19 September 2011

Sophie’s Basket

Or Imogen and Charlotte’s book recommendations for their younger sisters


We are sitting around the table munching our lunch and chatting.

Sophie tells us she wants to learn more about horses and Charlotte mentions brumbies.

“Brumbies?”

“The wild horses of Australia…  You remember the horses in that poem, The Man from Snowy River?

“You have to read The Brumby books,” someone insists.

Charlotte’s eyes light up. “Yes! They were good.” She thinks for a minute. “There’s lots of good books you haven’t read. There’s The Borrowers and What Katy Did…”

“Don’t forget A Little Bush Maid,” adds Imogen.

“And how about Swallows and Amazons?” I suggest.

“You haven’t read Swallows and Amazons?” Charlotte says with disbelief. How come Sophie hasn’t already discovered all these books?

Imogen and Charlotte look at each other. They both have the same idea. “Let’s fill a basket with all the books we think Sophie should read.” They are on a mission. They are going to educate their ten year old sister.

After lunch I can hear the older girls searching the bookshelves. They are looking for all the books they think a ten year old must read before she turns eleven. They soon realise there are more books than will fit into the basket. So they compromise and make a selection. “We can always refill the basket when Sophie has read these ones.”


Gemma-Rose looks at Sophie’s basket and says yearningly, “Can you choose a basket of books for me to read too, please?”

Imogen and Charlotte are happy to oblige. They smile as they read the book titles. They are remembering. They are rediscovering old friends they made when they too were seven years old.

And what did the girls put in the two baskets? Here’s what the older girls chose:


Sophie’s basket:

The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

Charlotte’s Web by EB White

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

The Silver Brumby by Elyne Mitchell

A Little Bush Maid by Mary Grant Bruce

The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting

The Railway Children by E Nesbit

Manxmouse by Paul Gallico

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

The Bobbsey Twins and the Goldfish Mystery by Laura Lee Hope

The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong

What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge

Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo

The Complete Borrowers by Mary Norton


Gemma-Rose’s basket


Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

The House at Pooh Corner by AA Milne

Mrs Pepperpot by Alf Proysen

The Hodgeheg by Dick King-Smith

The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson

Tales of Brave Adventure by Enid Blyton

The Bobbsey Twins in Eskimo Land by Laura Lee Hope

Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney

Mary Poppins by PL Travers

The Ordinary Princess by MM Kaye

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond


The older girls present the younger girls with their baskets of books.

“What shall I read first?” asks Sophie has she sorts through the books, her eyes bright with anticipation.

“That’s for you to decide,” laughs Imogen.

Isn’t it fun sharing old friends?


I have just discovered this post by Charlotte: Baskets of Books


Sue Elvis

I'm an Australian blogger, podcaster, and Youtuber. I write and speak about unschooling, parenting and family life. I'm also the author of the unschooling books 'Curious Unschoolers', 'Radical Unschool Love' and ‘The Unschool Challenge’. You'll find them on Amazon!

6 Comments

  1. Thanks, Erin!

    After the older girls finished putting together the baskets of books, Charlotte asked Imogen to do one for her. Then I offered to do one for Imogen.

    I wonder if any of the mothers would like to suggest some of their own favourites for other mothers to put in their baskets and read.

  2. Pam,
    yes, there are also some of my old friends on the lists but a few I haven't read like the Michael Morpurgo book. And I don't think I ever read "The White Horse". Everyone says its such a good book I will have read it.

    Thank you for stopping by, Pam. btw, I've been enjoying your scrapbook pages. Such beautiful photos of your children!

  3. Erin,

    I can see how my comment was confusing! I meant mothers' choices for other mothers eg adult fiction they have enjoyed etc. But mothers' choices for their daughters would be interesting as well.

    This gives me an idea for a meme! Shall I develop it?

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