To me the Milly-Molly-Mandy Stories are like being wrapped in a big warm blanket and being hugged by my mum. They are comfy, cosy stories written about a time long ago, that are still relevant and adored today. Joyce Lankester Brisley first wrote about Milly-Molly-Mandy in 1928, she is a little girl growing up in a lovely little English village where she can roam and play without a care. This was obviously one of the things that really appealed to me at 6+ about the books was Milly-Molly-Mandy’s freedom to explore and experience new things in the village.
I loved that she lives in a thatched cottage with her extended family of Grandmother and Grandfather, Aunt and Uncle and Mother and Father, how wonderful to live with all those people to love you and look after you. I can also remember feeling embraced by the sense of community in the stories as Milly-Molly-Mandy attends fete’s and parties organised for the children of the village, she helps keep shop and gets to know the teacher, she helps thatch a roof and attends the blacksmiths wedding.
Brisley’s beautiful line drawings accompany the text perfectly, even though the illustrations were never in colour I could still vividly imagine Milly-Molly-Mandy in her pink and white striped dress. The end papers are a gorgeous map of the village which I loved pouring over to see where Milly-Molly-Mandy was in each story. Every couple of pages within the text there is a glorious illustration of a scene, full of quaint detail that you could look over again and again.
Although the stories could be twee I don’t believe that they are even today, they are certainly sweet but not sacrine. Milly-Molly-Mandy is an adorable character but she is also strong and confident. Joyce Lankester Brisley was a trailblazer, creating a strong female character who can certainly still sit beside recent strong little girl characters like Hannah created by Libby Gleeson, Sophie by Dick King-Smith and of course Lauren Child’s Clarice books.
Recently there has been an edition of Milly-Molly-Mandy released that is illustrated by Clara Vulliamy (Daughter of Shirley Hughes) and it has just been rereleased in a gift box with a doll.
How great to hear about the new edition - will look out for it.
I loved these books too, Lou. I used to read them curled up in bed at my grandparents’ house when I was sick and home from school. The pictures (that striped dress!) bring back vivid memories. They remind me that some degree of ‘tweeness’ is, I think, an important part of childhood and should never be disallowed by one’s parents!
I grew up in the 1950s and remember these books as being ones I loved, but my Dad couldn’t stand! (Even though he had an English background). He loved to read out loud to us, even when we were quite capable of reading ourselves, but he hated the alliteration of the name ‘Milly Molly Mandy’ and the number of times it occurred in the text. I can almost hear his voice becoming increasing aggitated and his face contorting - saying Milly Molly Mandy made him screw up his eyes! The books quietly disappeared from the house.
And I remember when it was much to my grandfather’s dismay that I reintroduced Milly Molly Mandy books to his house. (I think he’d hoped they would quietly disappear all together…) Can also hear his voice chanting Milly Molly Mandy!
Thankyou so much for writing this post!
I bought my now 4.5yo daughter a big copy of a Milly Molly Mandy edition earlier this year. It had a cd with it and she loves listening to it as well as having the stories read to her. It is then joyfully play acted with her nearly 3yo sister being forced into the role of Billy Blunt and the recounting of various adventures. I just love these ‘old’ stories and am passing them on to my children - all the while resisting the likes of Dora the Explorer.
Keep up the good work girls, am really enjoying it all!
ohhhh! I love books too, Milly Molly Mandy ranks very highly indeed. Excellent, excellent choice!