Thursday 8 January 2009

From my bookshelf...loved by so many... and a GIVEAWAY!!



One grey morning, the first snow began to fall in the valley of the Moomins. It fell softly and quietly and in a few hours, everything was white.




Moomintroll stood on his doorstep and watched the valley nestle beneath its winter blanket.



'Tonight,' he thought, 'we shall settle down for our long winter's sleep'....




(Now there's a thought!)



Thankfully, although sleeping for a hundred days and a hundred nights, the Moomins emerge and Tove Jansson pens the most wonderful adventures, which have since been loved by children and adults alike.

And so...
For my first giveaway of 2009, all you have to do is post a comment on here to say which is your favourite children's book....easy innit ?! ;-)
Oh and here's the prize..
A little bit of Cath...mixed with...
a little bit of Amy Butler and Heather Bailey
A smidgen of K&Co
Little extras ;-)
All put together to make a kitchen clipboard..

Competition closes next Thursday evening.
Good Luck everyone..!

33 comments:

  1. Oooo how lovely Sal, my favourite book would be a Ladybird book called Mick the Disobedient Puppy. Had a copy at my Grannys and insisted she and Grandad read it to me everytime I visited - bet they loved it too ;)
    Twiggy x

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  2. A giveaway. How lovely. I love children's books, so choosing a favourite is really hard. I think it would have to be The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I've read it so many times, and have just finished reading it once more to my three children as a chapter per night story, and they still love it. I also love the Wizard of Earthsea. Bookworm me!

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  3. Oh my goodness that is so gorgeous I can't believe you are giving it away! I found you via MelMel's blog.My favourite childrens book is the Hobbit (thats a childrens book isn't it?!) X Gem

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  4. Wow, you do ask hard questions!! My favourite childrens book would have to be "The Family At Red Roofs" by Enid Blyton, I had it as a child and quite literally read it until it fell apart and could be restored no longer... and about 3 years ago my wonderful sister tracked it down for me and bought me another copy - complete with both front AND back covers (which mine had lost years ago!) I cried and then read it immediately and read it regularly and in fact have only just finished reading it again - i love it. I do have other faves though....

    April xx

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  5. Thanks for popping by. Yes it does hurt her - I usually don't rush them to A&E, but this was a painful one! Still, at least I know it's probably not fractured.
    The craft fair is just at a local school - probably not the best place, but the woman organising it bought one of my bags some time ago and hasn't stopped asking me to do it. Apparently the last one they held was a great success, so we'll see. I think it's just an easy way to get me into the idea of doing them - she's promised to look after me!

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  6. What a difficult question. As one who emerged from the womb reading it is hard to narrow down ny choice. I love so many but the book I have read the most in my life would have to be The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis. Narnia was my second home and when my children arrived they took residence there as well. And I do love give aways.

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  7. hehehe Moomin-tastic! My sis went to Totnes and bought me more Moomin goodness for Crimbo. I now have a curly straw with a Moomin wrapped around it.
    I do love the Moomin books actually but my fave... oooh it's so hard to narrow down. I love 'Wind in the Willows' and it's coming up to the right time to start and read it. Mole scuttling out of his home, fed up with Spring cleaning. Can't wait for the Spring to come.
    Must say I've just read the first of The Spiderwick Chronicles and I love that too.
    Oh and Milly Molly Mandy.
    There are just too many. Fab idea and equally fab prize.
    xx

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  8. Hi Sal, my all time favourite was Milly Molly Mandy. When I first read it, I remember trying to find out what a "skein" was and wondering how on earth all those things could be bought for just a penny. After that it was Fungus the Bogeyman lol!

    Your giveaway looks gorgeous so most definitely count me in. Tomorrow I'm starting "Free Thing Friday" which will be a monthly giveaway of an item that needs to go to a new home. I hope you'll drop by ... :0)

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  9. Without a doubt my favourite children's book was Enid Blyton's SIX COUSINS AT MISTLETOE FARM. I loved the Famous Five novels - they were true escapism, for even at 9 or 10, I knew that children just didn't wander the countryside on their own - but I could relate better to the two sets of cousins living together in the old farmhouse when the home of one set of cousins burned down, meaning the townie cousins had to live with the country cousins. It demonstrated how in life there has to be give and take, how to see another's point of view, how to be responsible and adult even when you felt like throwing a tantrum, and how, with a little thought, people of all kinds can live harmoniously together. In retrospect, it also told me a lot of what happens on a farm, from plouging to hay making, and how the farm and welfare of the animals always took priority over things like new curtains and carpets. I also enjoyed the follow up, SIX COUSINS AGAIN.
    Margaret Powling

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  10. Crikey...I'd almost forgotton about the moomins! Another giveaway...What a generous lady you are.
    Favourite book as a child - that's a really hard one.
    I devoured Enid Blyton, starting with Noddy and then Famous Five, Secret Seven, Mallory Towers, Twins of St.Clairs...The list goes on but too many for a favourite. I too loved Milly Molly Mandy...I was always fascinated by the map of the village at the front of the book. And then there's The Borrowers...I'm not doing a very good job of pinning one down here am I?!
    I think I would have to come back to Ned the Lonely Donkey which was a Ladybird book and made me cry and laugh in equal measure. I still have it and enjoy looking at it even now.
    Deb x

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  11. That's hard as there are so many! But I'm going to say Shadow The Sheepdog by Enid Blyton (I have 3 copies!)

    Love the clipboard!

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  12. Aww I love childrens books.

    Would love to be in the running for the giveaway.

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  13. I love children's books - I'm still a big kid really ;) I loved Enid Blyton as a child, especially St Clare's, Mallory Towers and the Famous Five. My asbsolute favourite children's book is probably The Patchwork Cat by Nicola Bayley and William Mayne. I read it so many times when I was little I practically know it off by heart. I loved the illustrations in it and there was a shop in it that had my name on so that made it all the more special to me!
    xxx

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  14. Ooh I'd love to be in with a chance. I used to read all the time when I was a child so picking a favourite book is tough. I think it's a tie between Lavinia's Cottage by John S Goodall and Little Women. I'm not sure if it's aimed at children because I still love it now but I certainly read and loved it when when I was about 9 or 10.

    Mel xxx

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  15. I have that very same book Sal from my childhood, although mine is in tatty condition due to being read so many times, I cannot bring myself to throw it out. Another giveaway, you really are so generous. x

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  16. Gorgeous giveaway, very hard question! I would have to choose either the Milly Molly Mandy stories or The Enchanted Wood.
    Yvonne x

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  17. How kind of you!
    My favorite books has to be the "Famous Five?".
    Which I used to read in Portugal!
    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Love,

    Debbie Moss

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  18. AHH I love the moomins xx
    But my all time favourite book has to be Malory towers, and my Daughter is currently reading my copy! My Grandmother got me into Enid Blyton by reading me the Faraway Tree and I have still got my original copy of that too.
    Louise x

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  19. I used to love watching the Moomins on TV before school. You told me that Little My was precocious... it was the first time I had ever heard that word. Ten years later, I finally found out what that word meant, whilst reading for an undergraduate essay ;-)

    My favourite childrens book would have to be the Very Hungry Caterpillar. It's simply amazing, from start to finish! But don't worry, I don't want the CK giveaway, although it would save you on postage to make me the winner ;-)

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  20. Enid Blyton and Folk of the Faraway Tree. I loved Moonface and Silky and wish I could visit some of the strange lands at the top of the tree.
    Another which I have to mention as it had a strong effect throughout my life is "A traveller in Time". Inspired me to do qute a bit of writing and a love of history.

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  21. Now, this has got me thinking! I loved practically every Enid Blyton book ever written - Mallory Towers being my favourite.My Mum used to stock a small selection of books in our little corner shop and I remember one summer holiday, I read each one carefully and then put them back on the shelf to be sold - I'm not sure my Mum ever knew what I did!! When was a bit older, I loved Little Women ... ooh, and any books about horses!
    Willow xx

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  22. Good morning Sal
    This is extremely difficult but a very enjoyable exercise.. There are SO many books I loved from my childhood.. I thrived on them and all my precious pocket money was spent at the local newsagents that stocked a good selection of paperbacks. I can remember spending hours pacing up and down the bookshelves trying to decide which book to buy.. It was always the Famous Five first.. then the Treasure Seekers by E.Nesbitt, Stig of the Dump, Gobbolino the Witches cat etc etc etc.. I think I would have to say that a treasure book which I still own was.. The Children from One End Street by Eve Garnett.. It is still in print and a wonderful tale of a sprawling family and all their mishaps and adventures..
    Hope you are bouncing around like Tigger again these days!???

    Love
    Michele xx

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  23. Not original I know sorry but like the other who have left comments I love Enid Blyton books. I read all the Five, Secret Seven and Mallory Towers booksas a child and I have still have these books on my book shelf. I suppose my absolute favourite is Five on a Treasure Island as it was the first and it fired my imagination. In turn my own sons read it and loved it just as much.

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  24. P.s It was 'The Family from One En Street' by Eve Garnett.. my memory isn't as good as it used to be..!

    Michele

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  25. Hi Sal,

    The book that comes to mind and still sits on my bookshelf is The Tale of Mrs Tiggy Winkle by Beatrix Potter.

    When I was a little girl, it was the only book that I ever wanted to borrow from the library and I hated having to part with it.

    Happy New Year!

    Marie x

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  26. Gosh - I haven't seen the Moomins for years!
    I loved Milly Molly Mandy when I was a girl and still have some of the books I read back then!
    Although I loved anything be Enid Blyton and the Pippa Longstocking books too.

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  27. Loved the Moomins...
    My favourite books when I was little were the Brer Rabbit books. My daughters favourite was Little Riding Hood in the Ladybird books.
    Would love to be entered in your giveaway.
    Thank you so much for your recent comment on my blog.. It was so much appreciated. I do hope your Mother is feeling better now?
    With Love, Jane xxx

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  28. Hi Sal
    What a difficult task as there are so many. I remember loving the Milly Molly Mandy stories which my mother read to me when I was very young.
    I learnt to read with the Janet and John books and then went on to help teach my younger siblings to read using those same books.
    Another vivid memory is of the county library van visiting and searching the shelves for Enid Blyton especially The Secret Seven books or the Mallory Towers books. I would also save up my pocket money in order to buy one in paperback from the bookshop in town.
    Perhaps the book I must chose is 'Toby of Brents' by E M Scott. I don't expect anyone has heard of this book. I have googled it and it doesn't come up. My grandfather gave me my copy and I thought I had lost it but my mother several years ago, found it when she was sorting through all the books in her home. It is a magical book about a boy who ran away from his poor life as a gypsy to join the circus.
    Looking through the book now I have found the date of 20/9/1934 in the back. At the front my mother's brother has written his name but behind the name appears to be another name partly rubbed out. If all this is correct this book has probably been in the family for approximately 74 years!

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  29. Just a PS to my earlier comment:
    I guess I'm a little older than most of the others who have commented here as I was an adult when The Hungry Caterpillar and the Moomins were popular, with children of my own. However, one book I adored when I was 13 was called Fourteen Fourteens. It was a traditional girls boarding school story, but the difference was that the school (by the sea) had just 14 pupils, each of them called Margaret (my own name) and each of them aged 14. I won't spoil the story for anyone who wants to read this book - it is by school story writer, Violet M Methley. Another school story which I loved and which it took me years to find again (because I knew not the author nor the book's title) is Give a Form a Bad Name by Nancy Breary (who lived in Brixham, incidentally.) In this story, twins attended a school with their pet dog and pet monkey! But most of all, I wanted a room like that of the head girl: a turret room in which she painted. I pestered my parents until I, too, had an artist's easel but the turret room was a little more difficult ...
    Margaret Powling

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  30. my favourite childhood books would be the Famous Five, I always imagined I was George and off on a different adventure...
    Josie x

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  31. Hi Sal,

    I'm back. Drop by my blog and pick up a couple of awards when you have a minute.

    Marie x

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  32. My favorite children's book is The Little House. I don't know if it's even around anymore! Even as a child I was in love with houses and so I loved it at the end when the house got moved back out to the country again!
    I hope I win the giveaway. It looks great!
    Rhondi

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  33. The family from One End Street was one of my favourites but I remember vividly reading A Little Princess by Fances Hodgson Burnett and crying and crying. I read it about twenty times in one year.

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Thank you for taking the time to comment! ;-)