As the leaves change and the air grows crisp, there’s an unmistakable nostalgia that settles in, reminding us of the days spent within the walls of school. For many of us, those formative years were filled with laughter, lessons, and friendships that shaped who we are. Friendships that made us, and some of which have stood the test of time. I was recently enjoying the wonderful book School Dinner Heaven and thought it’d be a great theme for a collection of books we love, books celebrating those nostalgic days gone by. 

I adored school dinners. No, really. Ok, maybe not the semolina with jam. But the rest I loved. The fish Fridays. The chocolate sponge and chocolate custard. My friend Teresa and I were even known to be brandishing a sign saying "leftovers here" on the very special days. Oh to have that sort of metabolism today.

Well this book is a terrific trip down memory lane, where you'll find an array of recipes that will fling you back a few decades. They'll take you back to your school days while also offering a murmur of modern flair.

From break-time bites to canteen classics and sweet treats, this book has got your gastronomic nostalgia nailed. Brilliantly accessible, it's also a great way to get your children contributing in the kitchen, and teaching them some great basics for them to make their own lunches and dinners.

Kids today don’t know they’re born. I fondly remember rushing home to watch Neighbours,  a staple of afternoon television for us viewers who tuned in after school. The show featured the lives and relationships of the residents of Ramsay Street and became a significant part of British television culture throughout the late 80s and beyond. Those days or 4 or 5 TV channels seem like another lifetime ago. Take yourself back there with The Golden Age of Children's TV by Tim Worthington, a nostalgic look at brilliant British telly.

Written with affection but also with a wry appreciation of the shortcomings this is a lively and complete history of a hugely influential part of pop culture; a culture of shared watching before video, streaming and the internet diffused the audience.

For me, reminiscing doesn’t come any more powerful than Adrian Mole, the hapless teenager who provides us with an unabashed, pimples-and-all glimpse into adolescent life. This book is about his parents' marital troubles, the dog, his life as a tortured poet and 'misunderstood intellectual'. This is a book as relevant now to us all as it was when first published 30 years ago.  It's also laugh-out-loud funny and a truly compelling read. Today, as we navigate the complexities of adulthood, it’s essential to take a moment to appreciate those school days. They were a tapestry of experiences that shaped our values, our friendships, and our identities. The lessons learned and the memories created serve as a foundation, reminding us of the joys of youth and the beauty of growth.

Let the Sunday Times bestselling authors and hosts of Two Mr Ps in a Pod(cast) lead you through the school year with How To Survive the School Year. From the autumn harvest festival to the summer sports day, the academic year is a non-stop frenzy of planning, preparation and potential chaos, whichever side of the school gates you find yourself. But now Britain's best-loved teachers and podcast hosts Lee and Adam Parkinson are here to make it all that little bit easier as they share the hilarious trials, tribulations and tomfoolery going on inside our primary schools - whether you're a fatigued parent or a frazzled teacher - or just want a good laugh and walk down memory lane!

Remember the simplicity of childhood? Reminded regularly of the innocence of youth from your little angels? In Teacher Man, George Pointon takes us along on his first year inside the messy, magical world of primary school teaching. In the company of five-year-olds - who are somehow wisdom, innocence and chaos incarnate - there is always much to learn. Hilariously brilliant, these diaries of life inside a primary classroom, will take you back, all the way back!

Maybe you don’t want to be reminded of school but you love a read bursting with nostalgia. Then check out My Name is Leon by Kit de Waal. LoveReading expert Liz Robinson shares: “This is such a gorgeously expressive novel, it just sings with intensity, and is impossible to put down. Nine year old Leon loves his little brother Jake and his mum, he looks after them both as best he can, when Leon and Jake have to go and live with Maureen, Leon hatches a plan. Kit de Waal writes with a beautiful, sincere energy, the simplicity of the tale told from Leon's point of view allows a complicated backdrop of emotions to shine through. At times my heart absolutely ached, yet there are also proper laughter blurting moments, and I just wanted to gather everybody up into a huge, squashy hug. The 80’s, with its curly wurlys, royal celebrations, and riots is the perfect setting. A gloriously motley collection of characters come to life, each and every one of them is indispensable, and each affected me in some way. My Name is Leon is a stunning, eloquent, stinging paper-cut of a read. I fell in love with it, and in turn, it left me full of hope.”

And we share here some more books that beautifully capture the nostalgia of school days and the experiences that shape our youth.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a multi-million selling coming-of-age classic that explores the highs and lows of high school life through the eyes of Charlie, a sensitive and introspective teenager. It’s marmite, but we loved it.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, a great teenage classic since its first publication in 1951, and is still going strong. Holden Caulfield is the ultimate outsider; he is expelled from school, falls out with his friends and finally suffers a nervous breakdown. The book is a scathing attack on American society in the 1950’s seen through the eyes of one the most fascinating central characters ever created. Originally banned because of liberal use of profanity and powerful portrayal of teenage angst, The Catcher In The Rye has now been deemed essential reading for growing-up.

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. The classic story of Anne Shirley is an imaginative orphan who navigates her childhood in the charming community of Avonlea, capturing the joys and trials of growing up. Anne entered my heart in my formative years, I devoured this book and fell in love. There is something about the setting of Prince Edward Island in Canada that charms. The characters feel so very real, and Anne Shirley, well, she is completely delightful. As I entered my teenage years Anne grew with me and I still call this series one of my favourites. These are books that I return to again and again, they deliver the most wonderful hug.

These books encapsulate various aspects of school life, friendships, and the bittersweet nature of growing up, making them perfect for reminiscing about those yesteryears.