Children's Books to Bring Back Memories

This children's book tells the story of a boy and his dog Kipper. They find a seemingly normal blue balloon that turns out to have amazing powers. Folding out the pages allows the reader to see how it grows, changes colour and lifts the protagonists high into the stratosphere. It's a sweet and fun read for nursery-age children and school starters.

"This was one of my first favourite books, partly because I was desperate to have a dog of my own. It was also because it had a fun pull-out section where the balloon grew – simple, but all you need when you are four years old. I haven’t yet introduced this book to my son, but I know he loves interactive books, so we will have to see what Santa brings him."

This novel sees the daughter of a wealthy widower, Captain Crewe, send his daughter Sara back to England for boarding school. There, she enjoys special treatment and luxurious gifts from her father. Despite this, Sara's goodhearted nature shines through even when nicknamed 'Princess'.

While her father is based in India, he passes away after heavily investing in diamond mines, leaving Sara penniless. Now an orphaned pauper, she endures the headmistress' wrath over her unpaid bills after her particularly indulgent birthday party. Living in the attic, she enters a life of servitude, with a young handmaid and her imagination for company.

Sara's perseverance and surprising strength from a place of privilege to one of poverty have inspired young women for generations.

"My favourite book from my childhood is A Little Princess. I enjoyed how the little girl's imagination kept her inspired, even through bad times. I also loved her interest in the exotic Indian stories she tells."

This book was originally written and illustrated by Swiss author Marcus Pfister. It has since been translated, winning hearts far and wide. Yet, it's a simple story about putting your ego aside and sharing with others. The namesake lead fish learns that being beautiful and selfish doesn't make you happy. Instead, he learns generosity and finds friendship.

"Having always been a magpie for anything shiny, I was fascinated by the foil stamping as each page features these glittering scales. They were perfect for practising counting and numbers.

"As the rainbow fish learns that sharing what you have with others is a great way to make new friends, it gifts away its beautiful scales to other fish to make them happy. Alongside the beautiful watercolour artwork, this moralistic tale was a firm favourite at bedtime. It looks especially glittery from under the covers by torchlight!"

A rural-based, eight-year-old girl is appalled to see her neighbours, the Greggs, return home with the spoils of their latest hunting endeavour. An altercation then ensues in which they prove to be unkind and thoughtless.

In a rage, the heroine uses her magic finger on the family, which sees them awake in a precarious state. They've shrunk and now have wings for arms. They are then ousted from their home by large ducks with arms.

The ducks then pick up the guns, and the Greggs are threatened with their own behaviour being exacted upon them, giving them a new perspective. A typical Dahlian story with a sinister side for adults to enjoy.

"Not one of Roald Dahl's most famous books, The Magic Finger spoke volumes to my younger, cranky, animal-lover self. The latter of those still being true, The Magic Finger is the children's book that remains dear to my heart.

"A young girl's ability to exact revenge with a life lesson, spurred on by her own well-won indignation, had a profound imprint on my young psyche. Plus, there's plenty of whimsy and laughs to temper the larger plot.

"It's a shorter story than Dahl's usual and feels particularly fitting in this time, where young people are finding their power and voice."

Everybody has a taste for Stanley – and the other ocean creatures keep mistaking him for a delicious treat – but this is no ordinary jellyfish. Most jellyfish have dangly-gangly tentacles, but Stanley has two handles… Other jellyfish have a magical glow, but Stanley has stripes… Because Stanley is a plastic bag. Various creatures swallow Stanley as he continues on his journey until he is found by a little boy on the shore, who chooses to put Stanley to much better use as a kite. 

"I started reading this to my son when he was about four because of its strong anti-pollution message; the storyline has such a positive message. It made my son think about the environment, that we need to look after it, be more mindful about how we dispose of rubbish and that we should recycle as much as we can. Now my son is an ardent anti-litterer thanks to this fun and brightly illustrated picture book."

"Having spent my early childhood abroad, I only discovered this book after I had my kids. I decided it was the perfect story to instil my love of dogs in my babies. I'm convinced it was a factor in my husband eventually allowing us to have a canine companion join our family. The illustrations are simply adorable, and the clever use of rhyme, rhythm and humour makes it captivating."

Looking for a bit of inspiration to plan a great day out full of family fun? Then look no further and enjoy our pick of the best activities and events for the kids (and adults alike) in and around Sussex.

Whether you’re a visitor to Sussex or a resident looking to explore new parts of it, a museum is a great way to discover more about the history and culture of this creative county. From crafts to castles, explore these fascinating museums in Sussex.