The rewriting of the Nancy Drew books is an interesting story. For a lot of the series books like that, the “author” was a pseudonym for a number of different writers, and they were rewritten a number of times to update the references. In fact, if you look at some of the oldest ones, the race and sex roles will really surprise you. Another interesting tidbit about some of the series (like Cherry Ames and Tom Swift in particular) is that the later books in the series are the rare and expensive ones–because the whole series was reprinted each year, meaning that there are a zillion copies of the first couple Tom Swift books, but not so many of the last few. You can spend a pretty penny to get a vintage copy of “Cherry Ames, Jungle Nurse.” Some of these books have been recently reprinted in nice replica editions.
A while ago I read an article in which a father read the Albert Payson Terhune dog books (Lad: A Dog et al) he had loved as a kid and was appalled by the racism in them, something he had never noticed. I think we often find that sort of thing. (I did notice some of his attitudes when I read them as a child, probably because of his horrible descriptions of German Shepherds, something I knew to be untrue since I had one!)
I gave my S a collection of John Buchan books, which I loved, but we talked about the racism and so forth to be found in them, and he understood that they were of their time and place. Actually, when he was much younger, maybe five or so, we used to read my childhood copies of V.M.Hillyer’s A Child’s History of the World and A Child’s Geography of the World out loud at dinner. We often stopped to discuss his ethnocentricity and so on: how Christianity was presented as real and other religions as faintly amusing mythologies, etc.
I really dislike the rewriting and editing of books to eliminate vocabulary differences: for example, changing “torch” to “flashlight” when publishing a British book in the US. I think that encountering the richness of different language is a good deal of the virtue of reading widely. Really, kids are not that stupid!
The Dr. Dolittle books were also revised due to racial stereotyping, so you may also be surprised by that if you read older editions.
Oh yes, remember the African boy who wanted to be white? I haven’t read anything BUT the originals, though.
I grew up with the Uncle Wiggly books and loved them. I had a hard time finding them when my kids were little but finally found several (and also have mine from the 1950’s) and my kids also loved them. They are short stories that were great for bedtime. I also had the Uncle Wiggly board game when I was little, and wish we had kept that! I know that the books were considered to have racial undertones by many and fell out of favor, but I feel like they have a similar writing style to the Wizard of Oz books and just reflect the writing style of that time.
I loved Uncle Wiggly! My sister and I played the board game all the time when we were young, but I don’t think we have it any more, unless it’s buried in my mother’s attic somewhere. I don’t know if anyone’s mentioned Beverly Cleary’s books or the Amelia Bedelia series, both favorites of mine when I was young, as well as Harriet the Spy and Encyclopedia Brown. I was a voracious reader and many of the books mentioned here are also some of my favorites, like the Little House books, the Narnia series, A Wrinkle in Time, Anne of Green Gables, etc. I could go on and on!
"The rewriting of the Nancy Drew books is an interesting story. For a lot of the series books like that, the “author” was a pseudonym for a number of different writers, and they were rewritten a number of times to update the references. In fact, if you look at some of the oldest ones, the race and sex roles will really surprise you. "
The Bobbsey Twins as well. I remember being a little girl and puzzled when in some of the books, the 2 sets of b/g twins were 4 years apart (I think 4 and 8) and then in the later books, the 2 sets were 6 years apart (6 and 12). I seem to recall the family had a black cook / housekeeper who was portrayed in a very stereotypical way.
Oh, @Mom2jl above mentioned Beverly Cleary. My D was a fan of the “Ramona” series when in the primary grades. I discovered that Beverly Cleary had also published a couple of memoirs of her childhood and early adulthood, and read them both. Then D and I each wrote her a short letter, c/o her publisher, including a question about her books. She graciously responded (a brief hand-written note), and answered our main question; I have always treasured her response and still have it with D’s baby book.
I loved the Uncle Wiggily board game when I was a kid and was pretty pleased that both of my daughters also loved it when growing up. Same with Chutes & Ladders and Candyland of course.
I loved the Ramona series too- what a treasure to have that hand-written note from Beverly Cleary!
One of our favorite jokes at home: “Amelia Bedelia, please prepare the children for dinner.”
Has anyone mentioned From the Mixed-Up Files Of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler?
I’ve loved reading all these and remembering so many of my childhood favorites mentioned.
One of my D’s & my (newer) favorites is the Bartemeus trilogy by Jonathan Stroud. (Well, it was a trilogy until the author penned a 4th novel.) Wonderful sarcastic humor.
D also loved the Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey starting with “Arrows of the Queen”. I recommend adult pre-screening for some of the books in this series – some are completely appropriate for the elementary aged kid and some are most definitely not.
A series from my childhood that I haven’t seen mentioned was about Irish Setters by Jim Kjelgaard. It might have started with “Big Red”.
The first book that ever immersed/transported me was called “The Little Witch” – a little paperback published by Scholastic. I picked it up while poking around in my older sister’s room. When I finished it, I had no idea how much time had elapsed and I was hooked for life…
I mentioned those upthread. 
Glad to know someone else read them.
I forgot to mention The Little White Horse, by Elizabeth Goudge.
Bridge to Terabithia…was mesmerized in the 4th grade when the teacher would turn the lights down after recess and read aloud to us. Not exactly a classic, but she also read aloud from Ishi: Last of his Tribe. So interesting and heartbreaking.
The Thirteen Clocks, by James Thurber. Also an excellent read-aloud.
John Bellairs – House with a Clock in its Walls, etc
Susan Cooper – Dark is Rising cycle
Robin McKinley Hero and the Crown
and my mother read me Girl of the Limberlost (I feel like that’s not quite the title) which I hated; my dad gave me Tarzan, which I loved 
Battle for the Castle Elizabeth Winthrop
Pushcart War James Merrill
My family loved Half Magic so much! We still will yell “Ijwits!!” from time to time
Many of you are hitting my favorites as a child. Brings back so many great memories. Most of these my boys were not very interested in, even Wrinkle in Time. Thanks for a great thread!.
Not sure Charlotte’s Web was listed, but I remember a teacher reading that aloud to us after lunch every day for months (I still exchange holiday cards with this teacher).
All of a Kind Family series
Harriet the Spy and The Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
The Melendy Quartet - The Saturdays and the Four Story Mistake
Edward Eager - especially Half Magic (really thought I might find a magic nickel one day!!)
E. Nesbitt - (loved that EE’s characters read those books).
The Streafield Shoe Books
Madeline L’Engle - A Wrinkle in Time and the Moon by Night especially
A Little Princess and Secret Garden
The Little House books!
Little Women and Little Men
Beverly Cleary : Beezus and Ramona
Five Little Peppers
Eleanor Estes - The Moffats and the Witch Family
The Narnia books
I read the Dark Materials as an adult (along with Harry Potter of course) and still enjoy reading some kids books.
While we are on modern stuff, no one has yet mentioned Tamora Pierce. Her YA fantasy books are great, with strong interesting characters. I share reading them with my kids.
I just remembered: when I was in grade school I loved The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald.