Books and book diaries with giveaway

Earlier this week, I started book diaries for the little ones, and mentioned that I’m going to start one for myself. I’ve got lists of everything I read last year on here, and I have a partial list of this year, so I’ll probably go back that far, although there’s a huge temptation to start a list of everything I remember reading over the years as well.

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I really do wish that I’d always had a list, and I’m hoping that starting diaries now for the little ones will start a habit that they keep up. I’ll be dropping hints to the older two, although I suspect I’ve missed the boat with this idea with them.

Because I think it’s a lovely idea, I’m hoping that I’m going to start a couple of you off on it too, with these rather lovely prizes that I’ve got for you.

Mummyfesto and Monty's magnificent mane with notebooks

Prize 1 is Montys Magnificent Mane by Gemma O Neill (amazon affiliate link),

Monty the lion loves his long, golden mane. He thinks it s magnificent and he s not happy when his meerkat friends mess it up. Storming off to the waterhole, he’s cheered up by the flattery of a new friend…who turns out to be a hungry crocodile!

Monty runs away, leading the scary croc straight to his friends. With a huge ROAR! Monty saves the day, and realises that friendship is more important than good looks.

with a rather funky cat notebook and pen.

Prize 2 is a paperback copy of The Mummyfesto by Linda Green (Amazon affiliate link)

When Sam, Jackie and Anna successfully campaign to save their children’s school lollipop lady, they are asked by a TV reporter if they fancy standing in the general election.

It is, of course, a crazy idea: Sam’s youngest son has an incurable disease, Jackie is desperate for another child and her mum is struggling with Alzheimers, Anna’s teenagers – and marriage – are in danger of going off the rails.

But sometimes the craziest ideas turn out to be the best. And just think what they could do if they got to run the country…

with a rather swish purple soft feel notebook and violet pen. Look good don’t they? Entry is via the funky rafflecopter widget hopefully showing up below – the only mandatory entry is to leave me a comment here on the blog with the first book you remember reading. There are some other options if you want to gather extra chances to win.

Good luck – and don’t panic if your comment doesn’t show up instantly, first time commenters are moderated in an attempt to minimise spam. I check daily though, and free any trapped commenters I find.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Notebooks were purchased from The Works, and here’s a handy affiliate link in case you feel like exploring what goodies they have, while supporting my blog 🙂

More competitions at www.theprizefinder.com


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Comments

160 responses to “Books and book diaries with giveaway”

  1. What a lovely idea Jax, you’ve inspired me to do something similar with my lot 🙂 The first chapter book that I remember reading by myself is The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. I’m currently reading through the series with my children and it’s bringing back memories. I used to lose myself amongst all of the characters and went on to read lots of Enid’s books including Mr Galliano’s Circus, The 3 Gollywogs, Mr Pinkwhistle, and the Naughtiest Girl in the School series.

  2. Thanks Jax,
    The very first book I remember reading (apart from quite a few Ladybird books) is Cuckoo Fair, an old book that belonged to my mum when she was a child. I read and reread that book so many times! This was back in the days when books were very expensive and regular visits to the library were the main way of reading books 🙂

  3. Tracey Peach avatar
    Tracey Peach

    Billy Goat Gruff

    1. Janet and John

  4. Susan Lloyd avatar
    Susan Lloyd

    Charlie and the chocolate factory x

  5. What a lovely idea for a giveaway. I think the first I remember clearly reading is a compilation of Aesop’s Fables. I still love them to this day!

  6. Michelle Banks avatar
    Michelle Banks

    charlottes web, was so emotional!

  7. Joanne Welsh avatar
    Joanne Welsh

    I think Matilda!

  8. katie skeoch avatar
    katie skeoch

    I remember reading Winnie the Witch at my local library

  9. iain maciver avatar
    iain maciver

    famous five series

  10. Keith Hunt avatar
    Keith Hunt

    the famous five go off in a caravan

  11. melanie stirling avatar
    melanie stirling

    The Peter and Jane books.

  12. Kim Neville avatar
    Kim Neville

    Ant and bee books

  13. Elizabeth Gurney avatar
    Elizabeth Gurney

    I remember reading the Very Hungry Caterpillar – I’m looking forward to showing such a classic to my children.

  14. Samantha Loughlin avatar
    Samantha Loughlin

    My old time favourite

  15. Claire Davies avatar
    Claire Davies

    My Naughty Little Sister by Dorothy Edwards 🙂

  16. Jennifer Haden avatar
    Jennifer Haden

    I believe it was Goodnight Moon 🙂

  17. Ruth Harwood avatar
    Ruth Harwood

    Wuthering Heights xx

  18. The first book I remember reading myself was George’s Marvellous Medicine I think!

  19. Laura Pritchard avatar
    Laura Pritchard

    I remember reading The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton.

  20. Tracy Newton avatar
    Tracy Newton

    I think it was the Ladybird books that we read at school

  21. SARAH HAWKINS avatar
    SARAH HAWKINS

    Enid Blyton’s Naughtiest Girl in the School. That shows how old I am!

  22. Paula Barker avatar
    Paula Barker

    Ballet Shoes by Noel Stretfield, and still love reading it to my daughter

  23. karen cowley avatar
    karen cowley

    In primary school i remember i think it was called meg and mog ? after that i fell in love with books like the worst witch and mr majeka x

  24. claire griffiths avatar
    claire griffiths

    it was charlie and the chocolate factory

  25. laura stewart avatar
    laura stewart

    my first book i remember reading was called Alfie’s new red shoes 🙂

  26. Sarah Spencer avatar
    Sarah Spencer

    The Brer Rabbit book by Enid Blyton

  27. Lesley Deller avatar
    Lesley Deller

    What Katy Did

  28. jANET AND JOHN BOOKS – FIRST READING BOOKS AT SCHOOL

  29. Claire D avatar
    Claire D

    Black Beauty

  30. Linda Thorn avatar
    Linda Thorn

    it was The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,
    and I read of mountains glistening,
    And going into a wardrobe a wonderland out of sight,
    Windows Cold as cold could be,
    The Witch in her glory,
    silver trees glowing at night,
    landscapes very bright,
    streams covered in ice,
    Until the passing of time.

  31. sarah rees avatar
    sarah rees

    the twits

  32. kelly holden avatar
    kelly holden

    James and the giant peach

  33. The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton 🙂

  34. Emma Fox avatar
    Emma Fox

    The three Little Pigs

  35. alan burrows avatar
    alan burrows

    Brer Rabbit,Enid Blyton

  36. laura banks avatar
    laura banks

    mervyn the mouse

  37. Ian Yates avatar
    Ian Yates

    James and the Giant Peach

  38. Alix Smith avatar
    Alix Smith

    Harriet the Spy!

  39. Kim Roll Baldwin avatar
    Kim Roll Baldwin

    Watership Down

  40. The famous five Enid Blyton

  41. Julie Ward avatar
    Julie Ward

    The Bobsey twins, no idea who wrote it memory not as good as it was (lol)

  42. Steve Weaver avatar
    Steve Weaver

    It was an abridged copy of The Swiss Family Robinson, I remember my Father reading it to when we were kids, and I used to pick it up and try to read it on the weekends he spent away.

  43. The first book I remember reading was Stig of the Dump. Such a good book and so much better than the TV series they brought out!

  44. Puppies and kittens – a Ladybird book

  45. Cecilia martins avatar
    Cecilia martins

    Road Dahl books

  46. lynn heath avatar
    lynn heath

    The book that most stands out in my memory is called The Year without Micheal, I read it in my teens, not the first, but the one I remember the most as I cried all the way through!

  47. Kathi Spencer avatar
    Kathi Spencer

    Black Beauty, because of a horse that looked just like him in the fields at back of our house,

  48. Rosie Holloway avatar
    Rosie Holloway

    Cinderella

  49. samantha bolter avatar
    samantha bolter

    the wishing chair series by enid blyton followed by the famous five… yes I know… so old lol 🙂

  50. The magic faraway tree…I no Enid Blyton is not considered pc now but when I was a wee girl this was the book to have!

  51. Lauren Tourle avatar
    Lauren Tourle

    going on a bear hunt 🙂

  52. Chris Andrews avatar
    Chris Andrews

    What’s the first book you remember reading? . . . . . The Janet and John series – does anyone else remember these?

  53. Rachel Butterworth avatar
    Rachel Butterworth

    Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

  54. Tina Holmes avatar
    Tina Holmes

    Burglar bull book

  55. Miss Tracy Hanson avatar
    Miss Tracy Hanson

    Loved Noddy, but my first book I remember reading properly was The Famous Five ones. 🙂

  56. Hayley Lynch avatar
    Hayley Lynch

    Peter and Jane (Ladybird book )

  57. jules eley avatar
    jules eley

    rumpelstilskin is the first book i remember reading and i loved it although he did scare me a bit 🙂

  58. Hassina Begum avatar
    Hassina Begum

    snow white

  59. Cassandra Mayers avatar
    Cassandra Mayers

    Chicken Licken 😀 …. the Sky was falling down!!!

  60. Samantha Loughlin avatar
    Samantha Loughlin

    Janet and John

  61. natalie moore avatar
    natalie moore

    beautrix potter tales of peter rabbit and Benjamin bunny! Loved all the boos and cartoons of them x

  62. Enid Blytons St. Clairs collection it was a massive hardcover book I got for christmas and felt really heavy

  63. Deb Alexander avatar
    Deb Alexander

    The first books I remember reading at school are Jennifer yellow hat, billy blue hat etc, I can’t remember what they were all called! Reading is an amazing skill which my 3 children also love as they say a child who reads is an adult who thinks! x

  64. Rebecca England avatar
    Rebecca England

    I’m not sure in what order but I remember afew early books that left an impression – The Twits and I absolutely loved George’s description of his grandmother in George’s marvelous medicine. I was also a huge Gerald Durrell fan – loved Rosie is my relative. Then there was Enid Blyton…..oh the list could go on and on. Love the escapism of books

  65. The first book I remember reading was Watership Down. My mum was reading it to me and my sister but I just couldn’t wait and had to read it myself!

  66. Minnie15 avatar
    Minnie15

    Marvin K Mooney – Dr Seuss – still one of my favourites 🙂 x

  67. Christine Caple avatar
    Christine Caple

    Janet and John

  68. I think the first chapter books I read were the Famous Five series – my grandparents used to buy a new one for me every time I went to visit them 🙂

  69. Julie Edwards avatar
    Julie Edwards

    I used to read the Mallory Towers books by Enid Blyton but the first book I remember reading was The Very Hungry Caterpillar lol xx

  70. claire woods avatar
    claire woods

    The BFG.

  71. Sharon Mclauchlan avatar
    Sharon Mclauchlan

    The bfg, loved it as a child and going to read it with my daughter soon

  72. Karen Louise Wright avatar
    Karen Louise Wright

    Winnie the Pooh x

  73. Kelly Roberts avatar
    Kelly Roberts

    The very hungry caterpillar, loved it used to read it again and again

  74. I remember reading The Railway Children and The Secret Garden – both lovely stories and ones I should revisit. Just because I’ve “grown up” means diddlysquat.

  75. Moby Dick

  76. donna l jones avatar
    donna l jones

    james and the giant peach

  77. Sharon Burroughs avatar
    Sharon Burroughs

    The magic Faraway Tree

  78. tina edwards avatar
    tina edwards

    the famous five

  79. I’m not sure of the name, but it was a collection of poems by A. A. Milne

  80. Rick Carr avatar
    Rick Carr

    A famous five book

  81. claire little avatar
    claire little

    snow white

  82. Kirsty Woods avatar
    Kirsty Woods

    Topsy and Tim on the farm

  83. Caroline Signey avatar
    Caroline Signey

    The books with Jennifer yellow hat and Billy blue hat in at school!

  84. jo liddement avatar
    jo liddement

    The first book that I remember reading was a book of traditional fairy stories and I loved Cinderella best of all.

  85. niki clifton avatar
    niki clifton

    The Twits thanks for the chance of winning this fab competition x good luck everyone

  86. Vera Bahounkova avatar
    Vera Bahounkova

    Charlie and the chocolate factory

  87. Milly,Molly,Mandy,and this was over fifty years ago.My mum always read to me as a child and as a result I’ve had so much pleasure from books,I’m always reading,searching for new authors.I’ve always read to my children and now my grandchildren too.Reading is a gift that just keeps giving and I’m so lucky to have had a mum who gave me this wonderful gift x

  88. zoe somerfield avatar
    zoe somerfield

    I think it was Janet and John, but it could have been Mrs Pepperpot

  89. Allan Fullarton avatar
    Allan Fullarton

    Charlie and the chocolate factory

  90. Pauline Burroughs avatar
    Pauline Burroughs

    Elephant’s Birthday Party by Donald McFarlan, I received it as a Christmas Gift from Sunday School many, many years ago and I’ve still got it x

  91. kim styles avatar
    kim styles

    Janet and John books- when I was three- i was taught to read before I started school

  92. Colin Gault avatar
    Colin Gault

    Dick and Dora

  93. I used to love the Box car children and Nancy Drew

  94. Rachel Wise avatar
    Rachel Wise

    I do remember the Janet and John books but do recall reading and loving Black Beauty and Heidi.

  95. I remember reading my alphabet book many times and my book of childrens’ prayers

  96. jemma dwyer avatar
    jemma dwyer

    the magic key books mirror island 😀

  97. nicola james avatar
    nicola james

    read it yourself books i loved those,still have some and im 40 haha

  98. Georges Marvellous medicine, there was a copy in the bedside cupboard at my nans and I read it over and over again

  99. janine atkin avatar
    janine atkin

    i love the lion the witch and the wardrobd

  100. First book I remember reading was Topsy & Tim 🙂

    1. On the entry widget thing I said my Instagram name was pixie_uk, it’s actually pixie_kt, had a moment of madness!

  101. lia sturman avatar
    lia sturman

    Charlie and the chocolate factory

  102. Spencer Broadley avatar
    Spencer Broadley

    The Secret 7 series

  103. Victoria B avatar
    Victoria B

    I was obsessed with Enid Blyton and I remember reading Mr Twiddle – a lot!

  104. Rebecca Hodson avatar
    Rebecca Hodson

    I learned to read before I started primary school and have memories of the Mr. Men books. School gave us a box of words and books that I can’t remember! I still have books that my gran & granddad gave me for birthdays and Christmas during infant school/primary school including the Famous Five & Secret Seven series, plus Lewis Carroll’s Alice books. Loved them all.

  105. Tracey baker avatar
    Tracey baker

    Enid Blyton The Faraway Tree

  106. Wow I wish I could remember the first book I ever read! I do remember reading books in school like ‘Jennifer yellow hat’ and ‘Roger red hat’ but the first book I remember reading myself was one of my Puddle Lane ladybird books. I’ve started to collect them from charity shops for my daughters to read.

  107. Suzie Wilkins avatar
    Suzie Wilkins

    I can’t remember its exact title, something to do with Mr Twiddle or Twaddle by Enid Blyton

  108. Eleanor Powell avatar
    Eleanor Powell

    It was the Secret Seven series by I can’t remember which one

  109. Enid Blyton – The Magic Faraway Tree x

  110. Nicola Holland avatar
    Nicola Holland

    The Magic Faraway Tree

  111. Katie Tranter avatar
    Katie Tranter

    The first one I really member is a Ladybird book called Ned the Lonely Donkey. Sadly it didn’t survive the numerous moves over the years. 🙁

  112. Pauline Wilson avatar
    Pauline Wilson

    The first ones I can remember properly reading myself were Milly Molly Mandy books, I loved them

  113. Enid Blyton – the Faraway Tree is the first book I can really remember reading

  114. The first book I remember reading myself is probably the Biff, Chip, Kipper and Floppy books. I loved those stories! I remember one called the vanishing cream where the cream really made you vanish…

  115. Laura Vitty avatar
    Laura Vitty

    Enid Blyton’s The Magic Faraway Tree… I still love it to this day

  116. Tarbs Gill avatar
    Tarbs Gill

    The Wishing Chair… from what I can remember!

  117. Jill Fairbank avatar
    Jill Fairbank

    One of the Enid Blyton books I think I do remember the famous five series

  118. Sarah Archibald avatar
    Sarah Archibald

    Lovely idea, the first book I remember reading, or being read should I say would be one of the Alfie books, I loved those as a child and now my daughter does.

  119. Hayley Todd avatar
    Hayley Todd

    I have always kept a book diary (well, since I was about 15!) and have kept a separate book diary for both my girls! I think it’s a fabulous idea and not only shows them just how far they have come with their reading skills and abilities, but my keeping the list it helps you to remember the amazing books you have read over the years. The very first book I can ever remember reading on my own would have been one of the Topsy and Tim books when I was a very very little girl!

  120. Susan Jackson avatar
    Susan Jackson

    Dick and Dora with Nip the Dog and Fluff the Cat, we called our first cat Fluff

  121. Wendy Guy avatar
    Wendy Guy

    Janet and John at primary school

  122. Tian Pow and the house of sixty fathers

  123. Zinzi Graham avatar
    Zinzi Graham

    Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, I read it again and again as a child!

  124. zoe matthewman avatar
    zoe matthewman

    The Hungary Caterpillar

  125. Patricia Fraser avatar
    Patricia Fraser

    Charlie & the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

  126. kay ellerby avatar
    kay ellerby

    0:-) i remember reading The Butterfly Ball, The Magic Faraway Tree, The Cat in the Hat and a Richard Scarry book but i can’t remember what that one was called? 0:-)

  127. The Magic Far Away Tree- Enid Blyton

  128. Laura Whittle avatar
    Laura Whittle

    Charlotte’s Web

  129. Hannah Igoe avatar
    Hannah Igoe

    Enid Blyton Secret Seven

  130. Lizzy Cooper avatar
    Lizzy Cooper

    The very hungry catterpillar

  131. Mike Gerrie avatar
    Mike Gerrie

    It would have been a Topsy and Tim book

  132. SHEILA GLASS avatar
    SHEILA GLASS

    The Famous five by Enid Blyton – Thanks for the Giveaway!

  133. Kieran Mott avatar
    Kieran Mott

    Danny the Champion of the world

  134. Michelle Wild avatar
    Michelle Wild

    Mimi. I don’t know who wrote it. It was all about a cat who was homeless and wandered the entire high street being turned away until she found the fishmonger right at the end. oh that life were like that.

  135. Rachael Medley avatar
    Rachael Medley

    My mum used to read the Famous 5 books to my brother and I, though I used to love the Topsy and Tim books and would read them over and over.

  136. Angela Kelly avatar
    Angela Kelly

    The Ladybird version of The Little Red Hen

  137. Hayley Evans avatar
    Hayley Evans

    I think it’s probably Topsy and Tim

  138. Erica field avatar
    Erica field

    Mog – I loved those books x

  139. Little Richard and Prickles

  140. olga carpenter avatar
    olga carpenter

    the railway children

  141. Helen Craigs avatar
    Helen Craigs

    The Elves and the Shoemaker, and for some reason I kept on reading it over and over again!

  142. Matt Brasier avatar
    Matt Brasier

    Charlie and the chocolate factory

  143. LEE HARDY avatar
    LEE HARDY

    Peter & Jane books.

  144. Allie Campbell avatar
    Allie Campbell

    I can remember reading The Famous Five Books. I loved them. Also started reading The Secret Seven.

  145. Allie Campbell avatar
    Allie Campbell

    I can remember reading The Famous Five Books. I loved them. Also started reading The Secret Seven.

  146. Caroline Blaza avatar
    Caroline Blaza

    Famous Five books x

  147. ann clements avatar
    ann clements

    The Secret Seven

  148. The Secret Garden 😀

  149. Susan Pringle avatar
    Susan Pringle

    I had a lovely set of fairytale books I remember I loved.

  150. karen Howden avatar
    karen Howden

    it was one of the Enid Blyton Famous Five books, the only books as a child I was interested in

  151. Victoria Langley avatar
    Victoria Langley

    Roger Red hat I think it was called – not sure the book names think they were a kids series remember Roger Red Hat and Jennifer Yellow Hat oh and billy Blue Hat lol

  152. Stephanie Ward avatar
    Stephanie Ward

    Peter Rabbit

  153. Aaron Milne avatar
    Aaron Milne

    Here We Go – school reading book

  154. Michelle lintern avatar
    Michelle lintern

    Was Enid blyton, either the wishing chair or the faraway tree

  155. adele knight avatar
    adele knight

    Tip the dog – my first reading book at school 🙂

  156. Winnie the Pooh

  157. Emma Beckett avatar
    Emma Beckett

    Fantastic Mr Fox

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