Here at World of Rare Books, it is very hard to decide an ultimate favourite children’s book. With such a vast array of nostalgic stories to fall back into, we are ready to open the treasure chest to reveal a selection of our favourites.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland or commonly shortened to Alice in Wonderland was written in 1865 by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pen-name Lewis Carroll. The story tells of a little girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by all thing peculiar. The tale messes with logic, this gives the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children. Deemed as one of the best examples of literary nonsense, we can see why it remains a favourite of ours here at World of Rare Books.
“It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Hans Christian Andersen’s Fairy Tales
In 1835 Hans Christian Anderson published the first two installments of his Fairy Tales. More stories were published in 1837. The collection comprises of nine tales, which include: The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Pea, and Thumbelina. Sadly, the quality of these stories was not recognised at first, and they sold poorly. It wasn’t until 1845 that Hans Christian Anderson’s breakthrough in Fairy Tales happened, he published four different translations of his tales. He continued to write Fairy Tales and published them in installments until 1872.
“only that the mermaids have no tears, and therefore they suffer more.”
― Hans Christian Andersen, Fairy Tales Of Hans Christian Andersen
In 1894 Rudyard Kipling wrote a collection of stories called The Jungle Book, these are all fables using animals to give moral lessons. The stories were first published in magazines in 1893 and 1894, and the original publications contain illustrations some by Rudyard Kipling’s father, John Lockwood Kipling. Rudyard Kipling was born in India and spent the first six years of his life there. The Jungle Book was written when Kipling lived in Naulukha, the home he built in Dummerston Vermont in the US.
The Jungle Book has been adapted many times in books and film. With the Walt Disney live-action remake in 2016 and another in the pipeline from Warner Brothers. The Jungle Book is here to stay and we are loving every moment!
“For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.”
― Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book
J.M. Barrie’s most famous work, he created the initial play in 1904 and the novel in 1911. Both tell the story of Peter Pan, a mischievous little boy who can fly and has many adventures in Neverland. Neverland is an island with mermaids, fairies, Native Americans and pirates. The play was inspired by J.M. Barrie’s friendship with the Llewelyn Davies family. This remains a firm favourite here, and we can’t help but resonate with Peter and his fears of growing up.
“Never say goodbye because goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.”
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
First published in 1908, The Wind in the Willows focuses on four woodland animals in a classic Edwardian England. The novel is best known for its adventure, morality and celebrated for the focus on nature in the Thames Valley. The Wind in the Willows began a bedtime stories to Kenneth Grahame’s son Alastair. Kenneth Grahame took early retirement from the Bank of England to work on The Wind in the Willows and the stories of Toad, Mole, Ratty and Badger.
We love this book because there is really is nothing better than a great English Summer on a river in a boat.
“After all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself, as to see all the other fellows busy working.”
– Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
Make sure you stop by our store to expand your collection of great children’s fiction. Browse here, also take advantage of 30% off titles over £100 using the code SO30, until midnight on Thursday (27th July 2017)