Megan

From a young age, I have always loved reading and having my head in a book. I have always been fortunate enough to have access to books and was encouraged to read from a very young age. I always love how no matter your age there is always a book that will transport you to new worlds. As a child I loved many types of books, but there were a few that particularly stood out and never failed to interest me.

Daisy and the Trouble with…

These books by Kes Gray were by far my favourite. Daisy was always up to some random adventures and it was never her fault. These books grow up with you because there are some shorter ones for when you are younger (such as Eat Your Peas!), and then chapter books for when your reading progresses. I would still now read Daisy books and often do. Whether she was at the zoo, on a school trip or more recently in London, she always managed to find a way to cause trouble. The books really capture what it’s like to be a young child with an active mind; however most children don’t come home from the zoo with a penguin hidden in their coat. Whenever there was a new Daisy book I would beg to go to the shops and I would spend the rest of the day reading and laughing at all the mischief she caused.

Lottie Brooks

These books by Katie Kirby are great for tweens. They show Lottie Brooks’ life through her teenage years and truly capture the embarrassing side of growing up. It’s a great insight for young teens and even covers issues like having crushes and all the big emotions that come with being a teenager without sounding accusatory. It really helped as a child to read these books because they showed that maybe embarrassing yourself isn’t as bad as it seems, and that friendship breakdowns are not the end of the world. These books were funny to read and it’s really interesting to see Lottie Brooks’ life. These books are written like a diary which really helps you to learn from the perspective of a teenager and how emotions sometimes cloud judgement and change morals. 

That’s Not My…

The ultimate books! These were the most incredible books from my childhood.. Before I could talk my mum would read these books to me and I would have a great time interacting with the book. The interactive side of these books is what really appeals to young children. The different adjectives that can be attached to animals and how they feel is also a way for young children to learn whilst having fun. These Usborne touchy feely books shaped my childhood as they were some of the first books I was able to engage with and truly enjoy.

…According to Humphrey 

I don’t remember many specifics about these books, but I do remember absolutely loving reading them. Similar to the Daisy books it was great to see the escapades that Humphrey got up to and it was also funny to see life from the perspective of a hamster. My particular favourite was Trouble According To Humphrey as he intended to lend a helping paw when things started going wrong at the art display. Written by Betty G. Birney, these books never failed to put a smile on my face as I learnt what life must be like for a cheeky hamster. 

The Hodgeheg

This book was recommended to me by my sister, it was incredibly funny and I think it may have been what encouraged me to seek humour in the books that I read. Max the hedgehog will always be funny to me and will forever recommend this book to people with children or younger siblings. It is a story that can be enjoyed by everyone across multiple generations. It is the perfect book, and some parts will just stick with me forever. ‘Something bot me on the hittom…then I headed my bang. My ache bads headly’ I find this book hilarious. Dick King Smith’s Hodgeheg will live rent free in my head. 

A Good Girls Guide To Murder 

As I aged, the genre of book I liked changed and I began to find myself enjoying mystery/thriller books. In young adult fiction there are plenty of murder mystery books to read but this series was the first to really introduce me to the genre. It encouraged me to start reading again after stopping for a while. It’s a great series as it’s very interesting and also very popular, meaning there are always lots of opinions and people to talk to about the book. The mystery and suspense of the book is a great hook as it keeps you guessing until the last few pages. Holly Jackson’s writing is particularly engaging as there is always a twist round the corner until the very end which means you aren’t waiting for the characters to catch up to something you have already read.