More childhood and teen reads

I knew I'd miss out some childhood reads and teen reads, so here's an update post! First up, the Richard Scarry books! Does anyone else remember the inhabitants of Busytown? Lowly Worm and Mr Frumble! Yes? No? As is usually the case, this was made into a TV cartoon, so you might remember that. It was on Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick, Nick, Nickelodeon!!!! Here's the opening credits as a reminder:


I don't know how I could forget this one: Charlotte's Web by E. B. White is a lovely story. How about His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman? The Artemis Fowl books by Eoin Colfer? Dianne Wynne-Jones books? (I avoided these for ages thinking they were merely Harry Potter rip-offs, until I noticed the publication dates were decades before Harry Potter). Meg Cabot's: The Princess Diaries (only one book left - *sobs*)?

It's embarrassing I forgot these as I practically lived in France as a child and teen (it felt that way anyway): Tintin and Astérix! (Also embarrassing as one of my characters is nicknamed Obélix. Sacré bleu! Writing inspiration comes in many forms!)

I was absolutely in love with Dylan from Diary of a Crush (I can't believe I forgot this!), which used to be published at the back of J17. In the summer there would be a free book with the magazine telling Edie's summer adventures. Even though by that age I was reading Cosmo, I still got J17 for my monthly fix of Edie and her art-boy, Dylan. The writer Sarra Manning has a blog if you're interested!

I *think* that's all I've forgotten. Was anyone a fan of any of these? Or, if you're new to the blog, what were your favourite childhood and teenage reads?

9 comments

  1. I ♥ Meg Cabot.

    She's such a gracious person. I've never met her, but I've seen how she treats her fans via videos, news articles, etc. She's such a classy gal.

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  2. OMG I completely lived on Tintin and Asterix. I was strangely obsessed with Professor Calculus for some reason- weird! But I have to say the Colonel is not a million miles away from resembling him a little!!! I really loved Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfield, the Famous Five obv, and Just William. Quite old fashioned I now realise!! Great idea for a post.

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  3. I loved Charlotte's Web by EB White and following on with the Pig theme I absolutely loved the Sheep-Pig by Dick King-Smith although I felt that the film of babe did make it a wee bit tacky... Nice blog, all the best of luck with your 60k challlenge!

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  4. My ex boyfriend was obsessed with Tin Tin - I think he still is as a "grown up" actually.

    Anyway, weird you brought this up again because today in work I just remembered one of my fave tales as a kid - "Flossie Teacake". Did you read her? She was a young girl who tried on this fur coat which turned her into a teenager - and then she went out and had grown up fun as her alter ego. Great stuff.

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  5. I loved Enid Blyton - the Magic Faraway Tree.

    And a series called 'The Indian in the Cupboard'...

    but by the time I hit 6th grade I was reading Stephen King. Yes, I was a weird little girl...

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  6. Talking about French cartoons Babar the Elephant comes to my mind. Reading it as a very little child of course. I loved their mad giant world.

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  7. Cathcher in the Rye was and still is, my favorite book.

    Holden was arguable the best fictional character ever created.

    Ever.

    Just my opinion though.

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  8. @ Liza - I ♥ Meg too. She's an incredible writer, especially with the volume of books she gets released each year. Wow! She's a writing machine!

    @ Daisy - I never read Ballet Shoes, but I did see the TV production of it with Emma Watson ... the book will probably be *much* better! And I ♥♥♥ the Famous Five - some of my family live near where "Kirren" actually is.

    @ Emma - Thank you for your luck for the 60K (I need it!). I'd forgotten all about The Sheep-Pig as well! But, that actually reminds of the James Herriott picture books - I remember reading those too!

    @ Paula - Your ex will be happy there's a film coming out then! Flossie is ringing a bell, but I'm not entirely sure if I read her or not! Sounds fab though!

    @ Expensive Mistakes and Cheap Thrills - Ah, you see, I was never a major fan of The Faraway Tree. I read them, but my heart belonged to other Blyton creations! And yes, I recall "The Indian in the Cupboard" too! :0)

    @ Medio Pomelo - Oh, I loved Babar as well! I can't believe I forgot to mention Babar!

    @ Matt - Do you know, I never liked Catcher in the Rye, but then again, a lot of people don't like my favourite books. :0)

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  9. Matt, totally agree with you!! I didn't mention The Catcher in the Rye here because I was thinking about my early childhood hero and Holden only came later, when I was about 15. But my God, have I read that book about 12 times and I could read it again and again. Love it!

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