Puffin Covers 6

[callmemadam]

Songberd’s Grove by Anne Barrett, illustrated by David Knight. Puffin Story Book 186. First published 1957, first Puffin edition 1963.
I read this book from the library as a child. Years later I could only remember one thing about it: that there was a boy character whose father had been a boxer but whose mother told him his dad had been a florist. From this meagre information, someone was able to give me the title. It’s a good example of the trend towards more realistic stories for children. Young Martin and his family don’t have much money and in post-war Britain the housing officer finds them a new house in Songberd’s Grove. Given the charming name, Martin is very disappointed by the run down area they are to live in and feels even worse when he finds the street is run by bullies led by the-boy-who-didn’t-know-his-father-was-a-boxer. Martin learns to cope and the day is saved by a Lord Simon Vigo. Oh. Not so new and different, then. Very enjoyable, though.

Comments

[land-girl.livejournal.com]

Beautiful covers :-)

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

A golden age!

[penny1947.livejournal.com]

The old Puffin books were wonderful, weren't they? When the offspring were younger, I used to snap up ANY Puffin I saw in charity shops and jumble sales. Someone was talking about Kaye Webb on The Book Show some weeks ago. Not a very happy life...

Penny (Scottish Vegan Homemaker)
I remembered to put my name this time!

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

If you have a reading child, as I did, you scour jumble sales and charity shops for more books, don't you? That's where a lot of my old Puffins came from but you don't see them now.

I reviewed Valerie Grove's biography of Kaye Webb here.

[penny1947.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the link! I didn't know about your blog when you first posted this, or I'd have commented then, too! Charlotte Sometimes... The Woolpack... Wonderful! The offspring and I adored these books. I feel old fuffy-duddiness coming on, but are they writing books like this now?

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

No, but among modern authors I love Hilary McKay. The Exiles and Casson family series are great.

[penny1947.livejournal.com]

I looked these up on amazon and like the sound of them! I would think it would be best to read them in order. Can you tell me which is the first, please? I hope my library has them, as I MUSTN'T buy any more books for a while, even at 1p plus P&P! (I notice they're published on Kindle, too!) Mind, you, I could use them with some of my pupils (I'm a tutor), so it would be tax-deductable!!!! :o) )

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

The Exiles
The Exiles at Home
The Exiles in Love

Casson Family
1. Saffy's Angel
2. Indigo's Star
3. Permanent Rose
4. Caddy Ever After
5. Forever Rose
6. Caddy's World

Caddy's World comes out this week: can't wait.
There's another nice little series which begins with Dog Friday.

[penny1947.livejournal.com]

No, no!!! Don't tell me about more! :o) Thanks for the link. I can see treats in store! Swing seat in the garden? New children's books to enjoy? Mmmmm.....

[geraniumcat.livejournal.com]

I love the back cover...

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

The artist had read the book! The door painting is very important.