The love of books

How I love to receive a book token and I was delighted to get one for my recent birthday, and a special big one it was. I was picking up my art work from the New Bookshop, where it had been displayed in the window as part of Meanders, a wonderful annual exhibition of artist's work in the windows of shops in Cockermouth. I had chosen my paintings of famous doors to go in the window and the bookshop had carefully paired them with the appropriate books to make a super display and I sold four paintings.

I was in the bookshop for ages before I finally plonked my pile on the counter. Unbelievable that even without looking at the prices of the books, The total came to just 5p short of the voucher amount. 

One of the books I bought is this one. I've been enjoying Lucy Mangan's book, Bookworm, and reconnecting with my childhood books. I'm 10 years older than Lucy but we have many books in common. As I read her favourite selection and the books that shaped her childhood, I began to think about my own.  

The earliest picture books I remember having as a child were these two.

Flannelfeet by Lilias Edwards and Jo Jo's day out by Dorothy Clark. 

We had Ladybird books at home and many of the well-loved tales but I learned to read with a scheme called Through the Rainbow.

I raced through the colours, a book a day, eager to get to the more exciting silver and gold books. 

Every Christmas we each got at least one annual that we wanted as well as Rupert Bear and Blue Peter. I found this lovely photo of my sister and I enjoying our books at bedtime. 

Living in Cumbria I was encouraged to read the Beatrix Potter books. My favourite is still Squirrel Nutkin, a cheeky little rogue that gets his comeuppance. 

Much later I read Swallows and Amazons but never read all the other Arthur Ransome books that my sister seemed to love. 

I read Noddy as a very young child but I was not a huge fan of Enid Blyton though I did read all the Adventure Series and some of the Malory Towers books. 

My Aunt, the primary school teacher, introduced the family to the books of Rosemary Sutcliff and Susan Cooper. Staying with relatives in Alderley edge, I was introduced to Alan Garner and The weirdstone of Brisingamen and later The Moon of Gomrath.

I loved action and adventure, the Young Detectives was a favourite. 

I remember other favourites, I borrowed from the library; A Pair of Jesus Boots by Sylvia Sherry, The Diddakoi by Rumer Godden, Carrie's War by Nina Bawden and my treasured box set of The Narnia Collection.

I tried to read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and The Ursula Le Guin series The Wizard of Earthsea on my sister's bookshelf but didn't take to them. 

Into early teens, my friend and I read Scully by Alan Bleasdale and a whole series of Heinemann fiction for teens from the Library.

I also started reading Agatha Christie novels at about thirteen.

I read the Roald Dahl books but not as a child. I read them to my younger brother and to my class when I began teaching.

Becoming a primary school teacher meant a lifelong connection to children's literature that I still love. 

When my children were growing up there had been an explosion in publishing for children and so many wonderful picture books with beautiful colourful illustrations.

My own children had many favourites; Can't you sleep little bear by Martin Waddell, Where's my Mummy? by Colin and Jacqui Hawkins, Ten in the bed by Penny Dale, Peace at last by Jill Murphy, the Hairy McClary books by Lynley Dodd, Spot the dog and many more. 

We also had all the classic picture books, The very hungry caterpillar by Eric Carle, Each peach, pear plum by Janet and Allan Ahlberg and their Jolly Postman, Guess how much I love you? by Sam McBratney and The bad tempered Ladybird also by Eric Carle.

Once they were reading independently, the shelf was full of Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon, Little wolf, Captain Underpants, Roald Dahl books, the Harry Potter series and Spiderwick Chronicles.

I love looking at the books in the children's section even though there are no grandchildren ...yet. I am always amazed by the wealth of books for children. I look forward to being able to introduce some more little people into a world of imagination and adventure.

I wonder what were your favourite childhood books?