Well we've survived our first foreign holiday as a family of four and even managed to fit in a wedding in a foreign language and following wedding reception without too much incident. I'm therefore catching up on all things blog related (including a full low down on our trip) but it seemed obvious that this week's Ladybird Tuesday has to be holiday related, and seeing as there are no titles related to overseas (why?) I went for Aircraft instead. We've already learnt here on Ladybird Tuesday as to how the aeroplane works so this time we're doing a bit of plane ... read more

A couple of weeks ago here on Ladybird Tuesday we indulged in some car games and at the time I commented on how all the inside of the front cover of the book was devoted to Health and Safety messages. To make sure we all get that message loud and clear this week I'm looking at a whole book devoted to Road Safety, part of series 702 (Learn with Mother). The book is slightly strange in that you have all these lovely vintage illustrations in traditional Ladybird style, but then overlaid is a cartoon character, Jimmy, who is telling you how to be safe on the roads. Even more freaky ... read more

There are some children's books that just leave you feeling all warm and fluffy inside - and Mr Badger to the Rescue is one such book. Like all the other books in series 401 (Animal Rhymes) the book is written entirely in verse and the rhythm of it when read out load is lovely. In this lovely take three little doormice wake one morning to see that the circus has come to town. They're so desperate to go and see it, but they've got no money to buy tickets, so they set about trying to earn some. Their first attempts fail, but Mr Badger helps them out by providing a couple of extra ... read more

Do people still play car games? Or have hand-held electronics and DVD players taken over instead? After reading this book in preparation for writing this Ladybird Tuesday post I'm wondering about a campaign to encourage everyone to start playing them again. They're all from a time that seemed so much more innocent and simple and I'd love to revive that rather than relying on modern technology to do so. The idea of a whole book on car games seems a bit alien in this day and age though. Ladybird's Car Games book really is a flash back to a different age. Published in 1978 this ... read more

I have to admit to a bit of a cheat with this week's Ladybird Tuesday. Whilst this may look like a genuine vintage Ladybird, it's actually a modern reprint of the original, which was republished in 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original (published in 1961). Handily this was also the year before the Olympic Games came to London and fitted in very well with the general buzz around the city at the time. This republished version is pretty much identical to the 1961 original except  a modern price on the dust jacket, a mention of it being the 50th anniversary edition ... read more

It seemed somewhat appropriate to write about Transport on this week's Ladybird Tuesday when the bank holiday weekend just gone involved 240 miles in the car (taking a total of 7 hours!), five train journeys and a taxi ride! When you think about how far transport has come over the years it really is quite impressive. From people carrying their loads whilst they walked, through to the first human pulled sledges. From simple boats and canoes to the invention of the wheel. Using animals to first carry loads and then pull vehicles gave way to steam locomotives and on to the train systems we ... read more

One of the best things about charity shop shopping is that you never know what you're going to come home with. I always keep an eye out for old Ladybird books, but one recent trip to my most local shop proved to be extremely fruitful when I found several titles, including three from the Hannibal series, which is part of wider series 497 (Animal Stories). Now, I hadn't heard of Hannibal before this trip, but he is the hamster star of six books, all published between 1976 and 1978. Inquisitive, friendly and brave, he seizes every opportunity to escape and see as much of the ... read more

Another opportunity for me to indulge my inner geek on this week's Ladybird Tuesday with 'How it works' The Aeroplane. Another book from series 654 which promises to explain exactly how things work in a way simple enough for a child to understand, but without being at all patronising. All the basics of flight are covered, from how air pressure changes with altidude, lift and drag, airflow over wings, stability of the plane in flight and how it is controlled. How the plane takes off, reaches cruising altitude and then descends to land safely is all described in detail along with how ... read more

When you look at some of the old Ladybird series they just don't quite make sense. Series 682 was originally released to show children about domesticated animals, but as the series title suggests it ended up with only two titles, Dogs and Horses. Why it was not extended I have no idea. This book starts off by pointing out the vital role that horses played in life before other forms of transported were invented - one that many children may not think of. Starting with the basic anatomy of the horse, how they have evolved over time, along with their role, is described. Mr C has always ... read more