Lorna Wood (1) (1913–2010)

This was my absolute favourite book up until the age of about 6, read so often that my poor Dad used to change the accents and modify the characters' names for a bit of variety. I tried to dig a hole to Australia too! (I only got about one metre down). It was already dated by the time I read it and heaven knows what a child would make of it now, but given an open mind this is a charming, beautifully illustrated, simple yet fascinating tale.