7 Favourite Childhood Books to Share with Our Kids

There’s nothing quite like reminiscing about all the fun, fantastic things that helped make your childhood great. And there’s something really special about sharing those memories with your kids. One of my favourite ways to do that is through books. From telling tales of lions and witches to growing up with Margaret Simon, here are a few my favourite childhood books that I can’t wait for my kids to read and enjoy as well.

7 Favourite Childhood Books to Share with Your Kids

The Baby Sitters Club

Just mention the names Claudia, Stacey, Kristy and Mary Anne together and I’ve got an instant rush of nostalgia coursing through my veins. (Oh, and Jessi, Dawn, and Mallory, too!) This series of books is filled with fun stories and interesting, real characters. Throw in those big, ol’ Super Special editions where they all went on fabulous vacations together (seriously, how did they pull that off?) and I’m all giddy with pre-teen girl excitement. With 131 regular novels, 15 super specials, 36 mystery books, and four super mysteries—that’s a lot of reading love to share with the kids! (pssst… let’s not tell them it’s also a series on Netflix)

The Baby Sitters Club books are available on Amazon.ca

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

If you’ve never tried exploring the back of your closets in search of a secret passageway to another world as a kid, I’m guessing you didn’t grow up with the Chronicles of Narnia. I loved these books when I was young – and the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was my absolute favourite. A secret world. An evil witch. Four adventurers. This is fantasy at its finest—and something all kids can adore and appreciate.

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is available on Amazon.ca

The Ramona Quimby Series

Even now that I’m in my 30s, I still clearly and fondly remember reading stories of Ramona Quimby doing slightly off-the-wall things like wearing her pajamas to school under her clothes because they were just too soft and cozy to take off in the morning. The simplicity of these well-told stories about a little ‘pest’ of a kid is what makes them charming. I absolutely loved these childhood books growing up—and I can’t wait for my kids to discover the world of Ramona for themselves.

The Ramona Quimby books are available on Amazon.ca

Sweet Valley High & Sweet Valley Twins

Looking back on these books, I now realize that they were pretty much your typical soap opera version of childhood books. But let’s just call them our little guilty pleasure, because the young adult me remembers these books as awesome! Who didn’t want to be a twin after reading about Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield? Sometimes you just need and want a little fluff in your life, and these were perfect for that purpose.

The Sweet Valley High Collection is available on Amazon.ca

The BFG, The Witches, Matilda, James & the Giant Peach…

… or any book by Roald Dahl, really. He was a master storyteller and wove tales in the most magical, fun, whimsical way. My kids already love the movie Matilda (thanks, Netflix!) and we’ve read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory together as well. I can’t wait for them to discover everything else Roald Dahl has in store.

The Roald Dahl Collection is available on Amazon.ca

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

If there was ever a book that definitively put its finger on what it’s like for a young girl to grow up (back in the day, that is), it’s this one by Judy Blume. I absolutely loved everything about this book as a kid. New friends. First bras. Emotions. Getting your period. It’s all covered. Every girl I knew was reading this book as we faced the challenges of growing out of childhood. And it still stands the test of time. Just like all of Judy Blume’s books.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is available on Amazon.ca

Harry Potter

Okay, so maaayyybbbeee I was in my early 20s when these books became extremely popular—but I still happily devoured them. There’s no age limit on well-written, excellent stories with rich characters and incredible plots. I’m clearly not alone in loving the Harry Potter series and I’m pretty confident that my kids will get a lot out of these books as well. And we can appreciate and enjoy these childhood books for the magic, friendship, and values they bring to our lives, separate from the views of its creator. The stories are more than the words of any one person. They now belong to every reader who finds meaning in them.

The Harry Potter Collection is available on Amazon.ca