Thanks for all the suggestions!
Enid Blyton, wow that takes me back. Me and my sister had some of her books when we were kids. We still quote from them when we want to crack ourselves up.
I never read the Boxcar Children myself. I'll look into that.
All of a Kind Family! We even have that! I'll put that next on my list.
The Moomin books -- wow, I could go on at length about those. I love Comet in Moominland and Finn Family Moomintroll, but you're right about the dark edge, especially Moominpapa at Sea and Moominland in November. I think the author probably suffered from depression. Finn Family is her only really joyful book, I think, and I look forward to reading that to Hanni, but for right now I think the scene where nobody recognizes Moomintroll would freak her out.
I never got into the Ramona books myself, but I think we'll give those a try. Thanks everyone!
