When it comes to my Ladybird collection I tend to go for the older books with the matt covers as these are the ones that I remember most clearly from my own childhood. These matt covered seemed to be produced until some time in the 1980s when they instead moved over to the glossy covers that are most commonly found in charity shops today. In an ideal world I'd collect both, but it's fair to say that Mr C already thinks that our house is overrun with books and I don't really fancy divorce right now. Too busy with a million and one other things for a start. Some glossy covered books do sneak ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: Snow-White and Rose-Red
When you ask people which Ladybird books they remember best from their own childhood so many people recall the Well-Loved Tales series and being read the books as bedtime stories on many occasions. Strangely I don't actually remember many of them at all from my own childhood, yet I'm pretty sure I can't have avoided them all completely. So many people know the story of Snow-White from the Disney film, yet the story of Snow-White and Rose-Red was completely new to me when I found this book from the Well-Loved Tales series (606D) in a local charity shop. It's rather a strange story if the ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: Dinosaurs
It seems last week's Ladybird Tuesday post went a bit AWOL. I'm pretty sure I remember writing it, but it's certainly no where to be seen online, and the book I thought I wrote about was actually covered months ago on here. Maybe I imagined the whole thing! Anyway - on to this week. I've chosen to go back to the Ladybird Leaders series (series 737) this week and in particular book number seven from that series - dinosaurs. The whole idea behind the Leaders series was that they were first information books, designed for enquiring minds and to stimulate reluctant readers. I've heard many ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: Helping at Home
This original Ladybird Tuesday post has now been revised and is over on Penny Reads. You can find it here. ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: Easy to make Puppets
I've a bit of a double treat for you on this week's Ladybird Tuesday. As well as featuring Easy to make Puppets from series 633 I'm also going to be taking a look at How to make Puppets from the same series. Easy to make puppets was first published in 1973 and as with so many of the books from the time it has a very early 70s look about it. How to make puppets then followed 1978 and was part of a second set of books from this series, which seemed designed to replace some of the earlier titles. Certainly, looking at the back cover, it's as if the earlier titles in the series simply no ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: ‘People at work’ The Policeman
There's been a bit of a break here on Ladybird Tuesday whilst I sorted out the behind the scenes blog stuff, but this week I'm delighted to say that we're back! And I have a wonderful new charity shop find to share too. The very first Ladybird Tuesday featured In a Hotel from the 606B People at Work series and it therefore seems appropriate to be back there for the first post on this new blog hosting platform. I'm bringing a bit of law and order to proceedings by featuring The Policeman which was the second book to be published in this popular series. It was 1962 when Ladybird first ... read more
Before I Go To Sleep – S J Watson
I was rather excited to hear that one of the other mums from school was setting up a book group as so often I want to talk about what I've read with someone and there's just no one to talk to. The last time I was involved in a book group it was an online one before Little Miss C was born, but being someone who likes to talk the idea of doing so in person, possible over a glass of wine, is quite thrilling. The first book chosen for us to read is Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson. Now this isn't a book I'd heard of before, but I was gripped from the very first chapter. Christine wakes up ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: How to Swim and Dive
I was rather proud when Little Miss C came home from her swimming lesson last week with this. She's not even four yet so I really wasn't expecting her to move on to the next class quite so soon, but I'm proud of her for doing so. Her success also helped me decide what I should cover for this week's Ladybird Tuesday - How to Swim and Dive. This book was part of the Hobbies and Interests series (series 633) and covers pretty much everything you need to know to learn how to swim and dive, right from getting into the pool for the first time through to diving and some basic life ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: Flight Three: USA
My entry into yesterday's Magpie Monday shows the latest additions to my Ladybird collection and it's one of those that I'm turning to for this week's Ladybird Tuesday with Flight Three USA. I've been on the look out for books from the various Ladybird travel books since I started collecting them and was thrilled to pick this up for such a bargain price, especially since it was in such excellent condition and I believe a first edition with the original dust jacket completely intact too. The book plate inside the front cover is also a nice ... read more
Ladybird Tuesday: Lives of the Great Composers Book 2
I find it amazing how many friends of mine now know about my love of vintage Ladybird books thanks to this blog and I love it when one of them surprises me with something they've found at a jumble sale of in a charity shop. Last week I was delighted to receive a mystery parcel with three wonderful Ladybird books in it. I have absolutely no idea who on earth these are from - and there wasn't even a postmark to give me a hint! So, if it was you thank you do much - please reveal yourself though. So now on to one of the books from that mystery parcel - Lives of the Great Composers Book 2. ... read more