Happy new year vintage Ladybird lovers!
Now, before we get on to this week's book I have to tell you about my television highlight of Christmas – the BBC Four Timeshift programme all about vintage Ladybird books. It was quite simply fantastic – even if my mum and husband both fell asleep watching it! If you missed it then luckily there are some clips available on their website here. They're definitely worth a watch. The programme made me realise just how small my collection is compared to what is out there somewhere. It was also fantastic for learning a bit more about the history of these iconic little books.
Anyway – enough of television. Time to move on to one of my Christmas presents from my darling husband: A Ladybird Book of Musical Instruments. I am now a very proud owner of this first edition of the book from series 662, History of the Arts.
If you're looking for a book to introduce children to musical instruments then this really is perfect. It starts off my looking at how instruments work – both stringed instruments and wind ones.
Each group of instruments is then covered in turn with pictures of the instruments, a bit about their history and how they are played. I also really like the graphic where they show you a piano keyboard with middle C marked and then show the range that each particular instrument plays in. It's something that I really wish I'd had when learning to play instruments at school as I don't think I initially understood the different ranges of different instruments.
Little Miss C was bought a descant recorder for Christmas (thanks a lot Granny!) and at the moment she's just blowing it randomly, as is her brother, and she was amazed when I picked it up and managed to play some of When the Saints on it. Whilst at school and university I played instruments regularly and it's something I rather miss now. Quite where I'd have the time I have no idea, but maybe I should get my clarinet out again.
With the kids I might be tempted to start with percussion instruments – although at the moment LMC seems to think a tambourine is only for her teacher at pre-school telling the children that it's tidy up time!
Do you play an instrument? And if so, what?
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!
Anne says
Loved this post and have just done my first Ladybird Tuesday post linking back to your blog. X