I was directed to Being Mrs C's Ladybird Tuesday. I've spotted her posts before, but it's been a long while and I'd forgotten about them.
Ladybird books are such a huge part of my childhood, they all seem so familiar and I'm not sure if I read them, borrowed them from the Library or just feel familiarity and contentment.
My books are so worn out because not only were these mainly second hand, but even my oldest child is now 20, and so they've spent at least the last 19 or so years being read by me. The 3rd Picture Book and Nursery rhymes were mine when I was small. I think a book that's been read to death has to be a good thing, surely?
I know we have several other Ladybird books, I had a look through another bookcase and found these, which I consider to be new, but the youngest among them is in fact 13 years old.
In amongst them was a gem though. Talkabout Holidays was a real pleasure to find because that is another one of mine (although the graffiti is the work of one of my children). It lived at my Grandparent's house when I was a girl, and I guess it must have been bought new because I would have been 6 when it was printed.
My holidays were mainly in a caravan in Skegness, it was an aspirational book for me, one day I'd be rich enough to go on an aeroplane and have a suitcase!
I always felt the puzzles at the back were too simple, and now I know they definitely were! And as many times as I've read this book, I always remember the little story to be funnier than it actually was!
Somewhere we have more, somewhere in our house is the book with the really quite scary science experiments that you can do in your own kitchen using batteries and other scary things.
The book I'd love to find though, the one I remember most from my childhood is Cinderella. It was my sister's book, and I was totally smitten with the blue dress that is worn to the ball. I was going to get married in that dress when I grew up....
Oh my! I remember quite a few of those books from my childhood....Ahhh the memories x
ReplyDeleteHehehe....it's amazing how easily they just take you straight back :) x
DeleteI have a real thing for Ladybird books and tend to pick them up if I spot them at Car ot Sales. We have a vintage Thomas the Tank Engine one here that Bud loves.
ReplyDeleteWe've some THomas the Tank Engine ones somewhere that my oldest son had, he loved Thomas. There are more bookcases in the boys room, I didn't even look in those :D
DeleteI loved ladybird books, I still use my Garden Birds books now, they were great and such good value.
ReplyDeleteThey do seem to have been very good value, and let's face it, if they're still going now then they've definitely outlasted most of the books you'd buy nowadays - both physically and in style :)
DeleteWhat a lovely collection! I do love Ladybird books, I'm sure I remember having Talkabout Holidays! I have a couple that are in the same series and I remember loving the way that the front cover was made. I think I remember the Nursery Rhymes one too. They bring back so many memories!
ReplyDelete:D I wouldn't have got them out if you hadn't posted your framed cover prints! So thank you!
DeleteI absolutely love those felt and fabric covers, they're brilliant :D
I wish I knew where all of my old books had gone to, I used to have quite a few of these! E always enjoys them when he goes around to his Granny's house. I really like that the fairytales have the proper traditional endings, even if they are a little gruesome sometimes!
ReplyDeleteThey aren't anything like as gruesome as the original Grimm tales! The only reason we use the word Grimm is because the stories they wrote were so horrific! :D
DeleteI think everyone has some memory of a ladybird book, I know I do although I don't have any of mine some of the ones in the picture do look familiar!
ReplyDeleteI'm stunned I have any of mine really - I think it's only because they were at my Grandmother's house and when I had children she gave them to me :)
DeleteOooooh, so tempted to raid my parent's loft and find all of our books- expecially with Seren learning to read. Wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteHahaha....you know you should! I read these to mine when they were tiny, but stuoidly I have'nt encouraged therm to 'read' them to me! :)
DeleteI love that walkabout Holidays book - fantastic. You've made me feel very nostalgic too!
ReplyDelete:D I hope you had the same smile as I did when I spotted it, it took me right back! I guess you took far more inspiration from the book than they'd ever have realised though!!
DeleteI've got a panda one upstairs that was signed. I know I got it from Marwell Zoo when I was a child but I can't remember why
ReplyDeleteWow! That's so special! You have to find out :D
DeleteI have some of those here along with Cinderella - I also adored that book for the dresses she wore. Classics
ReplyDelete:D Awww, you have to write about it, I want to see the blue dress again :D
DeleteGreat memories!! My mum has some of mine that I saw again recently, can't wait to read them with my 2 and play with many other of my old toys again (vintage Lego included!) when my parents have finished renovating!! We rarely visit at the moment due to the chaos!!
ReplyDeleteIt would be amazing to go through old treasure like that! I'm very jealous :D
Deletecant believe you still keep these books! i love ladybird books. they are great!
ReplyDeleteYou can't throw books away! It's against the law....or something :p
DeleteI remember these! I have all the old Enid Blyton books. :) Love how you wanted to get married in Cinderella's dress! x
ReplyDeleteHahaha...thank you! I used to read Enid Blyton, I have no idea where those books went though :D
DeleteI would love to have my old books. I do have an old Peter Rabbit book, but that's it x
ReplyDeleteAt least you have the one. I must say I don't have any of my toys, and only the books from my Grandparents :)
DeleteAnd this is why e-readers are never beat the real paper book!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you on that one. I like my Kindle, but it'll never replace real books :)
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