Classics

Happy Birthday Alfie

4 July 2011 by Lou · 2 Comments

Did you know that Alfie, that endearing little character created by Shirley Hughes in the 80′s, turns 30 this year?

I adore Alfie, actually all of Shirley Hughes’ work really. Dogger, which I have written about before on the blog, is one of those books that I can remember vividly from my childhood.

I was thrilled a year or so ago when I picked up a copy of The Alfie Treasury in an op shop in amazing condition for a couple of dollars. Ned has treasured it.

The reason that Alfie is endearing is because he is so like every pre school child. Children can relate to him as his stories are normal everyday occurrences in their lives. He gets new shoes, gets locked in the house, he gets babysat, goes to a birthday party and plays with his little sister, Annie Rose.

Shirley’s illustrations are comforting and homely. Her detail is delightful, there is always so much going on in each picture that you can pour over for hours and still see something new.

Each story has connections from another story. For example when Alfie is being babysat by Mrs MacNally’s Maureen his new yellow boots from the previous story Alfie’s Feet are sitting in the hall next to the stroller.

Our favourite Alfie story has to be Alfie Gets In First. Alfie and mum and Annie Rose are coming home from the shops. Annie Rose is tired, mum is flustered and Alfie runs through the front door banging it behind him leaving mum and Annie Rose on the front steps.

Alfie can’t reach the handle to open the door and soon the whole neighborhood is involved in trying the get the door open.

I love this story because I know how mum feels and how easily this could happen to us and Ned loves it for the same reason. He totally relates to Alfie’s predicament and we often talk about what it would be like if it did happen to us.

Last month children’s book museum, The Illustration Cupboard in London, had an exhibition to celebrate 30 years of Alfie.

Watch this clip of Shirley Hughes explaining some of the illustrations displayed in the exhibition – one of which is one of the illustrations from Alfie Get’s In First.

Happy birthday Alfie! We love you.

If you’d like some more Alfie then pop over to the website that publisher Random House UK have set up for the 30th anniversary. The website has some great colour and activity printables that are perfect for the school holidays.

Filed Under: Age 2+, Authors, Classics, Illustrators, Ned, Picture books

New eBay loot

9 June 2011 by Katie · 1 Comment

I just received some lovely new-to-me Golden Books of eBay. ABC Rhymes I’ve seen before, but I’d never come across Play Street or The Little Golden Book of Mother Goose.

When I saw the cover of Play Street, I was immediately reminded of the illustrations of Eloise Wilkin – author and illustrator of many Little Golden Books, including A Child’s Garden of Verses, We Like Kindergarten and Prayers for Children. Jane Werner Watson, who edited and wrote hundreds of Golden Books, called Eloise Wilkin “the soul of Little Golden Books”.

But Play Street was written by Esther Wilkin and illustrated by Joan Esley. A little research into these two revealed some interesting collaboration. Esther Wilkin was the sister of Eloise, who were born Eloise and Esther Burns, and they married two brothers Wilkins. Eloise was friends with Joan Esley and they opened a studio together and later moved to New York city together. I love the thought of the shared careers of these three, working together, helping each other in an era when few women were working, let along making names for themselves as leaders in their careers.

This is a gorgeous story, if you don’t already know it – how’s this for a classic 50s opener?

It was all very quiet on on Butternut Lane. The mothers were busy with their housework and the babies were taking their mid-morning naps. Bobby was riding his tricycle.

Against a backdrop of a classic US streetscape, is a tale of make believe – each of the littlies of Butternut Lane rides his or her trike imaging they are driving a vehicle. Until the roving policeman stops them as they are starting to make so much noise!

The Little Golden Mother Goose collects 75 Mother Goose rhymes – I’m amazed that I’ve heard of most of them but lovely to read a few new ones too.

I’m a very happy e-Bayer…

Filed Under: Age 2+, Classics, Vintage

Red Riding Hood round-up

2 November 2010 by Katie · 1 Comment

One of the books that went flying of the stand at Magnolia Square was the most gorgeous edition of Red Riding Hood. This is one of those pop-ups that just takes your breath away with the paper engineering genius! Louise Rowe uses a leaf motif as a theme for her illustrations, and the sepia tones are staggeringly beautiful.

I love the red riding hood story, the feelings of innocence, strength, security and risk beautifully rolled into one great edge-of-your-seat story. Do you know Angela Carter’s version? I just re-read it tonight and it is so deliciously adult…

I’m not sure if red riding hood is de rigueur at the moment, but I seem to be spotting her everywhere… Love, love, love all these…

Red Riding Hood earrings by MadeByWhite

Red Riding Hood by Courtney Brims

Little Red Riding Hood Teaset from made590

Red Riding Hood print by Mara Girling of Printspace.

Red Riding Hood card (with customizable face!) by HMC Designs

KnitKnit Hooded Scarf Knitting Kit by Olive and Me

Filed Under: Age 4+, Classics, We Heart Books Store

Enid

2 August 2010 by Lou · 12 Comments

Last week on Meet Me at Mikes Pip posted this trailer…

Wonderful isn’t it! Helena Bonham Carter plays nasty so well.

Although Enid is said to have been a dragon and pretty shocking to her own children she still created one of the first ever publishing franchises with her many different series. Of course the most popular are/were the Wishing Chair, Faraway Tree, Secret Seven and Famous Five. I adored them all but the Faraway Tree series and the Famous Five were my favourites and stay with me vividly in adulthood.

Recently Hodder Children’s Books, who publish the Famous Five, announced that they are giving the Five a facelift. Changing some of the language in the books to make them more “timeless”. Read an article about the move here.

Not as harsh as the changes to Noddy but I think still probably unnecessary. What do you think?

Of course the books are all pretty twee and Enid was the first Barbara Cartland of children’s publishing – following formulaic storylines to publish title after title but I do really remember enjoying them.

I also remember all the words to the Famous Five TV show theme song…

One of my all-time favourites. How I wished to be Anne riding my pony across the Moors!

So what do you think of the Enid Blyton books in 2010? Do you think they still have a place? Do you think the language should be updated?

Leave a comment sharing your view and we’ll have a little competition to (randomly) win a copy of a wonderful intermediate reader novel called Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve.