Every single one of us has that one childhood-era book that we so desperately love.
There's something pretty special about novel nostalgia — whether it's associated with the memories of reading it when we were a kid or the fact we still love to read it to this day.
Interestingly, the BBC did a giant survey of the British public to find out what they believe is the greatest children's book of all time. There were a bunch of iconic reads that made their top 100 list, but the book that hit number one was Where The Wild Things Are.
Watch: How to 'trick' your baby into loving books. Post continues below.
Now don't get me wrong, it's a great book. But surely Enid Blyton's The Magic Faraway Tree deserves that top spot?
Mamamia did a crowdsource of our own, asking women what their all-time favourite childhood book is and why.
And the three books that came up the most were (lo-and-behold) The Magic Faraway Tree, Possum Magic and Anne of Green Gables. Of course, there were lots of additional incredible reads on the list – so we rounded up a bunch. Whether you want to have a read, buy for your own kiddos or get a gift for a friend, here are 25 women on what their special childhood book is, and why they love it so much.
The Magic Faraway Tree series by Enid Blyton.
"I read it so many times as a kid. I think I loved it because of the way she wrote the characters and world, it was so easy to picture and brought the magic to life."
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild.
"Such a classic book. My mum used to read it to me. Now I want to read it to my kids."
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister.
"My number one favourite would have to be The Rainbow Fish. The fish was the most beautiful yet arrogant and subsequently very lonely fish! Then it decided to shed its 'beautiful scales' and find friendship. Iconic."
The Roald Dahl Treasury Book by Roald Dahl.
"Some may consider problematic... but The Roald Dahl Treasury Book. It has all of his most popular stories in one spot. My parents said I just wanted them to read this to me over and over again – I loved the worlds he created and they all just set my imagination on fire."
Henry and Amy: Right-Way-Round and Upside Down by Stephen Michael King.
"This was my all-time favourite book. I would read it over and over again, and I remember feeling very proud one day when I realised I committed it to memory. From then on, whenever I couldn't sleep at night, I remember reciting the book in my head. It always worked better than counting sheep."
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, hands down! This classic was written in such a simple and silly way – I enjoyed it as both a child and now as an adult. The story jumps everywhere and it can be nonsensical, but that's the joy in it. The story takes you places."
Koala Lou by Mem Fox.
"I loved Koala Lou – I couldn't tell you why! I just remember my mum and dad reading it to me, and I can still hear them reading the classic line, 'Koala Lou – I DO love you!' It's about a little koala who goes in a running race to be noticed by her busy parents and oh my god I am tearing up (clearly bringing up some issues lol)."
The Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo.
"I was obsessed with The Snow Spider. A magical grandma and a missing sister – I just thought it was beautiful storytelling and I can still picture the cover of my very dogged-eared copy from the early '90s!"
Heidi by Johanna Spyri.
"Without a moment's hesitation, Heidi, followed Heidi Grows Up and Heidi's Children. I am 68 now, I loved these stories so much when I was in primary school, they inspired a lifelong love of reading."
Archie Comics by Archie Comic Publications, Inc.
"Under my bed I have more than 50 Archie Comics in boxes. I would read these comics over and over (and sometimes still do), and loved the characters, the humour and the colour on the pages. There's so much nostalgia attached to it for me and those comics under my bed remain some of my most prized possessions."
Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden.
"The Tomorrow series was my ride-or-die growing up. It kept me entertained for hours and I had a bit of a sexual awakening of sorts reading about two of the characters falling in love! The series also paints such a beautiful picture of the Australian landscape, and the closeness that comes from teenage friendships and dynamics."
Naughty Amelia Jane by Enid Blyton.
"I adore anything by Enid Blyton. Specifically, I love Naughty Amelia Jane – I would always look forward to bedtime because my dad would come in and read to me. He would make comments after reading a page that would make me laugh and I was so invested in the book."
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson.
"I loved it, I love it, I love it. It was incredibly sad, but it felt like such an escape. I wanted to be in the world so bad. I felt so attached to the concept of being different and seeing things differently. And making up fairytales before my eyes. Nobody got it, but that book (and film) did. I even put the book in my school time capsule."
Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews.
"There's so many others I loved as well, I always had my nose in a book! Every book was a way to escape my reality and live somewhere else for a while. This one certainly delivered."
The Gizmo by Paul Jennings.
"I actually tracked down the series on Facebook Marketplace and bought them for my daughter. I think they were the first 'real books' I read – they were fun and interesting."
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery.
"It's a classic for a reason. Anne of Green Gables is a favourite for my grandmother, my aunty, my mum and also my siblings. To find a book that so many generations can connect with – that's pretty special."
My Cat Likes To Hide In Boxes by Eve Sutton.
"One of my all-time favourite picture books is My Cat Likes To Hide In Boxes. I still have my copies from when I was a child, which now belong to my kids, although they don't like them nearly as much as I did. Every time I hear the countries named in the book I still recite the lines about them in my head all these years later...'The cat from Norway got stuck in the doorway'."
The Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene.
"Who doesn't love a bit of mystery, a kick-ass female hero and a plot that keeps you up late at night? My mum would have to come into my bedroom at midnight to tell me to go to sleep as I had school the next day – I was just too engrossed in reading."
George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl.
"For me, the standout book was George's Marvellous Medicine. I read that book so many times. I loved the illustrations of how the chicken grew. Really sparked my imagination."
Possum Magic by Mem Fox.
"It couldn't be a childhood book roundup without Possum Magic. Enough said."
Superfudge by Judy Blume.
"I loved Judy Blume. My favourite was Superfudge which I read multiple times. I wonder if they have stood up to the test of time? I might buy it for my daughter and see what she thinks."
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia series by C. S. Lewis.
"My mum bought me a second-hand copy after I kept borrowing it from the library. It's the first book of the Narnia series and it immediately hooks you in."
The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling.
"I have wonderful memories of our family holiday travelling by train from Melbourne to Cairns. My mum, dad, younger brother and I read Harry Potter together. We took turns reading out loud while the others listened and looked out and enjoyed the view."
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White.
"I read it many times with my mum. Cried many times, too! Loved it!"
The Babysitters Club by Ann M. Martin.
"As a tween, I loved The Babysitters Club, The Pony Pals, The Saddle Club and more. They're still so relevant today, and the themes are very relatable."
What's your favourite book from your childhood and why? Let us know in the comments below!
Feature Image: Booktopia/Mamamia.
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