Last week, on 5 March, we celebrated World Book Day by sharing some of our favourite childhood books on social media. We all love a good throwback, and the chance to revisit the stories that first sparked our love of reading is always special, especially on a day dedicated to celebrating books. In this blog, we wanted to build on that post by reflecting a little more on the childhood reads that shaped our literary journeys.
The Magic Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton (Olivia’s Choice)
This series really holds a special place in my heart and feels incredibly nostalgic, as it’s what my parents used to read to my sister and me before bed. This classic series is full of fun adventures, silly and memorable characters, and a whimsical, loveable charm! It’s one of my first proper memories of a childhood book, alongside books like A Squash and a Squeeze and the Mr. Men series. All these books (and more!) helped start a lifelong love of literature!
The Tail of Emily Windsnap by Liz Kessler (Nina’s Choice)
This is a book series about a girl who discovers that when she goes into water, her legs turn into a tail. She is half-mermaid, a lifelong dream of mine. I remember pretending I was Emily during swimming lessons, as that was where she first transformed, but alas… my legs remained legs.
The series follows Emily as she tries to navigate having one foot (fin?) in each world, keeping her secret whilst on a quest to reunite her parents, who were torn apart by being different species. It’s full of heartfelt family dynamics, strong girlhood friendship, female agency, and a little bit of romance a few books in.
This book only furthered my love of the ocean, and all the mythology of krakens, sirens, and ghost ships. In writing this blog post, I was pleasantly surprised to see the series is still going, with the most recent — Emily Windsnap and the Crystal Caves — being released in 2025. Is twenty-two too old for it, do you think…?
Ruby the Red Fairy by Daisy Meadows (Alice’s Choice)
A children’s book series that inspired me to get into literature and writing. The books follow the lives of four young girls and their magical adventures with their fairy friends, spanning colours, gems, pets, and sports fairies.
Ruby the Red Fairy was the first book I took out of the local library, and I was so excited to read it that I read it whilst walking home, bumping into people as I went. I thought she looked just like me!
An interesting fact about me is that I have a family nickname, which is ‘Fae’ because I was always ‘away with the fairies’ when I was young. I believe this book started my wild imagination and love for writing fantasy and literature in general.
Ruby Redfort: Look Into My Eyes by Lauren Child (Sabrina’s Choice)
I first discovered Ruby Redfort through reading the Clarice Bean books by the same author, in which the protagonist Clarice and her best friend are huge fans of the Ruby Redfort series. Lauren Child later decided to write the fictitious books-within-a-book into a real published series, which quickly became my new obsession.
Ruby isn’t your average thirteen-year-old. She’s a child prodigy and the daughter of two (not very intelligent yet still lovable) millionaires. When a top spy agency approaches her with the request that she works for them as a code-cracker and secret agent, her life suddenly changes from mundane to extraordinary. With the help of her secret agent butler, she solves crimes, decrypts codes, and takes down evil criminals, all while fooling her family and peers who have no clue about her adventurous spy missions.
The Robe of Skulls by Vivienne French (Misbah’s Choice)
I would be remiss not to mention the book that started it all. The humour, the gothic shenanigans, and the evil Lady Lamorna tickled the fire and kickstarted my love for magical stories. Lady Lamorna desperately wants a new robe, but when she finds her money chest empty, she goes on a rampage of blackmail, evil hijinks, and sorcery!
I read this book over and over again, forgot it for a few years, and then feverishly searched for it so I could pass it on to younger family members. This book is full of silliness and nonsense, completely enrapturing me from start to finish.
Vivienne French definitely got the ball rolling for me, leading me to later crave fantasy and whimsical stories. I loved a good adventure story, and combined with a bit of gothic witchiness? Safe to say I was in heaven! Next stop: Tim Burton! But don’t worry, parents; amidst the sorcery, there are children, princes, and talking animals who prevail against evil and teach young readers about goodness and love!
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (Jadyn’s Choice)
I wasn’t initially sure which childhood book I was going to recommend, leaning toward a few Jacqueline Wilson classics, until I thought back to what I had dressed up as for World Book Day as a child. I always loved dressing up, particularly for World Book Day, and my best outfit was the year I dressed up as Pippi Longstocking. My German mother put me in mismatched striped stockings, drew freckles on my nose, and put wire in my hair to make my braids curve up just like Pippi’s.
I was so excited. I remember very distinctly that when I arrived at school, no one had any idea who I was, nor did they recognise Pippi’s name when I told them. When I showed them the book, a few girls told me I didn’t even look like her. Of course, what they meant was that I wasn’t white, and of course I was devastated.
The reason I chose this as my favourite childhood book is because I also remember with so much warmth how Pippi Longstocking made me feel, and how wonderful and special my bond with my mum is. I spent a large portion of my childhood in Germany, and many of my childhood staple shows, books, and characters were those beloved there — particularly those my mum also grew up fondly reading and watching.
Astrid Lindgren’s characters were one of many, and I read and watched so many of her stories. Pippi had a chest of gold, could carry a horse, threw police officers into trees, saved the day, and cared furiously for those she loved. She is deliberately written as a kind of outcast, and in that sense I did look like her. Yet she thrives — she is brilliant and magical and adored. Reading and watching multiple renditions of the films and TV shows made me feel like I could do anything too. That my differences do not matter as much as my heart. I love the book because I love what I shared with my mum, and how she has always wished for me to see myself.
Vicky Angel by Jacqueline Wilson (Brooke’s Choice)
As a young girl who was practically raised by Jacqueline Wilson, Vicky Angel is one of the most formative books that I can ever remember reading as a child (and re-reading… over and over again… obsessively!). It is a deeply resonant and profound story about girlhood, bereavement, toxic codependency, and the struggle to find your own sense of self in a world that is suddenly and unexpectedly empty of your closest friend.
Somewhat serendipitously, I can even remember dressing up as the main character, Jade, for World Book Day one year in primary school! It’s safe to say that I hold this book responsible for inspiring my lifelong obsession with literature about complex female friendships, and I am wholeheartedly convinced that I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I hadn’t grown up with a well-loved copy on my childhood bookshelf.
Laura’s Star by Klaus Baumgart (Laura’s Choice)
When I think about my childhood, Laura’s Star instantly comes to mind. For me, it’s an instant portal to the early 2000s, being tucked up in bed and waiting for the star to appear outside my window! There was something so incredibly special about being a little girl and hearing a story where the main character shared my name, and definitely helped me form a deep connection to it.
The story was the start of my love for literature and how stories can make you feel; it was my first lesson in empathy and how sometimes loving something means having the courage to let it go!
