Books and Stories We Used to Enjoy as Children

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. The oldest members of my family group thought that this book, which was written by a famous 19th Century American author to help educate children about the Classical Mythology of Ancient Greece, was very influential in their early reading. Can you identify the author and book, I wonder? "Talismans For Children" / Margaret Atwood "Tanglewood Tales " / Nathaniel Hawthorne "Homer's Daughter" / Robert Graves "Adventures Of the Greek Heroes" / Mollie McLean

2. This book was thought by both younger and older members of our little group to be a powerful tale of struggles by man and beast during the pioneering days in North America. It has been the subject of more than one film and television series of course. So, can you identify the author and book? "The Autobiography of a Supertramp" / W H Davies "Alaska" / James A. Michener "Spirit of the Raven" / Bob Cherry "Call of the Wild" / Jack London

3. Only those of us who are just starting their reading lives didn’t rate this book as being a scary and thrilling maritime adventure novel. It introduced the world to a one legged sea cook among many other memorable characters. Can you identify the author and book, I wonder? "Treasure Island" / R L Stevenson "The Swiss Family Robinson" / Johann Wyss "Coral Island" / R M Ballantyne "Robinson Crusoe" / Daniel Defoe

4. Surprisingly to me only I had read this, but hopefully our conversation stimulated the others to borrow it from our library. Another South Sea adventure with pirates, undersea caves and characters including Peterkin, Jack and Ralph. Can you identify the author and book I wonder? "The Swiss Family Robinson" / Johann Wyss "Treasure Island" / R L Stevenson "Robinson Crusoe" / Daniel Defoe "Coral Island' / R M Ballantyne

5. This series of children’s books was fondly remembered by my wife who used to read them to our children when they were growing up and also by them now in their thirties. This is the clue: “A __________ is small and shy and fat, and has a _______pappa and a _______mamma. They live in the forests of Finland. They like sunshine and sleep right through the winter. The snow falls and falls and falls where they live, until their houses look like great snowballs. But when spring comes, up they jump....". So which characters are we describing? The Moomintroll The Hobbits The Moonbeams The Borrowers

6. This was nominated by my thirties-something son, who remembered how much he had enjoyed reading this series of exciting detective novels for children. So, can you identify the series, which first appeared in German? "Nancy Drew" / Carolyn Keene "Boxcar Children" / Gertrude Chandler Warner "The Hardy Boys" / Franklin W Dixon "Emil And The Detectives" / Erich Kästner

7. Well remembered by younger and older generations alike the series of books about this main character has been delighting generations of young children since her first appearance more than sixty years ago. Other characters and friends include “Little-friend Susan” and “Billy Blunt”. So which main character were these books about and who was the author? Tikki Tikki Tembo / Arlene Mosel Peter Rabbit / Beatrix Potter Milly-Molly-Mandy / Joyce Lankester Brisley Noddy / Enid Blyton

8. We all agreed that this author of over 400 children's books was one of our great favourites. We all decided that this particular series featuring Pam, Colin, Janet and of course their dog was the one to challenge you with. Can you tell me the collective name of the characters, their author and of course the dog? Enid Blyton / Malory Towers / Maggie Enid Blyton / Famous Five / Timmy Enid Blyton / Secret Seven / Scamper Enid Blyton /Barnaby Mysteries / Fred

9. A definite favourite with all generations of my family, this book featured a character that walks and talks and has a personality like no other. It can be mean, sulky, and snide, and unpleasant. So, can you identify the book and author from my clues? "Tikki Tikki Tembo" / Arlene Mosel "Mrs Piggle-Wiggle" / Betty MacDonald "The Magic Pudding" / Norman Lindsay "Betsy-Tacy" / Maud Hart Lovelace

10. The older men of my family remembered this book with some fondness which was probably tainted by over exposure to its Disney incarnation no doubt. However, the book is a heart warming fantasy of a kitchen boy who assumes his inheritance as a mighty king. My final clue to you is to remark how all of my dining tables have always been round so no favourites in my kingdom. What book am I describing here? Art Attack The Sword in the Stone Move Over Merlin Excalibur