Our Top 10 Children’s Books of the 1920s

Before television and tablets, children in the 1920s found magic in books. Stories were shared aloud by the fire, illustrations brought characters to life, and a new book under the tree was one of the most treasured Christmas gifts. These timeless tales still capture imaginations today — proof that good stories never age.

📚 1. Tarka the Otter by Henry Williamson

A beautifully written adventure following Tarka’s life in the Devonshire countryside — playful, dangerous, and deeply moving. It’s a celebration of nature through the eyes of an otter. Buy Tarka the Otter.

🐇 2. The Squirrel, the Hare and the Little Grey Rabbit by Alison Uttley

The first of Uttley’s beloved tales, where Grey Rabbit gives her tail to Owl and rescues her friends from Weasel’s cooking pot. Gentle, moral storytelling at its best. Buy The Squirrel, the Hare and the Little Grey Rabbit.

✨ 3. Child Whispers by Enid Blyton

Written while Blyton was still teaching, this collection of 28 poems — including Fairy Sight and The Fairy’s Bedtime — introduced her whimsical world of fairies and imagination. Buy Child Whispers

🧸 4. When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne

Illustrated by Ernest Shepard, this first volume of rhymes for Christopher Robin is full of humour and rhythm. It’s the book that paved the way for Winnie‑the‑Pooh. Buy When We Were Very Young.

🎀 5. Milly‑Molly‑Mandy Stories by Joyce Lankester Brisley

Thirteen short tales about Millicent Margaret Amanda and her friends — picnics, sledging, and simple joys. A perfect window into childhood life in the 1920s. Buy Milly‑Molly‑Mandy Stories.

🧚 6. The Book of Brownies by Enid Blyton

Three mischievous brownies — Hop, Skip, and Jump — are tricked by Witch Green‑Eyes into helping her kidnap Princess Peronel. A classic Blyton fantasy full of adventure. Buy The Book of Brownies by Enid Blyton.

🐻 7. Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne

A follow‑up to When We Were Very Young, this collection of verses includes the famous poem that gave the book its title. A joyful celebration of growing up. Buy Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne.

🌸 8. More Milly‑Molly‑Mandy by Joyce Lankester Brisley

More adventures with Milly‑Molly‑Mandy and her friends — from summer picnics to winter sledging. A comforting continuation of Brisley’s gentle world. Buy More Milly‑Molly‑Mandy.

🐷 9. Cecil Parsley’s Nursery Rhymes by Beatrix Potter

A compilation of traditional rhymes — Goosey Goosey Gander, This Little Piggy, and Three Blind Mice — illustrated with Potter’s signature charm. Buy Cecil Parsley’s Nursery Rhymes.

🎩 10. Just William by Richmal Crompton

The first book in the William series introduces the mischievous schoolboy and his gang, The Outlaws. Witty, rebellious, and still laugh‑out‑loud funny today. Buy Just William.

🎁 Reading by the Fire

Books were often the highlight of a child’s Christmas list in the 1920s — beautifully illustrated, shared aloud, and treasured for years. Family reading time was a ritual, with one member reading aloud while others listened by the glow of the fire.

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