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What are your most favourite children’s books?
That’s what I want to know today. What stories take you back to the halcyon days of your childhood and transport you to a time when you had not a care in the world?
I always knew that my children’s nursery would be full of books. In our old house the room that we thought would eventually become the nursery had the books in there already all it needed was the baby. But as it turned out our babies were brought home to this house and how happy I am now that I see the nursery is finally taking shape.
If you are an expectant mum or a new mum then don’t worry about whether or not you have the nursery ready for your little one’s arrival home from the hospital. I think it’s more important to get your room ready for them as they’ll probably be in with you for a few weeks/months/years. This is great as it gives you time to play with and plan the nursery until your heart is content.
Robert the Husband and I only got this shelf up on Monday. But since then I have had more fun decorating it than just about any shelf I have ever decorated before. And believe me, I’ve decorated a lot of shelves.
While pottering about I realised that I was paving the way for my children’s early reading experiences. They’ll be three, four or five before they truly grasp the drama of Peter Rabbit’s adventures with Mr. McGregor. But that’s OK, I can wait.
You’ll think I’m strange but this picture of Peter really reminds me of my son Ned! Ned has a little blue jacket like that and is always very straight. Ned sleeps in a straight line and sits up in his rocker in a straight line. My daughter Anaïs is very different and thrashes about a lot more. In fact yesterday during her afternoon nap she ended up at the other end of the cot without her blanket OR TROUSERS! This is not surprising to me at all as she was constantly moving about in the womb, whereas Ned was more still.
But that is why this little picture of Ned…sorry, Peter Rabbit, reminds me of Ned.
Got there eventually.
Noddy is also a huge favourite of mine and I’ve often gone on about Enid Blyton and how much I adore her stories, particularly The Famous Five. Noddy reminds me of my Nana and I can hear her voice as I remember diving in to her bed in the morning with my sister and she would read us a story to start the day with. My Nana’s house always smelt of toast and I can’t smell toast nowadays without being transported back.
It’s so important to me as a first time parent to give my children good memories as they grow and one of the best ways I know to do this is through books and my love of them.
Eventually they’ll move on to The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter but until then they’re all mine and shall be fed on a diet of Beatrix Potter. Woo Ha Ha Ha!
I’ve had a wonderful time decorating with some of the most charming fabrics I’ve seen in a very long while. The babies are loving colours and shapes at the moment and all I have to do is lift the sewing hoops down from the wall and entertain them for hours with cowboys, lions and Matryoshka dolls. I have the most wonderful fabric emporium right on my doorstep – The Eternal Maker – is my local. Doesn’t get better than that and they are all lovely and so helpful!
Guys, I can’t tell you how quickly time is flying by.
Each and every day they get more hair, grow out of more clothes and make new sounds. As I pick Ned up to carry him upstairs to bed in the evening he rests as light as a feather in my arms and puts his sweet smelling head in to my neck. I know he won’t be doing that forever and will probably be a touch embarrassed if he ever reads this.
He’ll be a lanky teenager one day and want his own room and his own books. So before I give him back to the world (I refer to Ned as I’ll tell you right now the world is NEVER having my daughter. Oh no, Sirreee, she’s staying put) I’ll make this little room a haven of safety.
A room where they can enjoy being children, as we all know that it can sometimes be a little tough being an adult and I don’t want them to have to face all that until they have to.
I also want this room to be a room of dreams. Look at Mickey & Minnie up there. I remember seeing them on the television in an advert for Disney World when I was little and desperately wishing I could go and visit them. I got there eventually and one of the quotes I live by when it comes to dreams of my own is a quote from Walt Disney -
“If you can dream it, you can do it. Always remember that this whole thing was started with a dream and a mouse.”
Robert and I have a dream of one day taking our twins to Disney. Seeing their faces as they enter the world of Mickey and his friends. Robert and I went last year and I think I had more fun than some of the kids there…..
See? I was in my element. We’d had such sadness in our lives before we left for this holiday and had just lost our second baby. But when Robert took me to Disney for my birthday last August, I’m telling ya, healing came through the ability to be a child again. Even if it was just for one day. Look at the poor little chap to the left of the picture. I think I was taking his turn on the truck. Sorry, little one.
One of the greatest days of my life.
I met Minnie.
But until the day comes when we all pack our bags and head off as a family to Disney, I at least know that my babies have a room they can call their own and a place that I can read to them.
They also have Peter Rabbit and his little blue coat to look over them as they play. And what more could they wish for!
OK, I’m dying to hear, as it may give me heaps of ideas……WHAT ARE YOUR MOST FAVOURITE CHILDREN’S STORIES? With the Autumn fast approaching I can think of nothing I’d rather do than some literary research by the fire………
I love you and thank you for reading my post today.
Love,
Cherry xoxoxoxoxox
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Having just read your post, i was transported back to when my own two children were babies. My youngest baby started secondary school three weeks ago and is now a grown up (or trying to be!) twelve year old. His sister is fourteen in a few weeks (how did that happen?) and very much the confused,loving,dippy and sometimes downright annoying teenager. Like you their nursery cupboard contained peter rabbit and friends, enid blyton. In book and story tape(now cd)when a little older was the Dick King-Smith series about Sophie and her exploits. Being Scottish with lots of irish family (and having two red headed children) they loved the world of Katie Morag by Mairi Hedderwick. She is a little red headed girl in wellies who lives on an island off the coast of Scotland with her family and one of her grannies. The other granny lives on the mainland. The pictures are wonderful and the author herself a delight. She kindly signed one of my daughters books and commented on her lovely red hair.
Your nana sounds like a special person. Mine was the most important person in my life and sadly died a year ago at the age of 97. I have lots of her things around me and am truly glad that my children knew and loved her as much as I did. She is sorely missed everyday.
Enjoy your babies while they are small because the time is gone in a whisper.
Hi Dear Cherry,
I love your precious nursery. My “babies” are 35,33, and 21. They all had lovely nurseries, which was not so easy to do all those years ago. One of my sons had Beatrix Potter, which was not the norm in Texas. My precious baby girl had Laura Ashley, and white eyelet. My mother in law and I made it all ourselves.
I have kept all of their books. We did have story time every night at bedtime, and we have all of those cherished memories. You will too. My mother in law sent “Paddington” and “Babar” books. This was before they were on TV and my oldest son loved them. My sweet Emily’s, favorites were “Goodnight Moon” and “The Runaway Bunny”. She has also read every Harry Potter book cover to cover. My favorites are, “Grandfather Twilight” by Barbara Berger. It might be hard to find, but SO beautiful. A special book for you and Anais is “Someday”, by alison meghee and peter h. reynolds. It was published in 2007, and was a NYT #1 Bestseller. I still cannot read it with my daughter, she is 21.
Hug those precious babies!
Hi Cherry,
I was an avid reader when I was little and have collected lots of my favourites to read to my children (5 and 2 now). It is one of the joys of parenthood re-reading and revisiting those magic worlds again with your own kids. Start reading to them as soon as you can with picture books – both mine loved books from a really early age.
I adored the Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton which I also read to my son when he was 4 every night for about a year! Also Milly Molly Mandy by Joyce Lankester Brisley – the original illustrations are gorgeous and I remember it so fondly from my childhood. MMM seemed to me to live the perfect country life. My daughter loves it too. I also loved The Litte House on the Prairie stories and anything by Roald Dahl esp James and the Giant Peach and Matilda (although a lot of sad things happen so maybe they have to be a certain age to enjoy these.
When they were younger my children they loved the Hungry Caterpillar – such gorgeous art work, any of the Ahlberg books but especially Peepo, all of which come in sturdy board books.
Then the modern classics by Julia Donaldson and Axel Sheffler – the Gruffalo, Stick Man, the Snail and the Whale (which made me cry!), Zog etc.
Also some of the artwork for children stories is stunning – the Mousehole Cat illustrated by Nichola Bayley just takes my breath away with its beauty.
I have also just bought some second hand copies of Heidi and The Secret Garden for future years.Oh it is such fun creating a little library for them – it sounds like you are enjoying it just as much!
It’s got to be Anne of Green Gables, Milly Molly Mandy, , What Katy Did, Little Women, Jo’s Boys, Alice in Wonderland, Beatrix Potter, Dr Seuss (The Grinch is still read to the children- even the 12 year old every Christmas Eve by my husband who does voices etc – am tearing up just thinking about it!)
My 8 year old daughter is just discovering all the books I read when I was little, she finished Anne of Green Gables yesterday and is starting Party Shoes today (she read Ballet Shoes a while back) She adores them all and Enid Blyton particularly Malory Towers.
What would we do without books?!
XX
Beautiful nursery Cherry! With the time difference between the UK and Canada your posts are usually the first thing I read in the morning when my kids let me have half a cup of coffee. They always put me in a good mood for the day
And your twins are gorgeous!
Favourite books! Favourite topic – hands down would be Winnie the Pooh, the Velveteen Rabbit and Anne of Green Gables. Also loved Pippi Longstocking, Charlotte’s Web and My Friend Flicka. My Great Grandmother was from the UK and my brother and I still cherish her Enid Blyton books (though we have to be very careful with them now!). My son has just turned three and we took him to the Harry Potter exhibit at our science centre this week – he’s hooked already and wants to read them “all the way to the end Mummy”. Like THAT would happen in one night. I’ve been trying to get him interested in Peter Pan and The Jungle Book but he’d rather watch the DVDs. Sigh. He likes the Disney versions better I guess. Much love to you and your beautiful family. Thanks for sharing (almost) every day
I’ve got so many favourites from reading with my lovely girl (now
but I remember that, along with Beatrix Potter, she loved Alison Utley’s Little Gray Rabbit books – beautiful and sweetly old-fashioned. x
Here are a few very American “classics” I adored when I was young. Some are decidedly male, while others female. Dogs seem to cross both genders. I consider the list below a necessity for any small child’s library:
Marjorie Flack’s Angus series
Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion
Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni
Miffy by Dick Bruna
Ferdinand the Bull by Monroe Leaf
Lois Lenski’s Little series
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
and
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
It has to be Rupert. My mum used to read them to me as a little girl and even today I still turn to the Christmas story if I pick up a Rupert book. Lovely post, lovely nursery.
Oh yes to the Janet & Allen Ahlberg nomination, my favourite is “Peepo”, always makes me weep when you realise that Daddy is going back to war…. and my daughter always adored the Large Family books by Jill Murphy about family of elephants living in suburbia. For me nothing can ever surpass Little Women, but can I even get my lanky glamourpuss daughter to open it?
Love the nursery it makes me want mine to be little again ! Soooo many favourites in our home but I have to say The Velveteen Rabbit is up near the top !
Oh, I have to tell you, that you won’t have to wait that long for your little ones to enjoy Peter Rabbit. Newest granddaughter will be five months old in a few days. While reading Pirates Don’t Change Diapers to the elder granddaughters I looked down to see her face lit up with excitement seeing the pictures. Stunned, I watched her face as I read the story in my best pirate voice. She was captivated! Little babies enjoy the rhythm of being read to and love the vivid colors in books. She can also spot the Beatrix Potter wall stickers. Babies are so amazing. As a reading tutor I’ve seen over and over young children imitate their parent’s style of voice inflection. The more dramatic the parent’s style, the more enthusiastic the child’s efforts.
I had tons of little golden books: The Saggy Baggy Elephant was fun! I had a small wonder book of the Bunny with the Blue Bow which resonates and I am always searching for a copy. I read voraciously as a young girl and Waterbabies by Charles Kingsley was wonderful.I had no idea it was prejudiced against so many nationalities then I just was mesmerized by the idea! I adored still all the Louisa May Alcott books, Little Women being a favorite. As I was visiting my grands recently I reread The Little Lame Prince by Dinah Maria Mulock and it still warms my heart.I think I found copies for several of my kids who liked it when we read aloud.
My favourite books were “The Secret Island”, “Hollow Tree House” and “Those Dreadful Children” – all by Enid Blyton. I bought them again recently off ebay – terribly old-fashioned, but still wonderful. As for Ned wanting his own space as a teenager – my 14 year old (Giorgio) is 5’8 1/2″, size 11 feet (yes, really) and still lies all over me each evening to watch some TV. As for not letting your daughter out into the world……I’m afraid it will happen…no matter how many tears I’ve cried, the world has re-claimed my 16 year old (Chloe). Girls want to spread their wings first I’m afraid!! That’s why I’m one of the weird Mums who doesn’t complain when she stays in bed all day – at least I know where she is!!! She still cuddles and kisses me on a regular basis though, so all is not lost!!! Enjoy them Cherry – time absolutely flies!!!!! xx
Yes, I know you’re right. Waaaahhhhh! I think I may take your route and let them lay in bed all day as long as I know that they are there!!!! Cx
I loved and remember my mom reading to me! Dr. Suess books, Make Way for Ducklings, The Story of Ferdinand, Curious George, and The Boxcar Children when I was older.
Thank you for your lovely blog! I really enjoy the photos of your home and your life.
You are so welcome. Thank you so very much for visiting. Cx
There is nothing like taking your child the first time to Disney World. I may have cried a little when I saw her face when we got there, it was so full of wonder. The Magic Faraway Tree is my favourite series of books as a child, but my daughter’s has been Harry Potter. She’s 7 and just discovered them and thinks they are utterly magical. Enjoy reading with your little ones
I think I’ll cry too when we reach the gates of Disney. I can hear the squeals and they’re just my own! Cx
Hi Cherry. Love your blog and your beautiful babies. My favourite were, infact still are, the little grey rabbit books. I’m sure you must know them but if you dont you would LOVE them. I really wanted to BE little grey rabbit and still have lots of the books. Some people would call them old and tatty but I would say they are much loved!xx ps Little Grey Rabbit goes skating is my favourite!
It just has to be Enid Blyton…Naughtiest Girl, Magic Faraway Tree etc…they def stand the test of time and I hope your twins enjoy them as much as my brother and I did when we were little! x
Love the nursery photos and shelf! Not a mum yet but invested in some Beatrix potter books yesterday while shopping in a charity shop on hols in the isle of Wight. Jeremy fisher and tom kitten for a grand total of 10p! Loved the brambly hedge books when I was little, my mum collected them for my sister and I. The illustrations are so lovely. X
Children’s books, one of my favourite topics! You’re never too young to have a book read to you. I always give new parents a copy of The Baby’s Catalogue by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, it was written for their daughter who was always looking at the Mothercare catalogue and wasn’t interested in her parents lovely books. So they wrote their own catalogue! They wrote some other great books like Each Peach Pear Plum and the Jolly Postman.
I loved the Mog books too, my husband and I went to an exhibition about the author/illustrator Judith Kerr earlier this year and both ended up blubbing. Actually, when your twins are older and if you are ever anywhere near Newcastle Seven Stories, the centre for the children’s book, is an amazing day out.
And I remember Blackberry Farm too, we had Little Martha as one of my sisters is called Martha.
I’ll sign off now because I could write reams on children’s books (actually if you look on my blog under the books category there’s more, plus some links to some good information by other people). If you look up the Kate Greenaway medal that’s a great resource for stunning picture books that have either won or been shortlisted.
Oh, and Shirley Hughes – Dogger!
Dogger!
How we loved Dogger.
Martha B Rabbit was a book that I loved as a child. I think there are two or three of them, but I read them with fondness, even at the age of 21 when I took them out of my storage cupboard when I was leaving home.
The illustrations are absolutely beautiful. So vibrant detailed. If you don’t know of them, find them.
The nursery looks so wonderful. I don’t even have children but I think I’d just like a spare room to decorate like that anyhoo!
xx
Lovely photos Cherry, what a haven you’ve made for those babes! My favourites truly were the old ones – the Anne stories, What Katy Did,Little Women. I have very strong memories of my Mum reading to me from Eleanor Farjeon’s lovely anthologies ‘Tell Me a Story’ & ‘Tell Me Another Story’…I bought an old copy quite recently & felt the tears pricking as I read my favourite ‘Blackie’s Birthday’ again (about a dog!) and heard my Mum’s voice down the years..also loved (good for twins!) Topsy & Tim and the old Ladybird Well Loved Tales books of all the old fairytales…but this was the 60′s & 70′s remember! So much more around now. Not sure that it’s all better though! My 6 year old nephew (but not my niece) LOVES the Little House series and they’re wonderful. xox
What a beautiful nursery, a wonderful place to grow up
I am a real bookworm and my love of books was fed from a very young age by my mother. I adored both the Magic Faraway Tree and Milly Molly Mandy, they remind me of times snuggled up with my grandparents after a sleepover! An absolute must in my opinion though has to be Winnie the Pooh, I just bought a beautiful hardback complete collection for my new Goddaughter and it is divine. I can’t wait to read it to her and share the magic of Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet with her!.
Much love to you and your family Cherry xx
Love the nursery and its so true about not rusing to get it done. Oscars is still not quite ready but I have a serious problem wanting to create corners, he just wants to create caves for his dinosaurs or beds for his bugs. He has a reading corner and his favourite books are anything to do with dinosaurs, bugs, sharks. His favourite is We are going on a bear hunt, monkey puzzles and the hungry caterpillar. Also big a big fan of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins and Special Agent Oso.
My favourite books? Famous Five, Secret Seven, The Children of Willow Tree Farm, The Naughtiest Girl in the School, and not strictly a childrens book, but I love the Pop Larkin Chronicals!!!
Caroline xx
“The Magic Faraway Tree” by Enid Blyton. I used to spend all my pocket money on enid blyton books. Thankfully my 6yr old daughter Sophia has a great love of books already and I can’t wait to share those stories with her. Somehow I don’t think my twin boys, Jack & Harry will love this author but I look forward to instilling a love of reading in them too and finding stories they love to listen too.
Thankyou for your wonderful stories and photos. Very inspirational.
The Blackberry Farm series, which my Grandmother (who is Scottish) bought over to New Zealand from Scotland for my mother (we were all born in New Zealand). I still treasure these books which must be over 50 years old by now. I can’t wait to give them to my son George (who is 2) and our new baby (due in January) when they are older.
I LOVE the way you’ve decorated the nursery. Just beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Thank you so much, that is a wonderful journey for those books to have had.
George was one of the names on our list. I love it.
Roll on January. Cx