Baby boomers - what books did you read when you were a nipper ?

[joe cassidy]

One book I didn't like was "Tom Sawyer".

Maybe it was too American for me ?

[Trainfish]

Rush did a good job of it though 

[OffshoreAlan]

... the magic painting pages

Yes, I remember them - they were great.  Haven't seen any for decades, probably not around any more.

[Paddy]

Well being a baby Baby Boomer at 53 my opinion is not strictly relevant.  Mind you, as a 50+ year old, white male then I may as well give up!



Anyway, for what it is worth I would recommend The Model Railway Men series of books by Ray Pope, illustrated by Gareth Floyd.  The stories covers the adventures of a family of OO sized model railway people.  The model railway they live on is a classic of the 1960s with Hornby Dublo, Wrenn and Tri-ang stock.

The first book in the series has been reprinted (by Ray Pope's son) and is available in paperback or digital from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Model-Railway-Men-Ray-Pope/dp/0995729115/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+model+railway+men&qid=1606223746&sr=8-1

Mark (Ray's son who is also the Mark in the books) was intending to re-release them all but I assume CV19 put a halt to that.

I posted more information here on my HOLLERTON JUNCTION thread.

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=11342.45

Fortunately, I have been able to assemble a complete collection in hardback over the years.  The books are still available (pre-loved) but can be rather expensive.

Kind regards

Paddy

[Manny]

The usual - Famous Five and Secret Seven - but Dad was also a keen angler so this was also on the agenda

[David Asquith]

In junior school I struggled with reading through having lots of time off with tonsilitis.  I can´t have them out as apparently I have an extra blood artery in my throat.  I was given books to take home and read with my Mother.  After a while I had to stop as I was well in advance of my class.  After that there was no stopping me.  Into the library 3 times a week on my way home from school and I was allowed to take out more than the usual child allowance.  The books that stuck in my mind were about a deepsea salvage tug called Bulldog.  Can´t remember who the author was but when I searched as an adult the results didn´t match the memories.  My favourite book read in school was Of mice and men which I have re-read a few times since.  My improvement in reading got me into trouble a few times as I used to get bored waiting for other class members to read their paragraph so I used to read ahead.  I´ll never forget  the200 x  "I must pay attention whilst other class members are reading"

[Stuarted]

The Famous Five, Biggles and the Hardy Boys. The local library didn't have much else!!

[ImpInaBox]

The usual Biggles, Jennings ("Oh what a frightful bish Derby!").  I thought the Famous Five were a bit girlie but still read my sister's copies    - preferred Pooh Bear if I'm honest.  Also remember a character called Brer Rabbit but don't recall anything about him.

While I was a kid a new comic called 'TV Century 21' appeared with stuff like Fireball XL5 and Stingray. (Ayone remember Marina? )  I also had a copy of the Venture Bus Company's bus spotters book.  Rowlands Gill station and the Derwent Valley line to Consett had closed down so buses were more plentiful than trains!

[javlinfaw7]

While I was a kid a new comic called 'TV Century 21' appeared with stuff like Fireball XL5 and Stingray. (Ayone remember Marina? )

I got this comic as well as the Ranger and the Look and Learn when the Ranger merged with with this. as a matter of interest all of the Dalek stories from TV21 have been released recently as a bookazine by the Dr Who magazine.

[Stuarted]

Yes, I remember Marina! 🥰🥰 My Aunt bought me Look and Learn every week and I had the annual as a present every Christmas.

[Newportnobby]

Also remember a character called Brer Rabbit but don't recall anything about him.

I used to have some Brer Rabbit books, containing other characters such as Brer Fox and Brer Bear
(I think Brer was a shortened 'brother')

Strangely many books (and toys) used to mysteriously vanish every time we moved house

[joe cassidy]

Anyone remember Harold Hare ?

How about Moony - he featured in a pre-school comic my Mum used to buy. I found him a bit spooky.

I confess that I used to look at my sister's comics too, especially Jackie in the 70s.

Sometimes I used to pinch the centrefolds for my bedroom wall, but only the likes of R Stewart or James Taylor, not David Cassidy.

[The Q]

Just acquired (for free) a copy of Coot Club one of the Swallows and Amazon series.

It must be 50 years since I last read it and over 40 Since I first moved into the area it's based on.. Will be an interesting experience comparing what I now know, with the book..

[Newportnobby]

Today's post has led me to read the whole thread again (great stuff) and I've remembered after I exhausted the Biggles books I went onto the 'Mettle' series by James MacNell all about Captain Mettle VC. One that particularly sticks in my mind is 'Mettle at Woomera' where the Captain drove a souped up Jag v the baddie's Maserati.

[Ossian]

The Carey novels by Ronald Welch - which I rediscovered a couple of years ago.   Swallows and Amazons, and Biggles, of course.
Also a science fiction series by Hugh Walters - the titles all referred to one planet or another.