Over the Christmas period, we bought some children’s books for some of our family members.
Both of our nephews and nieces have children now.
Yeah, and the books made us remember what we liked to read when we were little.
Yes, so for this week’s podcast on English.com, we’re talking about our favourite books when we were young.
So, Jackie, what was your favourite book?
I think my favourite book was called Pookie.
Pookie, right. So what’s it about then?
It’s about a little white rabbit with wings.
Right.
At the start of the story, the rabbit is not happy because it’s not the same colour as its brothers and sisters.
The others are all, they’re all brown, brown rabbits.
And the wings are rather small and strange.
So the other rabbits are not very nice to Pookie.
Oh, dear.
Because Pookie is different.
So Pookie becomes very lonely and sad and decides to leave home.
Oh, dear. So what happens when he leaves home then?
Well, he carries a stick and all his things.
So what things does he have then?
He has a toothbrush.
Of course.
Three acorns.
And a carrot tied up in a tree.
And a red spotted hanky.
Oh, he has to have something to eat, yes.
Yeah. So he has many adventures.
And then he finds Belinda, who is a woodcutter’s daughter.
They become friends and live together.
But the best thing is that Pookie discovers he has the most beautiful wings.
And then he can fly.
He can fly.
Right. So what did you like about it the most then?
I think because it’s in the countryside.
Belinda lives in a wood, bluebell wood.
And there are all sorts of woodland creatures, as well as fairies and elves and goblins.
So it’s all rather, all rather magical.
Very sweet.
Richard, what about you?
What was your favourite book when you were little?
I don’t have a favourite book, but a series.
I loved The Famous Five.
The Famous Five.
Who are they?
Well, they are four children and their dog,
Timmy.
Right.
And they have lots of adventures, usually in the summer holidays.
And they go off together and they find treasure.
They explore caves and they get baddies.
They arrest the baddies.
Oh, really?
So they’re do-good children, then?
I suppose so, yes.
But they have lots of adventures.
It’s very exciting.
Right.
And unlike yours, they’re real people.
And I was a young child and I think they’re supposed to be aged between 10 and 12, something
like that.
So they’re real people having adventures.
And so is that why you liked it?
I think so, yes, because I went out into the countryside, explored caves and I hoped to
find treasure myself.
So I wanted to be like them and have adventures like them.
So what about you, the listener?
What was your favourite book when you were little?
And if you’re a parent, do you still read those stories to your children?
