10 CLASSIC kids' books all parents should pass on to their own children
There are certain children’s books that are so magical, so timeless, they are read over and over again, until shabby and dog-eared they’re passed on to a younger child who gets to fall in love in them too.
We’re taking the kind of books that can define a childhood, that can take you right back to when you were little the second you flick open the first page.
Here are 10 classics we reckon all children (and adults!) need to read over and over again:
1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Of course it’s so hard to choose any one of Roald’s masterpieces, but Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is so iconic we think it just manages to make the top spot. Best read with a solid wrapped bar of milk chocolate so you can peel back the paper and shave away at the sweet deliciousness, just like our hero Charlie.
2. The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton is the queen of whimsy and magic. Her tales had us believing there really were fairies at the bottom of the garden. The Faraway Tree is one of her best ever – who didn’t love the antics of Silky, Moonface and The Saucepan Man?
3. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
While all books are equally amazing, we’re picking the first, as it was here we met Harry, Ron and Hermione and got lost in that wonderful world of friendship, spells and the triumph of good over evil.
4. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Incredibly, this book was first written in 1902, and it has been capturing children’s hearts ever since. Beatrix’s lovable characters and charming drawings had us hooked as kids, so much so we had to pass them on to our own children.
5. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
This tale of riches to rags and back to riches again wasn’t just an exciting tale of a little girl’s survival in an austere boarding school, it was a story of friendship, love and the power of imagination.
6. Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume
A total teen classic, Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret might have been written in the 1970s but we reckon it’s just as relevant for teens today. For many young adults this book is where they first learned about many pre-teen issues, like buying your first bra and having your first period.
7. A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
We fell madly in love with sweet and adorable bear Paddington in this book, and so did our own kids years later, proving classic stories like this never fall out of favour.
8. Alice in Wonderland by C.S Lewis
Alice in Wonderland is the kind of book you can read throughout your life, and each time you dive in, something new and different will always strike you about it. A fantastic book to read with you kids as they get older to discuss hidden metaphors and themes. A true masterpiece.
9. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
As children growing up, we were obsessed with horses. Okay, we were never up on one in our lives, but that didn’t stop us wanting our very own Black Beauty. What we loved about this tale was it gave horses a voice. Told in the first person by Black Beauty, it taught us lessons is kindness, cruelty and the importance of treating animals with respect and care.
10. Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
As kids we were charmed by the bumbling Winnie-the-Pooh, not to mention the sombre and lovable Eeyore and sweet and energetic Piglet. And we still are. These characters represent friendship and innocence, and we felt privileged to hand them over to our own children.
We think there’s something SO special about sharing the love of our childhood book with our kids. Talk about coming full circle! Are any of your favourites on the list? Or your kids’ favourites? Or have we omitted a classic you think should be on the list? We’d love to hear from you!