Picture-book days (and evenings)

After my last blog when I dipped into Robert Louis Stevenson's 'A Child's Garden of Verses' I remained hooked. Happily I still have many books from my childhood, so after supper I spent a couple of carefree hours sitting on the sofa by a log fire looking at my old books and reminiscing whilst the rain beat against the window pane.

This final verse from Stevenson's poem 'Picture-books in Winter' evokes just the right cosy atmosphere. You can find the entire poem on my 'Favourite Poems and Wise Words' page.

How am I to sing your praise,
Happy chimney-corner days,
Sitting safe in nursery nooks,
Reading picture story-books.

 
This is one of 6 colour plates by A.H.Watson

As we British bloggers are all moaning about the atrocious weather at the moment I set myself the task of finding pictures of wet and windy weather amongst the pages of my old books. Amazingly they were very thin on the ground. Plenty of snow and sunshine but next to no rain. The first rainy pic I came across was this from 'My First Book' published by Birn Brothers Ltd in the mid 1950s. The title is 'February' (note the primroses). The seasonal picture for September depicted children picking apples, all smiles and sunshine!

One of the first books I ever had was 'Tufty'. A heart wrenching tale of an orphaned rabbit.

Poor old Tufty heads off alone into the big wide world with all his belongings held in a red and white spotted hankie tied to a stick. On his journey he meets several other orphaned animals and they stay together.

But soon disaster strikes...the storm clouds gather (I know the feeling!)

The clouds burst and the poor little orphaned animals get a soaking (look at that little bat and mouse huddling in the corner).

Quick thinking Tufty and his pals visit the wise old owl who lends them a book on how to build a house. And guess what....the sun starts shining, building work begins and in no time at all....

....a perfect little cottage is erected to accommodate Tufty, his friends and all the orphaned animals.
A happy ending perhaps, but as a child I was always sad that the little animals couldn't be reunited with their mummies and daddies. They all look so cute and vulnerable.

My aunt gave me a Rupert Bear annual every year from a very early age. I grew up with Rupert so to speak. Being in his gang meant playing out all day in the countryside around Nutwood and arriving home just in time for tea. Sunny holidays at wonderful Rocky Bay and Christmases that were always snowy were obligatory. As if that wasn't enough, Rupert and chums always had puzzling mysteries to solve and loads of exciting adventures along the way. All nice polite characters, no squabbling or bullying and always a happy ending with no one getting hurt. Perfect!

Looking through my annuals I found plenty of sunshine and snow but rain showers rarely put in an appearance. The 1962 story of 'Rupert and the Bad Dog' was the only time I found rain

A sudden rain storm and Rupert and Podgy Pig shelter under a tree
 
 
The rain continues so the chums make a dash for home

 Safe in the confines of his cosy cottage and snug in his warm dressing gown, Rupert watches the rain through the window. When the rain eventually stops the story continues with a magic ball and a Scottie dog named Jock.

And so that leaves Noddy and Big Ears! (Would you get away with calling a character Big Ears these days? There would surely be many complaints!) I was introduced to these two at an early age and have several well thumbed books. Looking through the books I could find very little evidence of rain ever falling in Toy Town, but then I found this. I think Noddy's expression says it all (and possible expletives as well). Thanks Noddy, you sum up how we have all been feeling this past week.

Comments

[Michele]

Hello Eli..
Oh what a wonderful trip down memory lane... seeing the Tufty character is so nostalgic for me.. and as for Nicholas Thomas. I adored those books by Kitty Styles.. I managed to find the edition I had as a child a few years ago in an antique market. I was overjoyed to be reunited with the story of Nicholas Thomas Gets into Trouble.. such a charming book.
Which one do you own?
Michele

[Redwoodhouse]

Hi Eli, thanks for the lovely comments, your blog is amazing I have only just started and still am a little nervous about the whole thing, your picture of Rupert and friends took me straight back to my childhood Rupert was a firm favorite in our family.
yes I did make the little dolls that seem to creep into photo's,
and my Mr. says that the virus in the trees are nationwide! but only in spruce he doesn't know the name of it yet but will find out when he can catch up with the men doing the felling.
I'll look forward to visiting your blog (wish it had a nicer name).
Jan

[Redwoodhouse]

Hi again, I ment that the word blog should be a nicer name/word, not your blog name, ohh dear I seem to be digging a hole I hope you read it in the way I ment it and not how it reads. Ohh dear dear tell me to shut up!!!!!!! I am quite sane really

[Jayne]

What a lovely post - certainly takes me back a *few* years!

[sabine]

How nice to discover your lovely blog!

[Mary-Laure]

I love going back and reading my favorite childhood books. And oh, Noddy! He's the one who got me into reading. I owe him a lot.

[rhondi]

Hi Eli
Thanks for all your sweet comments. I've always loved the illustrations in children's books and I think the English ones are particularly good, especially the older ones.
Hugs, Rhondi