often seen in the street without a hat

Have never bought a book from them (have perhaps only heard of them in passing?) and am tempted - but it's a bit hard to decide when there are so many authors I've never heard of. I suppose I could take the safe route and go for authors I know.... I think this would be my list.
* Molly Hughes' A London Child of the 1870s (I thought that a book about rural Oxfordshire that I have that was written by her, but I'm not convinced now.)
* Noel Streatfeild's Saplings
* Barbara Euphan Todd's rather amusing-sounding Miss Ranskill Comes Home

Unless others have recommendations for someone who loves kidlit, fantasy, and school stories?