Top Ten Children’s Books

However keen and well organised you are, everyone has to have a bit of down time when you’re visiting a big city and in my book (sorry!), you can’t beat having a good book on the go. This goes for children as well as adults. If a child reads and loves a book based in London before they visit, it’ll make all the difference. They’ll just want to be there. Some books are great for reading aloud, so do that too! I’m a bit of a fan of reading your children’s books too, so that you have it in common.

 

For younger children

KATIE IN LONDON written and illustrated by James Mayhew
Katie goes to London with her grandmother and younger brother. She sits on the back on one of the lions on Trafalgar Square who comes to life and then takes them to see the sights of London.

If you’re taking small children to London, read this together first!

 

MADELINE IN LONDON

written and illustrated by Ludwig BemelmansMadeline’s neighbour Pepito moves to London so Miss Clavel takes Madeline and her class to visit him. Quirky and fun.

 

LULU AND THE FLYING BABIES by Posy Simmonds.

Not about a specific gallery, this illustrated story is a nice way of getting children to look at and enjoy paintings.

 

THE BFG by Roald Dahl

I don’t need to introduce the BFG! Every time I cross Hyde Park Corner I think of the BFG and Sophie crossing over here to get to Buckingham Palace. This is such a great book for reading aloud as it’s so very, very funny. In fact this is a book that SHOULD be read aloud because Dahl’s fantastic words are just made for savouring. If you’ve read it you know this. If you haven’t, do!

 

BRAVO, MR WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE and MR WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS written and illustrated by Marcia Williams.

If you are visiting the Globe Theatre, these books are a great way of getting the stories. Children LOVE the illustrations. A very easy way in to what can be a quite daunting subject.

THE MILDENHALL TREASURE by Roald Dahl (in the collection THE WONDERFULL STORY OF HENRY SUGAR or in an edition illustrated by Ralph Steadman. Read this if you’re visiting the British Museum. It is, in fact, the actual factual story of the farmer who kept the treasure for himself instead of handing it over! Roald Dahl was always inspired by bad adults!

 

The following books I would put in the 10-14 age category

 

I, CORIANDER by Sally Gardner

I LOVE THIS BOOK. Sally Gardner is dyslexic and couldn’t read until the age of 14. She has always made up stories in her head and her books are wonderfully visual, effortlessly descriptive stories. I, Coriander is set just after the Civil War. She just gets London in the way the Dickens did.

 

THE DIAMOND OF DRURY LANE by Julia Golding

Again, I love this book. Cat is Catherine Royal, who lives in the Theatre Royal Drury Lane at time of the great 18th century actor-manager, Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Julia Golding creates a fabulous picture of the drama of the theatre and the murky side of Covent Garden. You have to read this if you are going to see a play there (Oliver! at the moment) but they also do a wonderful backstage tour with real characters from the history of the theatre taking part.

 

CORAM BOY by Jamila Gavin

Again, this ties in with a visit to the fascinating Foundling Hospital Museum in Brunswick Square, Bloomsbury. In the 18th century Thomas Coram established the Foundling Hospital to look after and educate children whose mothers couldn’t look after them. The book is the story if some of the Foundlings with an appearance by the real life benefactor of the museum, the composer Handel. A film of the book is currently in production. Read the book and visit the museum. You must!!

 

FOLLOW ME DOWN by Julie Hearn

This is the story of a 21st century time traveller who becomes deeply involved in the world of 18th century freak shows that pulled in the crowds in Smithfield and the body snatchers by Barts hospital. Smithfield is one of London’s most historically fascinating areas with constant nods to its past in its street names and buildings. Quite scary and gripping. It also includes the extraordinary plaques in Postman’s Park, telling the heartbreaking stories of ordinary people who gave up their lives to save others.

 

JOE RAT and THE WILD MAN by Mark Barratt

I’ve only just discovered these books in my quest to find what my daughter calls a “I was walking down a street in London in 1526 when” book. (Or words to that effect!) These books evoke the dark side of Victorian London, the London that Dickens knew. His descriptions of the old Docks in ‘The Wild Man’ are superb and evocative. If you enjoy this, visit the Museum of London in Docklands, which tells the incredible story of London’s Docks in an 18th century sugar warehouse. A good book for boys.

STORMBREAKER by Anthony Horowitz

Anthony Horowitz just knows how to tell a great story. Alex Rider is a schoolboy spy. Need I say more. This is real schoolboy (and girl) fantasy. He lives in Chelsea (wouldn’t we all love to live there?) At the beginning of the story his spy uncle, Ian Rider, is buried in Brompton Cemetery, almost next door to my son’s school. When I have said to my children “Have I ever told you about Brompton Cemetery” …. YES!*!*! MANY TIMES!*!*!*!* is the pained reply. These books are great fun and in a series of 6. Even children who don’t read much love these books. The film is unmissable for anyone who loves London.

Don’t overlook SHERLOCK HOLMES. They’re as exciting as when they were first written over 100 years ago. Try ‘The Blue Carbuncle’ for a true flavour of London.

 

CHARLES DICKENS got London. He also wrote his stories in instalments in monthly magazines, so each chapter ended with a cliffhanger. They’re marvellous tales of goodies and baddies but be warned they are quite hard to read for a 21st centurian. You cannot beat reading Dickens on the BBC, as it were. They do fabulous adaptations. I listened to the last part of “Our Mutual Friend’ on Radio 4 today. Let children start with a DVD or story on ipod. They are stories we all should now.