Friday
Jun102011
Friday Fives - Ladybird's well loved tales
by 
The Land of Me | in Stuff we like
The Land of Me | in Stuff we like
This week we have been walloped in the face by the nostalgia kipper. We have been collecting and reading vintage Ladybird titles. It's amazing how childhood picture books can seep into the furthest corners of your memory and be catapulted back to the forefront with certain images. These books have been handed down through generations. They are the heart and soul of many a childhood. So, compose your self readers, and get ready for some jiggery pokery of the mind...here are five of the most nostalgia inducing Ladybird classics.
1. The Three Little Pigs
For me, page five is the image that shoots me back 20 odd years. I remember being baffled as a child as to why the little piggies completely miss the massive Big Bad Wolf sitting just to their right, licking his lips and brandishing a frying pan? And the worms? A pretty agile group it seems, and handily, in possession of a worm sized pair of scissors. And the one who appears to be sun bathing on the lid of a tin can. What's his story?!
2. Chicken Licken
You'd think with a bunch of friends called Goosey Loosey, Turkey Lurkey, Ducky Lucky etc someone might have broken the mould, raised their wing and insisted on being called Alan. I blame this book for the names my brother and I gave our pet sheep; Sheepy and Rammy they were called. We were lazy, we didn't even do any rhyming!
3. Jack and the Beanstalk
Where does Jack live? Wherever it is I want to move there. Magic beans, ginormous beanstalks, giants, huge bags of money, a magic hen and a singing harp?! Amazing!! I remember insisting on planting kidney beans in the flower bed as a child and desperately hoping for a little sprout to appear. It never did, you'll be surprised to hear. It was all OK though. My magic hen more than made up for it.
4. The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Being fortunate enough to grow up in the countryside there was a bridge nearby that myself and my brother often played Pooh Sticks on. Sometimes we played the Three Billy Goats Gruff. He would play the part of the billy-goats and I, on more than one occasion, would be given the role of the troll. I put this down having wild, curly hair (I'm not sure why but a girl has to justify it somehow) and having more 'presence' than my brother. Hmm that doesn't paint me in a very good light does it?
5. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
When frolicking in the woods as a wee girl I used to wish I would happen across a house where bears lived. Imagine how wonderful that would be! As long as they were charming, friendly bears of course. I am not sure I would have been as daring as Goldilocks and popped in and helped myself to their porridge though. What a cheeky little thing she was!
1. The Three Little Pigs
For me, page five is the image that shoots me back 20 odd years. I remember being baffled as a child as to why the little piggies completely miss the massive Big Bad Wolf sitting just to their right, licking his lips and brandishing a frying pan? And the worms? A pretty agile group it seems, and handily, in possession of a worm sized pair of scissors. And the one who appears to be sun bathing on the lid of a tin can. What's his story?!
2. Chicken Licken
You'd think with a bunch of friends called Goosey Loosey, Turkey Lurkey, Ducky Lucky etc someone might have broken the mould, raised their wing and insisted on being called Alan. I blame this book for the names my brother and I gave our pet sheep; Sheepy and Rammy they were called. We were lazy, we didn't even do any rhyming!
3. Jack and the Beanstalk
Where does Jack live? Wherever it is I want to move there. Magic beans, ginormous beanstalks, giants, huge bags of money, a magic hen and a singing harp?! Amazing!! I remember insisting on planting kidney beans in the flower bed as a child and desperately hoping for a little sprout to appear. It never did, you'll be surprised to hear. It was all OK though. My magic hen more than made up for it.
4. The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Being fortunate enough to grow up in the countryside there was a bridge nearby that myself and my brother often played Pooh Sticks on. Sometimes we played the Three Billy Goats Gruff. He would play the part of the billy-goats and I, on more than one occasion, would be given the role of the troll. I put this down having wild, curly hair (I'm not sure why but a girl has to justify it somehow) and having more 'presence' than my brother. Hmm that doesn't paint me in a very good light does it?
5. Goldilocks and the Three Bears
When frolicking in the woods as a wee girl I used to wish I would happen across a house where bears lived. Imagine how wonderful that would be! As long as they were charming, friendly bears of course. I am not sure I would have been as daring as Goldilocks and popped in and helped myself to their porridge though. What a cheeky little thing she was!
Reader Comments (3)
All great childhood classics : D
That 'Bill Goat's Gruff' artwork is just too good... and indelibly marked in my memory!
I remember all of these books and 'all' of the pictures - it's true, they are engrained in my mind too!
For the K'Boo take on 'Goldilocks' see http://wp.me/p1cFoK-tO