I hope you enjoy this quick preview. If you would like to ask a question or need further information about any of the featured books, please click on the 'email me' link in the right-hand column.
Noah's Ark published by Valentine & Sons undated but c1921. All kinds of well known and not so well known creatures are depicted including a Quadda, Caracal, Puma, Ounce, Phalanger, Ratel, Albatross, Secretary bird, Cavy, Cassowary, Margay, Ichneumon, Mangue, Sasyure and so on.
Strangely, none of the animals are in pairs.
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp published by Faber & Faber, London 1981. The story of Aladdin and his lamp brought to life with amazing full colour illustrations by the brilliant Errol le Cain.
The Church Mouse by Graham Oakley published by Macmillan Books in 1977. The story begins in the Anglican Church of Saint John, Worthlethorpe where Sampson the cat and Arthur the mouse live a quiet and happy life. Sampson has listened to so many sermons about the meek being blessed that he has grown quite docile and treats Arthur just like his brother. Although enjoying Sampson's company Arthur is a little lonely and with the approval of the parson invites the rest of the town's mice population to move to the church. It's agreed that in exchange for a little cheese, the mice will do a few odd jobs, like polishing the congregation's shoes and picking up the confetti after weddings...
The Amazing Adventures of Two Boots written by Ross Lyntonwith illustrations by Brenda Sheldon published by Collins in 1948. An imaginative tale of two boots who discover they can walk about by themselves. The boots are in great demand by all sorts of people, from message boys to policemen, but one person is too wily for them. This is the owner of a circus; a cruel man called Boiler Brown, who manages to catch the boots and force them to perform in his show.
Mr. Happy at the Seaside - A Mr. Men Word Book by Roger Hargreaves produced by Thurman Publishing in 1979. Our son grew up with the Mr. Men books so this holds lots of happy memories for us.
Three of the ever popular Little Grey Rabbit Books
Gobbliwinks of Nonsense Land written by Leslie M Oyler with illustrations by Savile Lumley published by The Shoe Lane Publishing Company undated but c1927. Pamela and Hugh are playing in the garden when they notice a sign pointing to Nonsense Land. Pamela finds it very funny because nurse is always telling her to stop talking nonsense! The children follow the sign and it’s not long before they find three more signs pointing the way to Absurd Nonsense, Stuff and Nonsense and Utter Nonsense...
We've been enjoying lots of lovely spring sunshine over the last few days. The blackbirds are busy feeding their new brood, and the butterflies are basking on the rockery. Spring has definitely arrived in this part of England. I hope you are all enjoying some nice weather whatever the season.
Having enjoyed our summer break it’s now time to start replenishing the shelves. This is a quick preview of some newly listed items.
Ginger the cat - the strange tale of a tail. A Tuck Book published by Raphael Tuck in 1945. If ever there was a bold, bad cat, it was Ginger! Beautifully illustrated in full colour by Harry Woolley.
Ginger the cat is now sold, thank you for your interest.What to look for in autumn illustrated by the wildlife artist C. F. Tunnicliffe (1901 – 1979) published by Ladybird books in 1960. C.F. Tunnicliffe was commissioned to illustrate five books for Ladybird: What to look for in spring, What to look for in summer, What to look for in autumn, What to look for in winter (first published 1959-1961) and a ‘Learning to read’ book The Farm.
A selection of fun annuals; 
The Teddy Tail annual featured here is now sold but we do have others in stock.
The Teddy bears picnic and the frog and Miss Mouse's wedding. Cookery for the very young, simple and safe.Colour illustrations throughout both books by Jill Mackley Hall. Recipes with ingredients that are simply assembled and need little supervision. All kinds of delights for the youngest child to try including crispy nutty delights, sardine crackers, Queens tarts, orange iceberg drink, banana spread, chocolate ice cream cups and corned beef whirls. Covers just a little rubbed on edges and some darkening to edges of pages else very good. Published in 1973. Priced at just £6.00 for the two.
A nice collection of the ever popular Pookie books by Ivy Wallace. Further details here
Ivy Wallace became a publishing phenomenon in the 1950s and 1960s with a series of children's books chronicling the adventures of Pookie, the flying rabbit who leaves his home in the Bluebell Wood to seek his fortune with a red spotted bundle tied on a stick; in the 1990s, she became one of the few writers to be rediscovered in her own lifetime.
A keen amateur artist, Ivy Wallace created Pookie during the Second World War. The books, beautifully illustrated by their author with every flower drawn from nature, became a worldwide success with the stories being translated into several languages and Pookie clubs as far afield as Australia, Canada and South Africa.
(The Telegraph online) Read moreCuckoo Cherry-Tree by Alison Uttley. A book of twelve original fairy tales for all ages, imbued with country lore and magic, with a background of woods and fields and cottages where simple folk live. Published by Faber & Faber in 1944. How nice it is to have the original dust jacket with this pretty book.
All the books featured here are available (unless previously sold) to view or purchase at
March House Books. Please use the quick search boxes on the home page or follow the links. Thanks to everyone who called in to wish me a happy holiday. I will be catching up with all your blogs just as soon as I can.
I was lucky enough to visit the magical Hay-on-Wye ‘book town’ and the wonderful Alfies Antiques Market in Marylebone and will be sharing some of the 'photos in a later post.
A few of the books acquired on my recent travels, some of which are available in my shop, others will be listed in the next few days.
And just to prove I did more than lounge around on my holiday...
Well, a girl can dream!
I will be listing other interesting things over the next few days so if you have a few minutes to spare why not pay a visit to
March HouseBooks where you will find...
My books are full of pictures of interesting places -
of circus tents and lions and clowns with funny faces!
I'm sorry if you are all bored with looking at these, but I wanted to include them while I had the full set. These are the final eleven books in the series. You can see the first twenty in two previous posts
here and
here.
Some of my favourite Little Grey Rabbit books are in this selection. Can you guess which ones they are?
No. 21 Little Grey Rabbit's Paint-Box. First published in 1958, this copy a first thus edition published in 1970. Hare found a sketch book filled with pictures and took it home to show Grey Rabbit. Then Wise Owl gave Grey rabbit a paint box and soon the animals were painting pictures for themselves.
No. 22 Grey Rabbit finds a shoe. First published in 1960, this copy a reprint published in 1962. Little Grey Rabbit finds a shoe in the meadow near her woodland home. A tiny red shoe that would only fit an elf or a fairy...
No.23 Grey Rabbit and the circus. This a 1st edition published in 1961. One morning Squirrel, Hare and Little Grey Rabbit see what looks like a striped toadstool in their field. On closer inspection, they realise it's a stripy tent - the circus has arrived!
No. 24 Grey Rabbit's May Day. This a 1st edition published in 1963. Little Grey Rabbit is busy preparing for May Day, there's going to be a procession, songs and dancing around the May Tree.
No. 25 Hare goes shopping. This a 1st edition published in 1965. Moldy Warp tells Hare about a bright red, roaring, snorting kind of house on wheels (a red bus) and now Hare wants to go for a ride.
No. 26 Little Grey Rabbit's pancake day. This a 1st edition published in 1967. Hare finds an old frying pan and Grey Rabbit, Squirrel and Hare decided to give a pancake party. When all the pancakes are finished Hare finds another use for the pan…
No. 27 Little Grey Rabbit goes to the North Pole. This a 1st edition published in 1970. Hare has always wanted to visit the North Pole, and so he persuades Little Grey Rabbit and Squirrel to join him on a Polar expedition.
No. 28 Fuzzypeg's brother. This a 1st edition published in 1971. There is great excitement in the Hedgehog family at the arrival of Little Urchin, and Fuzzypeg is very proud of his new baby brother. Mr Hedgehog makes him a hammock of rushes as a day-bed, and Little Grey Rabbit and all her friends come to visit the new baby..... Scarce and pretty Little Grey Rabbit book.
No. 29 Little Grey Rabbit's spring-cleaning party. This a 1st edition published in 1972. When Grey Rabbit discovers a cobweb in the corner of her neat little house, she decides its time to do some spring cleaning. She enlists the help of Squirrel and Hare, but they soon receive some surprises when they discover various creatures have made their homes in unexpected places. Tommy Dormouse is hiding up the chimney; there is a bat behind a picture, a ladybird behind the curtain and daddy-long-legs on the ceiling.
No. 30 Little Grey Rabbit and the snow-baby. This a 1st edition published in 1973. It’s Christmas time, and the ground is covered in deep drifts of snow. Little Grey Rabbit and her friends decide to make a snow-rabbit, and as a finishing touch Hare finds a big snowball for the snow-rabbit to hold in its paws. Suddenly, out of the snowball tumbles a tiny white rabbit.... Super copy of very scarce Little Grey Rabbit book.
No. 31 Hare and the rainbow. This is a 1st edition published in 1975. Have you ever wondered what's at the end of the rainbow? Well wonder no more; join Little Grey Rabbit and her friends as they journey to rainbows end.
View or purchase these and other books at March House Books. Browsers are very welcome and there is no obligation to buy. Virtual cups of tea available on request!
Two illustrators were involved in the making of these little books. Margaret Tempest illustrated the first 26 books and Katherine Wigglesworth the last 5.
My favourites? The ones illustrated by Katherine Wigglesworth. Do you have a favourite?
I LOVE "Hare Goes Shopping" but then, I love them all. Honestly, I have GOT to get up to my little library in the loft and find my collection to see which ones I have. Off now to teach in a second grade class at the French school. Don't you just love the world of children my dear?
HAPPY or rather, HOPPY Day! Anita
Another great selection, thanks for sharing.
These are all wonderful. So pleased I am getting your posts again.
Indeed, I do Anita! I’m longing to know what’s lurking in your loft – maybe you could do a post on what you find?
I hope this post put a spring in your step!! Barbara
The pleasure is all mine! Thanks for calling in.
Hello Darlene, me too! I was missing your visits.
These are not at all boring, they are all so sweet! :)
Thanks Sandy! I was worried about the posts being repetitive but as all the books are from the same series I couldn't think how to vary them. Your comment made me feel a lot better!
What a fantastic collection! Every time I come by and see your books, it reasserts the fact that I need to pull out my Berenstein Bear Collection! I think I am going to post according to color of the covers since that is how I always shelved them as a child!
Cheers from B at http://brandysbustlings.blogspot.ca/
Hi Brandy, that sounds like a great idea. I used to shelve by size, tallest on the right and shortest on the left. I’ve no idea why! I like your idea much better!
The books are very sweet :) What a wonderful collection!
Thanks Hilde, glad you like them. Barbara
These books are so enchanting. I love the one where the shoe is found- it sounds like such fun! I am also curious about Fuzzypeg's Brother and the Snow Baby one. All of them look great and I have so enjoyed learning about this collection.
That's really good to know, thanks you!
Such thoroughly wonderful books, as always, Barbara!
I’ve just been presented with the Super Sweet Award and wanted to present it to you! I know you have so many but I don't think you have this one? Forgive me if I'm wrong. If you would like to accept it it’s here: http://jilllondon.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/super-sweet-award/ To do with as you wish. You’re such a sweet blogger I thought of you straight away. It was really you that launched me into the wonders of blogging so I just had to say thanks xxx
Thank you Jill, I’m delighted to accept the Super Sweet Award. I don’t know anything about this one but will enjoy finding out. Thank you also for your lovely words – you just made my day! xxx
Oh! They are All lovely but the one who is cleaning and with the butterfly...so sweet! I guess how wonderful the images inside these books must be...Great collection! What a pity I'm not closer...
Besos!
Pancake day? Too cute!
Yes, it really is. Thanks for calling in.
That's my favourite one of all! The illustrations inside are as pretty as the covers. It would be lovely if you were closer, we could share cups of tea (in some of your adorable china) and books!
If I had to choose Barbara it would be Hare Goes Shopping and I'm not bored I could look at them for hours.
Thank you Michelle, that's very reassuring. They have been very popular and lots are sold already (I'm sad about that but don't tell anyone!) Have a lovely weekend.
I loved every one of these covers, but I particularly like 'Little Grey Rabbit Finds a Shoe' and 'Little Grey Rabbit Goes to the North Pole.'
I'm glad you enjoyed them. Thanks for taking a look. Barbara