The Tailor of Gloucester | Beatrix Potter #ALiteraryChristmas

 

Feeling very grateful, right now, that Tarissa @In the Bookcase is hosting A Literary Christmas this year. It made me search my shelves for something Christmassy that I hadn't read yet. It led me straight into the delightful and utterly charming arms of Beatrix Potter.

I confess that I did not read any of the Peter Rabbit stories when I was a child. I had to wait until my early childhood teaching years to discover them. The first time I tried to read one aloud, I stumbled with the phrasing and pacing of Potter's writing. The story has plenty of drama and suspense, but it isn't immediately apparent. You have to read it several times to find the most dramatic way to read it out loud, in a way to keep the attention of twenty, very modern, 4 year olds.

It is twelve years since I taught my last class (I was reminded just yesterday of how that final class has grown, when one of them popped into the bookshop to buy books for her mum for Christmas. She is now in her final year of school, and has matured into a thoughtful, gracious young woman). Which is my long way of saying that it is also twelve years since I last read The Tale of Peter Rabbit (1902). 

I now have a beautiful hardcover copy of Beatrix Potter's Complete Tales. It contains a lovely map of Hawkshead and Sawrey, showing where many of the stories take place, including the Tailor of Gloucester sitting next to the road to Gloucester and South Coast, with Pig Robinson. This collection then lists all the stories in chronological order. The Tailor of Gloucester is the third story. To get to it, one has to go past the original Peter Rabbit and The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin (1903).

However, I couldn't skip past so glibly. 

I settled down, with the memories of classes past arrayed in front of me, and read Peter Rabbit, then Squirrel Nutkin out loud. All the old phrasing and pacing came back to me. I knew where to pause for dramatic effect and how to milk the tension. I was transported to another time and place. These two mischievous characters are drawn so sympathetically, it's hard not to love them and their naughty ways. However, Potter was writing these stories for the children of her former governess, so she was careful to give both Peter & Nutkin a proper comeuppance, for after all, bad behaviour should come with natural consequences.

The Tailor of Gloucester is a longer story and was considered by Potter to be her favourite from amongst all her books. It is based on the true story of a tailor in Gloucester, John Prichard, who was commissioned to make a waistcoat for the local Mayor. He had to leave it unfinished on Saturday evening, but when he turned up to work again on Monday, it was finished, except for one buttonhole for which there was 'no more twist'. In real life, it was his two assistants who secretly helped out. In Potter's imagination the helpers turned into little brown mice and the setting became Christmas Eve. 

Our hard working tailor becomes stricken with a fever. In his delirium he keeps muttering about needing 'one more twist', and 'where is my twist'? He is ill for three days, until it was Christmas Eve. Everyone else was buying geese and turkeys and baking Christmas pies, but not our poor tailor. His only company was his mean old cat, Simpkin.

But it is in the old story that all the beasts can talk, in the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in the morning (though there are very few folk that can hear them, or know what it is that they say).

Rather like the Grimm's Brothers fairy story, the Elves and the Shoemaker, the tailor's hard work and dedication is rewarded when he needs it most. Even Simpkin, sees the errors of his ways, and does his bit to help out too.

A review appeared in the trade journal, The Tailor and Cutter, on Christmas Eve 1903. One hundred and seventeen years later, it is hard to top!

we think it is by far the prettiest story connected with tailoring we have ever read, and as it is full of that spirit of Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men, we are not ashamed to confess that it brought the moisture to our eyes, as well as the smile to our face. It is got up in choicest style and illustrated by twenty-seven of the prettiest pictures it is possible to imagine.

Epigraph:

• I'll be at charges for a looking-glass; and entertain a score or two of tailors. Richard III

Christmas Eve at Coogee Beach - even the tree is in quarantine this year!

If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura

If Cats Disappeared from the World is an odd little book. I say odd because I'm not quite sure how I'm going to review it best.

Obviously, it has a cute cover designed to attract the attention of any cat lover (me) and a title that would greatly concern said cat lover. I'm also a fan of Japanese literature. So this should have been a no-brainer for me. But maybe that's where the problem lays.

It was so lightly written and felt so detached (zen?) in style that it barely scratched the surface of my consciousness.

It had it's moments. There just weren't enough of them.

There were quirky moments like the Devil turning up to bargain with the dying narrator, whilst wearing bright Hawaiian shirts. And the cat who woke up one morning speaking in the refined voice of an English gentleman. The message about the power we give our possessions was an interesting one, and gives one pause to consider what you could give up forever to save your own life.

But mostly it was a sweet, uncomplicated tale about living in the moment and embracing those you love.

Love has to end. That’s all. And even though everyone knows it they still fall in love. 

I guess it’s the same with life. We all know it has to end someday, but even so we act as if we’re going to live forever. Like love, life is beautiful because it has to end.

Facts:

• Published in Japan 2012 as Sekai kara Neko ga Kieta nara
• Debut book by film producer Genki Kawamura
• Made into a movie by Akira Nagai in 2016
• Translated into English by Eric Selland 2018

Favourite Quote:

There's a limit to how well we know ourselves. We don't know what we look like to others, and we can't know our own future, and we can't know what our own death will be like.

Favourite Character:

• Cabbage, the cat, of course, especially when he started talking! 

Favourite or Forget:

• This was a HUGE hit in Japan and I can see why. As a fan of Japanese stories this one didn't live up to my expectations (I prefer the more complicated Murakami version of Japanese writing), but I'm not sorry I read it. 
• The stuff about materialism and the effects of technology on our modern lives will linger long. 
• Like many Japanese stories, what at first appears to be slight and sweet actually has subtle layers that get into your psyche as time goes by. 
• It's a small novel that could be gobbled up in one sitting, but I would suggest going slower. By taking your time, you allow the layers to sift into your consciousness and you will get the most out of your reading experience.
• When I first finished this book, I thought it was a forget. But over one week later, it is growing in my mind in significance.
• It may not be a firm favourite, but I won't forget it either.

Book 20 of 20 Books of Summer Winter
Wahoo!

Australian Junior Fiction Catch Up

The run into Christmas and the silly season, leaves me tired, frazzled and depleted most years. This year I'm attempting a calmer, kinder approach. As a first line of defence I started interspersing junior fiction reads amongst my regular reads several weeks ago. I've been saving all the interesting looking ones for months now, so that I would have something 'just right' for this time.

Great junior fiction is the perfect antidote for the general madness and mayhem of the silly season. It's (usually) light and easy to read, sometimes interspersed with delightful illustrations and (usually) full of wonderful language. And almost all writers for younger people feel duty bound to end with hope. Bad and sad things may happen to their characters along the way, but there is always hope and wonder and love.

The Slightly Alarming Tale of the Whispering Wars by Jaclyn Moriarty is book 2 in her newly named Kingdoms and Empires series. The name of the series didn't make an appearance on the first book, so I was curious to see what this might mean for book 2 and any future books.

I loved Book 1 The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone by Jaclyn Moriarty and had very high hopes for this one, so I was a little disconcerted to read the first few chapters with no Bronte in sight.

What was going on?

Where were we?

And who were all these new people?

The first couple of pages of this generously illustrated book show us maps of the various kingdoms within this world. Some of these names were familiar from Book 1, but other than the whispering element, nothing else seemed familiar.

TSATOTWW begins in the little town of Spindrift where we meet two groups of kids - one group from the orphanage, the other from an expensive, exclusive boarding school. A friendly sporting rivalry between the two schools quickly blows up when one of the children suddenly disappears. The Whisperers have kidnapped another child.

A tentative alliance is formed, a plan of rescue is hatched and Bronte makes an unexpected reappearance. Mystery, adventure and a little bit of magic is the name of the game.

I love this series for mature 9+ readers a lot and I hope that Moriarty has many more books planned for the Kingdoms and Empires. Due to the different time frame and setting in this book, it could be read as a stand-alone story, but you'll want to go back to see how Bronte came into the story in the first place. It was a savvy move by Moriarty to expand the horizons and history of this series to include the entire kingdom and I look forward to seeing where and when we end up next.

Inheritance by Carole Wilkinson is for slightly older readers - more 11+ through into the early teen years. It's a fabulous time slip story set in country Victoria.

Nic has been left by her dad at her Grandad's old homestead property while he goes off with his band to play the cruise ship circuit. With no wi-fi, no friends and loads of attitude, Nic starts exploring the big old home one room at a time. Eventually she discovers a locked room with no key in sight.

A fortuitous toe-stub whilst swimming in the dam and an old letter in a copy of Pride and Prejudice changes everything. Nic discovers dark secrets about her family history that have carry-over effects onto today's local history and her own family story.

Wilkinson weaves in indigenous issues, women's rights and early settler history into this engaging yet thought-provoking time travel story.

The Adventures of Catvinkle by Elliot Perlman is now top of my delightful dog story pile. Officially this is a book about a cat - the secret loving, baby shoe dancing, flying cat, Catvinkle, but it is also just as much about her new found friend (shhh! don't tell anyone that a cat and a dog are friends!) Ula the dalmatian.

Set in Amsterdam, Perlman (you may know him from his adult books, especially Seven Types of Ambiguity and The Street Sweeper) has turned the bedtime stories he used to tell his kids into a charming animal story for us all to relish.

There are LOTS of things to adore about this book, but the most endearing are the voices of Catvinkle and Ula. Perlman has got inside the heads of these two animals and they speak and act just as I imagine a cat and dog of these types would speak and act if they could!

The thing these three fabulous books share is complexity. The authors do not talk down to their young readers, they use interesting language, create nuanced, believable characters and they take you on a journey that is utterly compelling.

And then there is The Bad Guys Episode 8: Superbad by Aaron Blabey.

Personally, I'm getting pretty tired of their antics by now, but they continue to entertain and get 5-7 yrs old excited about reading, so I'm not going to complain too much.

After an excursion into outer space, then back in time to the dinosaurs, we are firmly back in the present with our world being taken over by the evil Mr Marmalade and his evil alien forces. And it wouldn't be the modern world without a female team of warriors to assist our bumbling bad guys.

In Superbad we learn that Agent Fox is actually part of a much larger, well organised group called The International League of Heroes. Her colleagues include Agent Kitty Kat, Agent Hogwild, Agent Doom, and Agent Shortfuse. They all have special talents and skills and they mean business. They help the Bad Guys learn control of their new super powers...until Marmalade turns up and throws everything into chaos...again!

Six Bad Guys' trading cards are in the back of the book, with 6 more promised to come in book 9. Blabey is onto a good thing, and he knows it!

Episode 1 The Bad Guys
Episode 2 Mission Unpluckable
Episode 3 The Furball Strikes Back
Episode 4 Apocalypse Meow

Dog Stories

I delightful batch of dog stories have turned up at work this month. I loved all three for different reasons, but my favourite of the batch was The Tales of Mr Walker by Jess Black.

Based on a true story, Mr Walker is a delightful illustrated chapter book about the Labrador Ambassador at the Park Hyatt in Melbourne.

The books is full of charming, funny and heart-warming tales. Featuring his first day in the hotel to helping out with a marriage proposal, to preparing for a charity ball, stopping a gang of thieves and entertaining a celebrity pianist. Mr Walker spreads love and happiness wherever he goes.

It's a wonderful family read aloud book or a treasure for your favourite 7 yr old to curl up with.

Royalties from the sale of this book go to Guide Dogs Victoria.

The Dog Who Lost his Bark by Eoin Colfer is a darker dog tale for a more mature reader.

When I was little, my mum had to ban me from watching Kimba the White Lion and Lassie as I used to get too upset whenever Kimba or Lassie got lost, scared or in trouble (which seemed to happen every episode!) Even now, I struggle with books or movies that feature animal violence or cruelty in any way (The Lion King makes me blubber every time).

So the first two chapters of The Dog Who Lost His Bark were very tough going for me. P. J. Lynch's sweet black and white illustrations helped me keep going though...a dog this cute and adorable had to be okay in the end surely.

Sensitive souls beware though, the first two chapters are harrowing.

However the pay off is worth the initial angst. Without giving anything away that the cover doesn't already tell you, our cute adorable dog finds a happy home AND finds a way to show his gratitude for being rescued and loved so well, when things go wrong for young Patrick.

Colfer has created a heart warming, gentle story that is perfectly complemented by Lynch's realistic drawings.

I loved it.

Good Rosie! by Kate DiCamillo is a picture book suitable for younger readers.

Rosie is a good dog, but she's also a little shy and nervous about leaving the house and playing with other dogs. The park is a bit too busy and the other dogs too noisy and active.

This is the story of how Rosie overcomes her fears and embraces new friends. Charming and delightful with some slightly odd-ball moments, Good Rosie! is a picture book designed as an early graphic novel with nine short chapters.

All three books have illustrators who have captured the movement and poses of the dogs to perfection. The dogs are portrayed in such an authentic, loving way, that it's impossible not to love them simply from their front covers. As you get to know each one via their stories, the pictures highlight their adorable little quirks and ways that make them unique.

I have spent most of my life being scared of dogs - too big, too boisterous, too many teeth. But I have always responded strongly to dog stories (as long as they don't talk! But that's another story). These three dog books celebrate a dog's life through the eyes of the dogs themselves. When the world seems like a cold, harsh, unloving place, a good dog story can save the day.

The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

If I ever had any doubts about whether I was a cat person or not, The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa decided me! I defy even the most hard-hearted, adamant cat-denier to not be affected by the relationship between Nana (so named because of his tail that curled like a number 7) and his cat-loving friend Satoru.

Translated by Philip Gabriel (best known for his work translating many of Murakami's novels) this lovely, gentle story appears slight on the surface, but is actually power-packed with messages about the art of caring, love, friendship, loyalty and generosity. Not many books make me cry, but I shed a quiet tear at the end of this bittersweet story.

Arikawa makes her cats come alive. Anyone who has loved a cat of their own will instantly recognise the moods, behaviour and attitude of Nana and the other cats in this story. Not so common though, is having the cat as the narrator of the story. This gave Arikawa the freedom to indulge in all sorts of cat wisdom, that again, any cat-lover will recognise instantly.

'If you don't mourn a dead cat properly, you'll never get over it.'

'Satoru glanced at me in the passenger's seat, where I was now sitting in a tidy ball, my tail around my front legs.'

'I stretched up, placing my front paws on the passenger window, and enjoyed the passing scenery for a while, then curled up on the seat.'

'I sat up, rested my paws on the passenger-seat window and craned my neck to see out.'

'Among cats, when a female chooses a mate, it's a very clear-cut thing. Not just among cats, but with all animals, the female's judgement about love is absolute.'

'I arched my back as high as it could go and make my fur stand on end.'

'The curled-up chinchilla's tail had been twitching all this time, and it was obvious to me that what he was feeling was annoyance and irritation at the dogs' incessant chatter.'

'I purred till my throat hurt, rubbing the top of my head over and over against his body.'

Each chapter begins with a lovely black and white illustration as Satoru and Nana travel around Japan visiting Satoru's friends to see if one of them will be a good fit for Nana. We don't really know what the 'unavoidable circumstances' are that make it impossible for Satoru to continue to care for Nana, but our suspicion and concerns increase with each visit.

Most of us cat-lovers are sometimes left wondering if our beloved cats actually care for us as much as we care for them. The Travelling Cat Chronicles proves to us that yes they do!

The Secret Life of Cows by Rosamund Young

You know you're in for a real treat when the book you pick up starts with a letter from Alan Bennett.

The Secret Life of Cows by Rosamund Young was first published in 2003 and is a lovely little book full of anecdotes about the cows (and hens, pigs and sheep) on her farm, Kite's Nest in Worcestershire.

Alan Bennett wrote about his reading experience with this book in 2006. He then added the diary entry to his 2016 biography, Keeping On, Keeping On. On the strength of this, the wonderful people at Faber & Faber decided to reprint The Secret Life of Cows.

I'm so delighted that they did and that they did so with such a lovely hardback, illustrated gift edition. (You can see some of Anna Koska's beautiful illustrations here.)

It's the perfect read for me at this time of the year when I'm SUPER busy at work and constantly feeling too tired to read anything complicated or challenging. It was also good for soothing my sometimes cynical and often jaded soul at this time of year.

Young and her family have a lovely, creative habit of naming each cow and bull. We meet Dolly I & Dolly II, Fat Hat, July Bonnet, Wizzie, Mr Mini, the Bishops of Gloucester and Worchester and the utterly charming Amelia, just to name a few of the characters that grace these pages.

Young provides amusing stories about cows who sniff car exhausts, learn to open gates or don't like muddy hooves, and more poignant ones like mothers who help their daughters calve, cows who seek out human help when in trouble and cows who grieve.

Kite's Nest was an organic, free-range farm before such terms were coined. The cows (& other animals) live good lives here. They are encouraged to eat what they like, when they like and they're allowed to roam (within reason) to seek out family, friends and favourite places to relax and socialise.

This is not a scientific treatise. It's a memoir with cows. As such, each lovely anecdote meanders on to the next, revealing quirky personalities, medical curiosities like their ability to self-medicate with thistles, willow and stinging nettles and the extraordinary, often life-long relationships that develop amongst the cows themselves, as well as with their human carers.

The Secret Life of Cows is perfect for anyone with a love of animals or the simple life, or for anyone who needs to be soothed and calmed by a gentle read.

Once Upon A Small Rhinoceros by Meg McKinlay

Once Upon A Rhinoceros is my kind of picture book.

As a child I dreamed of setting off into the big, wide world to explore. I've always wanted to see what there was to be seen. I couldn't wait to be grown up so that I could finally just go.

Small rhinoceros has the very same dream; she wants to see the world. She patiently waits until the time is right, and as you can see by the glorious cover designed by Leila Rudge, she succeeds.

She sailed on...through the woolly wild of winter and the smooth sweep of summer...to faraway lands and beyond.

On her return home, her family and friends are happy to see her, but unimpressed by her tales...all except for one quiet voice who asks,

'Did you get lost?'

'Many times.'

'And was it...wonderful?' 

'Oh yes!'  

Oh yes indeed!

With themes of independence and freedom, pushing the boundaries of what is considered 'normal' and daring to be different to fulfil your heart's desire, Once Upon A Small Rhinoceros will charm you and inspire you in equal measure.

Meg McKinlay has written some of my favourite books for teens and children, including the CBCA award winning A Single Stone, No Bears and Ten Tiny Things. She has a wonderful blog post describing her creative journey with this particular story here.

Leila Rudge adds collage elements to her pencil, paint and paper 'hand snipped' illustrations. She has written and illustrated the wonderful CBCA Notable book Ted, the very popular CBCA shortlisted book, Gary as well as No Bears with McKinlay.

#AusReadingMonth
#AustralianWomenWriters Challenge

The Murderer's Ape by Jakob Wegelius

Sometimes the perfect book lands on your doorstep at exactly the right time.

This past month or so has been pretty ordinary. The loss of a much loved family member to cancer has left us all exhausted and numb. I'm sure many of you know the drill we've been through lately. The shock, followed by hope and a more positive outlook, then facing up to reality, one last hope - dashed, the waiting, the decline, the sadness and the final goodbye.

One of my solaces through all of this has been reading - I need to read - I just had to find the right book.

I needed something easy but engaging. I needed a riveting story with an abundance of heart and soul. I also needed some aesthetic pleasure.

My previous posts focused on all the books that didn't work for me during this period, but now let me share with you the delightful, charming story that did provide comfort and joy.

The Murderer's Ape by Swedish writer Jakob Wegelius gave me all of the above and more.

Wegelius has created a classically told story full of friendship, courage, kindness, determination and loyalty. Sally Jones is a gorilla - yes, a gorilla - who is smart, thoughtful and very talented, but she cannot speak. However Sally Jones can write a little and at the start of this story she learns to type on a 1908 Underwood No. 5 typewriter.

By the end of the first page I completely believed the premise of this tale and having a gorilla as the protagonist seemed perfectly natural. Sally Jones has a captivating voice and an amazing tale to tell.

The Murderer's Ape is an adventure wrapped up in a mystery with a quest that takes us around the world. From Lisbon to India and back again this story meanders along at a leisurely, thoughtful pace, gradually revealing little nuggets of insight and information.

Wegelius has drawn numerous pen and ink illustrations for each chapter. Seventeen full page character profiles also grace the beginning of the book.

See more of Wegelius' illustrations here.

In Sweden, he was awarded the August Prize for Best Children’s Book and the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize for The Murderer’s Ape. The Nordic Council had this to say,

The Murderer’s Ape injects a new lease of life into the classic adventure story. Along with a gorilla named Sally Jones, the reader visits the run-down docks of Lisbon, embarks on dizzying journeys across the seven seas, and calls on the Maharaja of Bhapur’s magnificent court – all in an attempt to clear the name of Sally’s best friend, the sailor Henry Koskela. Through his love of narrative and fine knack for portraying character, the author brings early-20th-century history to life, with a particularly keen and curious eye for the new-fangled technology of the day. Detailed portraits and vignettes, as well as maps that chart Sally’s adventures, make this a book that is as visual as it is literary.

Originally published in 2014 and now translated into English by Peter Graves, Wegelius has created an instant classic with this beautifully written, sumptuously produced and generously illustrated novel for thoughtful 12+ readers.

Due for publication in September with Pushkin Press and Allen & Unwin Australia. I seriously hope and pray that they also translate and publish Wegelius' earlier 2008 book called The Legend of Sally Jones, detailing Sally Jones' early life and adventures.

Yours Sincerely, Giraffe by Megumi Iwasa

One of my recent #readathon reads was the delightfully eccentric Yours Sincerely, Giraffe by Megumi Isawa. When my eyes started to get tired and words began to blur on the page, the simple but fun illustrations from Jun Takabatake were just the eye candy I needed.

The premise of the story is simple - Giraffe is bored. Until, that is, he spots a sign on a tree from an equally bored pelican who has decided to start up a postal service, 'willing to deliver anything anywhere'!

Giraffe decides to write a letter. He gives it to pelican with the instruction 'give it to the first animal you meet on the other side of the horizon.'

What follows is a rather absurd, but oh so charming tale of mistaken identity and misunderstanding as giraffe and his new penpal, penguin, try to imagine what each other look like and what it would be like to live on the other side of the horizon.

For teachers and parents, the added bonus with Yours Sincerely, Giraffe is the chance to discuss letter writing, difference and perception with your emerging reader. It's also a fabulous book to read aloud together.

New Zealand based Gecko Press have become renown for their promotion of unconventional, diverse and humorous books for children. These include Rose Lagercrantz's My Happy Life books and Ulf Nilsson's Detective Gordon series. Yours Sincerely, Giraffe is another quirky addition.

Antoinette by Kelly diPucchio

Kelly DiPucchio has won me over - head, heart and soul - with her two enchanting picture books about Gaston and Antoinette. They ooze charm, cuteness (but don't tell them!) and good humour.

Antoinette continues the very chic tale, that began with Gaston, about these two adorably diverse dog families from Paris. Fee-fe, Foo-fo, Ohh-la-la and Gaston have remained friends with Rocky, Ricky, Bruno and Antoinette, but this time it is Antoinette's turn to question where she belongs and what she is good at.

It's not until Ohh-la-la goes missing that Antoinette realises what her special talent is.

When Antoinette not only finds but rescues the missing Ohh-la-la in the nick of time, Mrs Poodle cries out in relief, "You found my Ohh-la-la." I defy the hardest of hearts not to chuckle at this point!

Caldecott Honoree Christian Robinson has illustrated both books with his mixed media collage and acrylic pictures. In a Q&A on Fishink, Robinson says of his artistic influences that,

I’m a bit of a sponge and my work is influenced and inspired by so many illustrators and painters that I love. Illustrators like Ezra Jack Keats and Abner Graboff inspire me to play with collage and cut outs. Designers like Paul Rand and Bruno Munari inspire me to keep things simple and have fun. Artist like Picasso and Mattise push me to explore color and shapes.

Given that I adore the simple designs and complementary colour palette that Robinson uses, I would have to say that he has successfully found his own unique style.

We can only hope that DiPucchio and Robinson have much more to say and illustrate about Gaston and Antoinette, because, I for one, am certainly not done with these two canny canine families.

The Bad Guys Episode 4 Apocalypse Meow by Aaron Blabey

I love this series of early readers so very, very much.

It's clever. It's fun. And it's a little subversive. It also follows the golden rule that a truly great, entertaining children's book is a truly great, entertaining book for adults as well.

Apocalypse Meow is the fourth book in Blabey's Bad Guys series.

We last saw our wannabe good guys facing off against the advancing kitten apocalypse unleashed by the evil genius Dr Marmalade.

In Apocalypse Meow our team of Sort-Of-International-League-Of-Good-Guys-Guys divides to conquer.

Mr Wolf, Legs and Snake venture forth with Agent Fox to find an antidote, while Mr Shark and Piranha head off to find Dr Marmalade's hideout.

As per usual, nothing quite goes to plan. A meeting with an ageing Granny Gumbo almost leads to the untimely end of Mr Snake. Dr Marmalade reveals that the zitten apocalypse was merely phase one of his plans. And his sudden disappearance in a rocket ship, shifts the action to a much higher plane.

Laughter, terror and ridiculous disguises keep the action rolling along nicely. Mr Wolf also finds time to do a little flirting with Agent Fox, as our good guys continue to escape from one crisis only to land in the next!

The promise of interstellar mayhem in Episode 5 might see our favourite Sort-Of-Good-Guys become the Intergalactic-League-Of-Good-Guys-Guys!

The Bad Guys are perfect for early readers who are gaining confidence with form and font or as a fun, fun read aloud with your favourite four year old.

Episode 1 The Bad Guys
Episode 2 Mission Unpluckable
Episode 3 The Furball Strikes Back
Episode 4 Apocalypse Meow

Mr Galliano's Circus by Enid Blyton

Ahhh, the silly season is very silly indeed.

December has been my busiest month of the year for such a long time, that you'd think I would be used to it by now. But every year I'm surprised and caught out by how crazy December is.

I love seeing people's Christmas reading lists, #SummerReadingStacks and #20booksofwinter - such ambition - such hope!

Every year I join in... and fail miserably. The December part anyway (I get back on track in the New Year).

I forget how hard it is for me to read anything during December.

For the past week, I've been trying to finish all those big books I started during #AusReadingMonth but can barely manage a page or two at a time. My brain wanders off to make lists of things to do instead. I was getting frustrated and annoyed.

Until I remembered that December reading has to be light, easy and instantly engaging.

This weekend I revisited my childhood.

Mr Galliano's Circus was one of my favourite Enid Blyton books (the other being The Secret Island). I have no idea how many times I reread them. A conservative estimate would be three or four times each for about five or six years.

Blyton's ability to tap into the secret world of childhood dreams and wish fulfilment was extraordinary. I'm sure there would be/could be/should be a psychological study into the Blyton we love and what it says about us.

My two favourites involved running away to make a new life for yourself free of the restraints of parental figures or everyday routines. New places where you could shine and excel and be rewarded/recognised for your talents and hard work.

Mr Books' favourite Blyton as a young boy was The Adventures of Pink-Whistle. A half human, half brownie character who could make himself invisible. He spent his time doing good deeds to help others.

'Nuff said!

Rereading Mr Galliano's Circus at 48 was almost just as much of a treat for me as it was when I was eight.

Even as a child, I knew Blyton was writing fantasy. Even when, or especially when, the story seemed rooted in everyday life.

Mr Galliano's circus is a dream place to live and work. Young Lotta, explains to Jimmy early on how they care for their animals -

Why, we all know that no animals will play or work properly for us unless we love them and are kind to them. If Mr Galliano saw anyone hitting a dog or a monkey he would send him off at once. We love our animals and feed them well, and look after them. Then they are so full of love and good spirits that they think it is fun to play and work with us.

There is a brief mention of the untidiness of circus folk and their lack of education, but mostly this book is about goodness and kindness.

The folk who do bad things like mistreat animals or steal, get their comeuppance. Those who act poorly at some point are shown a better, kinder way. They eventually see the error of their ways or apologise or make amends.

And when young Jimmy is faced with a major life disappointment, his very wise, caring mother says,

Now that an obstacle has come and you can't get what you want, don't worry about it. The best way to treat obstacles is to use them as stepping-stones. Laugh at them, tread on them, and let them lead you to something better. 

What's not to love?

I recently discovered that there is a new updated story collection of Mr Galliano to introduce new generations to the charms of circus life. I was delighted and horrified to discover this was actually a trilogy.

I wish I'd known as a child - but I wonder if Hurray For the Circus and Circus Days Again could have lived up to my very high expectations? The running away part that appealed to me so much back then was satisfied by the first story...could the other two possibly resonate in the same way?

Perhaps between now and Christmas we will find out?

What was your favourite Blyton?

What do you think it said about you?
What deeply personal desire did her books satisfy in you?

Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London by Kate Knapp

I have come to love this gorgeous little series of early readers.

Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London is full of love and kindness and tenderness.
Quiet humour also infuses the story which keeps it from being sickly sweet. Instead we have a book that delights and charms and thrills the hearts of all its readers - young and old.

In London, Ruby and her grandmother, visit family for Christmas.

We meet, aunts and cousins (and the Queen!) and we sadly learn a little more about why Ruby lives with her Babushka Galushka.

Ruby explores London and spends time playing with her cousins, before the time comes all too quickly to return home.

The Ruby Red Shoes series rejoices in family and home. All the books embrace a zen-like approach to life. Ruby and her grandmother appreciate being in the moment. They remember to feel grateful for all that they have and take time to be at peace.

Knapp's illustrations add to the overall feeling of cosiness and gentleness. Lots of interesting and funny details can be spotted on each page. Her attention to creating a complete package that appeals at every level makes the wait for each book worth while.

Ruby Red Shoes

Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris

Ruby Red Shoes Goes to London

I hope there's more to come.

#AusReadingMonth

The Bad Guys Episode 3 The Furball Strikes Back by Aaron Blabey

To my mind, Aaron Blabey can do no wrong!

His series of early readers featuring four of literature's bad guys trying to make good is consistently funny, smart and unexpected.

In Episode 3 The Furball Strikes Back, we find our four +1 bad guys coming face-to-face with the baddest, most evil of all creatures - Dr Rupert Marmalade, the guinea pig!

Mr Wolf, Shark, Piranha and Snake have now been joined by Legs, the Tarantula. There is growing dissension in the ranks about whether or not being good guys is really working for them.

Mr Wolf's constant cry of "It's time to be heroes!" is rubbing some of them the wrong way.

Falling into the evil clutches of the grandiose and rather mad Dr Marmalade only creates more friction amongst our lovable heroes.

In the background, though, there is another dark and mysterious character jumping about - will this illusive figure be a force for good or evil?

And how will our Bad Guys foil the dastardly plans of Dr Marmalade?

Episode 1 The Bad Guys
Episode 2 Mission Unpluckable
Episode 3 The Furball Strikes Back
Episode 4 Apocalypse Meow

Mrs Dog by Janeen Brian

Mrs Dog by Janeen Brian and illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall touched me to my childhood bones.

Growing up in rural NSW meant that the story featured in Mrs Dog was not unknown to me. So many of my friends who lived on farms had a story about a dog and a lamb not unlike Freeman's one.

Mrs Dog is a retired farm dog that takes on the care of an orphaned lamb.

Lamb learns to act like Mrs Dog around the yard and with the other animals. Mrs Dog teaches her how to be safe around the farm. But the only thing lamb can't do is bark like Mrs Dog.
Until one day, when Mrs Dog finds herself  in grave danger, and lamb discovers how brave she really is.

The illustrations have a gentle, nostalgic feel and combined with the text created, for me, a connection to the heart-warming movie, Babe.

The Babe connection was made with the naming of the creatures from Mrs Dog's point of view - there are 'woolly-heads', 'tall-one', 'tall-two', 'baa-rah' and 'beaky-wings'.

Mrs Dog is a tender, touching story. It's full of hope, courage and kindness in all guises.

Dog stories like this resonate so strongly because they are not only based on true stories that we can relate to, but because they also remind us of our better natures.

Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess by Janet Hill

Miss Moon is one of those delightful picture books for children, that's really for the grown-ups (and dogs) in their life!

Full of simple truisms and etiquette advice designed to remind us of what really matters. Each double page spread elegantly highlights such gems as -

• Always give the warmest of welcomes.
• A tidy space is a welcoming space.
• Show your loved ones you care.
• Respect the property of others.
• Friends come in many shapes and sizes.
• A good book will chase away the dark.

Most of the story is actually revealed on the fly cover of the book.

We are told that Miss Wilhelmina Moon is a dog governess. Her first placement was on a small island off the coast of France looking after 67 dogs!

In this book, she collects twenty of her hard-won lessons in "raising happy, healthy, well-mannered pooches - and people."

She is a Mary Poppins for dogs!

Miss Moon is unflappable and dignified at every eventuality.
Poise and graciousness are paramount. Kindness is expected as the norm.
What's not to love?

Canadian artist, Janet Hill uses oil on canvas to create these beautiful pages. You can watch her technique here at the Daily Globe and Mail site.

Each double page spreads has a border with a lesson insert. French chic oozes from every image.

The dogs are given anthropomorphic characteristics (I haven't had a chance to use that word since my Uni assignments on themes in childhood literature!)

We see dogs in glasses, in Halloween outfits, riding bikes and dressed as pirates.

Miss Moon is more an art book than a story book and a more useful guide to living than anything Marie Kondo has produced so far! In fact, everything about this book brings you joy.

Full of doggy adorableness and cuteness, this is a dog lovers paradise.

Also available as Mademoiselle Moon Gouvernante de Chiens.

This post is part of my Paris in July challenge.

My Dog Bigsy by Alison Lester

There aren't many Alison Lester books that don't eventually charm me.

In the case of My Dog Bigsy I was in love from the front cover!

Such a joyful, happy pup bounding across the page. Bigsy looks ready for cuddles and snuggles and tummy rubs.

My Dog Bigsy has been shortlisted for this years CBCA Early Childhood book of the year. The judging criteria states that:

Entries in this category may be fiction, drama or poetry and should be appropriate in style and content for children who are at pre-reading or early stages of reading.  

The front and end papers create a little map of the farm where Bigsy lives. The map shows us all the different animals who live on the farm with him.

The introduction page has arrows pointing out all of Bigsy's best features such as his 'wet, black nose' and his 'special scratching spot'.

Lester uses simple descriptive language and lots of fun onomatopoeia as Bigsy races around the farm waking everyone up.

Her illustrations are clean, simple shapes pasted onto fabric backgrounds.

Bigsy is lovable and fun and I think he's a winner already.

My CBCA shortlist post is here.

The Adventures of Miss Petitfour by Anne Michaels

I read Fugitive Pieces around about the time it won the Orange Prize for Fiction (which is now the Women's Prize).

I fell in love with Anne Michaels ability to weave magic with her words. I remember being completely under her spell for the entire story. I felt bereft when it finished.

When I recently spotted that Michaels had written a children's book, I swooned with anticipation.

How could I not fall instantly in love?

Cats, delicious food, magic flying tablecloths and lots of gorgeous wordplays littered the pages of this illustrated chapter book. It all looked and sounded so promisingly delightful.

But something didn't zing for me.

Each chapter had lots of fun wordy digressions,

Some words are like a hailstorm during the middle of a picnic, or a flat tyre on a lovely journey, or a fallen tree across a path, and these words stop a story immediately and swivel it off in another direction entirely. Words like BUT, HOWEVER, IF ONLY, SADLY and UNFORTUNATELY.

Sadly, for me, these wordy digressions were more exciting than the actual story. The adventures were not the right size for me (see pg 11), they were even decidedly, ho-hum (see pg 18).

Which is such a pity.

The back cover has a lovely quote that says,

Five utterly captivating stories of gentle adventure, delicious edibles (with cheese for the cats), occasional peril and heart-zinging warmth.

Which helped me realise that what this book was missing was the emotion.
I felt no peril, no zing or glow of warmth. In the end I didn't care what happened to Miss Petitfour or her cats.

I really, really, really wanted to love this book, which is why I have spent so much time trying to work out what went wrong.

This is now my second attempt to get into the story.
I gave it up a few weeks ago thinking my life was too busy and hectic to appreciate it properly.

I have now had a lovely relaxing, soothing summer holiday. But this quaint, gentle tale still failed to capture my imagination or my heart.

Unfortunately, I need more drama than this story offers up. I need more character development. I need a reason to go along for the ride.

And Emma Block's sweet, charming illustrations have not been reason enough.

The Bad Guys Episode 2 Mission Unpluckable by Aaron Blabey

"Go be a hero"

What a great line.

Sadly for The Bad Guys (Mr Wolf, Snake, Piranha and Shark) their idea to show the world that they are, in fact, good guys hasn't quite gone to plan. News reports of their first event have completely misrepresented what actually happened.

They decide they need to do something more dramatic to show the world that they really are good guys - they decide to release all the caged chickens from the local chicken farm back into the wild. What could possibly go wrong?

The first problem for Mr Shark is the new bad guy turned good guy - I.T. genius Legs, the tarantula. As it turns out Mr Shark is terrified of spiders!

Mr Snake is also struggling to overcome his chicken eating tendencies and Piranha keeps being mistaken for tuna! But what will happen to our loveable bad guys when they finally meet up with a REALLY bad guy?

Full of Blabey's trademark humour, intelligence and quirkiness, Episode 2 is fun from start to finish.