One of my favourite books as a child, hilarious and viscerally weird!

I confess that I did not come across this as I child, but had done so I would have loved it!

A quest story drawing on a rich vein of Japanese mythology for inspiration. I read this over and over, renting it out from our local library. Hard to get hold for years but has recently been released.

Obviously didn't read this as a child but I think it would have satisfied my every expectation of a book back then. It probably still does actually.

I found these too melancholy, too eerie when very young but rediscovered them aged 12. Her depictions of human frailties and foibles as projected onto the inhabitants of Moominvalley are heartbreaking

Extremely powerful books. I rediscovered them this year and was atonished at their depth and accomplishment. Also exist as very fine audio books, masterfully narrated by Alex Jennings. Title book best

A masterpiece. Poignant, almost at times unbearably so, it deals with identity, obsession and the nature of possession and belonging.

The realisation of any country boy's dream - escape to the woods, shooting, fishing, trapping of beasts camp-fires and wonderfully observed natural history

Included as a representative of her work, the greatest majority of which is excellent - very impressive for a writer of such profligate output.

Again as above. Adult readers who have the various gibbering animated adaptations as their reference for this exquisite book would be advised to read the real thing and prepare to be deeply moved.

Likely not to be to everyone's taste but I adored it.

Together with Rewards and Fairies these should be essential reading for any child.