Favourite family books

At this time of the year, many of us are thinking about how to fill our time whilst we are away from work and school, and what gifts to give our loved ones.

What better way to spend a cold winter's day than by getting together as a family to share some much loved stories?

Here are a few of our favourites, not just listed for nostalgia's sake, but because they are great again and again!

The Magic Faraway Tree, by Enid Blyton
Exploring the woods behind their house, our three siblings find a giant tree, the branches of which seem to disappear into the clouds. This is the magic Faraway Tree. Here they find magical characters like Moon-Face, Saucepan Man, the Angry Pixie and Dame Washalot. How exciting to travel with them as they visit the strange lands at the top of the tree.

The Lost World, by Arthur Conan Doyle
The Lost World follows journalist Edward Malone as he travels through the Amazonian rainforest, in search of a lost world where prehistoric animals still exist. During the expedition, Edward and his travel companions are involved in a host of escapades, including attacks by pterodactyls and capture by locals. Will they make it back to safety and prove the existence of the lost world?

Stig of the Dump, by Clive King
Whilst vising his grandparents, Barney, falls over the edge of an old chalk pit and crashes through the roof of a den. Living in this den he discovers Stig, a caveman. What ensues is a brotherly bond as they learn to communicate and go on a series of adventures.

A Bear Called Paddington, by Michael Bond
What happens when a bear from deepest, darkest Peru, finds himself in London with just an old hat and a battered suitcase? And where will he find his beloved marmalade? Thankfully he is discovered by the Brown family and begins to learn all about life in England.

Life of Pi, by Yann Martel
The book follows Pi, a teenage boy, as he fights for survival for months whilst stuck on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger called Richard Parker. When Pi's family decides to immigrate to Canada and sell their zoo animals, their ship sinks in the Pacific Ocean and Pi finds himself the only human survivor in the aftermath. With only animals for company, Pi has to be smart and resourceful to survive the ordeal.

The Fault in our Stars, by John Green
This bittersweet love story follows the troubled lives of two sick young adults, as they go on a literary adventure and fall in love along the way. The story is sure to make you laugh and cry, and you won't be able to put the book down! We think this book is a perfect read for parents or young adults.

Whatever you're up to over the festive season, why not make time to get together as a family and enjoy some of these classics?