The Railway Children by E. NesbitPuffin Books, 1994 (originally Wells Gardner, Darton & Co., 1906)

Such a charming story about three city children who move to the country with their mother when their father suddenly has to go away. Peter, Roberta, and Phyllis (the latter two known mostly as Bobbie and Phil) have various adventures in and around their small village: they befriend the stationmaster and the porter at the railway station (and wave to the trains every morning), a bargeman working on the canal, and a Russian refugee, among other people. Nesbit’s politics (pro-woman, socialist) come through a bit, but not too strongly or overbearingly. Also fun: thinking of this book in terms of informal education, what kids learn by being free to wander and to interact with adults and other children on their own terms, mostly.