My Favourite Books - The Letter M

Mara Daughter of the Nile by Eloise McGraw - Everyone should read this when they learn about Ancient Egypt. It is for young adults, though. I read it during school; my mum assigned it to my reading list. It was then that I fell in love with it. I always wanted a copy, and I only just a few weeks ago finally found myself one. It is the best story set in Ancient Egypt that I have ever read!

Magic for Marigold by L. M. Montgomery - Not my favourite of hers, but definitely worth the read. I discovered it through my beloved library and then chanced upon a copy in the antiques mall in my village which I promptly bought (of course :)).

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell - This book is guaranteed to make you at least chuckle if not spend a while laughing with tears running down your cheeks. I absolutely LOVE this book. It was written by a naturalist about his experiences in Corfu during his boyhood. You'll meet his family; his dear mother, his bossy book-writing brother Larry, his gun fanatic brother Leslie and his flighty sister Margo, not to mention their loyal Spiro and many other friends. Everyone is a real character.

Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers - Very adorable children's book. And I fully agree with the idea that babies can understand animals for a while before they can speak to us.

My Favourite Books - The Letter L

The Light Princess by George MacDonald - I first discovered this when I was searching hungrily for more fairytales. It is very much a fairytale, very different from any other fairytale I have ever read, and yet so familiar I could have sworn I'd read it before. It's amazing and wonderful and beautiful and I love it!

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder - Oh, I can't tell you how much I enjoy these! They're so interesting and sweet! Highly recommended.

Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen L. Taylor - My siblings and I grew up on this little book. My favourite is Christian's adventure.

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett - Sara is such a sweet little girl. Throughout all her troubles, she endeavors to make her father proud of her by being a true princess. “Whatever comes,” she said, “cannot alter one thing. If I am a princess in rags and tatters, I can be a princess inside. It would be easy to be a princess if I were dressed in a cloth of gold, but it is more of a triumph to be one all the time when no one knows it.”

The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge - I've never read anything like this fairytaleish story. It captured me right away and I immediately procured myself a copy.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - This should be on everyone's imperative reading list. It is full to the brim with humour, love, friendship, troubles, and family values. It is also one of those books that makes me wonder why I even try writing...how can I possibly write anything half as good as this?!

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien - My dad used to read these aloud to us after dinner sometimes, so although I have never actually read the whole of all the books (which I am working on right now, as a matter of fact) I know them very well. They are very old and very dear friends.

The Lost Princess by George MacDonald - This story has a moral and is very touching. It is about two girls, born on the same day and very similar in appearance, but very different in personality. This book will make you think.

Love Comes Softly Series by Janette Oke - I had a Janette Oke craze a few years ago, and this is the result. I really liked this series, especially the very first and very last books.

My Favourite Books - The Letter K

Kilmeny of the Orchard by L. M. Montgomery - Well, it's by L. M. Montgomery, so it's...wonderful. Kilmeny is the sweetest girl alive, and her story is extremely touching.

The King's Table by Cindy Lee Sullivan - This was written by a homeschool mum who wanted to help her children to write: and this was the result. I felt that it was a bit like Little Pilgrim's Progress and I really liked it. She fell asleep in the Lord before she could finish the sequel and I can only imagine what wonderful things she has in store. God bless her.

King of the Dollhouse by Patricia Clapp - I read this when my favourite thing to do was play in my dollhouse, and this little book was so delightful I spent many hours curled up with it. I wished a little king of the fairies would come and live in my dollhouse!

My Favourite Books - The Letter J

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl - If I could possibly make up my mind and choose ten of my top favourite books for children, this would be one of them. My favourite character is the Centipede. And you'll see why when you first meet him. I've been collecting quotes for a 365 day calendar, and I found quite a few chuckles in this book. Most of them between the Earthworm and the Centipede.

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes - I first read this of my own accord for history. It was so interesting and exciting! It really captured me. I've always really liked these kind of historical fiction, and this was a real winner.

You would not believe how hard it is to find books that begin with the letter J. It's pathetic, as you can probably see. But I think these two make up for it.

My Favourite Books - The Letter I

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia Funke - Really cute story. I especially liked the magical singing books.

The Inkheart series by Cornelia Funke - It took me a while to read the first book, but it was so good I had to read the second, and I think the second is my favourite, even though I cry near the end (I won't tell you why). The last one takes me forever to finish, but they are all really good.

Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott - A classic gallant knights and damsels in distress tale. I absolutely love this book.

My Favourite Books - The Letter H

Henry Huggins books by Beverly Cleary - I grew up on these. I don't know if you've seen the Romona and Beezus movie that just came out, but I want to!

Heidi by Johanna Spyri - I have yet to find a copy of this endearing book, but when I do, it's going to be illustrated by Jessie Wilcox Smith who is one of my favourite illustrators.

The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom - This is one book that I think everyone has to read. It is sad, and I did cry, but there are some times when crying is a good thing. That was one of those times. I felt so close to Corrie and her family that I cried in sympathy with her, and the end almost made me cry again, but for a different reason. I won't blow it by giving anything away, but it is so sweet and touching. You will learn a lot from this account from a Dutch woman during the time of World War II.

The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien - My favourite of all his books. And my favourite chapter out of this whole book is An Unexpected Tea Party. It cracks me up every time, especially the washing up of the dishes part. If you haven't read it and are a Lord of the Rings fan, I'm shocked! Go read it!

Hollow Tree House by Enid Blyton - My dear mum bought so many of her books when we were little that we have almost two whole shelves devoted to her. They were some of the very first books I ever read, and might have something to do with kindling the little spark of love for fairytales inside me. This story is not a fairytale, however. It is about children and involves one of them living inside a hollow tree (which I've always wanted to do). No, I'm not crazy.

Homer Price by Robert McCloskey - This book is so funny! If you like Henry Huggins, you'll like Homer Price, but I encourage you to try it even if you don't like Henry Huggins.

My Favourite Books - The Letter G

A Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter - Such a wonderful story. I remember finding it a bit slow in the beginning, but I really enjoyed it overall. It's too bad it's becoming so rare and hard to find.

The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale - I don't think I have ever read such a breathtaking adaption of a fairy tale before. An absolute must have in my opinion!

Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales by the Grimm Brothers - Everybody knows these. Don't read The Maiden Without Hands to yourself at night...I did that once. Never again.

My Favourite Books - The Letter F

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine - I've always loved stories about inner beauty and this one was very touching. Bravo, Mrs. Levine!

Fairy Gold: A Book of Classic English Fairy Tales chosen by Ernest Rhys and illustrated by Herbert Cole - My wonderful grandparents gave me this book one Christmas and it was as if they had really given me fairy gold. I cannot tell you how beautiful this book is in words. It has poems, well-known tales and exotic ones, and vivid illustrations. An instant favourite.

Five Children and It by E. Nesbit - Such a special book! The adventures of the five children who chance upon an ancient sand fairy and somehow manage to wheedle him into granting them a wish every day. Their many mishaps only go to show you how perfect life is without everything you think you want.

Five Little Pepper books by Margaret Sidney - If you like Frances Hodgson Burnett or E. Nesbit, you will love these. The little family is absolutely charming, and reading them as I grow older only makes me appreciated them more.

The Flower Fairy books by Cicely Mary Barker - What Beatrix Potter did for animals, Cicely Mary Barker has done for fairies. Any fairy lover will adore these books and recognize them for the treasures they are.