IT'S hard to pick a favourite book, but there is always one that, read as a child, stays with you as an adult. 

On World Book Day 2020, The Northern Echo team looks at some of their favourite childhood books. 

The Three Billy-Goats Gruff

David Jones, regional audience and content editor, reminices about an old folklore tale turned book.

He said: “This was one of the classic Ladybird books of the 1980s about three goats and a scary troll whose line ‘Who’s that trip-trapping over my bridge?’ has stayed with me all my life.  

“I loved the realistic painted illustrations of the goats and there is a great rhythm to the words. It really must be timeless because when I became a dad I bought an old copy on eBay to read to my young son – now it’s one of his favourites, too.”

The Little Grey Men Go Down The Bright Stream 

Andy White, multimedia content editor, admitted this book is in fact a sequel, and he's never read the first. 

He said: “My favourite book as a child was The Little Grey Men Go Down The Bright Stream, written by 'BB', the nom de plum of Denys Watkins-Pitchford. 

“It tells the story of the last four gnomes in Britain - named Baldmoney, Sneezewort, Dodder and Cloudberry - who are forced to leave their home after it is damaged by flooding. 

“They pack up their belongings and head off in their boat for a terrific adventure, featuring many dangers and encounters with weird and wonderful characters.” 

Snowy and Sam, the Girl Detective

Rachel Conner-Hill, chief reporter, struggled to find a favourite book. Like most  children, she had different favourites at different stages growing up.

Refraining from Harry Potter, she said: “When I was little my favourite book was Snowy by Berlie Doherty and Keith Bowen. It was about a little girl called Rachel, who lived on a canal boat, which was pulled by a horse called Snowy. It’s a really sweet story and the pictures are really beautiful. 

“My other big favourite was Sam, the Girl Detective by by Doffy Weir and Tony Bradman - it even inspired me to set up my own girl’s detective agency with my sister!   

“When I was a little bit older I was obsessed with schools about boarding school. I read all the Mallory Towers and St Clair’s books by Enid Blyton but my favourite was probably The Chalet School by Elinor M Brent-Dyer. I really wanted to go there as a child, probably because the Austrian Tyrol sounded so amazing. They always seemed to be off ice skating or eating lots of cake!” 

Franklin the Turtle

Tasmin Lockwood, staff reporter, struggled to choose between Biff, Chip and Kipper, and the turtle series where Franklin Goes To School, and much more. 

She said: “The picture book series about Franklin the Turtle, written by Paulette Bourgeois and Illustrated by Brenda Clark, was a firm favourite of mine growing up. I remember fondly digging through the piles of books at my nana’s house to explore the various situations that Franklin found himself in. 

“Franklin was so empathetic, every five-year-old could relate to the excitement and fear he was faced with on each adventure, whether it was going to school for the first time, being scared of the dark or even just parting with an item that you’re ‘too’ attached to.  

“It can be overwhelming to face the outside world as a five-year-old, so having books which literally documented a character trying to achieve the same things as I did at that age really helped me settle.” 

What was your favourite book growing up? Comment below and let us know.