By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
A discussion arose on Facebook about books that sparked our childhood reading. What fun, and I found I’d read most of them too. The nostalgia of favorite books that not only kept me turning pages but also encouraged me to write caused me to research favorite childhood books beginning with my mother’s era in the 1930s.
I realized the books that were popular to me were the ones I read to my sons and grandchildren. Many were made into movies and animation—and I love those too.
The following are seven favorite childhood books from each decade.
The 1930s
The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Story of Babar the Little Elephant by Jean de Brunhoff
Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers
National Velvet by Enid Bagnold
The Story of Ferdinand by Munroe Leaf
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The 1940s
Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
Curious George by H. A. Rey
The Poky Little Puppy by Janette Sebring Lowrey
Prayer for a Child by Rachel Field
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The 1950s
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
The 1960s
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The Giving Tree by Phil Silverstein
Corduroy by Don Freeman
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The 1970s
The Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers
Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
This website provides so much more information: https://www.biblio.com
What do you remember as a popular childhood story?
These are great children’s books! I’ve read many of these to my son as part of our homeschool program the last couple of years.
My family had a set of early reader books when I was a child. I can’t remember who produced them, but I loved the stories and illustrations they contained.
Hi Michelle, thanks. Each one brought a memory to me of either reading them to my sons or reading them as a child.
I loved the Bobsey Twins and Nancy Drew:))
Vondia, they were my favorites!
This lists sparks great memories of library trips and reading. I also loved the Beverly Cleary books as well as Nancy Drew’s mysteries. Thanks for sharing this wonderful collection.
Thank you, Barbara. The research was definitely a trip down Memory Lane. And there were so many more wonderful books not on the lists.
The Nancy Drew Series and Louisa May Alcott books were definite favorites of mine as a
girl.
The Hardy Boys Series became a favorite when my first son was born—then 2 more sons after him. ❤️
Thank you for the reminder about favorite childhood books.
Terry, thanks so much. The moment I read your favorites, I was right there in an adventure.
My favorite book growing up – my kids loved it too – was Rootabega Stories by Carl Sandburg. Nonsensical, whimsical stories that sparked my imagination. I gave my battered copy from my childhood to my daughter and my grandkids love it too.
Thanks, Sherry, what a treasure to pass down to kids and grandkids.
Those are all great books! For me and my kids! I would add the Nancy Drew books to that list, too—great escapes when I was growing up. Here’s what I wrote about the teen sleuth who inspired my generation with her daring-do: https://lightbournecreative.com/2021/07/19/the-privileged-life-the-nancy-drew-syndrome/
Thanks, Nancy, I loved the article. In fact, I added it to my twitter feed. Thank you!