Books I Wish I Had Read As a Child | Top Ten Tuesday
I was a massive reader when I was a kid so I had to think longer than I thought I would about this one. I thought I read all the books that I wanted to but recently I realised that there were loads I didn’t actually know off!
- Anne of Green Gables | I have actually read this one recently and loved it but I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read it when I was a kid and still viewed the world through kid’s eyes.
- A Little Princess | I was a massive fan of the film when I was a kid and even now but I never got round to reading it, something I wish I would have done before falling in love with the film.
- The Secret Garden | Another one where I absolutely love the film and I even used to pretend there was a secret garden in my estate but alas I never read the book and I wish I had. Maybe then I would have loved it more.
- Charlotte’s Web | Now this is one that I’m a little ashamed off to be honest. I have watched the film and loved it but have never thought about picking up the book. I wish I had when I was younger I think it would have been a solid favourite.
- Peter Pan | I have heard wonderful things about this book and the story. As a Disney baby I was raised watching the animated Peter glide across my screen and I wish I would have picked up the book and gotten the full story!
- Wizard of Oz | Another one, and this seems to be a trend of films I watched when I was kid and wished I had read the book first. I still haven’t read this one, and I need to remedy it. Maybe 2021 will be the year of classics.
- Mary Poppins | Can we guess where my inspiration for this one came from? Yup, the Disney movie, but I still haven’t picked up a single one of the books. Plus I am the biggest Saving Mr Banks fan so I really need to.
- Alice in Wonderland | I have since read this one as an adult but I think I would have enjoyed it way more as a child and being caught up in the whimsy of it all.
- Pippi Longstocking | I actually have a beautiful illustrated edition of this up on my shelf, but I haven’t read it yet. I definitely think it would have been a book I would have loved if I had picked it up as a kid.
- Coraline | I think this is going to be one I enjoy as an adult but I think this would have been perfect for me as a kid. I loved something that was spooky but not wet the bed mental. So me and Neil Gaiman would have been friends.
I definitely think I’ll be reading some of these in the very near future! Where do you recommend I start? Let me know in the comments.
All very excellent selections you have here. Funny, wanting to FINALLY see the 90s films was actually my impetus for reading those FHB books this year. They were very good rewards for reading both books, but I think they would work the other way around too. A Little Princess in particular was a quick (but satisfying) read — I finished it in 1 afternoon without even meaning to.
I have to agree that there is a certain magic to Anne of Green Gables as a kid, BUT, on the flip side I think that you get more out of the later books when you’re older. Even at 15, I was not thrilled about Anne being a Grown Up Lady already. Someone should have advised me to pace myself the way I didn’t have a choice but to pace myself with Harry Potter.
I really want to read A Little Princess it is one of my favourite films and it always makes me sob 🥰
Coraline was on my list this week too! Charlotte’s Web was one of my favourite books as a kid.
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/top-ten-tuesday-261/
Gotta love some Neil Gaiman! 🥰
Yeah definitely need to try some more.
Great list! I remember loving Charlotte’s Web when I was younger.
Thank you 😍
Anne of Green Gables has been on tons of lists this week. If you continue on with that series, know that the later books in it have a much more mature/adult feel to them.
My TTT .
I think I will definitely have to pick those ones up! 😍
I also read Anne of Green Gables for the first time recently, and while I enjoyed it I wish I’d read it when I was younger! I think it would have resonated so much more with teen me.
Yeah. I found Anne a little sickly but I think it’s because I’ve become more of a cynic as I’ve grown 🥰
«Coraline» was spooky! I read it last year and still found it a bit scary. Lol
«Alice in Wonderland» was one of my favorite books when I was little, and I had this huge illustrated edition that I used to play with all the time. <3
I need to read Coraline. I think I’m going to love it. ☺️
Oh I loved Secret Garden and Charlotte’s Web. Its some of the books I read with my LO now.
Thanks for sharing! Be Safe 🙂
You too 🥰
Charlotte’s Web was so sad. Maybe it’s good you didn’t read it as a kid. I can still remember my teacher reading it to me.
I really need to read it! I love the film but I have never picked up the book! 😂
Good list!
If you enjoyed Charlotte’s Web, you might consider The Trumpet of the Swan. Also by E.B. White. Travers’ book Mary is rather different than the Julie Andrews/Disney version. Still a good read. Alice in Wonderland as well as its sequel, Through the Looking Glass, are less children’s story than they are political allegory and/or satire.
How ’bout Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis? The latter is wonderful series that can be read on many levels. Enjoy!
I read most of the Roald Dahl books when I was younger. I think Matilda was my favourite 😍
Indeed! 👍
Love these covers! I wish I had known of Neil Gaiman as a kid because I would’ve definitely loved to read Coraline and The Graveyard Book back then. Great list 🙂
I am the same. I feel like I missed out by not having him in my childhood! Thank you! 🥰
The Secret Garden has been one of my absolute favorite books of ever, ever since I’ve been a kid. I have reread it countless times but I’ve never liked any of the movies. I didn’t like how they always portray Mrs. Medlock or Mr. Craven as the bad guy. Then again, I guess a movie needs some kind of antagonist. 🤔