it since now! I mean I re-read it when I feel I need to do it. There are some ideas in that book that we must not forget. We should be happy of our live, and don't complicate this world. Try to live like a child would. That's an idea I got of this book.
@sweetmary86 (822)
• Philippines
16 Dec 10
i loved fairy tales when i was a child and also biblestory books those are my favorites. i could remember mum bought me a dozen fairytale books with colorful pictures and she would read them to me. it seemed so real and vivid.
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
16 Dec 10
There's nothing like the memories of childhood is there and especially being read to.
My dad didn't read to me he used to make up storied about Tom Thumb and tell them to me. I remember once I had a hole in the toe of my slipper and he told me that Tom Thumb had made it going in to keep warm!!
@mandywilks (191)
•
16 Dec 10
I loved the Secret Garden too when I was a kid.
I also liked Enid Blyton but I think that Peter Pan was probably my favourite book ever as a child!
@auyuelin (231)
• China
16 Dec 10
I love to read"Anderson Fairy Tale","Grimm Fairy Tale"and"Little Prince"
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
16 Dec 10
Oh I loved Hans Anderson, I had a really beautiful book of his stories - I think The Little Mermaid was my favourite, actually when I visited Copenhagen a couple of years ago I think that I was very much encouraged to go there because of Hans Christian Anderson.
I went to the museum about him in the city and bought my daughter a beautiful book of his works, I had a job to find one in English there though!!
