Project
We asked Â鶹ÒùÔº trustees and members of the Â鶹ÒùÔº office team to tell us about an inspirational childhood book that resonates with them and why. Each month, we will feature two new responses.Ìý
As a child, I had many favourite books and was fortunate enough to also have lots of adults to read to me. I loved when each month the Council library van would visit our village and I could choose a box of new books; I think my parents and grandparents were also very happy as it meant that they got to read a new set of books to me. Like many young children, I liked to have the same book read to me over and over.
One book which I loved being read to me was The Mary Kate Storybook by Helen Morgan. Although perhaps a little outdated now, I loved the simple stories about a little girl who had the same name as me; each story resonated with my own life. I vividly remember having the measles and asking my mother endlessly to read the story where Mary Kate also has to stay in bed because she is unwell. Many modern children’s books are exciting and stretch their imagination but sometimes, it is comforting to read about other children just like themselves.
I grew up surrounded by books (and still am!), so choosing a favourite is no easy task. Many of the books I remember so well were at my grandfather’s house where I spent so much of my childhood. They were often books that my Mum and her siblings had enjoyed before me which, looking back, makes them even more special.Ìý
There was The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley, Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome, the Narnia books by CS Lewis and the wonderfully nonsensical poems of Edward Lear.
An honourable mention must go to AA Milne’s Winne the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner but pushed to choose it would have to be Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. I loved everything about that book – the characters, the story and the idyllic river setting. One of the special things it shares with the Pooh books are the wonderful illustrations by EH Sheppard which really bring their worlds and characters to life.
It was first read to me, then by me and then later by me to our children who in turn became immersed in the world of Ratty, Mole, Toad and Badger and all their adventures.
Professor at Leeds Beckett University
Originally from the north-west Highlands of Scotland, Mhairi is Professor at the Carnegie School of Education at Leeds Beckett University. Prior to taking up her appointment at the Carnegie School of Education, Mhairi worked at the University of...
Chief Executive at British Educational Research Association
Nick has been the Chief Executive Officer at Â鶹ÒùÔº since April 2012, leading the organisation through a decade of growth, renewal and increasing influence. He has overseen a substantial increase in membership and the growth of Â鶹ÒùԺ’s networks,...
Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne is my chosen favourite book. It’s hard to choose as I remember reading everything and anything when I was a child and could usually be found curled up with a book somewhere quiet. But I absolutely adored A. A. Milne’s books about Winnie the Pooh and still have a Winnie the Pooh bear on my desk at home. I can remember particularly loving ‘Now we are Six’ which is a collection of poems that I was given when I was 6 years old and treasured for years. I can remember feeling very proud of myself and my family laughing when I recited the last couple of lines of ‘The End’ the final poem of the collection: ‘But now I am Six, I’m as clever as clever. So, I think I’ll be six now for ever and ever’.
It is impossible for me to choose a ‘favourite’ childhood book as I enjoyed such a wide range of stories growing up, from the fun and frivolity of The Baby-Sitters ClubÌý(Ann M. Martin) to the dark Victorian literature of the Brontë sisters. Books filled my childhood with adventure, and I still feel that same sense of excitement when I open a new book and wonder where it will take me, what I will learn and how I might see the world differently by the final page.Ìý
One book that I vividly remember reading is Anita and Me by Meera Syal, a coming-of-age tale about nine-year-old Meena, who finds herself torn between two worlds: the traditional culture of her Punjabi family and the 1970s West Midlands village community where she lives. After meeting Anita, Meena is at first led astray by this enticing older friend but soon realises Anita’s true nature and the reasons behind it. In Meena, I found a character who was wholly relatable to any young girl, with her independent spirit, her experiences of friendship and bullying, and her desire to belong, but through whose eyes I also began developing an early understanding of identity, heritage, prejudice, racism and the complexities of living in a multicultural Britain.
Associate Professor at University of Cambridge
Ros McLellan taught psychology and mathematics in the secondary schooling sector for a number of years before joining the Faculty. Her background is in psychology and she is a graduate member of the British Psychology Society. She has always been...
Publications Manager at British Educational Research Association
Hannah joined Â鶹ÒùÔº in May 2022 as Publications Manager. In this role, she is responsible for Â鶹ÒùÔº's publications portfolio, including the association's four journals, Research Intelligence, the Â鶹ÒùÔº Blog, reports, books and other outputs. She has...
I was addicted to Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers book series. I loved the immersion in a totally alien way of life in a boarding school. I got lost in the lives and antics of the girls whose experiences were so completely dissimilar to my own. This series of books were definitely a form of escape!
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was one of the first books that I didn’t read for school or because my parents wanted me to. I spent my weekends, in the boarding house, in my rooms for hours on end because the story had so fully enveloped me. ÌýI used to feel like reading was a chore but this book really sparked my joy for a good story and even had the power to pull me away from spending time outside, playing football. Suzanne’s portrayal of a dystopian society not only opened my eyes to certain harsh realities of our world but also captivated me from start to finish.
Professor of Education at University of Wolverhampton
Diana Burton is an established academic with extensive University leadership experience. She held senior leadership posts in 3 institutions, including HOD at MMU, Dean of Education at LJMU and later Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research & External...
Events Coordinator at British Educational Research Association
Garvin joined Â鶹ÒùÔº in August 2024 as Events Coordinator. In this role, he is responsible for Â鶹ÒùÔº's marketing and successful delivery of events for Â鶹ÒùÔº throughout the year. Prior to his role at Â鶹ÒùÔº, Garvin has worked in project coordinating and...
Dogger by Shirley Hughes. Dogger is a great book. I loved reading it aloud to my three children when they were little. It is all about the unconditional love a child has for their favourite toy, and how upset they are when they lose it – Dave loses his ‘dogger’ at a school fair and it ends up on a stall and being bought by someone else! Shirley Hughes’s illustrations and gentle storytelling provided a place where my children could explain how unhappy they got when they lost their teddy or cuddly rabbit or toy car. It’s all about family kindness too, with Dave’s older sister Bella swapping a shiny new teddy that she won at the fair for Dave’s ‘dogger’ – so he can get it back. It’s all about teaching children to be good to each other, and to help each other.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume is my favourite childhood book. I first read it when I was about eleven and completely fell in love with it. I remember how refreshing it was to read a book that was so honest about growing up, and I was fascinated by the way it explored religion, identity and all the ups and downs of being on the cusp of adolescence. I loved it so much that I even named my own daughter Margaret after the book’s main character.
Professor in TESOL and Education at Ulster University
Barbara Skinner is a Professor in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)and Education in the School of Education at Ulster University. Barbara lectures on a range of teacher education courses. She is involved with doctoral...
Membership and Engagement Manager at British Educational Research Association
Sarah Fleming joined Â鶹ÒùÔº in 2014. Her main responsibilities are managing Â鶹ÒùÔº's member services, writing Â鶹ÒùÔº communications and promoting Â鶹ÒùԺ’s work in the wider education community. She works closely with the Â鶹ÒùÔº Events Manager on the Â鶹ÒùÔº...
Fairies and Enchanters by Amabel Williams Ellis. My favourite childhood book was a family one, published in 1934. It included 80 beautiful illustrations by Wilma Hickson. It was described in a later (1946) edition as: ‘A new book of old English stories, providing also intelligence of sundry giants, lobs, mermaids, witches, boggarts, piggies, knights, princesses and dragons on this land – whose histories were before in great danger of being forgotten.’ I loved the range of stories in it, each with at least one illustration, and the exciting things each of these fantastical creatures got up to. I first read it when I was about eight. Sadly, I no longer have a copy but it is now with the fourth generation of my Mum’s family.
Rainbow Magic series by Daisy Meadows. One of the fondest memories of my childhood is going to my local library every Saturday and picking up a new copy of the Rainbow Magic books. The series follows Kirsty and Rachel as they help their fairy friends defeat the evil Jack Frost and his goblins. Each set was made up of up to seven books with seven different fairies based on a theme, e.g. Weather Fairies, Dance Fairies, Music Fairies, Sports Fairies and more… My favourite was India, the Moonstone fairy! The books also had the most adorable cover illustrations which I remember drawing in my sketchbooks. Most importantly, the books encouraged individuality and showcased a diversity of characters, professions and hobbies – reminding little girls that they could be anything they wanted to be!
retired at University of the Highlands and Islands
Professor Morag Redford is Head of Teacher Education in the University of the Highlands, a federated institution situated in nine colleges across the north and west of Scotland. Her research focuses on teacher education and the interface between...
Publications and Digital Content Officer at British Educational Research Association
Paru joined Â鶹ÒùÔº in March 2023 as Publications and Digital Content Officer. Her main responsibilities are supporting Â鶹ÒùԺ’s publications portfolio including the association's four journals,ÌýResearch Intelligence, the Â鶹ÒùÔº Blog, reports, books...
Jennie by Paul Gallico. Along with Winnie the Pooh and the Narnia books – Jennie is one of my earliest and most treasured reading memories. Wonder, vulnerability, adventure and preparation for a world to come are dealt with by Gallico in ways that I found utterly captivating. There is something too, in this divine book about parental distance which, as an only child, I really related to at the time of reading. Through the eyes of a boy transformed into a cat, Paul Gallico creates a world that feels both magical and deeply real. ÌýA joy to read then, and now, writing this, one that I need to experience again, particularly in these precarious times.
The Borrowers by Mary Norton is one of many classic books, that I loved in my childhood. I remember my mum reading this to me in nightly instalments and in turn I have done the same with my own children. There is something quite magical, especially to a child, about believing that there are little people living alongside you in your house. I always identified with the descriptions of the old house that the Borrowers lived in, because the shadowy, shut-up rooms reminded me of my maternal grandparents’ house in London. ÌýThis book is the reason why I possess a grandfather clock. The clock is the beating heart of my home. People’s homes are their haven, a place to escape and take refuge from the less pleasant things in the real world outside. In my home and garden, I have tried to go one step further and create a place where when you step over the threshold, magic can happen and The Borrowers could really exist under the floorboards, accessed by a hole in the wainscot behind the grandfather clock.
Professor of Education/Programme Leader Professional Doctorate in Education at University of East London
Gerry Czerniawski is Professor of Education at the University of East London, runs the Professional Doctorate in Education at UEL and is the founding editor of the university's journal 'Research in Teacher Education' (RiTE). In addition to his...
Â鶹ÒùÔº Administrator at British Educational Research Association
Heidi joined the Â鶹ÒùÔº team in May 2023, providing administrative support to the association. Heidi's previous career in teaching spanned more than twenty years. She taught throughout the primary age range and beyond. She held positions in the...
1984 by George Orwell (published in 1949). – I heard about this book predicting a dystopian future when I started secondary school in 1981 but purposefully waited until 1984 to read it. Waiting to read the book in the year it was set created a sense of anticipation and excitement for reading that lives with me to this day. As a teenage girl with four older brothers in 1980’s Britain, equality for women was relatively new. Engaging with a book that presented a dystopian society defined by a rigid, three-tier hierarchical structure designed specifically to maintain power for the ruling elite, seemed a possible future. Reading 1984 made me want to study Sociology (which I did), to understand more about the society in which we live and how to make it more equitable. No one wants to live in Airstrip One (formerly Great Britain), Oceania watched by ‘Big Brother.’
A Deadly World: Vampires in Paris: (Vol 1) by Alana Grieg – Memories of reading this book fills me with nostalgia. ÌýIt reminds me of my teenage school years when my friends and I read it together and couldn’t stop talking about the drama and romance. It’s fun, a bit crazy and not too serious, which made it perfect back then. Even now, it still evokes a sense of excitement and friendship.
Professor of Education & Dean at Plymouth Marjon University
Professor Tanya Ovenden-Hope is a leading educationalist and professor of education at Plymouth Marjon University, serving as Dean of Place and Social Purpose and leading Marjon University Cornwall. Her work focuses on social inequity,...
Conference & Events Administrator at British Educational Research Association
Ana Salcedo joined Â鶹ÒùÔº in 2025 as the Conference & Events Administrator. In this role, she supports the Conference and Events Manager with all aspects of event preparation. Her tasks range from evaluating venues to coordinating with abstract...
Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve –ÌýÌýThis book is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a sudden and cataclysmic war has upset the very foundations of the Earth, and subsequently the major cities and towns have had engines and wheels attached so these enormous ‘mortal engines’ can travel across continents avoiding earthquakes and volcanoes. Inevitably, super-massive cities on wheels develop ‘municipal darwinism’, devouring smaller towns for parts and resources… I highly recommend this book to children and adults, even if you think you don’t like magical realism. It is such a creative, intriguing story with a very human plot and beautifully drawn characters, and perfect for escaping into a fantastical place with many recognisable and familiar landmarks and situations. It is particularly good for sparking philosophy with children (and adults) debate around technology, progress, sustainability and what it is to be human.Ìý
My current favourite book isÌýThe GruffaloÌýby Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler. I have a 15-month old son who I love reading it to, doing all the different voices and seeing his reaction to each of the animals. It is a wonderful rhyming story and the quick-witted mouse is a firm favourite in my house. Ìý
Professor and Director of Initial Teacher Education at Durham University
Aimee is a research professor and Director of Initial Teacher Education (ITE) at Durham University, a member of Â鶹ÒùÔº Council, one of the Â鶹ÒùÔº SIG leads for Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Chair of the Â鶹ÒùÔº Conference and Events Committee. Her...
Finance and Governance Manager at British Educational Research Association
I am Â鶹ÒùÔº's Finance and Governance Manager. Contact me via [email protected] David joined Â鶹ÒùÔº as Finance and Administration Officer in April 2017, before moving into the role of Finance and Governance Manager in 2019. David’s main...
Â鶹ÒùÔº is proud to 'Go All In' and pledge support for the National Year of Reading 2026! This page details some of the initiatives that Â鶹ÒùÔº has undertaken in the past and present to support...
