This is probably one of the more recent Ladybird books in my vintage collection – in my mind it still fits in the vintage category as it's got the matt cover – but it's one that I remember very very clearly from childhood.
Along with the cover picture the other thing that I remember best about this book is the music. Music? I hear you ask. Well yes, as I actually had a copy of this which came with an audio cassette version too. You see a cassette – that instantly makes it vintage doesn't it? The start and end of the story (and possibly at the end of each side too I'm not sure) featured one particular piece of classical music and even now when I hear that piece on the radio I still think of this book. Embarrassingly I have no idea what the piece of music is called, but I'm determined that next time I do hear it I will find out!
This book was published as part of the Well-loved Tales series (606D) – a series which brought together many classic children's stories and fairy-tales like this one. This book was published in 1980 and was actually one of the later books in the series.
Even after all these years the illustrations still look so familiar and reading it again took me back to listening to the cassette version of this whilst following along with my book under my duvet as a child. I think that's actually how I remember so many classic books from childhood. Every night I would go to sleep listening to audio-cassettes on a small walkman and I remember having several Ladybird books like this and also the Story Teller part-work magazine too.
It does make me realise just how few classic stories I've actually read the full length versions of though. Guess that means more things I ought to add to my "to be read" pile…
If you have a collection of old Ladybird books then please feel free to join in with Ladybird Tuesday. There are no formal rules to follow, just leave a link to any post you write in the comments below and if you're feeling kind link back to my Ladybird Tuesday category here on Being Mrs C. Thanks!
I've also compiled an index of all the Ladybird Tuesday posts to date – organised by series. It satisfies my inner geek and hopefully will also be of interest to others too!
I remember having this book! I had quite a collection until my baby Brother came along and destroyed them all, still makes me sad thinking about it 20 years on!