We're embracing the 1970s on this week's Ladybird Tuesday. Bedtime Rhymes was published in 1977 and even the illustrations in the inside cover and really take you back to the era of flares and platform shoes.
The book is a collection of rhymes and poems, some of which have a bedtime or night theme to them, and others which just don't at all!
Rather than the standard nursery rhymes you instead get a mix of well known poems from the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson and others where I've not heard of either the poem or poet before. One of my favourite poems of all time is also included, even if it does seem a bit dark for inclusion in a children's book.
The moon has a face like the clock on in the hall;
She shines on thieves on the garden wall,
On streets and fields and harbour quays,
And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees.
Robert Louis Stevenson
It certainly led to Little Miss C looking a bit concerned about the idea of there being theives on the garden wall.
I think this is a particularly lovely book because it is just that little bit different – and I'm a fan of the style of illustrations (thanks to James Hodgson for those) and we actually end up reading this quite a bit with LMC at bedtime too.
I think Bedtime Rhymes belongs to series 413, but to be honest I'm not totally sure. A book with the same title was published in 1946, but the list of rhymes included is totally different. I'm guessing that this is a new version with the title just reused which is something that I know Ladybird did, but I'm not totally sure. I'll just have to keep my eyes open for earlier versions. I think I'm about due another charity shop trip!
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. Thank you!
I love the look of this book, it looks as though it has a very different feel to it than some of the other Ladybird books. I love how the Ladybird books are so timeless that you can still enjoy them today. I’m joining in this week with a rather drier book – Plants and How They Grow http://www.jenniferslittleworld.com/2013/10/ladybird-tuesday-plants-and-how-they.html
Thanks for joining in again Jennifer!
Oh I am new to this but her is my Garden flower link
http://thrifty-home.co.uk/the-ladybird-book-of-garden-flowers/ how do i klink back to you ?
Thanks so much for joining in Becky. There are no hard rules with the Ladybird Tuesday linky. Basically, if I know about your post I will add it to the master index I keep herehttp://www.beingmrsc.com/being_mrs_c/ladybird-tuesday.html (as Ive done with your post). If you want to say in your post that youre joining in with Ladybird Tuesday and link to that page then its very much appreciated, but Im not going to fall out with anyone who doesnt 🙂
I was born in 1985 and my gran had this book. She would read it to me every night when I was little. I know the mud poem off by heart and recite it to my children now. I assumed it was from the 80’s so it took me a little while to find it as I couldn’t remember the name. Im glad I came across your page. It filled me with beautiful memories. X