7 Books Guranteed To Bring Back Your Childhood
A good book can keep us company at any stage of our lives, but the ones we read as children stick with us forever. It's no surprise, we keep fond memories of family members introducing us to fantastical new worlds, well-worn paperbacks on school holidays, and finding stories that maybe we were a bit too young to be reading! At this formative time, the books we picked up helped shape us, taught us about the world, and showed us sides to life we were years away from experiencing. Much like a classic album or film, a classic children's novel will be passed along from generation to generation. If you're feeling cynical about life, we highly recommend visiting (or revisiting) some of the classics we're featuring below. They're guaranteed to fill your heart with some welcome childhood wonder!
1. Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson
Point and case of a good book living forever. Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure masterpiece was first published way back in 1882. It tells the tale of young Jim Hawkins and the dastardly one-legged pirate Long John Silver. Filled with buried treasure, mutiny, skeletons, and hidden caves, Stevenson's novel helped popularize many perceptions of pirates. While Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise may have outstayed its welcome, the origin of all things swashbuckling and 'X marks the spot' still thrills today. Did you know the book was originally called The Sea Cook: A Story for Boys? Now you do!
2. Stig of The Dump - Clive King
Perhaps lesser known than some books on this list, but a classic nonetheless. First published in the UK in 1963, this unusual tale of friendship between a young boy and a caveman remains a heartwarming joy to read. Filled with the sense of possibility and explorations that only a summer holiday can bring, King's most beloved book captures childhood innocence perfectly. Despite having no shared language to communicate, young Barney and the titular caveman Stig form a bond and help one another, be it Barney giving Stig's den a makeover or Stig protecting his friend from the local bullies, the Snarget brothers. A whimsically British read to put a smile on your face.
3. The Adventures of Tintin: Crab with the Golden Claws - Herge
What would a list of children's literature be without a little Tintin? While there are 24 tales to choose from, Crab with the Golden Claws stands out as a highpoint, as well as the introduction of fan-favorite Captain Haddock. With murder, opium smuggling, alcoholic sailors, and shootouts all present, a revisit to Tintin may be more action-packed than your first remember. While some of the colonial minded views within this tale, and much of Herge's work, has not aged well, the Tintin tales still stand as a fascinating time capsule to the mid 20th century. Its spirit of sheer adventure and character comedy is hard to beat even now.
4. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - C. S. Lewis
When we think of children's fantasy, no image comes on more potently than that of Narnia, the White Witch, and Aslan. Originally published 70 years ago, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was the first of seven books chronicling the world of Narnia (released 1950-1956.) While multiple sequels and world-building may be the norm for fantasy fiction now, Lewis' enchanting world of mythical beasts and magic appeared a few years before his friend J. R.R. Tolkien's Lord of The Rings trilogy, setting the standard. An enormous influence on J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, the depth and lore that Lewis poured into his works continues to inspire and amaze readers today. Over the decades, many pale imitations have come and gone, but Narnia is everlasting.
5. The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 - Sue Townsend
What is reliving your childhood without remembering some awkwardness? Written (unsurprisingly) in a diary style, the first in Townsend's Adrian Mole series captures all the worries and issues of teenage life filtered through an intellectual but clueless boy. Filled with dry humor and hilariously on-point depictions of first love, rubbish poetry, and discovering pornography, Mole's diary acts as a portal to when we ourselves were trying to figure out this crazy thing called 'life.' Townsend carried on Adrian's story, the last installment seeing the protagonist about to enter his 40s, but ...Aged 13 still resonates most clearly.
6. A Wizard of Earthsea - Ursula K. Le Guin
Yet another slice of pure fantasy to get lost in, the Earthsea Cycle takes a mixture of traditional epics and tropes of the genre and subverts it into something fresh and exciting. There is, of course, a hero's journey, the young Duny, nicknamed "Sparrowhawk," embracing the power within him and facing his destiny. However, what makes A Wizard of Earthsea such an absorbing read is Le Guin's approach; it's the use of Taoist themes, the idea that light and dark are not at odds with one another but interdependent that stick. A thrilling read with many hidden depths for both adults and children to explore.
7. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
Who doesn't love Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? British author Roald Dahl wrote 17 books for children, most beloved classics, but none have caught the imagination more than the tale of Charlie and his golden ticket. Pure wish fulfillment at its finest, the impoverished Charlie and his Grandfather get the opportunity to tour the sweet factory of the eccentric and mysterious Willy Wonka. Along for the ride is a host of spoiled kids, Dahl gleefully imagining all sorts of punishments for their rude behavior. Like much good children's literature, the novel is filled with moral lessons for young readers, but its the author's sense of mischief and eccentric tendencies that shine clearest as ever.