Christmas must have come early. I have decided to share some lovely Nina Bawden books with you all.
Last week Little Brown UK sent me these lovely editions of two Nina Bawden children’s books. Carrie’s War and The Peppermint Pig. I decided I would give them away, there may be a child in your life who will enjoy curling up with these lovely books, transported by Bawden’s consummate story telling. Or perhaps you would like to revisit your childhood favourites for yourself. So, the first giveaway is for BOTH these titles.
Giveaway 1.
When I was a child I adored Carrie’s War – I devoured the book, and watched the TV adaptation, I even watched the remake as an adult. It is a story I carried with me for many years and I think I had a slightly romanticised view of evacuation because of it. It tells the story of three children evacuated to Wales during World War two – such a wonderful cast of characters, it was definitely the book I loved most as a child – and still love now. I can’t remember if I read The Peppermint Pig, but I don’t think I did. The Peppermint Pig appears to be the story of a family living through a difficult period who are healed by the laughter a clever, mischievous little pig brings to their lives.
Giveaway 2
Of course, many, many years later, I discovered Nina Bawden’s adult novels, she was very prolific, and I have enjoyed quite a number of them now. So, I have purchased a new copy of The Birds on the Trees, one of my favourite Bawden novels for adults as giveaway number two (It has yet to arrive – so the image of the cover is only what was shown on a certain well-known shopping site – the images are not always correct, I find).
The Birds in the Trees is beautifully observed with great insight and honesty, it is a novel about parents and children and family life with all its complexities. In 2010 The Birds on the Trees was nominated for The Lost Booker – voted for by readers, Bawden lost out to Troubles by J G Farrell (another excellent novel). The Lost Booker was for books published in 1970 – as changing Booker rules that year meant many novels lost out on being considered.
Toby Flowers is the boy/young man at the centre of this novel – which is told in the varying voices of his family – his mother and father, younger sister and grandmother. These first-person narratives dropped into what is largely a third person narrative, works so well – giving the novel an added intimacy.
To enter simply tell me what your favourite children’s book was (I’m just being nosy really) and let me know which giveaway you would like to win, the two books for children or The Birds on the Trees. The Giveaway is open worldwide – and winners will be drawn next Monday, using a random name generator.
heavenali 
Giveaway 1 thank you.
I must have read and re-read HEIDI by Joanna Spyri a hundred times when I was a child. I imagined myself high up in the alps with Grandfather. Of course the goats did not smell bad & I looked like Shirley Temple.
Ooh Heidi was great too.
Wonderful giveaway Ali! Inspired by your recent Bawden posts I just finished Devil by the Sea on Friday (I think I’d commented on one of your posts that although I loved her books as a child I’d not read any as an adult) and was blown away. I will definitely be hunting down her other books for adults – what a writer.
I’d like to enter giveaway 2 please, but its lucky child who gets the winnings from giveaway 1! Those were 2 of my favourite books when I was a child.
My enduring favourite novel as a child was The Secret Garden. I’ve written on my blog before now that I’m sure it was this novel that meant I trained as an occupational therapist, and I still have a fantasy of one day owning a walled garden (I can dream….)
I loved the Secret Garden, in the way I romanticised evacuation because of Carrie’s War i probably romanticised being orphaned because of The Secret Garden.
I would like to enter for the Giveaway 1 for my children and so that I can read along with them.
This giveaway is really very exciting. As a child I read all comics I could lay my hands on and my friends and I would exchange them for greater variety. I also started browsing the old issues of the Reader’s Digest very early. But the very first ‘real’ book that I loved was an abridged version of Oliver Twist which my teacher gave me as a prize when I was 10.
Oliver Twist is great, I still remember my primary school doing a production of it.
Thank you for hosting this giveaway! I’ve never read Nina Bawden… I’d like to enter giveaway 2, for her adult novel. When I was a child, my favourite book was Pippi Longstocking! And it still is 🙂
I can’t remember much about Pipi Longstocking though I am sure I read at least one.
Please put my name in the hat for the children’s books, I have five grandsons. I would enjoy reading these to them.
I still have The Bell Family by Noel Streatfield on my bookshelves, I loved it as a child and it looks well read and loved! Then aged around eleven or twelve I Capture The Castle became a great favourite.
Nina Bawden was such a good writer, I’ve read and enjoyed some of her adult books and have some unread still on the bookshelves, I look forward to them.
Thanks for your blog, I don’t often comment but I’ve read and enjoyed quite a few of your recommendations.
Noel Streatfield, was such a good writer too.
I would love to enter Giveaway 2 please. My favourite childrens books were the Trixie Belden series – such great gripping reads for a tween reader – I think I read the whole series.
I haven’t heard of the Trixie Belden series.
Oohhh lovely post & giveaway! I love to enter giveaway 2 please! My favourite children’s book was the magic faraway tree by Enid Blyton
Thanks for all the blog reviews you post- I really enjoy them!
Thank you, I really enjoyed some of Enid Blyton ‘s books too.
I dont want to be entered but my fave childhood books was THE MOUSE AND HIS CHILD by Russell Hoban.
I had many favourite books as a child but the ones I kept reading over and over again were certainly Enid Blyton’s Adventure series and a little bit later on Harry Potter, of course. I haven’t read any Bawden yet, so I’d love to be entered for giveaway 2. Thank you so much for organising this, Ali 🙂
I missed the whole Harry Potter thing, being a bit older. But that series has brought such joy to so many children.
That’s so true. Certain books have an entirely different charm when you read them as a child, they leave an imprint that is usually absent from any readings in adulthood.
My favourite reads always involved magic and were a bit scary! I loved Alan Garner’s The Owl Service, which wove a story from Welsh legend into the plot. I can’t pick just one book, so I’m also choosing Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising (more myths and magic!) I have the two children’s books on my shelf, but would love a chance to read The Birds on the Trees. Thank you.
I have heard such good things about The Owl Service and The Dark is Rising.
Picking a childhood favorite is hard! I think I will have to go with the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I loved them all and still do. I occasionally reread them now when I am having a particularly bad day since they are like sinking back into my childhood. I also loved Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. So many choices. I haven’t read any of Bawden’s adult novels so I would like to be entered for giveaway two. This is very nice of you.
I never actually read the Little House Books, though I loved the TV series.
I cant remember reading any Bawden growing up – I was influenced heavily by my sister and what was on her bookshelf, so read a ridiculous amount of scifi (Piers Anthony, Asimov, Aldiss etc) by the time I was in my teens. Perhaps Giveaway 1 would be appropriate?
Perhaps my favourite Childhood read (or at least the one with the most impact) was Charlotte’s Web – it’s the only book I remember making me cry out at the end,
Ooh yes, Charlotte’s Web was a real weepy.
If it’s not too late, I’d like to enter Giveaway #1. I’m always on the lookout for books I can read with the kids. I can’t say I had one favorite book as a child. Astrid Lindgren was my absolute favorite author, and I spent many happy hours not just with Pippi Longstocking, but also the children of noisy village and Kalle Blomquist, “the master detective.”
Not too late at all. 😀
OK My granddaughter would just love to read either one of these
Thanks Anne, fingers crossed for your granddaughter.
I loved Carrie’s War and would love a copy of The Peppermint Pig for my grandson who is a voracious reader.
My favourite childhood book.
Ballet shoes by Noel Streatfield , I also did ballet when young and loved this story.
I grew up with Enid Blyton .
My grandson is currently reading The Magic Faraway Tree.
Have also read quite a few of her adult books too but not The Birds and the Trees.
One to put on my Christmas list.
Ooh I loved Ballet Shoes when I was young.
I’d like to be entered in Giveaway 2 – you know I’ve been meaning to read Bawden for a while.
My favorite childhood book, well it’s a tie between the Anastasia Krupnik series by Lois Lowry and The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. Both are ones I’ve reread and loved as an adult too.
Ooh I don’t think I know those authors.
You’ve never heard of Trixie Belden? I thought she was widely known as Nancy Drew – I certainly preferred the Trixie series. Loved them all.
I’d be happy with either giveaway, but I’ll enter for giveaway #1, please. I read aloud to my grandchildren and I would be delighted to add Carrie’s War and The Peppermint Pig to the mix.
Thank you for this generous giveaway!
It’s lovely to hear of people reading to their children and grandchildren. It’s such a special time.
What a lovely giveaway! They all sound wonderful but since I must choose, please put my name in for the second giveaway. I have a lot of childhood favorites, but I’ve narrowed it down to a tie between Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh; and Danny, the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl.
Even if I don’t win, I’ll be tracking down Nina Bawden at the library! Thanks!
Ooh Danny Champion of the World was a big favourite of mine.
Giveaway #1, please! I have not read these, but they might not have been as popular in the U.S. I love to read with my daughter, and my name is Carrie, so doesn’t that fit? 🙂
I am a relatively new reader of your blog, but I have been visiting every week since finding you and enjoy your recommendations and writing very much. My favorite book as a child was “Half Magic” by Edward Eager. And “Pinky Pye” by Eleanor Estes. And the entire Bobbsey Twins series… and I’d better stop now because I could go on and on…
Thank you Carrie, glad you love reading to your daughter.
Giveaway 1, please. I’d love to read these with my daughter. As to my favourite, that is easy: Swallows and Amazons!
I enjoyed Swallows and Amazons too.
Hope I am not late.i really want to read her works after discovering her works from your blog 😊.My favorite one are Little Prince ,The Railway Children also Nancy Drew
Not too late, am I correct in thinking you are entering for the adult book?
Yes I would like to try her Adult book first ☺️
I haven’t read Nina Bawden yet but have Family Money tbr based on your review. I’d like to be entered in giveaway #1 for the children’s books. Thank you. My favorite book as a child was All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor. I also read the Little House books over and over.
Great, enjoy Family Money, I really enjoyed it.
Anne of Green Gables (and the Emily books) by L.M. Montgomery. Did not read as a child but as an adult but adore the Fell Farm Campers (3 books) by Marjorie Llody.
Sorry the giveaway finished yesterday.