Being Mrs C

An insight into the things in life that make me smile

  • Working With Mrs C
  • Ladybird Tuesday
  • Thrifty Mrs C
  • Travel
  • Children’s Books
  • Privacy Policy and Disclosure

Ladybird Tuesday: We like to help

02/04/2013

In the months that I've now been running Ladybird Tuesday here on Being Mrs C I've not touched much on the huge number of learning to read books that they published. The Keywords reading scheme (series 641) was vast and many, many children remember learning to read with these "Peter and Jane" books.

I've not as yet tried to list all the books from the series that I have in my index, mainly because I have so many, but also as I'm trying to collect sets with each of the different cover styles – the ones that they were launched with and the later style which I remember being new when I was a child in the 1980s. The Key Word books were divided into 3 grades, a, b and c, with each grade having 12 books.

Little Miss C enjoys reading Peter and Jane books (or Peter and James as she likes to call them!) and they're often picked as bedtime stories. Some are longer than others and the early ones in the series can be quite tedious to read – there's only so many times you can read something as basic as "Here is Peter. Here is Jane. Here is Peter and Jane" before you get really bored.

WeLikeToHelpCover

We like to help is one that she pulls out regularly (maybe because we actually have two copies so it reaches the top of the pile more often?) and it's a funny little book.

WeLikeToHelp2

Setting aside it's benefits in teaching children to read, the "story" is a series of examples about Peter and Jane helping people. It starts with them going on holiday to the seaside with their parents. Once there they go to see their friend Tom and help him with his boat. Now, looking at the pictures, Tom appears to be significantly older than Peter and Jane. They initially help Tom to paint his boat and then explore the inside of it. There's even an invitation from Tom to see where he eats and goes to bed. 

WeLikeToHelp1

Now, maybe I'm reading too much in to all this, but doesn't it all sound a tad strange to you? Two children helping some old man with his boat. Their parents no where to be seen and him then offering to take them out on his boat. Whilst they're out on the boat they then spot another boy in the water, having fallen in from his boat. Once again, no sign of this boy's parents either, although he is eventually taken home to them.

WeLikeToHelp3

I know that things have changed a lot since the 1960s when this book was published, but I'm still a bit surprised to see children helping an old man who then invites them to go on his boat with them without some mention being made as to how they know him or telling their parents where they were going.

Later on in the book Peter and Jane are back home and they are helping their parents, grandparents and neighbours and also playing wholesome games with their friends, like you imagine children in the sixties doing. No games consoles or television for them. Statements like "Grandmother and grandfather do not go out much because they are old" do make me smile though. How times have changed.

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 vintage Ladybird books I own and everyone's Ladybird Tuesday posts to date – organised by series. It satisfies my inner geek and hopefully will also be of interest to others too!

Related

«
»

Filed Under: Books, Ladybird Tuesday, Vintage 3 Comments

Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    02/04/2013 at 8:10 pm

    I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying reading your reviews of the Ladybird books! I have a few Ladybird books and I will do my very best to join in one week!

    Reply
  2. Mrs C says

    02/04/2013 at 9:24 pm

    Please do! The more the merrier and I love reading about everyone elses books.

    Reply
  3. Lyn says

    06/04/2013 at 5:58 pm

    Oh, I love a book challenge, me, and this is a fab one. Those illustrations are so, just so… I’m probably a bit over-excited. I’m studying children’s literature at the moment so these posts are fabulous for me to read. I’m so glad you let me know about your blog. Can’t wait to pick my favourite Tuesday 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Where to find Penny online

Penny Blogs

Penny Travels

Penny Plays

Penny Reads

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Google Ads

Spice of Life CAL

Spice of Life CAL

Top Posts

  • Delia's Plum & Cinnamon Oat Slices
  • Bring Joy To Your Achy Joints
  • Ladybird Tuesday: my day
  • When wind turbines are beautiful
  • Ladybird Tuesday: Learning to Crochet
  • Ladybird Tuesday: The Public Services - Water Supply
  • Having the confidence to wear a dress everyday
  • Review: Little Princess Hama Bead Gift Box
  • Halloween Hama Beads
  • Ladybird Tuesday: The Frozen Planet of Azuron

Top 20 Parent Bloggers on Twitter 2014

Tots100

Hotter Shoes Blogger Family

Hotter Shoes

Tots 100

TOTS100 - UK Parent Blogs
TOTS100

Search Being Mrs C

Categories

Baking Beauty Being green Books Charity Children Children's Books Christmas Competitions Crafts Crochet Current Affairs d Days Out Education Fashion Film Food and Drink Gardening Going out Health & Fitness Home Household stuff Interiors Knitting Ladybird Tuesday Life Little Miss C Master C Nature Outdoors Parenting Relationships Reviews seven days Sewing Stationery Television Thrifty Thrifty Mrs C Toys Travel Uncategorized Vintage Work

BritMums

BritMums - Leading the Conversation

Mumsnet Bloggers Network

mumsnet

Google Adsense

  • Working With Mrs C
  • Ladybird Tuesday
  • Thrifty Mrs C
  • Travel
  • Children’s Books
  • Privacy Policy and Disclosure

Copyright © 2023 · Design by Stacey Corrin

Copyright © 2023 · Adorn Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in