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click for image of bookEarth Abides
Hi when I was in high school 30 years ago we read a book about a man who was bitten by a snake.  He was unconscious in a little cabin for days. When he woke up the world had ended and everyone was dead.  He took a motorcycle put it  in the back of a station wagon and started out.  He eventually found people in San Francisco and started a new population. I have asked all sorts of people for years about this book and no one has ever heard of it.  I would like to get a copy and re-read this book. Thank you for your help.

S27 is Earth Abides, by George R. Stewart.  Not really a children's book, though I read it as a child.  I believe it's currently in print as a mass market paperback.
This is EARTH ABIDES by George R. Stewart.  It is one of the most famous post-apocalypse science fiction novels, and you should have no trouble finding it:  it's still in print as a mass-market paperback from Fawcett.
The ISBN is 0-44-921301-3.
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Sci-Fi - man survives world-wide virus because he was recovering from a snake bite at the time. Uses telephone book to locate other survivors and organizes a group to start civilization again. First women he finds becomes his wife & eventually dies of cancer.  70's?

#C163--civilization organizes again after virus:  This is Earth Abides, by George R. Stewart, one of the first post-apocalyptic novels of the atomic age and a classic.
George R. Stewart, Earth Abides,  1959.  This is "Earth Abides" by George Stewart.  "A disease of unparalleled destructive force has sprung up almost simultaneously in every corner of the globe, all but destroying the human race. One survivor, strangely immune to the effects of the epidemic, ventures forward to experience a world without man. What he ultimately discovers will prove far more astonishing than anything he'd either dreaded or hoped for."  Oh yeah, and he survives because of snakebite and marries the first woman he meets... :)



Earthborn
This was a science fiction book about a planet where two races or species coexisted, one that lived on the ground and one that flew in the air.  I can't recall if there was a man who was visiting the planet/land, but someone discovered a connection between the two races - the land beings sculpted idols out of clay or mud, and the person (man?) who discovered the cave of sculptures saw that some of the idols were very detailed while others weren't much more than soft lumps.  This is the strange part, and I'm not sure if it's my memory playing tricks on me, but I remember it turns out that the flying creatures lick the sculptures!  So the older sculptures are all worn down from all the licking.  I can't even recall if this book was any good, but I'd like to find it so I can know for sure!

I recognise the description but can't recall the title. I think there were three species, those who could fly, tose who lived in tunnels and those who lived on the surface. They all belived the others to be 'animals' rather than sentients. I think they were all originally the same species and the licking/modelling was a part of the reproctive cycle.  I think the story is by either Ursula Le Guin or Orsan Scott Card, if that helps.
Snyder, Zilpah keatley, Below the root.  this is a long shot - but it is about two races one who live in the branches of the trees - and who glide- and the others who live in the roots on the ground.  Is the first in a trilogy
Orson Scott Card, Earthborn.  I agree with the previous answer: probably Earthborn, one of The Homecoming series by Orson Scott Card.
ORSON SCOTT CARD, EARTHFALL. 1990s.  Since posting my previosu solution I've been trying to track down the correct book - I'm pretty sure it's Earthfall (part 4 of the Homecoming series)
Orson Scott Card, Homecoming series,1992-1995.This is definitely from the "Homecoming" series. The creatures are mentioned in dreams in the first book as angels as demons, later come to be known as angels/skymeat (flying batlike creatures) and diggers/devils (underground large rat creatures). The angels sculpt clay on the riverbank and the diggers steal the sculptures, licking them as a form of worship. The humans from planet Harmony return to Earth to discover this new culture and try to figure out why the angels and diggers are so linked. Great series. Starts with The Memory of Earth, then The Call of Earth, The Ships of Earth, Earthfall, and finally Earthborn. Diggers and angels are mainly in "Earthfall", and their descendents in "Earthborn". Series is mostly about Nafai (youngest son of Volemak the Wetchik) and the Oversoul of Harmony (a computer trying to keep mankind from destroying itself)



Earthseed
I'm looking for a young adult science fiction novel, published before 1996, about a colony ship of teens travelling through space. The main character is a girl. There is a "bio-dome" section on the ship. I believe the kids were raised by a "mother computer," and the kids eventually discover that their real parents (who provided their genetic material) were frozen cryogenically in a hidden part of the ship.

This sounds like a Robert Heinlein teen SF novel from the 1950s/1960s.
I don't think it's a Heinlein novel, I checked the summaries of all his books. One of them is similar, but not the one I was looking for.
Pamela Sargent, Earthseed, 1987.
mystery solved, thanks so much :)



East of the Sun, West of the Moon
I am looking for a story which may have been in a poetry collection - perhaps a big golden book - my father who is 87 years old has talked about it for years so it would be pretty old.  The story is about how the ocean got salty.  Something about a coffee grinder in the ocean and grinding away and the ocean turned salty.  I know it sounds weird and my mom and I thought maybe dad made it up, but a friend of theirs actually remembers the story.  My dad's birthday is in November and I would love to surprise him with the book!  THANKS!  AWESOME SITE!

Have you looked on the Anthology Finder to see if any look familiar?  Of course, you might not recognize your father's memory...
I found a few collections that have the story "How The Sea Became Salt".  Once Upon A Time Tales by Wallace Wadsworth, illus. by Margaret Evans Price, c. 1944, was reissued in 1995 by Barnes & Noble.  Contents: The cock, the mouse and the little red hen -- The seven wonderful cats -- Puss in Boots -- Bob-White and the farmer man -- Bluebeard -- Tom Thumb -- The three little pigs -- The goose girl -- Henny Penny -- The three bears -- Jack and the beanstalk -- How the Sea became salt -- Peter Rabbit -- The gingerbread man -- The little red hen -- The Pied Piper -- Mr. and Mrs. Vinegar.
The Real Story Book (c1927, 1939, 1947) is also by Wadsworth and contains these same stories, so it may have been the original book.  Do any of the other stories sound familiar to your dad?
Olive Beaupre Miller, editor, My Book House, volume 5 - Over the Hills,  1920-1971.  These books have been in print long enough to be included among your father's childhood favorites.  Volume 5 features a story entitled "Why the Sea is Salt."
Why the Sea is Salt is an old story that has been included in many fairy tale books. The "coffee grinder" in the story is often called a quern.
Why the sea is salty is the subject of many cultures' folk tales and mythologies. The one your father is remembering has a Scandinavian basis of which many versions have been told. A poor man receives the boon of a mill that grinds requested food with magical directions. Another man, usually rich and greedy, steals the mill, but only learns how to start it. When at sea he decides to have the mill make salt to sell to the fishermen, he cannot stop it. Hence, boats sinks and the mill is still under the sea "grinding away still." Published in a number of older anthologies for children.
P214 I wonder if it really was in a poetry collection. I put "Why sea salt" into Google and found this from The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
THANKS to all who helped me solve this mystery!  "Why The Sea is Salt" is DEFINITELY the poem my father remembered!  I am going to try to find a couple different collections that have it and surprise him with one and keep one for myself - such nostalgia! Have a wonderful day and happy searching!
You just put up my stumper today and someone wrote to see if I checked the anthologies - maybe it was you - anyway, check this out!  Look at the last listing!!  Do you have this book????  Could it be the poem?????   East o' the Sun and West o' the Moon by Peter Christen Asbjornsen translated by Gudrun Thorne-Thomsen Gudrun  NY, Harper & Row, 1946
I think things are getting confused here because of the original comment that the story may have appeared in a "poetry collection." "Why the Sea is Salt" is (in any version I've heard it) a story, not a poem. East of the Sun and West of the Moon, which has been translated by different people, is a book of Norwegian folk tales, and it does include that story.  But not in poem form.
Under the heading east of the sun, west of the moon, there is a question about "Why the Sea is Salt."  This is an old Norwegian folk tale, originally published in 1844 by the greats Asbjørnsen & Moe.  It was translated under that English title by George Webbe Dasent, and can be currently found in the Dover publication Popular Tales from Norse Mythology.



Easter Egg Artists
Children's book likely from the seventies about a rabbit/family of rabbits who paint wonderful designs on easter eggs.  One of the rabbit children (a son?) leaves home and goes around painting designs on everything. I seem to remember him painting buildings, a bridge, maybe even a water tower.  Great little book - was one of my favorites when I was growing up in the seventies.

Adrienne Adams, The Easter Egg Artists, 1976.  I've solved my own stumper before it was even posted!
Since you cleverly solved this yourself, I'll add a bit more to it. There are two more wonderful books by Adrienne Adams about the Easter Egg Artists family. One is The Great Valentine's Day Balloon Race and The Christmas Party.



Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals
This book was published either in the 70's or 80's and was a thin paperback in a long, vertical format. each page showed in steps how to draw animals out of shapes. Very colorfull illustrations, each animal composed of simple shapes & lines. I remember a caterpilliar made out of a bunch of green circles, frog, elephant - just about any animal you could think of. I THINK the book organized the animals in order of size, so the first page would be an ant or worm and the last a whale or elephant...

Dover books might have it or something similar.
Ed Emberley, Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals.  This sounds like Ed Emberley. He has a number of great how-to drawing books. Most are in that long horizontal format.
Emberley, Ed, Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals, 1970.  It starts out with ant, ants, worm, snake,.....mouse, bird, pelican.... fox, wolf... horse, shark, whale... and ends with giraffe, alligator, and dragon.   He also adds variations for some of the animals such as turtel sleeping, turtle dancing, and turtle skating in the rain.
Ed Emberley, Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals, 1970.  I'm sitting here looking at my copy that I ordered from a Scholastic book order in school in the 70s, which my son now uses and loves.
Ed Emberley had a series of these oblong drawing books. This one sounds like ED EMBERLEY'S DRAWING BOOK OF ANIMALS, 1970 and republished since~from a librarian
Ed Emberley's big orange drawing book, 1980.  Ed Emberley's drawing book of animals, 1970. Ed Emberley's picture pie; a circle drawing book, 1984.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Emberley, Ed, Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Animals, Little Brown, 1970, 4th printing.  Ex-library with some marks, but overall VG/VG.  $8


Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Faces
from the early 1970s, a book to teach children to draw (faces, mostly) by using geometrical shapes. Each face is broken down into cartoon-like shapes (nose is a triangle, for example). Drawings in primary colors (reds, greens, blues) with black lines. Lots of "strips" as in comic books.


This could be one of the Ed Emberley drawing books. There are so many, it's hard to say which one. Maybe Ed Emberley's Drawing Book: Make a World.
Ed Emberley, Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Faces. Sounds like one of Ed Emberley's books.  From your description, I'm guessing it's his Faces book. This may be one of Ed Emberley's books  perhaps "Ed Emberley's Drawing Book of Faces."
Emberley Ed, Sounds like one of Ed Emberley's drawing books. There were lots!~from a librarian
Ed Emberley, Drawing book series. Emberley has a number of these - they'\''ve been reprinted, so I don'\''t have the original publication dates, but I know my brothers had them in the early 70s.
Ed Emberley, Ed Emberleys Drawing Book of Faces. Ed Emberley has a huge series of these drawing book, but your description made me think of this one. You can see a cover image and some sample pages here.

that's it! solved. thank you!


click for image of bookEddie books
As a child I had most of the "Eddie" books, and my mother got rid of them when I moved out.  Now I would like to build a collection for my son, but have been unable to find any.  The most information I have, is that one title was "Eddie and Gardenia," and I believe that another is "Eddie Makes Music."  I'm pretty sure the author was Carolyn Haywood.  Am I headed in the right direction?  Are these books available?  What price might I expect to pay?  Do you get any of this series in your inventory?  Do you know how many books were in the series?  I recall having about 8-10 books.  Any help you could provide would be most helpful.

I collect the Eddie books by Carolyn Haywood.  They are   Little Eddie '47,  Eddie and the Fire Engine '49, Eddie and Gardenia '51,  Eddie's Paydirt '53,  Eddie and His Big Deals '55,  Eddie Makes Music '57,  Eddie and Louella '59,  Annie Pat and Eddie '60,  Eddie's Green Thumb '64,  Eddie the Dog Holder '66,  Ever-Ready Eddie '68, Eddie's Happenings '71,  Eddie's Valuable Property '75,  Eddie's Menagerie '78, Merry X-mas From Eddie '86.  They are still fairly available, with varying prices, not too steep compared to some other series books.
Eddie and Gardenia / written and illustrated by Carolyn Haywood. New York: Morrow, c1951. Also Eddie and His Big Deals, 1955, Eddie and Louella 1959, Eddie and the Fire Engine, 1949, Eddie Makes Music, 1957, Eddie's Friend Boodles, Eddie's Green Thumb, Eddie's Happenings, Eddie's Menagerie, Eddie's Pay Dirt, Eddie's Valuable Property, Ever-Ready Eddie.... don't know how many, but they go on for years, so how many this person remembers may depend on how many had been written at that point!
Yes, this is the series.
I too was looking for the Eddie collection by Carolyn Haywood for my son.  I was able to find the entire collection of books on E-Bay.  My 9 year old has read all of them and enjoyed them as much as I did.



Edge of the Forest
A Small Part of the Forest: I am sure of the title, but don't remember the author. This is the story of the friendship between a leopard, a deer, and a small black lamb, and the shepherd boy who changes their lives. I left my copy in a laundromat a few years ago, and have never found another copy...

Hurrah! I have the answer to one of your stumpers.  S2: The title is AN EDGE OF THE FOREST by Agnes Smith illustrated by Roberta Moynihan Published 1959. The description of the story is the same. Lamb, leopardess, shepherd. Lovely.


Edge of Time
I am looking for a book I read in my grade school library many times in Minnesota in the mid 1950's.   Of course, I don't remember the title or the author.   It was about a young couple, Bethany and Wade, who married and went off away from their families in a covered wagon.   Certainly would appreciate it if you would know which book I might be thinking of and could find it for me.   Thank you.

B41 is definitely THE EDGE OF TIME  by Loula Grace Erdman, Dodd, Mead and Co. 1950  I have the book in front of me.
B41 Bethany and Wade from a contemporary review: Erdman, Loula Grace The Edge of Time Dodd, 1950, 275 pages "A novel of the Texas Panhandle in 1885 and of a brave young couple who started their married life as homesteaders in that lonely country" "Bethany and Wade are such nice people - you'll like them."
B41 bethany and wade: the suggested title Edge of Time seems likely, with the characters' names Bethany and Wade and the homesteading setting. The original dustjacket shows young homesteaders in a covered wagon.


Edie Changes Her Mind
I am trying to remember the name of the book that my sister and I used to love to read when we were young (about 1965-70).  It was about a girl named Edie who didn't want to go to bed.  One night her parents took her bed apart and put it in the closet.  The story is about what she does trying to stay awake all night, and her decision to ask for her bed to be put back.  It had a blue cover, and I can remember where it was on the library shelf back then!!  Any ideas?

There is a book my sister has written in the 60's or 70's called TERRIBLE,  HORRIBLE EDIE.  The author is E.C. Spykman.  She has other siblings and is always getting into trouble.  Hope this is the one.
No, this doesn't sound like the one because the girl I'm thinking about was an only child, and I don't remember anything about her getting into trouble.  Thanks for the help!
Hello!  I had this book as a child, and still do!  It's called Edie changes her mind by Johanna Johnston, Illustrated by Paul Galdone.  G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York, 1964.  No ISBN, but Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 64-10419.
More on the suggested book - apparently it's hard to find: Johnston, Johanna Edie Changes her Mind NY Putnam 1964 blue and orange pictorial hardcover, 8x10 "Lively, whimsical illustrations by Paul Galdone.
Every time Edie has to go to bed, she lets out a terrible yell!. Find out why Edie decides she wants her bed back after all!"
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book about a little girl named Edie who hates going to bed. Her parents decide she never has to go to bed again  and they take her bed apart and remove it from her room. After staying up half the night and finding it is not fun Edie wants her bed back and gladly goes to sleep.

Johanna Johnston, Edie Changes Her Mind, 1964.  See the Solved Mysteries page.
Probably (from the Solved List) Edie Changes Her Mind, by Johanna Johnston, illustrated by Paul Galdone, published New York, Putnam 1964. "A charming story about a little girl who every night refuses to go to bed...until her parents come up with the perfect plan. Every time Edie has to go to bed, she lets out a terrible yell!. Find out why Edie decides she wants her bed back after all!"



Edith and Big Bad Bill
Grouchy old teddy bear who lives in a mill (?) cuts his foot with an axe and learns kindness when a little girl tends him back to health.  Vivid pictures with posed teddy bear.

Dare Wright. Not sure which title, but this sounds like one of the bear books by Dare Wright -- maybe Edith and Big Bad Bill or The Little One.
Dare Wright, Edith and Big Bad Bill, 1968. Thanks so much!  This is absolutely the one I remember!


click for image of bookEducation of Little Tree
I read a book for a 9th grade English class about an Native American boy making a decision between leaving behind his Indian heritage in the white world or seeking to preserve the old ways being taught to him by his grandfather(?).  Trying to remember the title but can't.  Any ideas?

Must be The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter.  It's the kind of book that would have been read in English classes in the 80's, before the scandal of disovering that Carter was not Native American...


click for image of bookEducator Classic Library
This book was quite large, the original text, and had these wonderful little explanations of the words or phrases used in the book in the margins.  One I remember was gallinaceous. There were a whole series of classic children's literature books that were written this way. About 1970 or so was when I first read them, so they must have been published recently then.

This is a very long shot, but these MIGHT be the Educator Classic Library, a series of children's classic literature published mostly in the late '60's.   The titles included 20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea, Swiss Family
Robinson, Treasure Island etc. They are large-format books (about the size of a legal pad...9" x 12"?), and they are *annotated*, with definitions of unusual words, small b & w  drawing of various items, etc, in the (wide)
margins of almost every page.
I have to say, the Educator Classic Library sounds like a very close match in content, format and date - not a long shot at all!



Edward VIII
A young Englishman has just inherited a country estate. The guests for the funeral are staying at the estate. The heir takes the butler aside and asks what will be done with the used soap from the guests' rooms. The butler answers that the used soap bars will be given to the staff. The heir orders that they be brought to him instead.

Could you have been reading a biography of The Duke of Windsor?  When he was Prince of Wales and King Edward VIII he gave those exact orders to his staff at Fort Belvedere, his hideaway near Windsor Castle.
Frances Donaldson, Edward VIII, 1978. Thank you for solving this. I misremembered a few details, but your answer led me back to the book (and "soap" was in the index, so I didn't have to reread the book to find this story).


Eight Children in Winter
Family of children, names all start with M, move to house in a forest. I read this book in the late seventies, but I have no idea how old it was at that time. I would have been about seven years old. Unfortunately I don't remember any of the physical details of the book: it was a library book, not one I owned. It was about a large family, with children who I seem to remember alternating neatly between girls and boys. The oldest two may have been named Mona and Mark. A grandparent may also have lived with them. The family moves to a house in a large forest. Each chapter told the tale of an adventure which involved one or two of the children, usually in the forest. The setting seemed ambiguous to me, neither British nor American, which makes me think that it may have been translated, possibly from a scandinavian source. There may have been more than one book about the same family. Your help is appreciated.

Elizabeth Enright, The Four-Story MistakeThen There Were Five, 1942 and 1944. Sounds like the 2nd and 3rd books of the much-loved Melendy series.  In The Four-Story Mistake, the 4 Melendy kids move from Manhattan to a huge old house in the country.  The setting is forest-like.  The kids are Mona, Rush, Miranda and Oliver.  Then There Were Five introduces the orphan Mark who the family later adopts.
Hi. Thank you for the suggestion, but I can confidently assert that the book is not one of the Melendy series as they were childhood favourites of mine. I can see why you would have thought that, though.
Borchard, Ruth, Children of the Old House. This is a long shot but you might try looking at the description of this book in the Solved Stumpers section.  It involves five children but their names aren't all M names- apparently they are Ruth, Michael, Peter, Inga, and the baby.  They move to a new house and have many adventures.
Your description is making me think of Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen. Marly- 10 years old- and her family move to a farm near grandparents. The area is very rural and wooded.
Children of the Old House: I have read the description in the Solved section and also hunted it down on the wider web, but none of the descritions chimes any memory-bells I''m afraid. I am wondering if this stumper may simply be too obscure...
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Miracles on Maple Hill. I am certain this is not the book. Its setting is too American, and the plot rings no bells. I think the book I am remembering was for younger readers than this. (I suspect that Abbey View Library in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland, may have had the only copy in existence!) Thank you all very much for your suggestions though. Please keep trying, this i like an itch I can't scratch...

Anne-Cath. Vestly, Eight Children in Winter, 1975, copyright. By a series of coincidences too long to relate, I finally stumbled upon this by myself. I wasn't absolutely sure until I ordered a copy and on the first page the children's names were listed: Mary, Martin, Martha, Mark, Mona, Milly, Maggie and Little Matt. They live with Mother, Father and Grandma in a house in the wood a little way outside the big town. The book was translated from Norwegian by Patricia Crompton and is the third in a series which starts with the family living in a cramped flat in the town, then follows their move to the woods. I'm so relieved to have tracked this book down, that itch has finally been scratched and wonderful it is!



Eight Cousins
I have questions about two books from my childhood.  One was a Louisa May Alcott book that I read for French class.  A literal translation of the French title (La filleule du docteur March) would be "Doctor March's Goddaughter".  I think the main character's name was Lizbeth, and she is sent to live with some relatives, possibly some cousins.  There is a boy and girl, and the girl is very snobbish towards Lizbeth.  I have searched for the English version of the book, but I have no idea which book it could be.

#A41:   Louisa May Alcott's house is a museum.  Not a National Park Service Site, but it's in Concord, Massachusetts, its name is Orchard House, and you should be able to find out at least a snail mail and maybe an e-mail address from an online search.  Someone there knows all about Louisa May Alcott or they'll know who will.  (Don't forget an SASE!  As they're not NHS they won't have free government postage!)
This one sounds like a book published under two names depending on the edition.  Aunt Hill or Eight Cousins
is about a girl named Rose who is orphaned and sent to live with her Uncle.
I'm pretty sure this Alcott book is An Old Fashioned Girl.  The heroine is a country girl sent to live with her rich cousins in the city.  She has a snobbish girl cousin and a nicer boy cousin and many trials learning to live in their more sophisticated home.
I looked for this trans. in some library databases, but no luck. French translations of Alcott's work seem to work in Docteur March to the title whenever possible (or not) and this does not seem to match any of the actual March family stories. Old Fashioned Girl sounds closer than Eight Cousins. Old Fashioned Girl is about Polly, who visits her friend Fanny Shaw for several months. Polly Milton is from a poor and simple family (like the Marches) and the Shaws are well-off and fashionable. The children are Fanny, her brother Tom, and spoiled little sister Maude. There is conflict between virtue and homely values as represented by Polly and old grandmother Shaw, and vanity and worldliness as represented by the selfish invalid Mrs. Shaw and Fanny's snobbish friend Trix. Eight Cousins is about orphan Rose, who comes to live with her uncle, six aunts and seven boy cousins. The focus of the book is on her education, which is debated by the aunts and settled by the uncle, whose scheme is very close to Bronson Alcott's ideas. Later - there's a French trans of Aunt Hill, and it's called Rose et ses sept cousins.
The main characters in An old Fashioned Girl are Polly, Tom and Fanny. It wasn't Lizabeth.
I checked a book report on it that I did which had a few more clues: The main girl`s name is Lizbeth, she visits a family in the city where the sister and brother are called Fanny and Tom, respectively.  Eventually, this rich family goes bankrupt.
I just checked the solutions to the stumpers that I had submitted.  They sound like the correct solutions to me! Thank you so much for helping me solve these mysteries that have been with me since I was a child.
The answer to Alcott story about a goddaughter says OLD FASHIONED GIRL, but actually it's EIGHT COUSINS. Rose is orphaned and her godfather is her uncle. The sequel to the book is ROSE IN BLOOM. OLD FASHIONED GIRL is about country girl Polly, who frequently visits her city friend Fanny, until she grows up and moves to the same city.
Alcott, An Old Fashioned Girl.If this is about a goddaughter, are you sure the book is not Eight Cousins?


Eight Hands Round
This was a paperback storybook for children about quilt making.   More about the process of quilt making.  Perhaps the book was a cross between fiction and teaching what quilting is.  I have a very vague recollection that children were characters in the short book and that maybe a quilt pattern and a hand were on the cover.  the book was perhaps 25 pages long.

Perhaps Selina and the Bear Paw Quilt, by Barbara Smucker?
I'm watching your website once a week, hoping someone recognizes the book about quilts.  It was probably a paperback, published around 1992.  My intuition is telling me maybe the title included "four Hands" somewhere.  I associate counting and hands with the title.  Hopefully these adidtional hints will trigger somebody's memory.  Thanks so much for this wonderful effort at answering our need to identify books from memory so that we can enjoy those books in hand, not just mind, again.
Ann W. Paul, Eight Hands Round:  A Patchwork Alphabet.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Paul, Ann Whitford.   Eight Hands Round: A Patchwork Alphabet. Illustrated by Jeanette Winter.  HarperCollins, 1991, 4th printing.  F/F  $18


Eighteen Cousins
I am looking for a children's book called Eighteen Cousins.  It is about a boy from the city who goes to the country to visit his grandparents farm. He finds out he has 18 cousins also.  The book is written in poem form.  Any idea if it is still in print?

E20 Not sure this is the right book, but there is a book entitled EIGHTEEN COUSINS by Carol G. Hogan, illustrated by Beverly Komode. It's 36 pages long, and was published in 1968 by Parents Magazine Press
E20 eighteen cousins: more on the suggested Eighteen Cousins, by Carol G. Hogan, illustrated by Beverly Komoda, published Parents' Magazine 1968. "A story in verse form about a city child who visits the country for the first time. Ages 4-8, grades K-3." (HB Jun/68 p.361 pub ad) So it looks like a good match.
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C8: This web site is just what I have been looking for. The book I am searching for is about a brother and sister who go to visit a relative in the country. They play in a stream, see a frog and a bird house. It is a color picture book for the 4-8 year old range. I was born in 1975, so I'm assuming it was published sometime between 1970 and 1985. That's just a guess. Unfortunately, that's all I remember. Any help would be appreciated.

a couple of possibles, the first sounds good but likely too long: Hope, Laura Lee,  Bunny Brown and his Sister Sue on Grandpa's Farm NY Grosset & Dunlap, 1916, 246 pages, octavo. Illustrated with drawings by Florence England Nosworthy. Light green cloth with pictorial cover label, without dust jacket. Blegvad, Lenore.Moon-watch Summer Illustrated by Erik Blegvad. NY Harcourt 1972, 63 pgs, cloth. "Line drawings of children & cats complement this brief story of a brother's & sister's summer visit to their grandmother living in the country."
C8 country visit: it's two boys, not girl and boy, but perhaps Summer is Fun, by Lavinia R. Davis, illustrated by Hildegarde Woodward, published Doubleday 1952, 48 pages. "This is a beautiful book to look at, with a
story in which the twins, Gil and Tippy, really come to life as sturdy, highly individual small boys, spending a summer on Grandpa's farm. A lost Indian trace, a housewarming party and a present for their lame friend Kenny, provide lively interest both in the text and in the fine three-color pictures." (HB Feb/52 p.26)
Carol G. Hogan, Eighteen Cousins, 1968.  Your description reminds me of a book my family loved, called Eighteen Cousins. It only involves one boy who visits his cousins in the country. It is done in rhyme, and mentions seeing a brook and a frog. Sample verse: "I nibbled a carrot, I nibbled a pea, I nibbled a green leaf...but what did I see?  EIGHTEEN COUSINS a-nibbling like me!"  Illustrated by Beverly Komoda
Eighteen Cousins is a baby boomer favorite published by Parents Magazine Press in 1968.  The dates certainly match.



Elephant and the Bad Baby
1970s picture book: A spoiled boy rides an elephant through a town telling the elephant he wants things--a balloon, an ice-cream cone. The elephant gets these things for him, though the boy (a fat baby) never says please or thank you to the elephant. On successive pages they are chased by the balloon man, the ice-cream vendor, the baker, etc., until finally the elephant stops abruptly, causing everyone to crash into his hind legs (or slide down his trunk because they are all riding him too?) and bellows that the boy must say thank you.

Elfrida Vipont, The Elephant and the Bad Baby, 1969.  "One day, an elephant offers a bad baby a ride through the town, and so begins an adventure and a chase. But when the elephant realizes that the bad baby has forgotten his manners, the chase ends with a bump and tea for everyone."  I had forgotten all about this book till you described it and am going to look for a copy for myself now!
Elfrida Vipont, The Elephant and the Bad Baby, circa 1965.  I'm making a guess at the book's publication year, but I'm 100% sure this is the solution.
Vipont, Elfrida, The Elephant and the Bad Baby, 1969.  Just used this classic in a storytime last month!  "...and they went rumpeta, rumpeta, rumpeta all down the road."
Elfrida Vipont, The Elephant and the Bad Baby
Elfrida Vipont.  illustrated by Raymond Briggs, The Elephant and the Bad Baby, 1969.  This is definitely the book.  The elephant offers the ride to the baby and after the baby takes everything from the various merchants without saying please, they are chased "rumpeta rumpeta rumpeta" all through the town.  This was one of the favourite "on the mat" stories from my early school days. There are various covers around as it has been reprinted many times.
Elfrida Vipont, The Elephans and the Bad Baby, 1986, approximate
Elfrida Vipont & Raymond Briggs, Elephant and the Bad Baby, c.1969.  It had a glowing mention in a _Horn Book_ article on books for the under-3 crowd, which also quoted part of the refrain ("And they went rumpeta rumpeta rumpeta, all down the road, with the ______ running after")
Elfrida Vipont, illustrated by Raymond Briggs, The Elephant and the Bad Baby, 1971.
The Elephant and the Bad Baby by Elfrida Vipont, illustrated by Raymond Briggs, 1969. I loved it as a kid - though one amateur reviewer pointed out recently that it's silly - if not downright annoying - that the baby gets labelled bad just for not saying please, while the elephant shoplifts but doesn't get called bad for that. Or maybe the idea is that even human children know stealing is wrong and animals don't.
Vipont, Elfrida, illustrated by Raymond Briggs, The Elephant and the Bad Baby. London, Hamilton 1969.  This one is in print again. "One day an elephant met a bad baby and asked him if he would like a ride on his back. They went on a wild and glorious chase through the town until the elephant decided that the bad baby had forgotten his manners."
Elfrida Vipont, illustrated by Raymond Briggs, The Elephant and the Bad Baby.  My children (8 and 6) still enjoy this story, which was a favourite at their pre-school.  Still in print in the UK at least, published by Puffin
Well, I love learning something new from this site; I didn't know this book before! Reprinted in paperback in 1971 and 1981 in the UK, but not here.  Not hard to find, but not cheap, either.
B313 and B314.  Both the gizmo and elephant books (rumpeta rumpeta!) are spot on. Thanks Harriet, and everyone!
Really neat book!  One of Cattermole's 100 Best Books of the 20th Century!

It is so nice to see that someone else remembers and loves this book also!! I have two children who also love the book, Plus I have 19 nieces and Nephews and one great niece. I have found this book used many times for most of the younger ones and they all love it too!! I think they can all relate to the story.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Vipont, Elfrida.  The Elephant and the Bad Baby.  Illustrated by Raymond Briggs.  London: Penguin Books, 1969, 1971 paperback.  F.  $20


Elephant for Rent
My brother and I read this book until the words on the page were all used up when we were children in the early 60's.  The book may be much older.  Title is a total guess as I really can't remember. Would love to aquire a copy for my brother as a gift.

this sounds rather like one that came up on the Alibris list, so let's try - Elephant for Rent, by Lucille Chaplan,
illustrated by Don Sibley, published Little, Brown, 1959, 164 pages, ages 8-12 'Rex, a baby elephant, was Jimmy McLean's birthday present, sent to him from Africa by his father. Jimmy discovers that the Mudges, in whose care his father left him, plan to aid a cruel animal trainer to steal Rex. He and the elephant run away.' (BRD 1959)



Elephi, the Cat with the High IQ
I remember reading a book about a cat who lived in a city apartment.  After seeing a car (maybe a volkswagen) getting covered with snow he manges to get the car into his apartment (garage?) I think it takes place during Christmas but I am not sure.  This is a children's book -- maybe for young adults.

Jean Stafford, Elephi, the Cat with the High IQ.  I think this is the book you're looking for.  The volkswagen beettle is left outside in a snowstorm.  The cat manages to get it brought inside his New York apartment building via the freight elevator.
Jean Stafford, Elephi the Cat with the High IQ, 1962.  So bizarre! I just read this book! I have a trade Dell yearling copy, don't know if there is a hardback edition. Yes, the cat does save a car, it's a little Fiat named Whitey.
C303 Stafford, Jean.   Elephi, the cat with the high IQ.   illus by Eric Blegvad.  Dell Yearling c 1962.   cat saves Whitey, a Fiat car, from snow



Eleventh Hour:  A Curious Mystery
Children's book I read about 10 years ago (mid-nineties). Possibly written by an Australian. Each page has encryption codes around the perimeter which need to be solved. Full page illustrations. Large thin book.

Base, Graeme, The Eleventh Hour:  A curious mystery,1988. Most definitely the book -Someone has eaten the feast that was prepared for elephant's 11th birthday.  One of the guests is the culprit and the reader must solve the clues hidden in the pictures to find out who.
Graeme Base, The Eleventh Hour. Sounds like it could be The Eleventh Hour. Horace the Elephant has a party for his eleventh birthday, but which of his guests ate the feast? The clues are hidden in the pictures and the borders to the pictures.
Kit Williams, Masquerade,1979. It seems from the description that this could be Masquerade by Kit Wiliams.  It was quite a bif phenomenon in England in the late 70s/early 80s! It was a picture book puzzle to find a golden hare that was buried somewhere in the English countryside. Each page was a full colour pucture with letters around the edge, finding the correct letters would give you clues to where the treasure was.This wiki page will tell you more here:
Graeme Base, The Eleventh Hour. This is absolutely the book you are looking for: good news, it' easy to find cheap used copies online!
Base, Graeme, The Eleventh Hour, A Curious Mystery, 1988. Summary from the Lib of Congress Cataloging Data: An elephant's eleventh birthday party is marked by eleven games preceding the banquet to be eaten at the eleventh hour, but when the time to eat arrives, the birthday feast has disappeared.  The reader is invited to guess the thief.
Paul Adshead, Puzzle Island. The book you describe does definitely sound like The Eleventh Hour, but I thought I'd throw this one out there as well--Puzzle Island has full page illustrations and a mystery to be solved with an alphabet with letters missing around each illustration, which describe animals hidden in the picture--the names of all those animals are your key to unlocking the cipher at the end to solve the mystery.


Visit the Most Requested Tribute PageElizabeth
I am looking for a book I read as a girl (book was probably published in the early 1970s).  A girl receives a cloth or rag doll for Christmas.  Yet one of her playmates, a snooty type of girl, gets a new doll that is electronic and that moves.  I *distinctly* remember the line from the book in which the snooty girl says about her doll:  "She walks, she talks, she turns somersaults!"  Sadly, the main character in the story rejects her cloth doll -- I think she gives it to her dog and the dog buries it in the backyard -- but then she realizes that her doll is actually wonderful.  She digs her up and does "plastic surgery" on her, sewing her up and making her pretty again.  I would love to find this book again.  Any ideas?

Is this possibly Elizabeth by Liesel Moak Skorpen?
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This is the story of a little girl who gets a doll for Christmas, names her Elizabeth, has a rotten cousin who gets a fancier doll but doesn't really love it....Elizabeth is "lost" and eventually found. The book was small, and we got it from the library several times but never found it in a bookstore.  It would make a lovely graduation gift for my Elizabeth, who loved it!

The answer to the ELIZABETH stumper might be Elizabeth by Liesel Skorpen, ill. by Martha Alexander, 1970. It is 32 pages long, and 18 cm.
E5 elizabeth doll: more on the suggested title Elizabeth, by Liesel Moak Skorpen, illustrated by Martha Alexander, published Harper 1970, 32 pages, 5x7" approx. "Kate wanted a doll for Christmas - a golden-haired walking, talking doll. But under the tree she found instead a 'soft cloth doll with warm brown eyes and thick brown braids' like hers. 'What does it do?' asked Kate. 'Everything a doll's supposed to do.' her mother said. Kate was bitterly disappointed, especially when her priggish cousin Agnes came with her stiffly curled, dressy new doll. After the holiday, Kate gave her nameless doll to James the collie to chew; then smitten with remorse she quickly retrieved her and in a flash of sudden love named her Elizabeth. Now the doll became her silent, perfect companion - understanding, patient, faithful. 'Elizabeth could do everything.'" (HB Dec/70 p.605)
Thanks for the comments, folks. I have been trying to remember about this book for decades, having read it in a library as a child and having never seen it since. Seems to be the collector's item now.



Elizabeth, Elizabeth
The book I am looking for I read mid-1970s. It was about a lonely girl who goes to stay with her aunt who is living in an old mansion while researching the Victorian (Edwardian?) family who once lived there. The aunt is very preoccupied and the girl is left alone. She starts to see ghosts and then begins to live more in the past with the ghosts than in the present. She makes friends with a ghost girl who died as a child. At the end of the book the girl’s ghost brother tries to keep the modern girl in the past to replace his sister. There is a battle between the aunt and the ghost for the girl.

Reminds me of the plot of ELIZABETH, ELIZABETH by Eileen Dunlop, 1975, 1977. The aunt is doing research at an old Scottish castle, and the niece time travels to become another person. And in case the title doesn't ring a bell, it was originally published as ROBINSHEUGH in England.~from a librarian
Robinsheugh, or Elizabeth, Elizabeth, is the book I have been looking for. I have been finding books I loved as a kid for my children to read so now I can share this one. Many thanks!



Elizabeth the Great
This is a biography of Elizabeth I that was published as a Time Reading Program Special Edition, probably in the early 60s

Jenkins, Elizabeth, Elizabeth the Great.  1964, Time Inc.  book xv in the Time Reading Program  Special Edition series.   Introduction by A.L. Rowse.


Elizabite
Back in the sixties when I was in High School, I read a short story that was very similar to the story that was made into two movies: Little Shop Of Horrors  It was basically about a man growing plants in a greenhouse (in a park I think) and one needed to be fed meat and he eventually fed it humans.  Any idea what this is?

P28 - could be Elizabite - a picture book about a man who grows a carnivorous plant - can't remember the author - 1960s or 70s I think
H.A. Rey.  Elizabite: Adventures of a Carnivorous Plant.  Harper & Row, 1942.  A wonderful story introducing young children to carnivorous plants. The text is amusing and young children will giggle in delight ..."She's caught me-Ouch!" cries Doctor White, "I did not know this plant could bite!"



Ella the Elegant Elephant series
Around 1969 I had a beloved book that came with a small stuffed elephant. The cover had a window in the cardboard and the elephant doll looked out of it. The story was something about a girl who owned a similar-looking little elephant doll, named Emaline (or Emeline)who was very bashful and could hardly speak. The elephant's eyes were always downcast, and she was always hiding from the other stuffed animals because of her shyness. I lost my original elephant doll, and my mother made me several others over the years. Emeline was my very favorite doll. I'd love to find that book again. Maybe it was a Hallmark edition?

Carmela and Steven D'Amico, Ella the Elegant Elephant (series).



Ellen and the Gang
Looking for a book published in 1950s or 1960s about teenage girl living in a city/urban setting who is bored in the summer and falls under the influence of a "bad" crowd who shoplift, etc.

Frieda Friedman, Ellen and the Gang, 1963. Twelve-year old Ellen is disappointed about not going away to camp and having to stay in the city for the summer.  While her friends are away, she falls in with two teenage boys and a girl who use her as a decoy when they shoplift from the neighborhood stores.  I think this was the last of the author's wonderfully evocative books written in the Forties through Sixties about New York City kids.
The solution posted is indeed the right book! Thanks so much for whoever solved this for me--I've been trying to remember this title and author forever!


click for image of bookEllen Tebbits
I'm looking for a children's book about a young girl whose grandmother knit her a sweater out of itchy wool.  She hated it and even cut a hole out of the center of it so she wouldn't have to wear it.  But that's all I remember.  I read it in the 1960s.  I know that's not much to go on, but I appreciate anything you can do.  Thank you.

S48 sounds like one of the Beverly Cleary books like Ramona, Otis Spofford, or Ellen Tebbetts.  I remember reading a book when I was young about an itchy sweater, and I think it was in one of the Beverly Cleary books.
#S48--Sweater made of itchy wool:  I know of two "itchy wool" episodes.  In Ellen Tebbits, by Beverly Cleary, her mother makes her wear a union suit.  She is furious when found out by another girl (Audrey?) but then finds Audrey was hiding in the same bathroom/cloakroom/broom closet because her mother made her wear a union suit, so they become best friends.  In Roller Skates, by Ruth Sawyer, Lucinda promises to wear a similar undergarment all winter, but simply can't coordinate it with her stockings, etc.  Reasoning that she didn't promise in what condition she'd wear it, she decided to follow the little woman in the song and "cut it round about." She cut the legs off and just wore the shorts part of it.  The sequel to Roller Skates is Year of Jubilo.  It took me fifteen years to find a paperback of Year of Jubilo and I never have seen it in hardcover.
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Someone will surely recognize this since I think it was some kind of series. The main girl is American (cant remember her name though) and she goes to this ballet class with a new girl from France who is very snobby. All the French girl can talk about is "gay, gay Paree" and how awful America is after Paris. Of course she is simply homesick and the American girl finally realizes this and makes friends with her. Our American girl is a klutz and has to keep clutching her long underwear under her ballet costume. Her mother made her wear it and she is mortified. Jump and clutch, jump and clutch...is all she can do till the teacher scolds her for being so jerky. I wish I could remember more but that's it.  Anyone know this?

Perhaps this person is mis-remembering the detail about France. In the book ELLEN TEBBITS by Beverly Cleary, 1951, Austine Allen has just moved from California and talks about it constantly. She is in ballet class with Ellen Tebbits and Ellen's woolen underwear keeps slipping, making her "leap clutch". Ellen and Austine become friends by pairing up against Otis Spofford, and Ellen discovers that Austine's mom makes her wear woolen underwear too. ~from a librarian
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits.  Pretty sure about this one---not really a series, but of course Cleary wrote many books in the same vein including the Ramona series.
The long underwear, jump and clutch scene is definitely from Ellen Tebbits, but the homesick French girl part is from one of Lee Wyndham's Susie books.  I think it may be from On Your Toes, Susie.
Yes, I figured that I might have mixed up two stories as one in my head. I think I'd better go back and read all the Beverly Cleary books again! I'll check out the Lynn Wyndham books, too, because I distinctly remember the "gay Paree" part.  Thanks to everyone, and sorry that it was a relatively simple stumper!
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I am looking for the name of a book which had a chapter entitled "The Perennial Beet" (I distinctly remember asking my mother to define 'perennial'). I checked this book out of the school library when I was in the third grade, so 1963-64. The story centered on the friendship of two little girls (perhaps one new to the neighborhood and of lesser means?). The mother of one of the girls sewed them matching outfits from fabric (yellow?) printed with monkeys. There were simple illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. I realize this is precious little information to go by, but maybe there is someone my age who remembers this book. Thank you for any ideas.

Ellen Tebbits, Beverly Cleary.  1955, approximate. It was a biennial beet, but everything else in this story matches
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits. 1951. This is definitely Ellen Tebbits by Beverly Cleary.  Both the enormous beet and the monkey-fabric dresses are there.
Cleary, Beverly, Ellen Tebbitts. 1951. The making of the monkey print dresses is a major part of the story line of Ellen Tebbitts.  It practically ruins the two girls' friendship.  Also, if I remember correctly, it was a turnip plant that had a flower on it, not a beet, that Ellen pulls out of the ground.
This is the one you're looking for, Ellen's class is talking about perennials and she remembers that there's a huge beet growing nearby her school so she goes out to pull it and bring it in to show her class. And she and her best friend have identical dresses made with monkey fabric.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits, 1951. More than enough info to identify this classic.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits. Definitely the one--both the beet and the dresses.
This book is Ellen Tebbits by Beverly Cleary.
Beverly Clearly, Ellen Tebbits. How many millions of people will send in solutions to this one!?'
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits. 1951. 'I love it when I know these without a doubt! I''m sure I'm not the only to come up with solution for this clue--classic Beverly Cleary.'
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits'. 1951. Chapter Two of this lesser known Beverly Cleary book is entitled "The Biennial Beet."  Ellen'\''s third grade class is dicussing different types of plants, including perennials and biennials, and her teacher mentions that it is rare to see a biennial plant in flower because they are usually harvested too soon.  Ellen finds a large (biennial) beet plant in a vacant lot and wants to take it to her teacher.  She is late to school and gets very muddy because she has such trouble pulling it up. Austine Allen is her kind new friend who helps her.  Chapter Five is called, "The Twins" and describes the matching dresses Ellen and Austine have made out of red and white fabric with monkeys and palm trees.  Ellen'\''s dress turns out much better than Austine'\''s because Ellen'\''s mother is an expert seamstress and Austine'\''s is not.  I am sure this is your book.  I hope you get to read it again.  It is such a great picture of all the social struggles of grade school!'
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits, 1951.Definitely the one you're looking for, only the chapter is titled "The Biennial Beet." Ellen's class is learning about annual, perennial, and biennial plants. In an effort to impress her teacher, Ellen pulls a huge beet plant that has gone to seed in a vacant lot, getting herself thoroughly rain-soaked, muddy, stained with beet juice, and tearing her dress in the process.  The matching dresses in the monkey-print fabric are in the chapter called "The Twins." The girls (Ellen and Austine) want matching dresses, and pick out the pattern and fabric together, but Ellen's mother is an excellent seamstress, while Austine's mother is not. The dresses don'\''t quite match (Austine'\''s looks sloppy and has no sash, while Ellen's is very attractive), which precipitates a fight between the two girls.
Cleary, Beveryly, Ellen Tebbits. Pretty sure this is an Ellen Tebbits chapter title.  As I recall, Ellen's class is learning about plants and plant life-cycles in class.  Ellen sees a huge beet in an empty lot on her way to school, and decides to bring it in as an example for the teacher, whom she is very fond of, and wants to impress.  She pulls the beet out, falling over and muddying herself in the process.  Only now that I think about it, I'm almost positive she wanted to bring he beet in as an example of a BIENNIAL plant, since those are more unusual than annuals and perennials.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits, 1951. I believe the book you remember is "Ellen Tebbits", which is still in print.  Ellen makes a friend in a new girl named Maxine at the start of the book, because they are both wearing wool underwear at ballet class.  I remember a search for a beet at some point.  Also, she and Maxine pick out fabric with monkeys for matching dresses.  The only thing is that instead of one mother making both dresses, each girl's mother makes a dress.  Ellen's mother is a good sewer but Maxine's isnt, so the dresses are not at all alike and the girls end up quarreling.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits, 1951. This is definitely Ellen Tebbits by Beverly Cleary.  It's the story of third-grade best friends Ellen and Austine, who is new to the neighborhood at the beginning of the book.  Chapter 2 is called "The Biennial Beet," not "The Perennial Beet." There is a scene where the girls go fabric shopping for matching new dresses, and they choose a material with "red palm trees...printed on a white background. From each tree a small red monkey hung by its tail."'
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits. 'I read this when I was a kid, and remember Ellen and her friend wearing dresses made out of material with monkeys on it.  Unfortunately, the friend's mother couldn't sew very well and the dress didn't look nearly as nice as Ellen's.
Cleary, Beverly, Ellen Tebbits, 1951. This is definitely Ellen Tebbits, one of my favorite books while growing up!  Ellen lives in Oregon and befriends Austine Allen, who has just moved there from California.  The two become best friends, and at one point, they ask their mothers to sew them identical dresses from material printed with monkeys.  Austine''s mother isn't much of a seamstress, and the unfortunate results lead the friends to quarrel...Ellen also pulls a flowering beet from a vacant lot to bring to school for show and tell---her class is studying annuals and perennials.  (Thanks to Austine, Ellen also learns that geraniums, which are annuals in Oregon, are perennials in California.)  A great book!  Followed by a sequel, Otis Spofford (1953), also highly recommended, as it is very funny and Ellen and Austine play a prominent role.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits. I'm sure you'll get this answer over and over again, but this one is definitely Ellen Tebbits by Beverly Cleary, one of my favorite books as a child.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits. The chapter you are thinking of is called "The Biennial Beet," and in a later chapter Ellen's mother and her best friend's mother make them matching dresses out of yellow fabric with monkeys on them, only the dresses don't quite match...An all-time classic!'
That was fast! I guess I'm the only person in the world who didn't know the title/author of this book. haha! Thanks everyone!
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I think this is a book from the 40's or 50's, about two little girls who are good friends with each other.  At some point they decide to dress like twins so each asks her mother to make her a dress out of the same material - a print of monkeys swinging from palm trees - but while one mother is a good seamstress, the other one isn't and her dress looks terrible.  The girls get into a fight and the one with the terrible dress rips the pocket of the one with the good dress.  They make up later.

Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits.  details match exactly.
Cleary, Beverly, Ellen Tebbits
, 1955, approximate.  This is it without a doubt.  I'm sure you'll get a lot of comments on this one.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits, Morrow, 1951, copyright.  This is definitely the book you're looking for. Ellen lives in Portland, Oregon, the only child of a single mom who is a Donna Reed, 50s tv-mom type, everything perfect. She has no close friends until Austine Allen moves to Portland from California. The girls become very close and want to do everything together, including start the fourth grade looking like (fraternal) twins, and that's what leads to the episode you remember. Austine's mother can't sew and Ellen's mom of course makes a picture-perfect dress so Austine gets jealous. There is another book solely about Otis, the Dennis-the-Menace / Penrod-like boy who teases the girls.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits, 1951, copyright.  Lots of details about this book can be found in the "solved pages", including this part about the matching dresses of Ellen and her best friend Austine. This book is a classic and you will have lots of responses, I'm sure.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits, 1951, copyright.  Definitely the book.  The monkey-patterned dresses seems to be a very strong memory for readers of this book.  Look in Solved Stumpers.
Cleary, Beverly, Ellen Tebbits, 1951, copyright.  This is from Ellen Tebbits - Ellen and Austine want to wear the same dress for the first day of school, but Austine's mum can't sew as well as Ellen's.  Austine and Ellen fall out because Austine keeps tugging at the sash on Ellen's dress.  The ripping incident doesn't happen until a later moment in the book -when Ellen rips Austine's sash when they are dusting erasers together.  The incident leads to them restoring their friendship.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits.  You'll get a lot of responses to this one - everyone remembers those monkey dresses! See solved mysteries for more descriptions.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits.  This is definitely the book.  It's in Solved Mysteries, too.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits.  I remember this scene so well because I longed to have a mom who sewed, but sympathized more with the girl whose mother couldn't sew her dress properly! The book includes illustrations of the print the girls used for their dresses, complete with monkeys swinging from palm trees.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits, 1951, copyright.  Definitely this one! Look under Solved Mysteries for additional details.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits, 1951, approximate.  I'm sure this one is Ellen Tebbits--my favorite Cleary book. The friend is Austine Allen and they meet over the shared dilemma of long underwear at dance class. I still own my paperback copy from 35 years ago. Thank goodness for the Scholastic Book Club!
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Author guess: Neta Frazier? 1940-1960, juvenile.  Story of the new girl in school. She makes friends with another girl, one of their mothers makes them matching dresses. The new girl is teased (because she is from Canada?), the other kids call her Pea soup & johnny cake , and Canuk(sp). There is a falling out with her friend, but they make up in the end.

The part about the new girl and matching dresses sounds like Beverly Cleary's Ellen Tebbits; but the new girl in that story is from California, not Canada.
Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits.  Thanks so much! I bought this book to see if you were right & IT IS the one I was thinking of. I loved it so much as a girl...and loved reading it again. Now I have to figure out what book has "pea soup & johnny cake" in it! Book stumper is a GREAT idea...keep up the good work.
Unless that's you, stumper G489 is looking for the same book. "Kid Sister" is in solved-K if you want to check & see if it sounds right -- she had a rat named Rosemary.

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I am looking for a book about a young girl in elementary school. The girls in her class take turns/get picked to clap out the chalkboard erasers outside, and it is something they all like to do. The teacher in the story giving out little candies that come in a small round tin, like Cavendish&Harvey.

Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits, 1951. Maybe this one? Ellen and her good friend have a falling out, but at the end of the book they make up when their teacher sends them both outside to clap erasers (a special treat).
SOLVED: Beverly Cleary, Ellen Tebbits. This is the book! I didn't see anything about the candies, so I  might have been confused. But it is the right setting and story.  Thank you so much!


 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
 Cleary, Beverly.  Ellen TebbitsIllustrated by Louis Darling.  Dell Yearling, 1951, 1979.  Used paperback.  G.  $4.
 

Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep
This book of bizarre fantasy tales had one story about a tiny fairy girl who jumped rope so well that she could jump through the lattice of a cabbage leaf and her father's braces.  (Does using the word "braces" mean that it is ia British book?)  She gets a special jump rope with candy handles, one nutty and the other sour.  When she gets to a jumping rope rope competition (in the woods at night?), everyone has to lick her handles.

Eleanor Farjeon, Martin Pippin in the Daisy Field.  This book contains the story , "Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep", which may be the story you're looking for.
Eleanor Farjeon, Elsie Piddock Skips in her Sleep.  This is only one story by Eleanor Farjeon.  One of the books it was printed in was Martin Pippin in the Daisy Field  we have it in Eleanor Farjeon's Book:  Stories, Verses, Plays.
Eleanor Farjeon, Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep, c.1937.  This sounds very like the Elsie Piddock story - which first appeared as one of the 'Martin Pippin in the Daisy Field' stories in 1937 but was also/later published separately. Elsie Piddock is a little girl in Sussex, England, who has skipping lessons in her sleep/dreams from the fairies' own skipping master Andy-Spandy (Farjeon took his name from a skipping rhyme 'Andy Spandy Sugardy Candy, French Almond Rock! Breadandbutterforyoursupper'sallyoumother'sGOT!') and got a special skipping rope from the fairies with candy handles. (Which she let her friends suck). At the end of the story she is a little old lady who has shrunk to the size she can use the fairy skipping ropes again and saves an area of open land from development.
Eleanor Farjeon, Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep, 1937.  I was the one who originally asked about this, so you can now know the stumper has been solved!  I found Martin Pippin in the Daisy Field at the local library, and it is not the book I read.  It still might be the story collection mentioned here, but the library didn't have that one.  Since I only wanted the one story I remembered, I am totally satisfied.
Your reader found the story but not the collection. Might it have been The Little Bookroom by Eleanor Farjeon? I think it had some black- and-white illustrations. Another of the stories was called West-something, about a prince who seeks his bride in lands named for the four directions. The northerners were too cold, the southerners too slothful, the easterns too brisk. He had been forbidden to go into WestWOOD (aha!) but he did anyway, and there he found his true love, who had been his maid all along. There might have been another tale, too, about a princess who is bored with the color of her room. She commands her fairy godmother to give her a pink room and is instructed to lie on her bed and kick her toes at the ceiling--voila! pink walls, pink bed, pink floor. Soon she's bored again and commands another color change. This happens several more times until finally, she wants a black room. After lying on her bed and kicking her toes at the ceiling, the walls fall away, the roof comes off, and she gets her wish for a black room. I don't remember the dust jacket, but the book was smallish and had a light russet woven cloth cover I vaguely remember. 


Elson Grammar School Primers
I loooove your web site! However, I am looking for a book that is quite a bit older than the ones that most people are trying to find. It was a school reader or primer that my father read from in the 1920s (about 1925) in school. It taught them to read. I know that whoever published it just distributed it in the south and southwest parts of the country. My father is from Texas. My father remembers that the the character in the book was named "Baby Ray". Part of it goes "Baby Ray has three chicks." And, "Baby Ray has a kitten. The kitten is cunning." Baby Ray is not part of the title, though. Any help at all will be much appreciated as my Dad will turn 80 this August 3rd and I would love to surprise him with this book. Thanks for taking this challenge on!

Sometimes other book requests help solve the stumpers I already have.  Here’s one:
 author=
 title=Elson Grammer School Reader
 publisher=
 date=1930
 comments=Has Baby Ray as the main character.

The only thing I remember about this book from my childhood in the '50s is a little rooster who cried, "Cockadoodle-doo, I want my mommy!" My dad thinks it may have been in a reading primer with stories about Little Ray??? Little Ray had one puppy, two kittens, three ducks and four chickens??? My memory is old and his is older so this is the best we can come up with.
could the reference to "Little Ray" match B6 - the Elson Grammar School Reader featuring Baby Ray?
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this story is about the big dipper or the little dipper it seems to me more about the big dipper. it is about a sick mother who sent her daughter out one night to get some water.she had a cup for the water. she got the water and on her way back home she encountered  some people wo wanted some water.she gave each on e a drink. she encountered a dog and also gave it a drink. he barked twice for thank you. when she got home with the water the cup went out of her hands to the sky and it made the big dipper or the little dipper. i was read this story by my mother when i was a child. it was either in a book with other stories or it was by it self.this was either late 1940's or early 1950's. now i am 59yrs old and my mother has long since passed away.  thanks ,i hope this will help find the book.

This story is in one of the old childrens' readers I collect. I found it in The Elson Reader Book Two, copyright 1920, 1927, published by Scott, Foreman and Company. Inside the front cover is stamped "Tulsa City Schools." The story is tittled "The Star Dipper" and the origin is listed as "old tale." The girl and her mother live near a big woods. One night her mother was sick and very thirsty. The daughter took an old tin dipper and went to the well but discovered it was dry. Since she didn't want to return without water for mother she summoned her courage to go into the dark woods and find a spring. After filling the dipper with water, she first encountered the thirsty dog, and then a thirsty old man. After giving both water the dipper turned to gold like the shining sun. At last she reached home with plenty of water to spare for her mother, who called her "my good little girl," and told her she felt better. Then the golden dipper turned to sparkling diamonds and went up into the sky, becoming seven bright stars. The story ends with "That was a long, long time ago, but the star dipper is still in the sky. It shows how brave a kind-hearted little girl can be."


click here for pictures and profileElves and Fairies
Also titled The Giant Golden Book of Elves and Fairies
The Big Golden Book of Elves and Fairies
The Golden Books Treasury of Elves and Fairies
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My request is for a book of Poetry.  When I was 6 years old in 1951 my teacher read to us from a book of poems.  The poems were of Elves and Faeries as it was spelled.  Generally they were of things like pixie dust and one on white coral bells and morning dew.  I can think of none specifically that would distinguish it from other books except one poem I memorized. "I met a little elf man once down where the lilies blow.  I asked him why he was so small and why he didn't grow.  HE cocked his head, he winked his eye, He looked me through and through.  I am quite as big for me, said he, as you are big for you!"   This was just one of many I adored.  There were several about fairy dust, elf footsteps and the like.  The book was about 6x8 inches and by the time I got it as a gift that year it was fairly worn.  It had a yellow/brown cover with black script writing on the front. As I remember it, the title was something as simple as Elves and Fairies.  I do not know the author.  My discovery of greater things than the visible was unleashed through this book and my teacher.  She has recently died and I cannot find anyone who knows what I am talking about.

Ah... the infamous Golden Books Treasury of Elves and Fairies  by Jane Werner and illustrated by Garth Williams.  See more on the Most Requested Page.
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I am wanting to find a book that my step-mother gave to me when I was little (1970ish).  It was not new then, but I don't know how old it was. It was oversized (18"?) and beutiful!  It was a collection of stories and poems about fairies and wee folk.  There was a story about a fisherman finding a mermaid baby and taking it home to his wife while the mermaids try to find their baby, a story about a boy who finds fairies while picking berries with his grandmother, a poem called "When There's a Ring around the Moon", a story about a boy who kidnaps a fairy-type creature (it has a picture of him on a horse with the creature wrapped up in a blanket), a story about a fairy bear who gets a job in a fish cannery, a story about a brother & sister (?) who find a fairy town under a tree, and a long poem illustrated with wee folk climbing rocks and eating by a stream with a woman sleeping/dead underwater.  I loved this book!  My step-mother finally made me get rid of it when I went into high school.  I would love to get a copy of it, but I don't even know the name!

jane werner garth williams illust., elves and fairies
well, in that case, check out the Most Requested Books page!
This may not help much, but I remember the fairy bear in the cannery story from an anthology series, The Children's Hour.  I don't have any volumes available but, all the books were in red covers with full-color endpapers illustrated with story charactes. Each volume was dedicated to a different theme, eg Sports  SO, MAYBE, the volume with that story was dedicated to fairy stories? Good luck.
I just checked my copy of Elves and Fairies.  Absolutely.



Emergence
I love your solved mystery book page! I'm definitely going to link to  it from my children's resource directory, "Baby Tyrtle" sometime  this week.  Here's my mystery book:  I read this in high school, it was assigned reading I actualy LIKED.  It's from a young (maybe 12?) girl's point of view. There's just been some sort of nuclear holocaust, or maybe biological warfare, because she's in the nuclear shelter by herself. Her only companion is her parrot. (I know, it sounds like I'm making this up, but I swear it's real!) The parrot talks, of course, and we hear her story from an unusual linguistic point of view -- we're reading her diary which is written in short-hand, so everything sounds a little off and strange. Eventually she leaves the shelter, but I don't remember anything after that. I've been trying to remember the name of this book since I left high school 10 years ago. Help!

This is David Palmer's Emergence.  A detail that might ring a bell -- the protagonist, Candy, keeps referring to her parrot as "retarded baby brother", and it takes a while to realize that it's a parrot. Definitely worth finding and re-reading!  It's SF, which might be why it's been hard to find.  There's a review here.


Emily and Emily's Voyage
I'm looking for a book about a travelling guinea pig named Emily. Please help.

Yes!
Smith, Emma. Emily. Illus. Katherine Wigglesworth. McDowell, Obolensky, c. 1959. Ex-library copy, removed pocket, some smudging, one of the eight color plates missing. Overall, G/G with dust jacket. <SOLD>

A great big YEA! I'll put a check in the mail. My sister came up for a visit last month - though we talk all the time we hadn't seen one another in a year - to find Emily's Voyage [the first book I found for this customer] propped on her guestroom pillow. She was dumbstruck and then teary-eyed, saying the book brings back cozy memories of the days of Grandma and molasses cookies. I can't believe you actually found the original. We used to joke that if one of us ever located a copy the world as we know it would probably come to an end. Guess it's time to stock up on batteries and potable water. Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!!
Greetings. My gal is looking for a book. The title as she remembers it is Emily's Journey. Much searching of the Internet has failed to turn up any book by this title published ever. However, it is looking like Emily or Emily the travelling Guinea Pig by Emma Smith may be the book she's thinking of. The book she remembers is about a small furry animal, she thought it was a hedgehog, named Emily, who must travel through parts of England on some kind of journey. Can you help?
 Interpreting
Condition
Grades
Smith, Emma.   Emily, the Traveling Guinea Pig.  Illustrated by Katherine Wigglesworth. NY: McDowell, An Astor Book, 1959.  8 color plates and lots of black and white illustrations.  Red cloth, edgeworn, small tear to cloth at bottom of spine.  Pages clean and bright, charming.  G.  $24



Emily of New Moon
I read this book in the late 60s or early 70s, but can't remember the title or author. A young girl is sent to be raised by her two aunts -one very nice and the other very strict. Her mother is believed to have run off, but later in the book the girl becomes feverish and starts dreaming that her mother is at the bottom of an old well.  The well is searched and her mother's body is discovered.  While this is happening, the girl comes to realize that it is her very strict aunt that she can depend upon.

Lucy Maud Montgomery, Emily of New Moon,1923. It's actually the mother of one of Emily's friends who was assumed to have run off and is found at the bottom of the well (Emily's mother died when she was born, and Emily was sent to live with her aunts after her father's death), but the other details are correct.
L. M. Montgomery, Emily of New Moon. This sounds like the lesser known Emily series by the author of Anne of Green Gables.
L.M. Montgomery, Emily of New Moon. It is Emily's friend Ilse's mother who had disappeared. Emily dreams of the mother falling down an old well and that's where her body is found.
Montgomery, Emily of New Moon. the story sounds like a mixed-up version of Emily of New Moon.  Emily lives with her two aunts - one strict one kindly.  The mother in the well story is actually about her best friend Ilsa.  But Emily dreams the solution while she has a fever.  She tells the family to search the well, but she is only comforted when Aunt Elizabeth (the strict one) agrees to search the well - because she knows the Aunt Elizabeth will keep her word.
Lucy Maud Montgomery, Emily of New Moon, 1923. Emily Starr is the girl who is raised by two aunts (Aunt Elizabeth-strict and Aunt Laura-sweet), falls into a fever and dreams of her best friend Ilse's mother, who has long been assumed to have deserted Ilse as a baby. Emily dreams that the mother fell into a well and died. This is discovered to be the case, and Ilse's father, formerly a gruff, bitter man, falls to his knees beside the (now recovered) Emily's bed in gratitude. Brilliant series that includes Emily Climbs and Emily's Quest.
L. M. Montgomery, Emily of New Moon,1923. Remember lonely little Emily keeping a daily journel in her jimmy-book?  It's a little blank notebook given to her by her child-like Uncle Jimmy and she keeps it hidden from her mean Aunt Elizabeth and sweet Aunt Laura.  But both aunts are good, really.  It is the mother of Emily's best friend Ilse who has disappeared.  Emily is sick and has a feverish dream that, her friend's long-lost mother is in an old well - and she is.  I loved this book - there are 2 more in the series - Emily Climbs, and Emily's Quest.  L.M. Montgomery also wrote the Anne of Green Gables books.
L.M. Montgomery, Emily of New Moon. I think this sounds like the Emily of New Moon trilogy.  Emily is sent to live with her two aunts and cousin Jimmy, I believe.  One is stricter than the other.  I know there is a mother who was believed to have run off, but had actually fallen in the well - but I can't remember if it was Emily's mother or a friend's mother.  Emily wants to be a writer, and her cousin Jimmy encourages her and gives her notebooks that she calls Jimmy Books.  The books are Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, and Emily's Quest.
LM Montgomery, Emily of New Moon. 'It is Emily's friend, Ilse, whose mother is believed to have run away and whose father, the doctor, turns bitter and neglectful of his daughter.  Emily gets a virulent case of the measles and the doctor tells Emily's aunts to humor her whims since she seems to be in great distress.  Emily has a vision of Ilse's mother falling in the well and her aunt promises to have the well checked.  Emily is relieved since she knows her Aunt Elizabeth is hard but never lies.  Ilse's mother is found and the doctor's faith is restored.
You've probably already received a ton of answers for this one -- sounds like Emily of New Moon, by L.M. Montgomery. Emily is orphaned and goes to live with her Aunt Laura and Aunt Elizabeth at New Moon. The dream about the woman in the well relates to her best friend's mother, who had disappeared some years before in mysterious circumstances.
L.M. Montgomery, Emily of New Moon. This is almost certainly the Emily series. The girl whose mother fell down the well is Emily's best friend, Ilse, but Emily is an orphan who must live with her strict aunts after the death of her father, and she does have a dream that locates Ilse's mother while she is feverish.
LM Montgomery, Emily of New Moon. This is definitely the book - thanks to all who wrote in!



Emily's Runaway Imagination
I'm looking for a book I would have read in the 70s or early 80s, but I think it was set in the first half of the 20th Century.  It's about an adolescent girl, whose family owned "the second bathtub in Yamhill County," although no one knew where the first one was.  Other details that I think are from the same book: She went to a "funny dress" party, but didn't want to look funny, and wore her favorite dress and her mom's shoes, but won a prize anyway, because they thought she was in costume because she'd outgrown the dress and the shoes were to big - the prize went to the little girl "who outgrew her dress before she grew into her shoes!"  I also seem to remember something about bouncing apples along a picket fence becaue the "sweet, juicy bruises" tasted the best, a batty grandfather with one of those new-fangled automobiles that was hard to stop, so she used to have to jump off and on the running car to open and close gates while he drove in cirlces, and some pigs may have escaped at one point. I think she was an only child, which I remember struck me as a little odd for a child with two healthy parents in a semi-rural setting at that time.

Beverly Cleary, A girl from Yamhill. I'm almost certain that this is Beverly Cleary's autobiography.
Beverly Cleary, The Girl from Yamhill.  Just a wild guess. I've never read this book but I know it is an autobiographical look at her girlhood by Beverly Cleary.  From all accounts she had a somewhat lonely childhood.  Suggested it only because of "Yamhill" but it might be worth a look.
Cleary, Beverly, A girl from Yamhill: a memoir. (1988) This is definitely the book.  It is the story of Cleary's early years (a second book, 'My Own Two Feet' continues the story through her early work as a librarian and the publishing of her first book).  You remember the detail about the bathtub correctly - "the first fine house in Yamhill, with the second bathtub in Yamhill County"
Beverly Cleary, Emily's Runaway Imagination. (1960)  'I believe this is the book you are looking for.
Beverly Cleary, A Girl From Yamhill County. (1988)  Definitely this autobiography from the beloved children's book writer.
Beverly Cleary, Emily's Runaway Imagination.  This book definitely has several of the episodes you've remembered and several other humorous scrapes Emily gets into because of her wandering mind, including: forgetting to lock the pigpen so the pigs get into the rotten apples and get drunk, the not-so-dressed up party, baking a pie with the crust upside down, bleaching a horse white to impress her city cousin, and scaring herself at a sleepover party. (Beverly Cleary was a native of Yamhill County - she also wrote a memoire that might have some similar stories...The Girl From Yamhill County)
According to Google, this is Beverly ClearyEmily's runaway  imagination
Beverly Cleary, Emily's Runaway Imagination. (1961)  Absolutely the book you're looking for.
Although the bathtub detail may be the same, this is not "A Girl From Yamhill", but rather "Emily's Runaway Imagination", which contains every one of the details listed, as well as the bathtub one.  It seems that Beverly Cleary used a lot of details in this book that were from her own life.
Beverly Cleary, Emily's Runaway Imagination.  This is it.  I actually had thought it might be a Cleary book that I was looking for, but when I went to a Cleary website, I saw "Girl From Yamhill" and read a description, and knew that was NOT it, so I assumed the "Yamhill" think was just a confusing coincidence.  I think I also mixed up "Emily's Runaway Imagination" with the "Ellen Tebbits" series - when I saw the "Emily" book listed under Cleary, I thought it was the stories I remembered from Ellen Tebbits, and I never bothered to investigate the "Emily" book further.  I finally realize that if I had just read the summary of the "Emily" book, I would have recognized it as the one I was thinking of!



Emmy Keeps a Promise
I actully don't think the title I listed above (A Beau for Emily) is correct. Ive tried all kinds of sources under that name and nothing has come up. The book I'm looking for is about 2 sisters living in turn of the century New York City (or some big city.) They are orphaned, and in their teens. One of them works for a seamstress, and I can't remember what the other one does. I think the younger sister's name is Emily, and she falls in love. But she is worried about her sister, and won't do anything about her beau until she has her sister taken care of. In the end, the older sister finds a beau and all is well. Both sisters get married and live happily ever after. I read the book in the late 60's and early 70's. I think it was published in the 50's or 60's. Please help. This has been driving me crazy for years.

Madye Lee Chastain, Emmy Keeps a Promise
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The books I am looking for are part of a series.  The first book was about a Girl and her Older Sister.  Their parents weren't living.  The sisters lived with their wealthy grandfather in New York around 1830-1850.  The grandfather owned a shipping line.  The Older Sister  was being courted by the young Captain of one of her grandfather's ships. In the second book the Ship Captain and the Older Sister married and took the Girl with them for an adventure on the seas in his ship.  The third book was a little different.  It was about a poor cartographer (map maker) and his sister, a poor seamstress.  Eventually the cartographer got a job with the wealthy grandfather and the seamstress sewed dresses for the girl and her older sister of the first books saving the brother and sister from destitute poverty.  An incident from the first book is when the seamstress came to sew new clothes for the girl.  The seamstress had a history of trying to give the girl the opposite of whatever she wanted.  If the girl wanted a certain style of dress, the seamstress would convince the adult present that another style was much more suitable.  The girl noticed the seamstress held pins in her mouth while she was pinning fabrics.  The girl thought the seamstress had probably swallowed too many pins and that was why the seamstress was so mean.  The girl tricked the seamstress into giving her a dress that buttoned up the front by telling the seamstress she wanted the buttons down the back.  The seamstress turned to the adult in charge and assured her that buttons in the back were totally out of style and the latest style was buttons in the front.  The girl held back a smile so the seamstress wouldn't know she was giving the girl the exact style of dress that she really wanted. The third book with the cartographer and his seamstress sister used some unusual expressions.  The sister would say something was "too dear" when she meant "too expensive".  I have often thought of this series....

Madye Lee Chastain, Emmy Keeps a Promise, 1956.  The first book this poster describes sounds like it may be Emmy Keeps a Promise by Madye Lee Chastain.  I don't remember it well enough to know if the details with the seamstress fit, but the historical setting and the older sister's romance sound right.  I'm not aware if this book had a sequel, so can't help with the second book mentioned, but the third one does sound like it might be Plippen's Palace, by the same author.
Chaplain, Madye Lee, Emmy Keeps a Promise, Plippen's Palace.  I have looked for these books for years without being able to recall the title or author. Thank you! It is so exciting to now know both!  You have ended a thirty year search!
Chastain, Madye Lee, Dark Treasure, 1954. Thanks to your help I was able to find the third book in this same series! Dark Treasure also by Madye Lee Chastain, had the incident with the seamstress. Thank you so much, I never thought I would have the pleasure of re-reading these books!



Enchanted Voyage
I am looking for a series of books about a man who built a sailboat.  His wife wants him to get rid of it and he puts it on wheels to move it. He decides to spend the last night in the boat and the wind comes
up and he sails off.  I read it about 1965.  Any ideas?

Not much information, but maybe - Windwagon Smith by Ennis Rees, illustrated by Peter P. Plasencia, published by Prentice-Hall 1966 "The lyrical legend of Windwagon Smith, who used a sail and rudder to steer his prairie schooner into the midst of rollicking adventure. Ages 6-10." (Horn Book Apr/66 p.146 pub ad)
Possibly - High Wind for Kansas, by Mary Calhoun, illustrated by W.T. Mars, published New York, Morrow 1965 "Based on an authentic frontier incident, this colorful story tells of a man who invented a windwagon and of its subsequent fate. Ages 4-8" "An actual pioneer incident inspired this lusty tale of how Windwagon Jones (the author calls it a fictional name) turned a prairie schooner into a land-sailing craft. The details here of the launching and trial voyage make a tale excellent for telling. The line-and-wash pictures have the proper gusto for the story's boisterous action." (Horn Book Jun/65 p.272, 121)
S25 sailboat on wheels: possibly How Space Rockets Began, written and illustrated by LeGrand (author of the Augustus books), published by Abingdon 1960. "Windwagon Smith was a sailor looking for a home. This is the story of what happened as he looked for a place to live in Europe, Australia and in the Great West. A rollicking tall tale. Ages 7-11." (HB Feb/60 p.92 pub ad) No apparent connection with the Windwagon Smith of the Rees book.
Robert Nathan, The Enchanted Voyage. I read this quite a while ago but it fits the description.
Nathan, Robert, The Enchanted Voyage.NY Knopf 1936.  More on this suggested solution, and it seems to be correct.
Mr. Hector Pecket is a carpenter who lives in the Bronx, and has built himself a sailboat, called the Sarah Pecket after his wife. It sits in his yard, and he putters with it. He is not very succesful as a carpenter, and his wife wants him to sell the boat to the butcher, Mr. Schultz, "for use as a hamburger, coffee, and frankfurter stand." But it is Mrs. Pecket who puts wagon wheels on the boat, so that it can be moved to the Schultz's. Mr. Pecket decides to sleep on the ship for its last night. While he is dreaming of the great ships of the past, a storm comes up and the Sarah starts to keel over, and then is pushed away by the wind. Mr. Pecket steers with the wagon-tongue (added when the wheels were put on) and heads off down the street, on the way to the Caribbean. Soon he meets Mary Kelly, a waitress, and she decides to go with him as far as Florida. They knock down a young man with a pushcart, who grinds knives and fills teeth, and because his pushcart wheel is broken, he joins them as well. It does not appear to be the beginning of a series, because at the end Pecket runs the Sarah into an actual river and it sinks. However it is quite episodic.


Enchantment Tales for Children
This was a large book of Greek myths with a picture of the two children, Phryxus and Helle, riding on the back of the golden fleeced ram.  The picture may have been on the front or maybe on the back of the book, and was pretty large, I think.  The children were shown as fairly young and cherubic, and I remember being young enough to wonder how they flew through the air on the ram without having their clothes fall off, because they were wearing some kind of flowing tunics or something. (I was a very practical-minded child.) I think there were plenty of color illustrations, and I vaguely remember stories about Circe and maybe Bacchus or Pan. I know there are probably tons of old Greek myths books out there, but I would love to find the one with this particular cover picture.  Thanks!

D'Aulaire's perhaps?
Margaret Evans Price, Enchantment Tales for Children, 1926.  I have a Rand McNally edition, a 1927 reprint, of a
collection of Greek myths "retold and pictured by" Margaret Evans Price. The binding is navy blue and there is a large color plate on the front cover of Phrixus and Helle riding on a flying ram.  The book contains 14 color plates in addition to other illustrations.  I never wondered about the children on the ram, but I was terrified by the picture of Medusa...and loved the picture of a beautiful Nausicaa standing her ground as her handmaidens fled in fear of Ulysses.


click for image of bookEnchantress from the Stars
The second book was totally different. Would probably have shown up in the young adult/sci fi section. I had it in the early 70's.  It was all about a girl from a far off planet who was traveling (with her family, I think) to another planet (to colonize? to study?)and the stuff I remember most was about her learning to train her psychic powers, telekinesis and stuff like that. I have a kind of vivid image of her in a space capsule type thing doing psychic training.  I'm pretty sure the paperback was yellow and black.

Could this be This Place Has No Atmosphere by Paula Danziger?
Nope.  Actually, I just found out that the book I was thinking of is Enchantress from the Stars by Sylvia Louise Engdahl. I hadn't realized that it was a very popular award winner.  Thanks, though.
I see you have my book ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS listed on your "Solved Mysteries" page.  Since it has been out of print for a long time, you might like to add that a new hardcover edition is being published in April by Walker & Co.  Full information about it is at my website,  www.sylviaengdahl.com.  Sylvia Engdahl
I was reading through your site and noticed this entry.  I know this is going to be hard to believe, but I'm sure that the poster who said that this was the book she was thinking of was incorrect.  The reason is that I have read the book, and there is no scene where Elana (the heroine) is "in a space capsule type thing doing psychic training".  However, Ms. Engdahl wrote a sequel, "The Far Side of Evil", in which Elana does exactly this.  She was captured by bad guys and locked into a sensory deprivation tank as a form of torture to break her will and make her confess.  She used the sensory deprivation effect to concentrate on her psychic abilities and boost them enough to call for help.  One of the chapter heading pictures is of Elana, wearing a wetsuit and suspended in the tank, which may be why the poster remembers it so clearly.  It's possible that the poster read both books and condensed the memories together. You might email the poster and tell them about the sequel so they can check it out.



Encounter Near Venus
If anyone even recognizes this I'll be happy! Three kids, 2 boys and a girl are sent to their uncles by train. He isn't there to meet them so they walk to his house and go in. He shows up that evening, and takes them with him to (I think) Venus...the planet is all water, and the kids ride something like seahorses. They have little glowing balls of light as guides and the youngest child names his for the number on his favorite shirt which is a football jersey. I got it from my CA elementary school library so that means I read it in 68 or 69. I've asked librarians and none has any clue...please, help!!

Leonard Wibberly, Encounter Near Venus, 1967.  A favorite of mine as well. Seems to be long out of print. The glowing balls of lights were called "lumens."



End of the Tunnel
Hi, I enjoy your site--I have re-discovered many childhood favorites. I'm looking for a book, but I don't have much information about it. I read it in the late 50s or early 60s. It was set in England. A group of
friends explore a cave during their school holiday. They discover an underground river which leads to an underground Roman city complete with its own light source, agriculture, buildings and residents in togas! Some unscrupulous individuals are exploiting these early Romans and the children come to their rescue, but that's all I remember--no title or author. Perhaps one of your readers can help?

R17--This sounds sort of like Through the Hidden Door by Rosemary Wells (the door of the title is in the middle of a cave wall) but it's copyright date is in the early '80s.
Thank you to the person who responded to my request for the title of the book about the re-discovered
underground Roman city. Unfortunately, Through the Hidden Door by Rosemary Wells is not the one!
I have been looking for the same book -- I'm sure of it.  I can supply further plot details.  When the children entered the cave, they soon came upon a pile of old coins, which told them that they were at the bottom of the local wishing well.  They went further and found a subterranean river, which led them to an underground city that still maintained ancient Roman culture.  The city was celebrating Saturnalia at the time.  They had various adventures and eventually escaped from the city on a boat.  One of the boys set his luminous wristwatch to midnight, because they didn't know what time it was and wanted to determine how far it took to get from the city back to the mouth of the cave.  Can't remember how it all came out.  This has been driving me crazy for some time now.
In response to Question R17, I do know of a book called The Green Bronze Mirror  by Lynne Ellison which is set in Britain and was published in 1966.  Some children  find a green bronze mirror on the beach and are transported back to Roman times.  I've been looking out for this book for a long time but haven't actually read it myself so not at all sure if this could be the one but sending it anyway.
This one I am almost certain of, from Junior Bookshelf July 1959 p.139: Capon, Paul The Cave of Cornelius, illustrated by G. Whittam, 208 pages, published by Heinemann, 1959 "Four children searching for a lost treasure of the Romans which they believe to lie somewhere in a cave near their home, stumble upon and into a secret world beneath the earth which is inhabited by descendants of the very Romans whose treasure they have been seeking. These people, with their debased Latin and their partly archaic and partly modern appurtenances, guard their secret and their habitat rigorously from the upper earth. Fortunately the children make contact with a contemporary who has long been a prisoner and who has the aid of a "native" girl. All escape by a complicated water and cave route which brings them out eventually in Paris - via the catacombs - with treasure and fame, leaving the secret of Sutteranea behind for good."
THE CAVE OF CORNELIUS is indeed the book. That was its original British title, and copies of it are scarce indeed. WorldCat lists only the Library of Congress as a holder in the US.  It was reissued in 1969 by Bobbs Merrill in the United States, and retitled THE END OF THE TUNNEL, which is the title under which I remember reading it.  You should put this into the "solved mysteries" category.  THE CAVE OF CORNELIUS
is indeed the book.  WorldCat lists 25 US libraries as holding this one.



Endless Pavement
My sister and I are looking for a children's story/book we read in the 80s/90s (though I remember it being an older book when I read it).  It is set in a dystopian world where everything is paved over and the only form of transportation is by driving.  People never learn to walk even short distances.  Children are fitted with little cars/chairs so that they can move around.  All of the buildings (houses, schools, etc) are moving vehicles.  There are no plants.  One child sees an apple tree growing out of a crack in the asphalt and eventually manages to get out  there and tend to it.  We think it was an apple tree.  The story has a strong environmentalist message.  It may have been part of an anthology.  Any ideas you might have are greatly appreciated.

Sounds like THE ENDLESS PAVEMENT by Jacqueline Jackson and William Perlmutter, 1973. Everyone moves around in "rollabouts" ~from a librarian
Jackson, Jacqueline, The Endless Pavement, 1973.  "It's the future, the whole world is paved, everything is on wheels and people are under the rule of the Great Computermobile, until Josette with an apple take things into her own hands."  "Living in a time when people are the servants of automobiles and ruled by the master auto of the planet, Josette longs to leave her rollabout and try her legs."
Glasgow, The Endless Pavement, 1973.  "It's the future, the whole world is paved, everything is on wheels and people are under the rule of the Great Computermobile, until Josette with an apple take things into her own hands."  "Living in a time when people are the servants of automobiles and ruled by the master auto of the planet, Josette longs to leave her rollabout and try her legs."


click here for imageEnemy Brothers
This is a book lent to me by my 7th grade English teacher in Iowa in the mid 1960's, presumably from her childhood.  She must have been in her 20's at the time.  The plot revolved around an English boy who had been stolen as a baby by a childless German couple who felt he wouldn't be missed as his family was large. He has been found by his oldest brother and brought home to England, but he feels German. This is during WWII, and he tries to help the German war effort - among other things I remember he opens the blackout curtains one night.  I also remember a Halma game bought to make him feel at home that he hates, and dumps down an old well or something like that.  I also remember that there was an aeolean harp in the garden. His German family have influence and try to get him kidnapped back, and he finally dramatically chooses his English family in a showdown at the end. I would really like a copy of this book, if it is available at a price an ordinary human being can afford.

Probably Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery, published London Longmans 1943, 313 pages "tells movingly f the reeducation of a Nazi trained boy as he learns the values of England's democratic way of life." "brings into a large and vivacious family a young boy who has been brought up in Nazi Germany, a member of the Hitler Youth. Max believes himself to be wholly German and goes through a bitter struggle to remain so. Little by little, helped by the family, especially by a wise older brother, an airman, he grows conscious of the higher plane of principle of a free people."
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Savery, Constance.  Enemy Brothers: A Story of World War II.   Bethlehem Books, (1943), 2001.  Re-issue trade paperback.  New.  $14



Enter Three Witches
Young adult book - I remember a boy who lives with his mother and aunt who are witches (?), and he is also working the lights for a stage production of Macbeth (or some Shakespeare play with witches) . He thinks his family is weird - that's it. I think the title has the word "witches" in it.

Sounds like ENTER THREE WITCHES by Kate Gilmore (not to be confused with a recent book of the same title by Caroline Cooney). Bren is worried about introducing a girl to his family (because they are witches). There is a school production of Macbeth which plays a role in the plot.~from a librarian
Kate Gilmore, Enter Three Witches.  Awesome! The Kate Gilmore book is it! Ah, thank you so much, whichever wonderful librarian remembered this!


Epaminondas and His Auntie
As a child, I was often read a story about Appominombus (spelling ? ).  It went something like  "...Apponinombus you don't have the brains God gave you..."  I believe it may have been an early version of Little Black Sambo, but I am not certain, it was more than 40 years ago!!!!  I would purchase this book if it is available, but any help you can provide would be wonderful!

You're close, although proper spelling may not help you pronounce it any better: Epaminondas.  As far as I know, there is no relation to the Helen Bannerman's India-inspired Little Black Sambo, although it receives similar criticism for its racist  stereotypes and illustrations. Epaminondas is a Southern folk tale with many versions and variations, particularly in the oral tradition.  There are several printed versions, including authors Sara Cone Bryant, Constance Egan, Eve Merriam, Mary Claire Pinckney and Cathy East Dubowski dating from 1906, and often told in rebus or Gullah. I believe the original published version is Sara Cone Bryant's Epaminondas and His Auntie,1926, illustrated by Inez Hogan.   I've got a paperback reissue from Buccaneer Books from 1976.
Sara Cone Bryant, Epaminondas and his Auntie.  The Sara Cone Bryant version is online.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Bryant, Sara Cone.  Epaminondas and His Auntie. Buccaneer Books, 1976.  As new, paperback reissue.  $15



Episode of Sparrows, An
Required reading in middle school 1967-69  Picture either on cover or illustrated in the book showed the sparrows (or maybe swallows) and at less to children. They may have been brother and sister

Jan de Hartog, The Little Ark.  This is a Dutch story about a flood, and I do remember children being up in the belfry of a church.
Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows, 1955.  It could be this book. "In post-war London, two street-tough children attempt to build a hidden garden, an act that awakens hidden courage in the children and profoundly disrupts the neighborhood." There's something about a bombed-out church in it. I think that the copy I had, a paperback published by Penguin around 1989, may have had a cover similar to what you described. The cover of the most recent edition isn't similar.
Rumer Godden, An Episode of Sparrows, 1955.  I received the copy of the book I ordered from you. The submitter was correct.  This is the book I have been looking for. I would still like a copy with the illustrations as mentioned by the other submitter.  Thank you - your website is the greatest.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Godden, Rumer.  An Episode of Sparrows.   Viking, 1955, 1st printing.  Blue and tan cloth, touches of soil; pages very good; no dj.  G+ [WQ30345]  <SOLD>



Eric's Girls
The book is set in old New York, I think probably pre-Revolutionary War, and it's about two sisters in their teens who both have beautiful long red hair.  In my memory, Gladys Malvern is the author, but I've done lots of searches for books by her and that one has never turned up.  more likely 40's or 50's.

More information - I now think that this book may be called Eric's Girls and it is by Gladys Malvern.  Anyone recognize it or know where I could find it?

New Stumper: This book is set in New Amsterdam under Gov. Peter Stuyvesant, just before the British take over.  Its the story of two English sisters, age 17 & 16, and their father.  I forget how they end up there but they start a bakery and sell crumpets.  The older sister falls in love with a British captain, while the younger one falls for the son of their Dutch landlady.  At the end of the story, the British invade/lay siege and the colony becomes New York.  I can't remember the names of any characters or the title.  I thought it was written by Gladys Malvern but I can't find it in any list of her books.  It had black and white illustrations.  Thanks for your help!

N55 If it is Malvern it is prob Jonica's Island. Another  New Amsterdam onethat doesn't sound right is:  Leetch, Dorothy Lyman [Mrs. Langford Wheaton Smith] Anneje and her family; the story of a little girl of New Amsterdam    illus by L J Bridgman, Lothrop 1926.   Dutch family in New Amsterdam, New York - juvenile fiction
Thanks for the comments!  I don't think it Jonica's Island, as I believe that is about the founding of New Amsterdam.  Also Jonica is Dutch and the main characters in the book I'm thinking of are definitely British and teen-agers.  Any other suggestions for possible authors, who wrote juvenile historical fiction like Malvern?

SOLVED: Malvern, Gladys, Eric's Girls, 1949. I finally answered my own stumper!  I searched lists of Gladys Malvern's books but never found this one til now, thanks to E-bay!


Ernestine, the Pig in the Potting Shed
I am trying to locate a book whose title I don't know. It's about children who are evacuated from London during WWII to a rural area. They are  given a pig to raise for the war effort for food,   who escapes, comes back pregnant, and is spared being turned into bacon. Most memorable part was how they construct a tent around her to protect her from too much sun, and how the local colonel's peacocks think she has a bigger tail and display theirs in protest.  Any chance you know the tit author?

W70 ww2 pig: Well, it's not The Peppermint Pig, by Nina Bawden. It might be worth looking at Ernestine, the Pig in the Potting Shed, by Pauline Innis, illustrated by Tim Evans, published Washington, Luce 1963, 121 pages. "True story of a remarkable pig in Great Britain during WWII. While still a piglet, Ernestine was taken into the bosom of an all-female household." "Story of heroic British pig raised as part of the WW II war effort."



Escape from Warsaw
I'm looking for a book I read in the 1960's, probably about grade 6 reading level (to my best recollection) - it's about a Polish (I think, or Russian) orphan boy who carried everything he owned, all of his worldly possesions, in a plain wooden box - that was all he owned in the world. His name started with "P", I believe, and I think it was a short name, possibly only three letters long.

Ian Serrallier, Escape from Warsaw, 1966.  Three Polish children whose parents have been taken by the Nazis meet a boy named Jan in bombed-out Warsaw. Together they try to survive and eventually leave the city to search for the parents. Jan keeps everything he owns in a small wooden box, including a sword-shaped paper cutter he somehow acquired from the children's father. I think the original title of the book was The Silver Sword.
P232 Serraillier, Ian    Escape from Warsaw [orig title: The silver sword] illus by Erwin Hoffmann    Scholastic T385
Ian Serrallier, The Silver Sword. This has to be the one.  My copy is from Weekly Reader in the 60's. It has been issued under another title.  When you check this one out, be advised that there are other 'Silver Sword' books, so make sure you check for the author.
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poland wartime 3 siblings (two girls, 1 boy), parents were taken away. Father was teacher. Daughter set up school in basement, boy scavenges. There might be a solder who leaves things for them. was read a young child by person now 40 or so years old. Thank you for your help

Ian S????, Escape from Warsaw. Early 1960s.Perhaps a Scholastic book club book with a primarily red cover? Also known as the Silver Sword?
Ian Serrallier, The Silver Sword (aka Escape From Warsaw). The Silver Sword was the original title of the book, but it is now found under the other name. The three children meet a boy who carries a silver paperweight in the shape of a sword that had belonged to their father. Through it they are able to trace their parents.
Serraillier, Ian, Escape from Warsaw (aka The Silver Sword). I'm sure you're remembering this wonderful book.  Siblings Ruth, Edek and Bronia are left alone in Warsaw as the Nazis fight over the city.  They meet a boy named Jan who has a small silver sword-letter opener from their father.  The children survive in the rubble of Warsaw for a time - while Ruth runs a small school - and then all four head across country for Switzerland hoping to find their parents.  This book has been around forever, but it really stands the test of time.
Ian Serraillier, Escape from Warsaw, 1968. Originally published at The Silver Sword in 1959. This has to be the book being sought. Two sisters and their brother escape when their parents are arrested over the rooftops.  They survive the war and take in a second boy, named Ian.  The brother disappears. The girls and Ian end up in a refuge camp after the war is over, because Ian trusts a soldier who is trying to make friend. At the refuge camp, they manage to find their brother, who was in a concentration camp.  I think they end up finding their father as well.



Escape Into Daylight
I read this book in the 80's sometime and have never found it again. I thought the title was "Escape Into the Light" or something similar. It was a small mass market type paperback about a child - think it was a boy but am not sure - who gets kidnapped and held for ransom. The kid's parent may have been a politician. The kid is held in a basement of an old house somewhere in the country and eventually discovers that there is a mostly underwater tunnel/passage leading away from a well in the basement. The kid climbs down the well, follows the tunnel and escapes. The kidnappers discover he/she is missing and I think he/she hides in the woods for a while. I think eventually the kid makes it home. This may all have been in England, but I'm not sure. This book has been driving me crazy for years and I would love any help with tracking it down. Thank you so much!!!

Household, Geoffrey, Escape Into Daylight, 1976.  I only mention this because of the similarity of the title.  The details are a little different, though. According to one review I saw, there are two children (Mike and Carrie) drugged and kidnapped and are being held in an abandoned abbey.  They escape through an underground labyrinth, and there is something about an underground river.  Hope that helps.
Household, Geoffrey, Escape into Daylight, 1976.  Taking a guess at this one - I did a few online searches. "In danger of losing their lives, two kidnapped youngsters being held in a ruined abbey make several desperate attempts to escape." One reviewer wrote "The tension builds from the first chapter and doesn't let up until the end, with the country lad using his knowledge of nature to help them escape." It's two children, not one, but they are underground and it is a British author. The title was too similar not to at least mention it.
i posted this one, and i am so excited to have a response already! i have ordered a copy of the book "escape into daylight" and am waiting anxiously for it to get here to see if it is indeed the book. you can't even guess at how many different ways i tried doing a search for this book over the years - i have no idea how i never found this book title since i was so close to the right title! maybe when i searched for "light" it wasnt pulling "daylight" - who knows! anyway, thanks for the suggestion, it sounds promising, and i will let you know as soon as i get it! :-)
Geoffrey Household, Escape Into Daylight.  Thank you so very much!! This is the book - I finally received my copy - had to order it all the way to NY from Australia!! I can't thank you all enough - this is a wonderful website. Thank you, thank you!!!!!


Ethel Morton at Rose House
Written probably in 1910-1930 - with 1910-1920-ish probably being the most likely in terms of style, setting, etc. (It was one of my Mom's books (born 1923), but probably was a used book belonging to older family member.) It could be one of those syndicate series girls books of that era where they use some fake female name as author. A group of (teen?) girls - some kind of club, possibly motoring, but they don't motor much in this book - help out the women at a city settlement house. The women they help are immigrants of various ethnicities. Everyone has a bunch o' babies. One of the settlement house immigrant ladies lives in fear of the Black Hand (though whether it's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Mano_Negra or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hand or some other group I don't know). I believe she finds a painted black hand on her door as a warning.The main thing I remember is that the girls made furniture for the house out of waste wood - packing boxes, barrels, what-have-you - and diagrams/drawings of at least a couple were used as illustrations. They *may* be the only illustrations, I don't know. I'd thought this book was a Meadow-brook Girls book - my Mom had a few - but I've since purchased all six of them, and it's not. I next explored online the various motoring girls series, but none of them seem to be it. Don't think it's a camping girls series. I'm stymied.

Blank, Clair, Adventure Girls series, 1920-1930, approximate.This might be an Adventure Girl book.  My mother had one from her girlhood she gave me.  The girls had lots different adventures.
Mabell Shippie Clarke Smith, Ethel Morton at Rose House. The whole book is available on Google Books, so it should be quite easy to check.  Furniture making, Black Hand all fit--not sure about the illustrations though.
Ethel Morton at Rose House. I sent this in previously as an answer to I 157 but don't see it up--just wanted to make sure it didn''t get lost!

Solved: Mabell Shippie Clarke Smith, Ethel Morton at Rose House, 1915. It's definitely "Ethel Morton at Rose House" - thank you *so* much, whoever solved this for me Black Hand, immigrant ladies, settlement house, and United Service Club. It got a little complicated to determine, because the public domain copy they *think* they have at google books is mis-labeled  it's *actually* a copy of "Ethel Morton at Sweetbrier Lodge". (And sadly, they didn't switch them  they just have two copies of "Sweetbrier Lodge." I reported it to them.) I located it at Project Gutenberg (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/15550/15550-h/15550-h.htm), although the copy they have up does *not* have the original & copious furniture-making illustrations of the version I had. However, I can be sure that there *is* such a version out there somewhere - the other Ethel Morton books I found at google do have the exact kindof thing I had in mind. (In the style of many early books, I can't find an illustrator credit.) Nonetheless, though I didn't get the *instant* gratification of seeing the book w/ its many illustrations, I can read it now, and look for a good used copy online. Again, many thanks to The Solver, and the folks at Loganberry. You are ace book sleuths and providers



E-Tooka-Shoo, the Cold Little Eskimo Boy
I recall a greyish clothbound book - the final text was "and he was as warm as toast!"  after the shivering little Eskimo Boy was wrapped up in a blanket.

This sounds like E-TOOKA-SHOO,  THE COLD LITTLE  ESKIMO BOY by Richard Wilt.
More on the suggested title: Wilt, RichardE-Tooka-Shoo, the Cold Little Eskimo Boy NY Julian Messner
1941 unpaginated "Everyone knows that a little Eskimo boy ought not be cold; but E-Tooka-Shoo was cold. This story tells what he did about his problem. A funny, original story with wonderful full-page blue & white illustrations by the author."



Eva
I remember only that this takes place in the future, a girl gets into a car crash and to save her, her parents ok placing her brain into a female ape's head, so she lives as a girl and as an ape. Focuses a lot on environmentalism. She decides to go live in the forest with the other apes.

Peter Dickinson, Eva.
  You're definitely looking for Eva.  It's a tough book to read, but really good.
Dickinson, Peter, Eva, 1989.  From Publishers Weekly: Following a terrible car crash, Eva, 14, awakens from a strange dream and finds herself in a hospital bed. Medical science, in this book's future setting, has allowed doctors to pull her functioning brain from her crushed body and put it into the able body of a chimpanzee. With the aid of a voice synthesizer, she communicates with others and adjusts to her new body; because her father is a scientist who has always worked among the chimps (who have been crowded by the massive human population out of any semblance of a natural world, and into iron and steel jungles), Eva is comfortable with her new self. She takes on the issue of animal rights, setting up (with the help of others, of course) an elaborate scheme to release chimps back into the last of the wild. Years later, that is where she dies. The story is riveting from the outset, especially as Dickinson details the ways in which Eva's life is saved, and the progress of her recovery. As the story becomes more political, the author loses sight of some compelling questions he has sewn into the opening pages: Who owns her--the chimp's owner, her parents, herself? Eva's human aspect becomes a device that allows her to help other chimps survive, but is otherwise unquestioned. The drama is no less suspenseful for that, but it is less satisfying. Ages 12-16.
Peter Dickinson, Eva.  In this futuristic novel a 13-year-old girl named Eva is in a coma after a devastating car accident. Knowing that her body is slipping away, Eva's parents allow her brain to be transplanted into the body of a chimpanzee. When Eva awakens from her coma she must learn how to accept the fact that while her mind is still human, her body is not. Slowly, as Eva adapts to life as a chimpanzee, she finds the human part of herself slipping away as she becomes more and more in tune with her new physical self. Dealing with issues of animal rights, the battle between natural instincts and learned behaviors, and even media exploitation, EVA is an interesting and compelling work that combines aspects of both the science fiction and fantasy genres.
Peter Dickinson, Eva, 1988, copyright.  Eva is a 13-year-old girl who has grown up with chimps because her parents are chimp researchers. The story is set in a future world in which people have crowded out almost all animals. After a devastating car accident, Eva's body is hurt beyond saving, but her parents agree to the radical attempt to transfer her mind and memories to a chimp's body. Eva then has to try to balance life in two worlds. Very good, thought-provoking story!
Peter Dickinson, Eva, 1990, copyright.  Following a terrible car crash, Eva, 14, awakens from a strange dream and finds herself in a hospital bed. Medical science, in this book's future setting, has allowed doctors to pull her functioning brain from her crushed body and put it into the able body of a chimpanzee.
Peter Dickinson, Eva, 1988, copyright.  I own this book and have read it. I am positive this is what you are looking for.
Dickinson, Peter, Eva, 1988.  As I remember it, the focus is rather political -- ownership of the self, etc.
Peter Dickinson, Eva, 1989, copyright.  I believe this is the book you are looking for "Following a terrible car crash, Eva, 14, awakens from a strange dream and finds herself in a hospital bed. Medical science, in this book's future setting, has allowed doctors to pull her functioning brain from her crushed body and put it into the able body of a chimpanzee. With the aid of a voice synthesizer, she communicates with others and adjusts to her new body; because her father is a scientist who has always worked among the chimps (who have been crowded by the massive human population out of any semblance of a natural world, and into iron and steel jungles), Eva is comfortable with her new self. She takes on the issue of animal rights, setting up (with the help of others, of course) an elaborate scheme to release chimps back into the last of the wild. Years later, that is where she dies. The story is riveting from the outset, especially as Dickinson details the ways in which Eva's life is saved, and the progress of her recovery."
Peter Dickinson, Eva, 1988, copyright.  The girl's brain is put into a chimp, but otherwise the details are the same.
Peter Dickinson, Eva, 1988, copyright.  Unless by some strange chance there are two books with the same unusual storyline, this has got to be Eva, by Peter Dickinson.
Peter Dickinson, Eva.  I'm pretty sure the title is Eva. The author is certainly Peter Dickinson.
Peter Dickinson, Eva.  This is the book you're looking for.
Peter Dickinson, Eva, 1990, approximate.  It's probably this book; the main character, Eva, has had her brain transplanted into a chimpanzee's body after a car accident.
Peter Dickinson, Eva, 1990, reprint.  This is absolutely "Eva" by Peter Dickinson. It matches the details of the accident, the girl in the ape's body (I believe it was a chimpanzee), and staying as a chimp at the end.
Eva by Peter Dickinson c1988.  "Following a terrible car crash, Eva, 14, awakens from a strange dream and finds herself in a hospital bed. Medical science, in this book's future setting, has allowed doctors to pull her functioning brain from her crushed body and put it into the able body of a chimpanzee."
Pat Murphy, Rachel In Love, 1988, approximate.  This sounds like a short story by Pat Murphy, Rachel In Love, about a chimpanzee whose brain is imprinted with the memories of a young girl who has died.  When her caretaker dies, she is left on her own trying to reconcile conflicting memories of being a girl and a chimpanzee.
Peter Dickinson, Eva.  This is definitely the book you are seeking.  A 14 year old girl's brain is implanted in a chimp.
Peter Dickinson, Eva.  Thanks so much! I can't wait to reread this book and see if it's as good as I remember! Thanks again!


Eve's Rib
I don't know if this was a children's book or an adult's.  The main character's name is either Eve or Evelyn or something otherwise similar to Eve.  She is on a spaceship going to set up a new colony that crashes or in some other way fails, although I believe it crashes, leaving her the only survivor.  The space ship was set up with the ability to produce children in artificial wombs with DNA from all of the colonists who were on the ship, and procedes to do so.  The children are produced in batches of I think seven at a time, although I could be wrong about the number.  Eve tries to teach all the children to be good and set up a Utopian society and seems to have succeeded, but as the children grow into adulthood, conflicts begin to arise.  I believe that the person who turns out to be the evilest in the society is one of the children produced by the space ship using Eve's DNA, her own son.  I believe the children in the book call her Mother Eve.

Bryn Chandler, Eve's Rib,
1989, copyright.  This is definitely the book.  Eve is part of the Genesis Project to develop utopian societies on new, uninhabited planets using exo-children born in laboratories.  A good nature vs nurture story.
I am the one that sent in the posting for M517.  Once I pulled up an image of the cover of Eve's Rib by Bryn Chandler I knew instantly it was the right book.  Thank you whoever replied to me!


Everyday Story Book
1950-1955 childrens Hard cover book, illustrated in color.  Collection of stories about families and animals  Memories of several stories- A family goes on vacation and their pet dog brown and white cocker somehow gets locked in the house and waits for their return. Very sad.  Another memory of a story a family planning to go on a picnic has a change of plan because it begins to rain, they have their picnic in the attic. Memory of a polar bear in the zoo who is lonesome for baby, a child gives the polar bear her toy bear. Mostly remember the pictures of this. Another vague memory of a child going to church but they can't find their shoes. I don't remember if the child goes in her stocking feet or barefoot. I think there were other stories but I remember these were my favorites.

Ivarson, Everyday Story Book.  This is the book you're looking for!  There's the "Rainy Day Parade," "Mumpsy Goes to Kindergarten," and the other stories.  The dog hides the little girl's dress-up shoes so she can't go to church, another puppy goes into a vacant house and gets locked in for at least a week, a kitten falls into a pond and gets rescued by the family dog, and so on.  Charming illustrations.
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children's book....50's? Stories of children some with dog, Jiggs, or Jiggsy dog hides shoe to keep little girl home from Sunday School, pictures in soft colors, little girls socks match their dresses (I think)

Ivarson, Everyday Story Book This storybook has beautiful, soft-colored illustrations.  All of the stories feature little animals.  In one story, Jiggs the dog hides the little girl's Sunday shoes so she can't go to church.  Her socks matched her dress.
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I had a green book back in the sixties with a bunch of short stories.  One was about a family going on a picnic then it rains, so they hike around the house and end up in the attic.  another was a dog that got locked in a house and when he got out he licked the snow.

Ivarson, Signe, Everyday Story Book,
1948, copyright.  This is the book!  The cover is a lightish-green with images of children and pets and flowers going around in a circle.  The stories mentioned in the Stumper are "The Make-Believe Picnic," and "Jiggers."  Each story is about a child, or children, and a pet kitten or puppy.  The other stories in the book are "Sally's Lost Shoe," "A New Pet," "Teddy's Sailboat," "The Lost Teddy Bear," and "Mumpsy Goes to Kindergarten."
This is the book exactly!  I looked it up on the web and I remember the cover.  Thank you so much for the information.


click for image of bookEverything Under a Mushroom
I remember reading a book like this from the library when I was a kid in the late 60s. I've been racking my brain to think of somthing else about it. It seems like the name of it was Under the Toadstool or Through the Toadstoolor something like that. I think the illustrations were drawings with little or no color. It's not much help, but it's all I can think of!

T11:  This sounds unlikely, but on the off chance: could this be a poem from an anthology called Silver Pennies?  It definitely had the line drawings, and one of the poems goes, "Under a toadstool crept a wee elf, / Out of the rain to shelter himself."  The elf finally pulls up the toadstool and flies off....:  "and that's how umbrellas first were invented".
Might it be Everything Under a Mushroom, by Ruth Krauss?  The illustrations are plain, and mainly sepia and white.  The text is simple: Little one, Little two, Little cow, little moo."  That page shows two little children under a mushroom, one pretending to be a cow.  The rest of the book is about the little children pretending to be all sorts of things, under the mushroom.



Examination Day
Ok, the short story was by Bradbury or Asimov i believe.  It takes place in the future where children at a certain age are government tested on their knowlege of all things.  The parents of the child know that he is smart and try to give him all wrong answers to the questions he asks for preparation.  By the end of the story, the child is taken away and presumably killed because he scored too high on the test and is a threat to government security.

#S148:  Sci Fi Short Story question--by neither Bradbury nor Asimov, this is "Examination Day" by Henry Slesar.  This question just appeared on the Ray Bradbury board.  One helpful poster even sent in a link to anthologies containing the story, which can be viewed at "Message Boards" under "Favorite Book/Story" at www.raybradbury.com.  Unfortunately, none of the books containing it seem to be in print.  So many "non-Bradbury" inquiries have come in that I've been threatening to edit an anthology of "Stories Mistakenly Attributed to Ray Bradbury."
With help from someone at a  website, I have located this website listing anthols which have the Slesar story Examination Day:  1.    The Playboy Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy, Anonymous, 1966, Chicago, Illinois: Playboy Press, $0.95, hc, 2. School and Society Through Science Fiction, Joseph D. Olander+Martin H. Greenberg+Patricia S. Warrick, 1974, McNally, tp  3.  Inside Information, Abbe Mowshowitz, 1977, Addison-Wesley, LCC# 76-54429.  4.   100 Great Science Fiction Short Short Stories, Isaac Asimov+Martin H. Greenberg+Joseph D. Olander, 1978, Doubleday, hc


Exiles of Colsec
Read a book 12 or 13 years ago in jr high. started out with a Scottish boy being woken up by the computer because there was a problem and their pod wouldnt break off the main ship. they crashed it, only a few prisoners escaped, him, a girl with esp, and a crazy military guy, maybe others. multiple books

Hill, Douglas, Exiles of ColSec, 1986. I love this trilogy, too! In the future, Earth is ruled by a repressive government. Criminals and dissidents are exiled from Earth to distant planets to form colonies, gathering resources that can be exploited by Earth's government. One such group crashes on the planet they are supposed to colonize, killing about half the group. The surviving dissident teenagers, led by a young Highlander, Cord MaKiy, struggle to survive. They learn that by putting aside their differences and working together, they can not only survive but thrive without help from the government. They join with a group of colonists from other planets who have a plan to gain their independence from Earth. The other books in the series are The Caves of Klydor and ColSec Rebellion.
SOLVED: Douglas Hill, Exiles of Colsec.Thats the one, thank you so much!!!


Exiles Trilogy
Science fiction trilogy prior to 1980. People/scientists leaving earth for planet similar to earth; uninhabitable, determine location of new planet but won't arrive in their lifetime. Descendants and leader (princess) don't go on ship's bridge (fearful and sacred place). Reach planet new home.

I'm not sure which book it is, but go to Wikipedia and look at the entry on "generation ship". There's a big long list. Good luck!
Ben Bova, The Exiles Trilogy, 1980, copyright. In book one, Exiled from Earth (1971) the government of Earth rounds up all genetic scientists and exiles them to a space station.  The scientists decide to transform the station into a spaceship.  In book two, Flight of Exiles (1972) the scientists arrive at a planet that is uninhabitable.  In book three, End of Exile (1975?) the descendants of the scientists must overcome their superstitions and rebuild the bridge to land safely at their new home.

Ben Bova, The Exiles Trilogy. I was going to add more information about the books but the second comment came before I had a chance to. My grade 5 teacher read these books(except the first one) in 1982 so the publication dates and descriptions provided made me think that indeed these were the books but I wasn't 100% sure so I searched these titles for more description but haven't found much more detail. I have been trying to figure out the name of this trilogy for awhile and am thankful to the person who solved my stumper. This is an awesome website!  I am looking forward to reading these books again.


Exit
Short story set at dinner party. A guest says he can make someone disappear so no-one will remember them. The lights are dimmed and when they come back up no-one is missing. But it is clear to the reader that one of the guests has disappeared from the storyline. Read by my father at school in 1950s.

SOLVED: I sent in a book stumper to you last week and have since found out the title and author! So I thought I would write to tell you in case you still wanted to post it. I was asking about a short story set at a dinner party at which a guest vanishes. The title is 'Exit' and the author is Harry Farjeon.
We're so  happy you found the story! 
Expedition To Earth
A science fiction short story I read in an elementary school reader concerned a group of aliens who found remnants of a human civilization. One thing they find is a movie (a 35 mm reel to reel, because of the time period when it was written), and they figure out how to watch it.  They see lots of creatures and vehicles running around, but cannot decipher the language or the plot.  At the end, the writer says the movie was “A Walt Disney Production”, although the aliens have no way of reading it.  For some reason, from the description of the movie, they might have watched “The Love Bug.”  But what was the short story?

Arthur C. Clarke, "History Lesson", 1953.  This is the story. It has been widely anthologized, and is included in Clarke's
story collection Expedition to Earth. The story was written well before The Love Bug.  I've always thought it was probably a Mickey Mouse cartoon.
Arthur C. Clarke, Expedition To Earth, c. 1954.  "Expedition To Earth" is a short story available in an old Clarke anthology also called Expedition To Earth.  "Millions of times in the ages to come those last few words would flash across the screen, and none could ever guess their meaning: A Walt Disney Production."
Yes, it is History Lesson by Arthur C. Clarke.  Thank you!  That story has haunted me for decades.  Now if we could only figure out what movie it was that they were watching....




Fabulous Flight
I read this book in late '40's or early 50's. A boy starts to shrink and his father builds him a cockpit for the back of a seagull (not a goose!) and he flies about having adventures. Can anyone suggest a title or author? I hope it isn't just my imagination because my grandkids would love it.

#S132--Shrinking boy rides seagull:  This is The Fabulous Flight, written and illustrated by Robert Lawson, who I believe was the ONLY person ever to win both the Newbery and Caldecott awards!
Robert Lawson, The Fabulous Flight, 1949. Well, I don't know how often this happens here, but I actually solved my own mystery -- with a nudge in the right direction from Karen Gold, a respondent on another forum. She suggested that it sounded like a Robert Lawson story - which I initially doubted. However, I went to the Library of Congress online catalog and looked at the entries for him ... and there it was! A quick story about this search. At one point, in desperation I thought,  "Well if I couldn't find it I will have to write one like it for my grandkids." I wondered, "What will I name the boy?" and came up with "Pepper" or "Peter" but thought - "No - too common, been used."  As it turns out the boy in the found book is named Peter Peabody Pepperell. Funny how memory works - even when you don't know it.
Robert Lawson, The Fabulous Flight, 1949.  Thanks to whomever sent the first response - I didn't know that about Lawson but do remember some other classic books & illustrations by him - Rabbit Hill, Ben & Me, Ferdinand (another of my favorites) and Pilgrims Progress.
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a line drawing illustrated book about a boy the size of tom thumb who flies on the back of bird with living quater straped to the back of the bird. The book would have been printed some where in the 1940s and 1950s. The books thickness was about an inch or more. It was hard cover. One of the illustrations show a man who cut his finger on a machine lathe.

Robert Lawson, The Fabulous Flight, 1949.  This description sounds remarkably like The Fabulous Flight a book I first read years ago and just rediscovered in my library recently.


Fabulous Flying Bicycle
I'm looking for a science fiction for young adults. A young student befriends or is befriended by the local ice-cream man.  The ice-cream man turns out to be a scientist inventor/ has a underground lab. The ice-cream cart is solar powered.  Later in the story the ice-cream man and boy is attacked by a motorcycle gang. The book was illustrated, and the author wrote at least one other book about the same characters. I think it was published in the 50s

I also remember  One of the inventions the boy finds in the lab is a space flight sumulator helmet.  He puts on the helmet
and it's as if he's rocketing through space.  Also the bikers wore service caps.  I think the story starts out with the boy
proud of his new bicycle which has rear-view mirrors.  The only bicycle in town that is fancier is the icecream cart.
I found two stories involving ice cream carts. The Space Ship In The Park by Louis Slobodkin, 167 pgs., Macmillan, 1972.  "Two boys blast off in a space ship disguised as an ice cream cart to help their friend from the planet Martinea search for a new souce of Secret Power Z."  Also, The Wonderful Ice Cream Cart by Alice Rogers Hager, 149 pgs., Macmillan, 1955 - sorry, no description.
This sounds like it might be a Danny Dunn book--have you checked that series?
Here's a description for The Wonderful Ice Cream Cart:  "Adventure of Jerry and Jean Pierre set in Brussells, Belgium where they try to help their Papa Goncourt who is ill, work his ice cream business from a cart pulled by Bobo, the little horse."
THE SPACE SHIP IN THE PARK would be too new. I Know Danny Dunn and it's not him. The WONDERFUL ICE CREAM CART comes from the right decade.
It cannot be The Wonderful Ice Cream Cart.  I own a copy and there aren't any motorcycle gangs. Also, Papa Goncourt is not an inventor.
Glen Dines, The Fabulous Flying Bicycle  Is this the one where the ice cream man (I remember the scene where the kids notice he's coasting uphill) looks a lot like Lincoln, and has invented a very strong invisible material?  The two boys build a ramp out of it and do a "flying bicycle" act.  There was something about "amazing/fabulous/incredible? flying bicycle" in the title, and a Bibliofind search on this turned up the Dines book.
Glen Dines, The Fabulous Flying Bicycle.   I think you've found it ! Your description brings back memories. 



Fabulous Year
1960's, This is a teenage book.  The heroine is about a senior in highschool.  A new girl moves to school and they are in the library together and the heroine shows her an article about a recent crime, and says,"Isn't that terrible?" The new girl puts her head down and doesnt say anything.  We find out later that her dad is in prison. At the end of the story there is a class picnic or outing and the heroine's dad sails up to the group in his (fishing?) boat and she is proud that she has a hardworking father.

Elisabeth Ogilvie, Fabulous Year,1958. I believe this is the book you are looking for "It is the sequel to Blueberry Summer, and describes Cass Phillips' senior year in highschool: what happens after her summer of self-discovery and the realization of her potential. The Fabulous Year addresses issues we all dealt with at that age: self-esteem, peer pressure, the desire to be "in with the in crowd", loyalty in friendship and romance (yes, Adam Ross is in this book, too!) and some other, more unusual topics. Cass is neither rebel nor goody-goody, but makes her own decisions by being true to her values: a victory sometimes hard-won."
Elisabeth Ogilvie, The Fabulous Year. 1958. I'm sure that is the one! This is a GREAT website. It is amazing that the books can be located with so little infomration. How Cool! I enjoy reading what others say about the books I loved so much when I was a child.


Factory Kitty
CAT IN FABRIC MILL GETS COATED WITH DYE & RESEMBLES A CALICO.  Cannot remember title or author. Received the book back between l953-l958.  Think it was a thin volume, pale red or orange cloth covers. VIVID illustrations showing a fabric mill in a brick building, I think a little girl with braids, cobble or brick streets and rolls and rolls of material on bolts rolling out of windows and doors in the fabric mill.  Cat is standing in top of one of the rolls of fabric.  Cat looked all splotchy with color.  Received the book when a child on Long Island (New York).

Hoke, Helen, Factory Kitty, 1949.  This was also anthologized in the Best in Children's Books series,  Volume 23, 1959.



Facts of Life
This book was given to me by my parents in the 80s as a child. It was a pop-up book about how babies are made. This was not meant to be cartoony or fluffy. It showed the reproductive parts and how babies are truly made.... fertilization, how the cell splits, normal progression of a fetus, etc. The book is an oversized book... i would say about 12"x9" with a shiny black cover. Thanks!

Jonathan Miller and David Pelham, The Facts Of Life, 1984. Six accurately detailed, movable three-dimensional models and dozens of instructive drawings accompany a text that explains the process of human reproduction from the moment of conception through birth.
Thank you so much! This is definitely the book. I recommend it to everyone. It might be weird, but I remember loving to look through the book as a child.



The Fair Adventure
YA novel about a girl named Serena Paige McNeil, but known as Paige. It's the summer before she goes to college. The book tells about her boyfriend and family adventures (I think her father is a professor). Paige acts in a play with the title (or line) "You'll suck sorrow."

Elizabeth Janet Gray, The Fair Adventure.  Definitely this book.  The character is Serena Page MacNeil.
Elizabeth Janet Gray, The Fair Adventure, 1940s.  Serena Page Macneil is the youngest of the MacNeils. She's always outdone by her older siblings. She graduates the day her sister returns from Panama  she's in a play the day of her sister's marriage.


Fair Bay
I read this book in the mid 60’s when I was in 4th or 5th grade.  It was about a girl who was visiting on a plantation for the summer.  Every day she would ride her horse across the marsh on the causeway to an island when the tide was low.  On this island she could “see” her (dead) ancestors living their daily lives and one day a hurricane was coming and she was trying to warn them.

I found the book on your site last night; it is Fair Bay by Eleanor Frances Lattimore.  I am so thrilled to have found it and I ordered it online last night.  I have been looking for this book for YEARS.  Thank you so much!



Fair Boy
I am searching for a book that I read in the early 1960's. Though it has elements of both Fog Magic and Gone Away Lake, neither of them are an exact fit.... A girl discovers a village or possibly a group of summer homes from an earlier time period. I remember that she saw a boy dressed in old fashioned clothing playing with a hoop and stick. The village is either on an island or beside the sea, and the girl later learns it was destroyed many years earlier by a storm, perhaps a hurricane. I was enchanted by this as a child but can't recall any more details. Any help would be appreciated!

Eleanor Frances Lattimore, Fair Bay, 1958.  Shivers down my spine...I'm not *sure* it's the same book, but the description is very similar to a story that haunted my childhood, but which I've never found, except very expensively online.  Here's a brief description from a Google search:  "A little girl goes to visit her great-aunt on the South Carolina coast and one morning, when she goes for an early horseback ride, she discovers that the island, a summer home before a disastrous hurricane, is just as it was sixty years ago."  What I remember is that she (I believe her name is Christine, like her great-aunt who had been on the island during the hurricane) basically goes back in time, and there is some mystery about a lost music box that had belonged to the aunt as a girl (? and was lost in the hurricane, but this girl finds it?). I also seem to remember the houses being "on stilts", i.e., built up one story the way homes are still often built on the Carolina coast, in case of flooding.  Good hunting!
Thank you! Yes! Fair Bay is certainly the book I am looking for--though I didn't say so in my orginal post, I was pretty certain the book had a Southern setting, which increased my affinity for it as a child. Yes, there was something very haunting about Fair Bay  the feeling exists to this day even though it's been 40 years since I read it. This is a fabulous website--thanks for solving my mystery!!!


Fairly Scary Adventure Book
I am looking for a book that I loved as a child but can't remember much about.  It was about a little boy who was stranded on an island or in a mysterious country with several companions -- the most notable a Bengal tiger who wore a blue towel on his head so he wouldn't get sunburned.  The tiger's name was Tiger Rag and he had a british accent and was rather fastidious.  There was also a nasty witch who chased them around and tried to make them drink horrible potions that would turn them into frogs and things.  I remember reading this when I was 8 or 10 (I'm 29 now) and I'm sure it belonged to my older siblings.  I'm guessing the book came out in the mid-sixties.  It was hardback, I'm guessing about 100 pages and the cover was yellow.   I know that's not much to go on .... but I'd be THRILLED if you could tell me what it's called or who wrote it.

THE FAIRLY SCARY ADVENTURE BOOK by William Attwood, 1969.  Wonderful fun, short cliffhanger chapters. There's the toothless tiger (lost his teeth trying to eat an iron lawn-ornament deer). The witch is out to get them, at one point they go through a village in which the villagers can only see purple (they have to ditch purple sneakers, the girl has to close her purple eyes, and they are detected when the monkey sticks out his purple tongue!) Very hard to find though.
Wow! That's absolutely the one!  Thank you so much!  Now I guess the trick is actually finding the book itself!
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All I remember is a girl and a boy on an airplane.  They are looking for the bathroom and fall (?) out of the airplane where they end up in a magic forest, meet up with many strange creatures and eventually defeat some wicked witch (?) and go home.  The details I remember most vividly is that they make friends with a tiger without any teeth (they make dentures for him out of shards of broken china) and they encounter a village where the inhabitants can only see the color purple, so everyone is invisible except the girl, who has purple eyes and has to keep her eyes closed.  Any help you can give me on tracking down this book would be GREATLY appreciated!!!

A103: I knew this sounded familiar though I'd never read it - in the Solved Mysteries, it's listed as the Fairly Scary Adventure Book by William Atwood, 1969!
A103 I answered this one for you before and so it's on your solved stumpers page.  It was a title that stumped me
back in 1994, and I had a hard time tracking it down. It's the FAIRLY SCARY ADVENTURE BOOK. At the time when I first posted the answer, it was hard to find (I had a book search service look for it for a year with no luck, and one day I walked into a used bookstore and found a like-new copy. Serendipity!) But it might not be so hard to find a copy on the internet today. ~from a librarian



The Fairy Doll
children's book about a sad girl named Elizabeth who has bad luck in school and at home. Her life is transformed when she gets a doll that seems to turn things around for her.  Little details I remember: she was particularly bad at multiplication tables in school and her older sister's name was Josie.  Probably published in the 50's or early 60's.

Hello, I sent in to book stumper the query below and I believe the correct answer is Elizabeth (found it on your site under keywords "Elizabeth" & "doll").  Can you tell me who the author is and if I can purchase it from you?  I'd be so grateful if you can help me out; I've been wanting to read that story again for 30 years now.
aren't you speedy and resourceful? Looks like the Solved Mysteries identifies this as Elizabeth by Liesel Skorpen, ill. by Martha Alexander, 1970.  I'll ask Rebecca to search for a copy for you and see what she can find...
Rumer Godden, The Fairy Doll The original description sure sounds exactly like The Fairy Doll- down to the sister named Josie and the multiplication tables.  If Elizabeth doesn't turn out to be the book the poster is looking for I suggest she check out The Fairy Doll.  It was the answer for another recent stumper as well.
Godden, Rumer(author), Adrienne Adams (illustrator), The Fairy Doll, 1956.  I'm afraid that Elizabeth by Liesel Skorpen may not be the book you're searching for.  May I suggest The Fairy Doll by Rumer Godden instead?  Here's an online synopsis: "THE FAIRY DOLL had been with the family for a very long time. It was Great grandmother’s idea to give her to Elizabeth, the youngest child, who was always in trouble for being naughty or clumsy. Elizabeth was always late, always untidy, she couldn't ride a bicycle or remember a shopping list, and the other children teased her and ignored her. But with the Fairy Doll to help, she found that gradually she could do all these things, and more. Could it be magic?"  See Stumper F214 for more information.
Rumer Godden, The Fairy Doll.  You have E84 solved as "Elizabeth", but unless that's an alternative title, it sounds more like The Fairy Doll to me, especially the part about having trouble with multiplication tables.
Wow, you stumper magicians are something else.  I wondered if Elizabeth was correct, but I figured if the requester was so certain, then it must be!  However, closer examination is indeed in order, and I agree with contention that this is The Fairy Doll.  Thanks for your diligence and attention. 



Fairy Kitten
Animal Parade - green, bigger than a Golden Book.  Collection of animal stories.  One was "Fairy Kittens," in which a girl buys pussy willows from a mysterious man in the park and overnight the pussy willows turn into tiny grey kittens.  Another is about a pekingese and some Chinese or Japanese women who pamper him.  Another is about two boys who trap a panther in an abandoned house.  I would guess it was published in the 1950s.

A313 is NOT animal parade by Gates and Brown - if that's any help
Animal Story Parade 1951 This may be the one you're thinking of.  Did the cover have a fawn on it?
Enid Blyton, The Fairy Kitten.  You might try looking at Enid Blyton's books.  She has a story called "The Fairy Kitten" about a pussy willow that turns into a little grey kitten. She also has a story called "Pippi the Little Panther," though I'm not sure if that involves the panther being trapped in a house by some boys. I don't know if she has any stories about a Pekingese, but she did write a lot of stories about dogs (and other animals).  There are many collections of her stories available. Hope this helps.
Fairy Kittens by Jack or John Ernest Bechdolt and Decie Merwin, Oxford University Press(1947).  Here's a description from unsolved stumper P11: "Girl buys pussywillows from a man in the park, who tells her they're "fairy kittens." During the night they turn into tiny little kittens that are rather naughty."  Not a common title for sale, so you might try obtaining it through interlibrary loan to ascertain whether this is the story sought.  It may have been printed in an anthology at some point, but I've had no luck searching for one.



click for
        image of bookFairy Tale Book (Ponsot/Segur)
I hope that you will be able to help me find a copy of a book I loved as a child. It is a large hard-backed fairy tale book with fabulous color illustrations, very detailed. Along with the usual fairy tales (Puss in Boots, Thumbilina) there was one about a princess who had three beautiful dresses made for her; one was like the sunset, one like the moonlight, and maybe one was like the sun. Any recollection at all of a book that fits this description? I was born in 1957; my grandmother gave us the book and I am sure it was published before '57.  Thanks very much.

#A54--Anthology of Fairy Tales:  The story about the girl with the three dresses sounds like Perrault's Donkey Skin.  It is much rarer and harder to find than the other tales mentioned, and may serve as a good clue to identifying the book.
tr. Marie Ponsot, ill. Adrienne Segur, The Fairy Tale Book, 1958.  I'm almost sure this is the book referred to. You identified it yourself in your answer to A27 - the giveaway is the rich, beatifully detailed illustrations. Story number 3 in the book is Donkey Skin. The three dresses are a sun-coloured dress, a moon-coloured dress, and a weather-coloured dress. Your page is the best thing on the internet -- I feel like I've died and gone to heaven!
I must say I have many requests for this one, and it's very difficult to find.  I do know it's a large Golden Book
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The book I remember was a tall hardcover with beautiful illustrations of fairytales.  I'm not sure of the stories, maybe "Puss in Boots."  There were several different fairytales, but I remember the illustrations the most, there were a lot of pictures of birds in the woods and wearing jewels and crowns the artwork was very richly colored and detailed.  I remember a child's face with birds around him/her in the snow.  This book was probably published before 1960.  I remember it from 1965 to 1970.  Then it got sold in a yard sale.  I know it's not much to go on but if you have suggestions they'd be most welcome.

I think this book may just be called The Fairy Tale Book-my copy is pub. 1966 but is 7th ed. A larger thin hardback with beautiful illustrations by Adrienne Segur. Pub was Golden in New York City. Lots of great fairy tales including Puss in boots.
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This is a fairy tale book I owned as a child (back in the late '50's), and haven't seen in decades.  It include two stories I haven't been able to find anywhere -- "Donkeyskin" and "Green Snake".  Can you tell me the title -- and how about how to find a copy?  Thanks!

At the risk of dragging this book out every time someone mentions fairy tales, could this too be The Fairy Tale Book illustrated by Adrienne Segur? It contains both Donkey Skin and Green Snake. Published by Golden Press, translated by Marie Ponsot.
translated by Marie Ponsot, The Golden Book of fairy tales  illustrated by Adrienne Segur.I also had this book as a child - its recently been re-printed.  List of stories:  The sleeping beauty,  The frog princess, Donkey-skin,  Kuzma and the fox,  Puss in boots, Thumbelina, Green snake,  The tinder box, Cinderella, Kip the enchanted cat, Grace and Derek, Urashima and the turtle, Thumbkin, The wild swans, Hans and the striped cat,  Little Red Riding Hood, The white deer, Beauty and the beast, Silvershod, Queen cat, Cowlick Ricky, The seven crow princes, Bluecrest, The royal ram, Bright Deardeer and Kit, Dawn the golden haired, Finn the keen falcon, Fairies.
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I am looking for a children's book with a purple cover...  it was about 9 inches by 11 inches with a shiny cover.  it is a compilation of fairytales that I received as a gift in the late 1950's-early 1960's. One of the stories was Puss n' Boots.  The illustrations in the book were large page-size, very colorful and beautifully drawn.

I have the correct book, I believe. The title is The Fairy Tale Book: A Selection of Twenty-Eight Traditional Stories from the French, German, Danish, Russian, and Japanese by Hans Christian Anderson, The Brothers Grimm, Madame d'Aulnoy, Madame Leprince de Beaumont, Madame la Comtesse de Segur and Charles Perrault.  Translated by Marie Ponsot. Illustrations by Adrienne Segur.  New York:  Golden Press,  Copyright 1958 by Writers and Artists Press, Inc. and Simon And Schuster, Inc. Printed in the U.S.A. by Western Printing and Lithographing Company.  The book has a purple cover with the illustration from the tale of The Seven Crow Princes on the front. A blond, blue-eyed girl is looking over a root into a tea party of crows wearing crowns with a dwarf and a squirrel. The book is oversize originally with a shiny cover. mine is peeling off. The cover also says A DELUXE GOLDEN BOOK. Puss n' Boots is indeed included with a beautiful illustration.  The best news is that this book was reprinted in the last 10 years and I purchased two copies at Barnes and Noble. They are at school, so I can't give you their copy info yet.  I grew up getting this book out of the public library, whose Bookmobile made a stop at our small school. We would fight over who got to have it next. The illustrations are extraordinary, especially for books of that time. When I look at them, I connect to the child I was reveling in them. First I found a battered garage sale copy from a friend years ago (the one I'm using to give the above info) and then bought those new copies a few years back. I kept badgering Children's Press representatives to keep an eye out for it over the years. One day, I walked into a bookstore and magically there it was! My child self  was delighted!
Yes, it is back in print.  What a relief.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Ponsot, Marie, trans.   The Golden Book of Fairy Tales.  Illustrated by Adrienne Segur.  NY: Golden Books, 1958, 1999.  New hardback edition, $19.99



Fairy Tale Treasury
I am looking for a large, soft cover book of Fairy Tales. Possibly published in the very early 70s but probably earlier. As best I can recall, it was simply called "Fairy Tales". It had glossy type paper pages, an illustrated front cover (with white background?) and an orange spine. I remember one of the stories was about a giant turnip. Thanks!

Just in case this is useful, here are two stories featuring giant turnips:  Morey Sheena. The Old Man and the Turnip. Illustrated by Dorothea Mathieu. John Martin's House, 1948. Parkinson, Kathy. The Enormous Turnip. Albert Whitman &  Co., 1986. First edition. A Russian folktale retold featuring Grandfather Ivan and his enormous turnip that took Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother, Olga, puppy, kitten, mouse and beetle to tug out of the ground. There is also a story called "The Turnip" included in Fairy Tales and Fables, Edited by Eve Morel, Illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa, NY: Grosset & Dunlap, 1970.  See the Anthology Finder for an image of this book (could be the one!).
That's not it but thanks for trying to help. :)
This actually has an ORANGE cover and a WHITE spine, but it's worth checking out - THE FAIRY TALE TREASURY
SELECTED BY VIRGINIA HAVILAND, ILLUSTRATED BY RAYMOND BRIGGS. PUBLISHED BY HAMISH HAMILTON, 1972. Puss-in-Boots dominates the cover and I definitely remember the turnip story. There are two or three
stories in it that, chances are, most of us never heard of, such as a (Russian?) story about a boy kidnapped by a fox and a tar-baby story where Brer Fox is an elephant. Other stories (there are 32 in all) are Cinderella, Tom Thumb, Snow White, Jack and the Beanstalk, & Little Red Riding Hood. (Check out Briggs' illustrations of Goldilocks - those who have
accused him of misogyny in his books may be right, but in her case the pictures make sense!)
Ding! Ding! Ding! Bells rang as soon as I read "Raymond Briggs". Found a picture of the cover and that's the one. Thank-you so much!



Fairy Tales (Hadaway)
Ok, this book had a dark purple or blue cover with I think a fairy on the cover with lots of stories.  No remember, some descriptions may be wrong due to a foggy memory!  some of the stories are: the pig and the pancake, ali baba, aladdin, the fisherman's wife, the coal the bean and the straw, bluebeard, little red riding hood, the little memaid, brer rabbit and the tar baby, the nightengale or peacock, princess and the pea, a story where they cut the horses head off and mount it outside?, little match girl, the red shoes, cinderella, johnny appleseed, rapunzel, beauty and the beast, rumplestitzskin, and I know there are a lot more, but that is all i can remember now.  Ok, here is the unique part, almost every page had illustrations, great illustrations.  If you know anything at all about this book or if you come across anything like that please let me know- i received this book somewhere between 84-87.  I don't know if it was published then though, it was a new book from a bookstore, I know that!

illus Jessie Wilcox Smith, A Child's Book of Stories, reprinted 1986.  This book has 86 stories and most of the ones you listed are in it.  Some of the more unusual stories that might jog your memory are: Hercules and the wagoner, History of little golden hood, I don't care, Little thumb, Little Totty, Mr. Miacca Nose, Six comrades, Snowdrop, So-so, Story of Mr. Vinegar, Selfish sparrow and the houseless crows, Tired of being a girl, Tom Tit Tat, Unseen giant, White cat, Why?, Why the bear is stumpy-tailed, and Yellow dwarf.
Terry Jones, Fairy Tales, 1981.
Bridget Hadaway (retold), Fairy Tales, 1974/1982/1985/1987.  This is the book!  Memory a little foggy, but this is it and it has aladdin on the cover with his genie coming out of the lamp, it's approx 304pp and has 28 stories.
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I  have an old book of fairy and folk tales that is missing its cover and first few pages. I would like to get a nicer copy but I don’t know the title, editor or illustrators. It is 12 inches tall and 8.5 inches wide, is 304pp long and had beige linen style covers, the back cover has a picture of Dorothy and the Scarecrow (from Oz) in brown.  It has beautiful watercolor (I think) illustrations on every page. Some of the stories include: Jack and the Beanstalk; Little Red Riding Hood; Hansel & Gretel;  Ali Baba; The Magic Kettle, Cinderella, snow White; The Goosegirl; Puss in boots; The Wonderful Tarbaby; The Little mermaid; The Firebird; and many others. (Fifty in all I think.) If anyone can help me figure this out I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks!

I am looking for the SAME book!  I just subnitted in a bookstumper.  The cover was blue/purple with a fairy on it with glitter trail behind her.  My book fell apart too and all I have left are a couple of stories.  The book also had "the red shoes" "the coal the straw and the bean" the fisherman's wife, bluebeard, rumplestiltzskin, the elves and the shoemaker, and the little match girl, the princess and the pea, and probably some more!  I know there was a story about a pig and a pancake.
Bridget Hadaway (retold), Fairy Tales.  1982/1985/1987.  This is DEFINATELY the book we are looking for!  I just found it today, the day I found this request!  funny, huh?  I ordered the book, but the guy described it to me and it's exactly what you are describing.  Your description actually helped me to find it.  They have a bunch with different publication dates, but all the same book.  I got the publication of 1987, although I am pretty sure the 1985 one is the one I had.  Well see when it gets here.  I hope this helps, I know there are a million fairy tale books out there and it's almost impossible to find something without an author or illustrator!  the Cover of this book has aladdin and his lamp with the Genie coming out, with a trail behind him, does that sound familiar?  the book is purple and blue and the back inside cover has the wizard of Oz characters (so the seller told me) which just may be a different edition than the one you have.  I hope this helps!
Hadaway, Fairy Tales.  I am so pleased that someone figured out my stumper! It has been a year since I submitted it and hadn't checked it in months. What a surprise when I couldn't find it on the unsolved pages! I must have the 1974 edition because the back cover that I have is definitely NOT purple :). I can't wait to get a better copy for my daughters. Thank you so much!
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This book is a large hardback collection of fairy tales that I had as a child in the late 1970's. I don't know much about the book other than that it may have been a collection of Hans Christian Andersen tales because it was lavishly illustrated and I remember in particular the illustrations from The Little Mermaid. I seem to recall the paper cover on the text was a purple color and had an illustration of a young girl and old woman on it (reminiscent of Cinderella) although Andersen didn't write that tale, so that is what has me confused. The book was about 1 inch thick or so, and had very detailed color illustrations throughout. I would imagine the copyright was in the 1970's because my mom wouldn't have had the money to buy a book that was out of print at the time she bought it for me. I would appreciate any suggestion anyone can give me to help me find this book!

Hadaway, Bridget, Fairy Tales, 1974.  This sounds a lot like the stumper I submitted a while ago.  My solution turned out to be Fairy Tales by Hadaway. My copy has a dust jacket that has a lot of purple, showing a young girl seated while an older woman with a wand is standing behind her. It is an illustration used for Cinderella later in the book. The poster can check the solved mysteries page (under "Fairy Tales") for more details.
It IS the Bridget Hadaway book!! I confirmed this because someone is selling it on ebay right now and has pictures of the 1974 edition (don't tell anyone; I hope to be the high bidder!)  I just want to thank you so much for your site. What an invaluable service you provide!! I plan to be a regular visitor to the site, and I've already told others about it as well.
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collected edition of fairy tales:  off white cover hard back had several stories the ones that i remember are tar baby, emperor's new clothes and rapunzel.  it was done by the same people that made the childrens bible of that same year. i wish i could tell you more but i have racked my brain! it seems like it had a longer title than the one above.

This might be the 70's version of  The Better Homes and Garden Story Book.
A29:  I am thinking this might be Young Years, Best Loved Stories and Poems for Little Children.  The cover is off white with a lot of fairy tale characters on the front and back.  The book does include the three stories
mentioned.  The reason I bought it is it has the REAL Billy Goats Gruff story where the Big Billy Goat Gruff tells the troll, "I'll poke your eyeballs out your ears!"  And the story ends with "Snip, snap, snout.  This tale's told out."  This book was published by Parents' Magazine Press, Copyright MCMLX. [1960.]
Bridget Hadaway (retold), Fairy Tales, 1982/1985/1987.  This book sounds like what you are looking for, a collection of 50 fairy tales, all color illustrations, wizard of oz characters on back cover, aladdin on the front cover with lamp and genie.  304pp.  editions printed by cathaway publishing (82) crescent publishing (85) and gallery books (87).
published by Parents Magazine Enterprises for Playmore, Inc.  NY NY, Best Loved Fairy Tales, including Mother Goose Selections, 1963.  The title of this one is deceptive as I don’t think there is anything of Mother Goose in it.   My copy is the 1974 edition and it says that it was originally published as Vol. 3 - Young Years Library,  Copyright MCMLXIII.  The cover is red cloth with a color picture on paper glued to it from front to back.  The picture on the cover is overshadowed by a gray-toned swirl which is, I believe, Aladdin’s genie, and the picture appears to be projected from a book held by a boy.  The stories included are:  Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp ~ Cinderella, or the Glass Slipper ~ Beauty and the Beast ~ Sleeping Beauty ~ Rumpelstiltskin ~ Puss In Boots ~ Whittington and his Cat ~ The Real Princess [a.k.a. Princess and the Pea] ~ The Tinderbox ~ Jack and the Beanstalk ~ The Shoemaker and the Elves ~ The Elves and the Changeling ~ The Servant Maid and the Elves ~ The Wonderful Tar Baby Story ~ The History of Tom Thumb ~ Jack the Giant Killer [a.k.a. The Little Tailor] ~ The Husband Who Was to Mind the House ~ The Emperor’s New Clothes ~ Bremen Town Musicians ~ Hansel and Gretel ~ Snow White ~ Ugly Duckling ~ Steadfast Tin Soldier ~ Rapunzel ~ Why the Sea Is Salt ~ The Alligator and the Jackal ~ How the Raven Helped Men ~ The Frog Prince ~ Pinocchio’s First Adventures ~ A Mad Tea Party [excerpt from Alice In Wonderland] ~ The Little Gnome [a poem] So, I would have to concur with the second contributor except I don't think the Billy Goats Gruff made it into my edition.  The stories do appear to be very real/true to the original version  some are darkly humorous and the book is peppered with a great deal of archaic language. (See also C101)
This could be The Golden Treasury of Children's Literature-71 stories edited and selected by Bryna and Louis Untermeyer. Copyright dates starting in 1947-my copy is 1966. Your three stories are in this large volume.
retold by Bridget Hadaway Illustrated by Jean Atcheson, Fairy Tales.  This book had all the stories you mentioned. The writer/illustrator had a children's bible at the same time.



Fairy Tales (Hadaway)
I am looking for a big, huge book of fairy tales that I had when I was a kid in the 80's. It was a very large book with a dark cover with a picture of a genie on the front. The title was in gold letters that I am pretty sure said "Fairy Tales" although I can't remember anything else on the cover. Inside were beautiful illustrations, not all of the same style, some looked like they were by one illustrator and others seemed to be from a different illustrator. Some of the stories in side that I remember were: Bluebeard, The Goose Girl, The Sprig of Rosemary, Ali Baba and The Forty Theives, The Three Little Pigs, The Red Shoes, some kind of Wizard of Oz Story where Dorothy kills the witch, The Gingerbread Man, A Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer story (something about whitewashing a fence), Sleeping Beauty and many, many more. I am dying to find this book for my kids.

Bridget Hadaway, Fairy Tales This sounds like the Hadaway book, see solved mystery pages for more details. I looked for this one for years too, the illustrations are marvelous.
Bridget Hadaway, Fairy Tales, 1974.  Thankyou so much! It was Bridget Hadaway, I was able to see a copy that had been sold on ebay and it was the same cover I remember as a child. Thankyou! I have ordered a copy and can't wait to get it. What a great service!

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Looking for hardback anthology of bedtime/fairy, late 70s to 80s. I think it had a blue cover, maybe with a princess on the front. It included Rumpelstiltskin, The Red Shoes, The Emperor's New Clothes, Bluebeard, The Tinder Box & Little Match Girl. Beautiful colour illustrations. Help!

Hadaway, Bridget, Fairy Tales.
This may be the book. It has all the stories listed and is full of illustrations. There is more information on the solved mystery pages.
Hans Christian Andersen, Andersen's Fairy Tales, 1945. This blue colored book of fairy tales has beautiful illustrations by Arthur Szyk including a cover picture of the Emperor. The first of a set of two books, the other being a red colored book of Grimm's Fairy Tales, illustrated by Fritz Kredel. Hope this is it. A favorite childhood book of mine. 
SOLVED: Bridget Hadaway, Fairy Tales. Yes, it's the Hadaway book! Thank you so much.



Fairy Rebel
All I know about the book is that it's main character is a little girl with a patch of the color blue in her hair and that it might feature fairies and something that happens each year on her birthday.  Can you tell me the name of the book?

Lynne Reid Banks, The Fairy Rebel,1985, copyright. Bindi is the girl with blue in her hair, but she's actually the daughter of the main character and isn't born until the second half of the book.  Every year she gets magic birthday presents from a fairy.
Lynne Reid Banks, The Fairy Rebel,1988. A fairy disobeys the Queen's rules about contact with humans to help a couple have a baby. The baby girl has a small streak of blue hair due to some confusion on how she should look. Each year the fairy sends the girl a special birthday present, until she is ten years old. Then the fairy Queen finds out and sends a present that gets her into trouble.
Lynne Reid Banks, The Fairy Rebel. Definitely what you are looking for- has the fairy, the patch of colored hair, the return on birthdays, and so on.
Lynn Reid Banks, The Fairy Rebel,1995."A rebellious fairy named Tiki, already in trouble for breaking the rule against wearing jeans, risks the further wrath of the Fairy Queen by trying to fulfill a human's special request for help." The human child that results from Tiki's friendship has blue hair and a yearly wish...
Lynne Reid Banks, The Fairy Rebel. This is what you're looking for.



Fairy Tales of France
This is a collection of fairy tales.  The book was square, small, with softly colored pictures that filled up the whole page.  The first tale concerned a man who found a five-leaved clover.  When some rocks went down to the river to drink at night, he could get gold that they usually hid because the clover would protect him.  I can't remember the other tales as well.

Kincaid, Kincaids book of Witches, Goblins, Ogres and Fantasy, 1980.  This story is similar to one in this collections of fairy tales that I have. The theme is the same, but the circumstances are a little different. The name of the story as it appears in my book is The Giant Stones, and there are 3 main characters, a poor shepherd boy, a greedy wizard, and a furry eared fairy-child. Perhaps you can do some reasearch based on the title to find the copy you are looking for.
Barbara Ker Wilson, Fairy Tales of France.  The poster who suggested I search "Giant Stones" inadvertently led me to the correct book, which had a story with the word "giant" and a story with the word "stones" in the title!  The "Stones" story is the one I remember.  This one has finally been solved.


Fairy to Stay
Hi   I remember loving this book as a child.  It had been my aunt's book, given to her as a child (1930s) when she was ill, and it was a great honor to  be allowed to borrow  it.  All I remember is that a fairy comes to stay with a little girl and changes her life.  Hope you can help!

F29 - A Fairy to Stay - Irene Mossop - 1930s I think
A Fairy to Stay by Margaret Beatrice Lodge, illustrated by A.H. Watson, Oxford University Press, 1929 8vo, illustrated with one color plate, plus 8 full-page plates in brown line on cream background, and with pictorial
endpapers in the style of Rackham.

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I am looking for a book that I read at my aunt's house in the mid-1950's.  She told me it had been hers when she was a child, and so it  probably dates from the 1920's, if not earlier (I had not then learned to look for edition information).  The story concerned a lonely girl (orphaned? temporarily left?) living with some unsympathetic female relatives (I think, two aunts). The girl is befriended by a fairy that lives in the garden.  The two go on some magical adventures, but the scene I remember most is when the fairy shows the girl that "magic" can also be a point of view.  To illustrate, the fairy points out that a flower is as big to her as a tree is to the girl, and so the girl can do just as the fairy does, in her own, human, world.  The book was a narrative, perhaps 200 pages, with a few color plates.  One of these showed a strikingly beautiful, dark-haired queen or sorceress (my memory tells me she was not nice), clothed in flames.  It was a disturbing, swirling, art-nouveau-ish picture in red and orange.  I realize that this is very little to go on, but I am hopeful that you or some of your readers can help me find a book that has been eluding me for half a century!  By the way, it is neither Joan in Flowerland, nor Alcott's Flower Fables.

Margaret Beatrice Lodge, A Fairy To Stay, 1928 Oxford University Press. I sent in the original query, and finally found the book -- the old-fashioned way, in a used book store!  All is as I remembered (it was two unpleasant aunts), except no color plates.  Illustrations (by A.H. Watson) in sepia only.  Perhaps my memory imported the color illustrations from a different story?

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Fairy Who Wouldn't Fly
I know the title is either The Fairy Who Couldn't Fly or The Fairy Who Wouldn't Fly.  It was a beautifully illustrated book, possibly about A4 size, about a fairy who was miserable and outcast because she couldn't fly like the others. In the end she discovered that she'd been able to fly all along, it was just here fear that held her back.  I'd love to know who the author is and if it's still available anywhere.

There is a book titled The Fairy Who Wouldn't Fly by Pixie O'Harris published by Marchant in 1952.  I have no idea if this is the book in question, but the title and time are right.


Faith and Freedom Readers
By the Archdiocese of New York (City), 1940's - early 1950's.  The family consisted of Mother and Father and David and Ann.

Faith and Freedom Readers.  These Faith and Freedom Readers were for grades 1 and up with titles like This is Our Town, This is Our Valley, These are Our Neighbors etc.  They start out with David and Ann and family.  The higher level books also feature other stories.
Faith and Freedom Readers, 1950s.  Just based on web research (Catholic homeschool sites) and eBay browsing, I would
suggest looking at the Faith & Freedom Readers series.  In particular, the pre-primer (Here We Come, This is Our Home, Here We Are Again) and primers (This is Our Family  This Are Our Friends).  The Seton Home Study School website has samples (reprints, I believe) online under "Curriculum/Grade 1 Booklist" (although they don't identify them by series
name--look under the individual titles).   The originals (?) seem to turn up pretty frequently on eBay  try searching "Faith and Freedom" and any combination of "Ann" "David" "Catholic" "readers" "primers" etc.  (These works are a different series than the Cathedral Editions of Scott Foresman's classic Dick, Jane, and Sally, in which the characters are John, Jean, and Judy.)
C171 Sister Mary M Marguerite; Sister M Bernarda. This is our family.  Illus by Hazel Hoecker; Catherine Scholz; Ralph Shepherd.  Ginn, 1961. revised edition. Cover picture is family raking leaves.  Faith and Freedom Basic Readers.


Fallen Dragon
Book a boy who meets girl and he falls for her.  He discovers his father had hired girl to be his girlfriend.  In a rage, he enlists in military.  Something to do with software he has been able to attain - maybe encryption.  At the end, he travels back in time to be with girl again.

Anabel Johnson,
The Danger Quotient, 1974. This could be The Danger Quotient or A Memory of Dragons, both by Johnson.  Neither is a perfect fit, but both are kind of close. 
SOLVED: Peter F. Hamilton,
Fallen Dragon, 2002. Found it!  Thanks - great site.



A Family Dollhouse
I adored this book when I was little in the 70's- I took it out continuously from the library- I recall it being a large book...it was about how to build a dollhouse & everything inside it. There was a frog & bears who lived in the dollhouse in the book & little leather people & a secret room. She (the author) told how to modify things to make them into dollhouses (ex. a bookcase) & her dollhouse had a drawer under it for all the extras she made. She told how to make rugs & clothes for the people & had patterns for the leather people.

Stein, Sara Bonnett, A Family Dollhouse, 1979.  I loved this book too!  It was distinct from most of the other dollhouse books because it focused on plans for a dollhouse that you could really play with - not one with delicate, breakable furniture that was mostly for display.  It includes instructions for making dolls out of chamois, building the house and furniture out of sturdy materials, making textiles, and so on.  For the photos of the "secret" room, the author has posed two toy frogs playing checkers.  My local library still has a copy - I hope yours does, too!
Stein, Sara Bonnett, A Family Dollhouse.  I want to thank you with all my heart whoever solved this for me...I have NO doubt this is the book...that is exactly it- the frogs playing checkers!!! Thank you for letting me know it should still be in libraries and I will be going to check it out- this means so much to me!! Lots of memories...I got tears in my eyes reading your description...thank you for your time!!!!!!  This is a wonderful site!



A Family for Sarah Ann
I can't remember the title of a children's book I had in the early 1960s. It was about a girl, possibly named Maggie or Margaret, who leaves her home in the country to live in a city, possibly Boston, with relatives, possibly aunt/uncle/cousin. Cousin Linda was a stuck-up girl who refused to be friends with Maggie. (The only name I'm 95% certain of is Linda.) One of the mean things Linda did was when they were ice skating, she spun Maggie then let go so Maggie went flying and hit her head. There was also a storyline about their ballet class getting ready to perform Sleeping Beauty, which involved various characters dancing around trying to wake Sleeping Beauty up. Maggie was given the role of the clown because she looked funny with her head bandage. Linda was Sleeping Beauty which at first she thought was a compliment, until the teacher explained that Sleeping Beauty does nothing but lie there through the whole ballet, and since Linda had done nothing all year in class she got that dud role. In the end the girls made friends and I seem to recall something about Linda giving Maggie a really nice Christmas present.

"Maggie in Boston" vaguely reminded me of a book I'd read, which I learned of during the 20th anniversary year of "The Mickey Mouse Club," when the shows were rerun (over 30 YEARS ago--WOW!).  I read several of the books on which some of the serials were based. Margaret, by Janette Sebring Lowrey, was the basis of the "Annette" serial. I  found a good summary online:  "Even after Margaret was settled in Uncle Archie’s home in Ashford, her thoughts kept taking her back to Nichols Station--to Bonnie, to P. A., and Michael--to the little Texas town in which she was sure she would find again all that she knew and loved.  She realized she was supposed to be happy that she’d finally been discovered by her relatives, after the many years of orphanhood--but it seemed to her that Bonnie and P.A. had been all the ‘folks’ she needed, and although it had been a dull and simple existence, it had been a safe one.  In the lazy little village she had been reasonably sure what to expect of each day.  But here in Ashford, where a complicated pattern of social activities set her dizzy with its busy pace, each day was a new occasion for fear.  For when you are an awkward country girl, your voice and your shyness give you away even if you do have beautiful new clothes and an Uncle Archie who is one of the most highly respected men in the town.  Or so it seemed to Margaret.  This is the story of Margaret’s life in Ashford--of her struggle to gain poise and confidence in herself, even when a jealous person like the pretty flirt, Laura Rogan, tried to make her appear a thief.  The popular Laura was no easy opponent for a quiet country girl, but fear of disappointing her new friends--and especially her Uncle Archie--made Margaret stand by her convictions, helped her to outgrow her feelings of insecurity, and, after bitter lessons learned in the terrifying atmosphere of the sophisticated town, showed her beyond any doubt that her real home was in Ashford."  And the Internet Movie Database listing for the serial:  "Annette stars as a simple orphan coming from a small country farm to the upper-class suburbs so she can live with an aunt and uncle she hasn't seen in years.  At first, she's excited to finally have a solid home.  Her aunt takes her shopping and gives her a new look, while her uncle makes her school plans ready, and the house maid babies her no end.  But it's the other kids in town that at last give Annette something to worry about.  Some are snobs, some are obnoxious, and the ones she does get along with are the sort of people her aunt believes are beneath her.  With a new crush on the popular boy in school, Annette becomes the target of his jealous girlfriend.  Her life may never be simple again."
That doesn't sound quite right. I'm almost positive this book was set somewhere in the Northeast and there definitely was a scene on an ice skating pond.
I just read this one!! A Family for Sarah Ann by Polly Curran. It takes place on Beacon Hill- at one point they ride the swan boats. All your elements are here.Cute story!
A Family for Sarah Ann was a match.



Family Likeness
I am looking for a book that I think I read about 1970, but I don't know how new it was then.  I think the story was set in Australia, although it might have been New Zealand.  It was a juvenile novel about a family that moves to a rural area.  I think the family has four sisters, two of whom were named Sorrel and Tansy.  All of them had names of herbs, and it seems that one of them was a sour or bitter herb.  I want to say the dust cover was white with black ink drawings on it, but I'm not sure about that.

Margaret Trist, Morning in Queensland I have not read the book, but I know that the author is Australian, that the book was for young people, that one of the characters was called Tansy, and that there was at least one sequel. So perhaps a possibility.
Anne de Roo, Scrub Fire, etc.  Another possibility that comes to mind. She was an Australian author, whose books tended to be set in the countryside, and one of her books was called Cinnamon and Nutmeg - I am not sure whether these were names of people or animals, but could suggest a 'herbal' naming tendency!
It is not Morning in Queensland, and the only book I could find by Anne De Roo was Scrub Fire, which is not old enough.
I think this is Barbara Ker Wilson A family likeness. The 4 girls are Celandine, Tansy, Sorrell and Vervain. It's not exactly timeslip, but story of a modern girl - Debbie - alternating with the story of her ancestors - the 4 girls, who emigrated from Sunderland, UK to Sydney (with father mother and brother Bertie - name was Pratt). She finds a box of family photos, and their mother sees a family likeness between Debbie and Sorrell, and Jane (Debbie's elder sister) and Celandine. The dust cover of the copy I've just borrowed from the library is mostly pinky- beige with a picture of the Pratt family.
I believe A Family Likeness is correct.  Thank you so much!


click for image of bookFamily Name
When I was a young girl, my favorite book was called The Family Name. I don't remember the name of the author, just that it was part of a series of novels for girls. The main character's first name was Ryndy (short for Cathryn, I believe) and her last name was Drews -- I am 100% sure of the first name, slightly less so of the last name. The main story involved sibling rivalry, cheerleading and a water-skiing accident.

maybe it is  The family name by Jan Washbum.  A story about a young girl who wants to live up to her good family name, but an accident in her senior year in high school challenges her to begin to learn to live again.
That is it! In fact, my sister found the book for me, I'm not sure how, and gave it to me as a gift last year.  It's a great story for young girls (and older girls who like to remember being young!).  Thanks for remembering.
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It was a book about a girl who made cheerleader, had three successful sisters who over-shadowed her, had an accident while water-skiing.  I think her name was Ryndy (short for Catherine or Katherine) Drews/or Drews

This sounds like The Family Name by Jan Washburn, Whitman 1971, again (in Solved).
Is this The Family Name, by Jan Washburn, published Whitman 1971? "A story about a young girl who wants to live up to her good family name, but an accident in her senior year in highschool challenges her to begin to learn to live again."
Wow, Im amazed.  I would love to get a copy of it, please let me know if you can find one.  Thank so much

The book I am looking for is about a teenage girl in high school who has three older sisters who are all successful in a particular way and showed that success while in high school.  As the book starts the youngest of the three has just left for college and now the main character feels she can shine on her own out of the shadow of her older sisters.  I remember the sisters names but not the main character's: Oldest, Virginia, called Ginny, the family brain, described as regal (I remember having to ask my dad what that meant); Second was Victoria, called Vicky, the family beauty, and last Valerie, called Val the "personality kid" who was star cheerleader.  The main plot is that the main character (maybe her name starts with a  "V" like the others?) decides, not being able to be a super brain or super beauty like the oldest two, she will follow in Val's footsteps and become a cheerleader.  While that dream is just starting to come true she goes waterskiing with a friend and the boat gets loose and runs over her causing her to break both legs and she ends up in traction for months.  Coming out of traction and hoping to get her strength back in her legs, it is recommended that she take up swimming for rehabilitation.  WhiIe swimming she sees someone diving hit his or her head on the board which no one else sees and even though she has trouble since she still cant walk, she swims super fast to save the person and the coach is so impressed he recommends she go out for the swim team.  Somewhere in the story she meets a boy named Pieter who is in the hospital and depressed and will only talk with her when she uses a puppet.  I read this book in the late 70's, early 80's but it had a feel of being written in the 60's or so.  For some reason I always felt that it was published by the same company that did the "Meg Mysteries" which I believe was Whitman Publishing (this could be because it had the same hard back cover, covered over with paper and I purchased it in the same place,the local Pic'N'Save along with "The Three Matildas" (another mystery book I loved along with the Meg books)) but I have never been able to find it looking under Whitman (although that could be because I couldn't remember the main character's name or the title).
Jan Washburn, The Family Name, 1971. This one is in the Solved Mysteries section - apparently a popular request. "A story about a young girl who wants to live up to her good family name, but an accident in her senior year in high school challenges her to begin to learn to live again."
Solved: The Family Name, 1971. This is definitely the book! Knew it as soon as I saw the title but would never have remembered it, the author's name, and especially the main character's name, Ryndy.  That makes 4 for 4 you and your readers have found for me! Thank you so much!



Family Nobody Wanted
1940s. This book is a memoir about a minister and his wife that adopt twelve children. It is written by the wife and it is set in a small town. The children are from various nationalities and some are disabled. The family is very poor but get by with ingenious ideas. It is a sweet book of a loving family. I think the title may have the word "twelve" in it.

Helen Doss, The Family Nobody Wanted, 1975. I'm just sure this is it.  An oldie, but a goodie.
Helen Doss, The Family Nobody Wanted, 1954. This sounds very much like The Family Nobody Wanted.  It is a memoir written by Helen Doss, a Methodist pastor's wife.  They adopted 12 children of various nationalities although none were disabled.  This was available from Scholastic Books in the 1970's and my sister and I read it to pieces.  I found a used copy a few years ago and my daughter and her best friend have also read it many times.
Doss, Helen, The Family Nobody Wanted,1945. Helen Doss and her minister husband adopt twelve children of various ethnic backgrounds. It was originally published in 1945, but was recently reprinted.
Doss, Helen, The Family That Nobody Wanted, 1956. A minister and his wife adopt twelve multi-racial children.
etc.



Family Treasury of Children's Stories
My mother bought a 3 volume set of children's books for us in or around 1963.  They were hard cover brownish gray.  First volume was primarily nursery rhymes and fairy tales.  Volumes 2 and 3 were stories like Voyage to Lilliput and Kon-Tiki.They were lightly illustrated.

Pauline Rush Evans (editor), Family Treasury of Children's Stories, 1956.  We've had this three-volume set around for forty years, and I'm pretty sure it's what you're looking for.  The third volume does have excerpts from Kon Tiki and Gulliver's Travels.


Family Tree
The book that I am looking for I read in 6th grade.  It was a story about a girl who went to here grandfathers to stay and he was a very strange man who was very messy and did not like having her there.  The story is about all the things she gets into and the bond she makes with her grandfather.  I think that the title was her name or nickname and that it started with a G but I am not sure.

Is this Heidi?
It is marvelous to scroll down your pages of solved and unsolved book queries! The description of G21 rung a bell - could it be a boy and not a girl and could it be Frances Burnett? The secret garden? Little Lord Fontleroy (or whatever it is spelled)?
Come to think of it, G21 reminds me of Storey's YA book called The Family Tree. Girl goes to live with
either her grandfather or great-uncle or many-removed cousin, and he is very curt and abrupt with her, making her feel unwanted. He has a dog and commands her to never close the door in any rooms but she accidentally does and the dog scratches long grooves in the door. Then she finds a huge assortment of old photos, and has them spread out on the floor, trying to sort out who is who in the family, and the dog walks all over them and she gets yelled at for making a mess, but then he sees what she was trying to do and they bond by creating the family tree and seeing just how they are related. Good book.
not much to go on, but perhaps Grandpa's Maria, by Hans-Eric Hellberg, translated from the Swedish by Patricia Crampton, illustrated by Joan Sandin, published Morrow 1974 "An award-winning author tells this sensitive, funny story of a seven-year-old girl left in the care of her grandfather." (HB Oct/74 p.204 pub ad)
G21 girl & grouchy grandpa: there's Maid's Ribbon, by Mary Treadgold, published Nelson 1967 "A resourceful and responsible girl finally wins the trust of her suspicious old grandfather." but that's all the plot description I have.
Storey, Margaret, The family tree, c.1973.  When I read this, I recognized the story as being from The family tree by Margaret Storey. I checked in my copy, and found the incident with Kate sorting out pictures in front of the fire is on pages 81-89. Kate is an orphan who has lived with her Aunt Millicent, a reluctant guardian at best. Aunt Millicent decides that its time someone on her father's side of the family takes care of her, but the only reaining relative is elderly cousin Lawrence, who lived in the house where her father had grown up. Its a geat story. Hope this helps. I love the stumpers, by the way and always find them interesting


Famous Fairy Tales
A collection of fairytales printed < 1985 (probably > 1975). I found an anime dvd called "The World's Greatest Fairy Tales" that has the same illustrations, but can't find the book (other than the 44 page book that comes with the dvd).  An example is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4bu4553YaQ

Fred Ladd, Famous Fairy Tales, 1978. ISBN 0448147289. I think this is your book.
SOLVED: Fred Ladd, Famous Fairy Tales, 1978. That's it!  That's it!  I'm so excited!  Thank you!


click here for pictures and profileFamous Five series
1950's children's adventure book.  Two female girl cousins, one a tomboy, explore island.  Discover treasure.

Enid Blyton, Five on a Treasure Island, circa 1942.  First published in 1942. The Famous Five, Julian, Dick, George (Georgina), Anne and Timmy the dog. On Kirrin Island the Famous Five find themselves involved in their first adventure - a desperate treasure hunt concerning an ancient wreck and a ruined castle.  First of the Famous Five series, it is easily available on ebay.


Famous Paintings: An Introduction to Art for Young People
1957-1967.  I don't remember the author or title, although the title might be soemthing like "A Child's Introduction to Art".  What I primarily remember is the format.  The book is arranged in pairs of facing pages: the left page is a full-page color illustration, and the right page had three small black and white illustrations at the top, with about a half page of test below, which discussed a technique or styhle which was illustrated by the reproduced artworks.  It was a very clear and yet very thought-provoking introduction to painting, and I would love to find a copy of it.

Alice Chase, Famous Paintings: An Introduction to Art for Young People.



Fanny Herself
This story is set in the 1920's, I think.  The main character is a girl who goes to work for a mail-order catalog company.  She figures out better ways to sell things.  I remember she puts together a baby's layette set inexpensive enough for poor mothers to afford.  There is a love story, and part of the book concerns gaining labor rights, ie working conditions for the female employees, wages, etc.  One scene I have always remembered concerns a man making unwanted advances on our heroine, and she belts him right in front of the ear where his jawbone is attached and knocks him out.  She had been taught this by the "good guy" in the story.  I read this in high school in the 1960's, but it was old then!!

Edna Ferber, Fanny Herself, 1917.  The main character starts a special catalog for cheap baby clothes that brings business to the company. One of her co-workers comes on to her (he is married) and she punches him. Her love interest is a writer who teaches her the 'uppercut'.
Ferber, Edna, Fanny Herself    1917 YES!!  That's IT!  I try not to covet instant gratification, but I love it when it happens.  I don't even have to check Interlibrary Loan first.  I KNOW this is the right one.  Thank You, Thank You.  (Now, dear Harriet, can you find me a copy????)


Fanona the Beautiful
I was given a book as a child called, I think, Fiona the Beautiful. It was about a girl who was quite full of herself and she is taught a lesson by her friends. Any idea who wrote this and if it is still in print?? Thanks!

F26 fiona the beautiful: could be Fanona the Beautiful, written and illustrated by Jessica Ross, published Holt, Rinehart 1972,  32 pages. "Fanona learns that being friendly is more important than being beautiful."


Fantastic Toys
I think the cover was red, or had a red border, and all I remember was that there were playground toys, like a swing set and maybe people holding a jump rope, things like that, that were made of people. They were nicely illustrated and larger than real life people, but kids played on/with them.

Monika Beisner, Fantastic Toys,
1973 (Germany), 1975 (US). A beautifully illustrated imaginary catalog of fantastic toys, including some larger-than-life-size wind up dolls that swing jump ropes, a giant inflatable flower to climb, spring shoes and bird wings to be worn for high jumping, a sled in the shape of a sheep, animal umbrellas, and a huge balloon that can be painted with jungle scenes, among others. The cover does have a red border and features several of the toys, including the skipping machine.
SOLVED:
Monika Beisner, Fantastic Toys. Thank you so much, this is definitely the book I'\''ve been looking for for the last 30 years! I really appreciate your being able to solve this mystery for me. You have no idea how satisfying it is to finally know the name of it after all these years. I'\''d love to purchase it from you, if that'\''s possible and if you can tell me how to do so. Thanks again for everything!
Wonderful news! Loganberry Books will contact you.


Far Side of Evil
I am looking for a sci-fi, young adult novel published before 1973.  It is about a young woman/girl who belongs to a people who have learned to regulate their bodies via mind control (ie instead of a pill/drug they are able to use mental processes to eliminate pain)they might be able to engage in telepathy.  She is sent to a planet on some sort of mission and finds a native (who is more like us) to unwittingly assist her. There may have been two books and I cannot recall the plots.  I do remember two memorable events:  the native (non-advanced) friend is put into a floatation isolation tank as a torutre to make her "talk" or somehow capitulate to the bad-guys (don't remember who or what they were).  She is given "pills" by the heroine (which are actually only wadded up pieces of bread) to keep her out of pain. The protagonist think that they will work as the native girl will believe in their effecacy and thus cause her mind to perform the feat of defeating pain (as do the minds of the superior beings such as the protagonist). Thank you for any suggestions.

Sylvia Engdahl, The Far Side of Evil.  G325 is definitely Engahl's The Far Side of Evil, which is the sequel to her truly wonderful Enchantress from the Stars.  There are recent re-issues of both of these, and the new edition of The Far Side of Evil apparently has some changes to it.  Be aware that it is pretty dark -- Enchantress from the Stars is meant for a younger audience and is much lighter.
Solved: Yes!!! I recognize the titles.  Thank you so much!  I beleive that you are right about the protagonist of G325 being a boy rather than a girl.  Many thanks!


Far-Distant Oxus
In the late 1930's or early 1940's (I think), two young English women (in their 20's, I believe, and reportedly inspired by the books of Arthur Ransome) wrote three (possibly more) books about the experiences of a group of children camping somewhere in the southern part of England. There was a somewhat mysterious character named Maurice who facilitated the group's adventures, which were realistic and interesting, but I don't remember anything else about the books except that I found them in the Children's Room of the Peoria (Illinois) Public Library and greatly enjoyed them.

Pamela Hull & Katherine Whitlock, The Far-Distant Oxus, Escape to Persia, Oxus in Summer, 1930's.  The name Maurice brought back the title...I've only read two of the 3 books, but they were great.  Here's a plot summary I found on the Web: "The main characters are three children spending their summer vacation at a farm on the moors, where they each get to choose a pony to use as their own for the summer. Their parents are elsewhere, and they soon meet two local children (also with ponies), and the mysterious boy Maurice. They build a hut, sneak out to ride at night, trek downriver to the seaside, hold horse races, and always wonder who Maurice really is, and where he comes from."
Katherine Hull and Pamela Whitlock, The Far Distant Oxus. Sounds like the one; there were a couple of sequels, I think.
Oh.  I have a really beautiful edition of this.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Hull, Katherine and Pamela Whitlock,The Far-Distant Oxus.  Abridged edition, with an afterword by Arthur Ransome.  Macmillan, 1938, 1969.  First thus.  279 pages.  F/F  <SOLD>  
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I read this book in the early/mid 70s. I recall nothing about the title very little about the actual plot, except that it involved children and was set in England (I think).  What sticks in my memory is that the book was written by two young girls (English, I think), who took turns writing the chapters. When they were done, they sent the manuscript to one of their favorite authors, who was so impressed he managed to arrange to have the book published. The adult author explained all this in a lenghty forward. I specifically remember that he described how, when the girls were told they could have four-color cover, they asked if black and white would count as two of the colors (at the time, I couldn't figure out why the adult author found that funny).  At the time I was so impressed that a book I enjoyed so much was written by girls just like me. I'd love to locate the book and see if it really was as good as I thought was at the time.

Katherine Hull and Pamela Whitlock, The Far Distant Oxus, 1937.  This sounds like The Far Distant Oxus, written by two schoolgirls, Katherine Hull and Pamela Whitlock. There are two sequels as well, Escape to Persia (1938) and Oxus in Summer (1939).   almost forgot to add, the famous author who the girls sent the book to, who wrote the introduction, is Arthur Ransome.
Hull & Whitlock, The Far- Distant Oxus.  Yes, this is the book I was looking for! What an incredible site -- I can't believe people could so easily identify the book I wanted from my very sketchy memories of the forward (which actually turns out to be the afterword, in fact) and nothing else! Thanks so much!


Faraway Dream
Freedom Girl?, Pre-1975.  This story was about a young girl with flaming red hair who lived in an orphanage. The orphanage was in Philadelphia, which I remember distinctly because of the part of the book where the country was celebrating the fourth of July and the girl was very proud it was her city, THE city, that was the center of it all. Her best friend's name was Bede, which was short for "Obedient," and it was the director of the orphanage (a woman)who named him that in the hopes he would live up to it. The girl is considered "plain," and upon overhearing this, one woman, a milliner with her own shop, adopts the girl to become her apprentice. (The milliner is also considered plain.) The milliner lives with her brother and his wife and their young daughter, who is very blonde and beautiful. The family resents the milliner because she actually owns the house, and has her shop in the front parlour. This, the family feels, brings them down so "low," especially because they have aspirations to climb the social ladder.  The girl is given a beautiful green woolen cloak, which she wears almost every day. She is also given a uniform, which is described as being like "a livery" which is the customary uniform of footmen for carriages. Her jobs include getting water, untangling thread, and basically fetching and carrying.  Some major events are when she meets Bede in town and they go skating across the river (or the bay), and she takes out two pennies to buy corn muffins. (Later she gets in trouble for this.) There is a heat wave, and I recall the milliner taking care of the girl and feeding her strawberries and gingerbread. There is a rude, mean boy who always pushes the girl down at the pump when she goes to get water. The girl is forced to wait on the uppity neice, and there is a fracas at the local market one morning. Bede also runs away, and a retired ship's captain takes the boy under his wing to get the boy a place on a ship. (Bede runs away because of the severity of the woman in charge of the orphanage, but the captain warns him that ship's life will be far more rugged.)  By the end of the story, the girl is turning 13, and the weather is too hot for the cloak. The milliner meets has met up with a nice tailor, who is in love with her, and they get married. The uppity blonde neice is left to get water at the pump. I recall that the author's name came early in the alphabet. I remember that it showed up in the same area as Beverly Cleary and the Eddie and Pat stories. {Also, this writer had another book about a little girl in Japan or China called (something like) A Thousand Bells. There were also two other books that she wrote, one I had thought was called Peddler Summer (where a young girl goes off with a peddler for the summer and helps him sell his wares), as well as another story about the same little girl, who lives with her family on a mountainside. There are adventures at school, and with a green dress their aunt gave them. The father has died of some disease.}  If I can find the book about the girl in Philly, I can find the others.  I always figured I could remember her name, but, alas, I am incorrect.

Jane Flory, The Liberation of Clementine Tipton, 1974.  "Philadelphia's centennial celebration in 1876 and the activities of a growing women's movement bring excitement and some new ideas to the life of young Clementine Tipton." Flory also wrote Peddler's Summer, Mist on the Mountain, and One Hundred and Eight Bells.
Flory, Jane.  Don't know which book it might be but this author wrote Peddler's Summer and a book One Hundred and Eight Bells which might be the others she was talking about. * Peddler's Summer, 1960.    * A Tune for the Towpath, 1962.    * One Hundred and Eight Bells, 1963.    * Clancy's Glorious Fourth, 1964.    * Mist on the Mountain, 1966.    * Faraway Dream, 1968.    * Ramshackle Roost, 1972.    * We'll Have a Friend for Lunch, illustrated by Carolyn Croll, 1974.    * The Liberation of Clementine Tipton, 1974.    * The Golden Venture, 1976.    * The Unexpected Grandchildren, illustrated by Croll, 1977.    * The Lost and Found Princess, 1979.    * It Was a Pretty Good Year, 1979.    * The Bear on the Doorstop, illustrated by Croll, 1980.    * The Great Bamboozlement, Houghton Mifflin (Boston, MA), 1982.
Jane Flory, Faraway dream, 1968.  Boston: Houghton Mifflin Story of Maggie Mulligan an orphan who lived at Seafarer's Safe Harbor, home for seamen's orphans. maggie has a temper.  Taken on as a milliner's apprentice she must learn to control her temper and become a lady.  Other books the poster remembers are One hundred and ten bells (1963)about Setsuko's dream of becoming an artist and how it doesn't fit with what is expected of a good Japanese girl. Peddler's Summer (1960 A story about Amanda Scoville and her seven sisters. Sequel to Peddler's Summer is Mist on the Mountain (1966)When Pa died of fever, the eight Scoville girls stayed on at the farm, despite the difficulties of working it.
I wanted to write and thank you so VERY much. All three of the books I sent in as stumpers have been solved. It was so fun to go to your website and check for results - a little like waiting for Christmas.  Your service is wonderful, and I thank you a hundred times over.  The books you found for me were: O67 - "Orphan girl" which was Faraway Dream  I71 - "Indian boy," which was Komantcia And G236 "German boy," which was The Quest.


Faraway Lurs
In the early 1980s I read a book in junior high with a Romeo and Juliet storyline. Two teenagers in prehistoric times fell in love but their tribes would not let them marry. The girl, I think, killed herself and was embalmed in a tree. Her tribe worshipped trees. Her lover, of the Sun-worshipping tribe, discovered her, and I think died himself.

Harry Behn, The Faraway Lurs, 1963.  I'm pretty sure this is the one.  "A fascinating love story about a boy and a girl
who lived a very long time ago in the early Bronze Age. Lurs are great bronze trumpets of the Sun People who live near to the Forest People."  This is one that haunted me for a long time too, but luckily, I found my copy!
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When I was in junior high (1982) I read a chapter book with a Romeo and Juliet plotline. Two teenagers in prehistoric times fell in love but their tribes would not let them marry. The girl, I think, killed herself and was embalmed in a tree. Her tribe worshipped trees. Her lover, of the Sun-worshipping tribe, discovered her, and I think died himself.

#E50--Embalming, sun people, tree people: The Faraway Lurs, by Harry Behn, World, 1963, on the Solved Mysteries page.
oops - repeat of E41 entry.  at least it's solved!
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Dead Cavegirl is found in pristine condition and her life is revisited. Read in 1970, Old Book, Novel, Hardback, no Pictures.  The words "green valley" come to mind, I dont think that is part of the title, probably the intro. Wonderful writing of her life. Good nature story. At the end, I believe she is sacrificed. Her body decomposes after her story is revealed. No it is not morbid!!  Good Nature Book!!!  Thanks!!!

This sounds a bit like The Faraway Lurs by Harry Behn, although that one deals with early Bronze Age tribespeople rather than cavedwellers.
Perkins, Lucy Fitch.  The Cave Twins.  I found out that the book is apparently as close to historical accuracy as one can get - that is, in northern Europe, boats were invented in about 8,000 B.C., which is about the same time animals (specifically, rabbits, in the book) began to be domesticated - and the mammoth and saber-toothed tiger were still living, but barely! (Theoretically, since they were living, the story could not take place later than I listed.)
Behn, Harry, The Faraway Lurs, 1963.
Behn, Harry, The Faraway Lurs. (UK title The Distant Lurs).  Cleveland, World 1964.  Could be this one. "A haunting tale of love and adventure set during early Bronze Age Denmark. Story of a prehistoric girl in Denmark whose name was not known but author called her Heather Goodshade because her village lay between low sandy hills covered with heather & a great oak forest deep with shade." "the young heroine of the story, caught between the upper and lower millstones of opposing cultures, consents to be sacrificed for her people. Behn was influenced by the discovery of Tollund Man, who had been ritually strangled in perhaps just such a crisis."
You solved my stumper!!  I am a happy woman!!  I really didn't have much hope of finding this book on my own.  I had searched and searched but did not remember enough information to do an adequate search.  Then I got really lucky and stumbled across your site. I submitted immediately.  I was thrilled to have 4 hits when I checked Monday.  I then searched for the book by Title and Author and found enough information that I remembered to verify that THIS IS THE BOOK I WAS LOOKING FOR!!  I would have never found this on my own.  I am so grateful to you for helping me find a treasure from my childhood!  I will check back often to try and help others, as others helped me. There is no way I can thank them personally, but maybe I can pay them back by helping someone else.   {only a great lover of books will understand the joy I will feel when I have that book in my hands after 35 years of missing it. I have read enough of your listings to know many, many people feel the same way.  You do such good and worthwhile work here and I am so grateful!!  Thank you, thank you!!}
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I read this book in junior high school back in the mid seventies. It was about the body of a young viking(?) girl found buried in I believe a peat bog as a sacrifice. The body was found with a gold necklace. The book then goes way back in time, and tells the story of her life up until that point. She met a young man from a different "tribe" and was beginning to fall in love with him. There was also a girl friend, perhaps a slave that she confided in. I know the description sounds rather depressing, but it really was a very good book!

The Faraway Lurs.  A classic "Romeo-and-Juliet", prehistoric star-crossed lovers from different tribes find love and tragedy.  Wonderful story.  Check Solved Mysteries for particulars.  You'll love it!
Harry Behn, The Faraway Lurs.  A Romeo and Juliet story set in the Bronze Age.  Often asked about in book search forums!
This is another longshot, but it might be worth looking at the books by Madeleine Polland. I can't find any summaries, but from (distant!) memories, Beorn the Proud has a similar storyline, as does Deirdre.  Her books were published in the late 60s/early 70s.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I think that this may be the book I was looking for....(for thirty years!)


Farthest-Away Mountain
I read this book from the library when I was very young.  Later I tried to find it again but my library's search engine wasn't up to it.  The story as I remember it is this:  A young girl who lives near the mountains is chosen to go on an adventure when the mountain peak nearher home nods at her.  She understands that it sometimes does this and that she is obligated to travel to it. As she leaves her home, she takes with her a tiny statuette of a gnome from the family mantel.  On her journey she meets a talking frog, who is obviously enchanted. Later, she accidentally frees the gnome, who was real all along, from the frozen state he had lived in on her mantel.  The last thing I remember is that on her return trip, she also disenchants the frog, who is a prince, or a nice guy, and they begin a romance.   I would love to read this book again.

I just finished reading this a couple weeks ago! It's The Farthest Away Mountain by Lynne Reid Banks.
F40 is the same as M76.
Maybe BONHOMME by Laurent de Brunhoff, translated by Richard Howard, Pantheon Books, 1965. "When little girl Emilie looks at a mountain through a telescopes, spots a funny little man sitting beside a tree & goes traveling up the mountain to find out why he stays up there all alone." "The adventures of a little creature named Bonhomme and his playmate Emilie. Wonderful full page color illustrations by De Brunhoff and a charming fantasy." There's a sequel: Bonhomme and the Huge Beast Pantheon Books, 1974. "Emilie and Bonhomme have some adventures with such unusual acquaintances as a stone horse, a huge frog, and Randolph, the most enormous beast of all." The two books together have several of the features (girl, mountain, quest, gnome, frog) but not quite in the same order. There's also Lynne Reid Banks' The Farthest-Away Mountain Illustrated by Victor Ambrus, New York, Doubleday 1977 "The snow on the peak of the farthest away mountain changed colors - from red to bright blue, to green, or pink, or yellow - but no one ever knew why. No one had ever been there, because no matter how long anyone traveled, it always stayed in the distance. One day the mountain beckons to a girl who lives in the valley at its foot. Dakin finds herself drawn by irresistible forces toward its slopes, and then up to the very top. Along her way, there are terrifying dangers to be overcome - she must bathe in the Lithy Pool and cross the sea of spikes, she must get past the guardian gargoyles on the craggy ledges and escape from the talons of the winged monster, Graw. She must face the snow witch and outwit the ogre Drackamag in his lair beneath the peak before she can release the mountain from the evil magic which has imprisoned it for two hundred years."
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Hi!  I've been looking for a book I read in elementary school for a long time now.  I don't remember much about it, but it's about a girl who climbs up a mountain, and i think the mountain keeps getting farther away as she walks towards it.  As she's climbing the mountain she meets these gargoyles.  One warms her hands with its breath and another warms her toes.  That's really all I remember.  I thought it was called something like The Faraway Mountain, or Up, Up the Mountain, but I've looked under these titles and haven't found it.  Hope you can help!

F40 is the same as M76.
There is a book by Lynne Reid Banks called The Farthest Away Mountain
Lynne Reid Banks, The Farthest-Away Mountain, in print from Avon Camelot.
Hi.  I sent in a stumper--F40--and I think that it just may be The Farthest Away Mountain!  I'll have to look it up, but the description sounds right. Thanks to whoever sent it in!
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A girl goes on a journey with many trials (reminds me of The Snow Queen). At one portion of her journey she must cross an area of razor sharp stones and her feet are bare. She begins to cry as she starts to cross, and as her tears fall on the rocks they become smooth. She is too overwhelmed to notice. She continues until her strenth gives out and she falls, too exhausted to cry more. However, as she falls she has come to the end of the rocks and she lands on grass. I believe she may have had companions. In the begining she is in a meadow and there is pond with a frog in a well or underground catching flies with its tongue. The frog may or may not speak. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

This sounds like a variation of East of the Sun, West of the Moon.  As it is a story widely retold and anthologized, some more details about the variation or style of illustration might help to track down the book.
Sounds close to The Farthest-Away Mountain by Lynne Reid Banks, where the girl defeats an evil witch after traveling through an area with stone spikes and one with colored snow. The talking frog turned out to be a schoolteacher and not a prince...
Lynne Reid Banks, The Farthest-Away Mountian,1976.  Definitely, the spike scene matches perfectly.  The frog does talk and there was another character who was a prince.
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I'm looking for a book I read at about 1986, It was about a girl who was either travelling to or running from a witch. She climbs a mountain, meets a gargoyle who if I remember correctly shelters her from a storm as she sleeps. She has one piece of choclate left, this is all she has to eat, but she gives it away. She finds witch's cottage and sees coloured lights or smoke coming from chimney. I'm afraid this is all I can remember. Hoping you can help.

Thankfully however scrolling through your archives I have found the answer to my stumper, a book I've been trying to remember the title of for years. The farthest away mountain, by Lynne Reid Banks.
Lynne Reid Banks, The Farthest Away Mountains.  This could be the one- it certainly has gargoyles and a witch in it.  It also has a talking frog that turns into a man at the end.  A young girl, Dakin, goes on a quest to the Farthest Away Mountains and saves the community (and some gargoyles) from an evil witch.
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In this book a girl has to go on a quest for some reason to these mysterious mountains. I don't remember much but one scene stands out distinctly: She's walking over a path of sharp rocks and its so frustrating that she starts to cry. Her tears fall on the rocks and smooth them out as she walks. So then she has to think about things that make her cry as she goes. There is also a wizard involved somehow. I seem to think the word wizard and/or mountains is in the title.

it turns out I found the title while reading through the other stumpers and solved mysteries. It's The Farthest Away Mountain. I knew it was a good book, several people had already asked about it.  I'm happy though, I wouldn't have found it without your site anyway!


click for image of bookFat Cat
I am looking for a book that my sister read as a child.   She is 30, so it was published in the late '60's or earlier.  I don't know the title of the book, but I remember that the story was about a cat who ate everyone.  He ate Sir Lilcolnlot of Scahootantot (?), the lady with a pink parasol, and many others.  They had to cut the cat's stomach open to get everyone out.  We both thought that this was a very funny story.  My sister said that it was a hardback book with a white cover.  She also thinks that it was letter sized, turned sideways.  I hope that someone remembers this because it would make a great Christmas surprise! Thanks!

C38 is Fat Cat by Jack Kent.  I love to use this one for storytime. I ate the gruel and the pot and the old woman too,  I ate Skohotentot,Skolinkenlot, five birds in a flock, seven girls dancing, a lady with a pink , a parson with a crooked staff and now I am going to eat YOU.  Then the woodman takes his ax and opens up the cat, everyone walks away and the last pictures is of the cat now shrunk back to size with a bandage on his stomach.
The Fat Cat;a Danish Folktale by Jack Kent, 1971. Parents Press Magazine and Scholatic both published it.
Not only has your book stumper been solved, but I have a copy, and it's in time for Christmas!!
Kent, Jack.  Fat Cat. Scholastic, 1971.  Paperback copy, oblong.  VG.  <SOLD>
Thank you for having such a great site!!!   I wish that I had known that you had a copy of it sooner, because I checked on bibliofind and found one copy out of 20 million books, so I ordered it and ended up spending 30 bucks!  If your copy is in pretty good condition to read to my kids I may go ahead and get it from you.  Thanks for all of your great  work and help, it's greatly appreciated!
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I had this book when I was a child in the 1970s, the characters were Skohootnitoot and Skolininglot. I cannot remember the plot or anything else about the book except for the characters. Maybe they were brothers.

Kent, Jack, Fat Cat. Fat Cat is so hungry that he eats everything in sight.  Including: Old woman and her pot, Skohotintot, Skolinkinlot, eight birds in a flock, seven girls dancing and the parson with the crooked staff. Finally the woodcutter with an axe cuts him open and everyone walks off.  Final scene is the cat with a bandage on stomach.
THAT'S THE BOOK! THANK YOU.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Kent, Jack. The Fat Cat.  Scholastic, 1971.  Ex-library softcover copy with usual library markings and pocket removal marks.  Interior is clean.  VG-. <SOLD>


Fattypuffs and Thinifers
late 1940's-early 50's.  I remember the fatapoofs could stay in bed, with food in the bed posts

#F89--fatapoofs and thinifers, and some fairies, I think:  English title is Fattypuffs and Thinifers, author is André Maurois, first published as Patapoufs et Filifers in 1930 in France.
This is the book Fattypuffs and Thinifers by Andre Maurois.  It is out-of-print and difficult to find.
André Maurois, translated by Rosemary Benét , Fatapoufs & Thinifers, 1940.
This has to be Fattypuffs and Thinifers by Andre Maurois.
Andre Maurois, Fattypuffs and Thinifers, 1940.  It's about two brothers (fat & thin) Terry & Edmund who discover a land where the Fattypuffs are at war with the Thinifers and they are expected to take sides against each other. The book has, I now realise, a mild anti war theme and is a "let's value difference and get on together" type tale but is still a brill read and has some of the funniest drawings outside of anything by Quetin Blake. The descriptions are great, "Fattypuffs are as fat as balloons. Thinifers are as thin as string beans", even how they sit and what they eat dictates their heritage "Lazy and amiable, Fattypuffs like overstuffed chairs and large squashy pastries. Thinifers on the other hand, are a lean and energetic bunch who prefer to skip unnecessary meals-like lunch to save as much time as possible."
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Boy falls (crawls?) between two stones or a hole between two stones and comes across a world with very thin or very fat people (i think the groups hate each other) and the thin people eat thin food like spagetti? It feels very Roald Dahl-ish, or Phantom Tollbooth-ish, in my mind but I don't recall whether he was the author (nothing on the list of his titles feels right) and maybe the boy was called george. Or maybe I've mixed about three stories in there...Any suggestions? I would have read it around 20 years ago (I'm 30) but no idea how old it would be.

Andre Maurois,  Fattipuffs & Thinnifers. Could this be it? I no longer have my coy but seem to remember a boy (possibly 2, one ending up on each side) getting caught up in a war between the Fat fattipuffs and the Thin Thiniffers. I think that they may have had battled with food... I'm in my early thirties and remember we had this as a child so it must have been in print around the right time
Maurois, Andre, Fattypuffs and Thinifers 1941, transl. from the French.  I'm sure this is the book you are after.  Two brothers, Edmund (who is fat) and Terry (who is thin) discover an underground world consisting of a country of Fattypuffs - rotund people who enjoy an hourly snack and nap and Thinifers - industrious workers.  The brothers soon find themselves taking sides in a battle between the two groups.  You are totally right about the Dahl type feeling.  An excellent book.
I haven't read either of these, so these are just guesses. Fattypuffs & Thinifers by Andre Maurois, illustrated by Fritz Wegner (1940).  "Edmund was fat and loved food - just like his mother. His brother Terry was thin - just like his father. The boys were amazed when they found themselves on opposite sides in a battle between the warring nations of the Fattypuffs and Thinifers."In the Land of the Thinsies by Dorothy Ann Lovell, illustrated by Nicolas Bentley (1944).  "Two children slip through the crack at the bottom of an escalator, and end up in the "land of the thinsies" - a parallel world in which everyone is thin (though I think there are also fat people in another area of it)
Andre Maurois, Fattypuffs and Thinifers 1930, Two boys from our world rather than one, but otherwise it sounds like you're recalling Andre Maurois' FATTYPUFFS AND THINIFERS See this long description at Wikipedia:
Andre Maurois, Fattypuffs and Thinifers1968, approximate Must be!  Great book.  (And I associate it with the Phantom Tollbooth too, though I'm not sure why.)  There are two brothers, Edmund, who's quite fat, and Terry, who's quite thin.  They find a passage down between two rocks, and it leads them to the world of the Fattypuffs and the Thinifers.  Edmund is sent off to join the Fattypuffs and Terry to join the Thinifers.  The two groups do indeed hate each other, to the extent that they go to war.  All is of course resolved by the end.  There's been a fairly recent reprint in the UK.
André Maurois, Fattypuffs and Thinifers 1930, approximate Originally in French, was translated to english at least 40 years ago when I read it. Still in print.
See the Wikipedia article.
THANK YOU!!!! That's definately it. As soon as I read "fattypuffs...." in the comments I remembered the book. Thanks to you and all who posted comments! It was absolutely killing me trying to remember, now I can buy a copy to put in our growing home library for when our kids are old enough to read our old favourites!!!! Excellent service, worth more than the $2 charge!



Favorite Stories Old and New
I've been trying to find two stories from a childhood anthology for most of my adult life. One is about a frozen boy who brought ice cream in a bucket to a child's birthday party.  I call it The Boy Who Invented Ice Cream, but I don't really know the title. The other is a story about dolls that come to life at night.  I think both stories were illustrated, which is why they are such vivid memories.

Carolyn Sherwin Bailey, "How Ice Cream Came". This is the ice cream story.  Its in Favorite Stories Old and New, selected by Sidonie Matsner Gruenberg, 1942, 1955 Doubleday.  It has one nice line drawing of the boy.  I checked the book for the story about the dolls coming to life, but didn't see anything that fit.
Harriet:  I'm thrilled! Carolyn Sherwin Bailey found my ice cream story in a book that I remember:  Favorite Stories Old and New selected by Sidonie Matsner Gruenberg. Ms. Gruenberg was a patient of my father's in New York and she must have given him copies of her books to take home to his family.  I remember that her name was a real tongue twister for a beginning reader. And I remember even better a book she wrote called The Wonderful Story of How You Were Born.  Please thank Carolyn for me.
I believe Carolyn Sherwin Bailey is actually the author of the story "How Ice Cream Came".  Ms. Gruenberg was the editor of the anthology in which it appeared.  It probably appears in one of Bailey's own compilations, but I don't know which one (see the Most Requested  pages for more on Bailey).  Looks likeFavorite Stories Old and New is the anthology you're looking for, though.
Harriet:  I think I've also found the other story I've been seeking.  Josephine Scribner Gates is the author of The Live Doll Series, a set of a dozen or so stories that began with "The story of live dolls; being an account by Josephine Scribner Gates of how, on a certain June morning, all of the dolls in the village of Cloverdale came alive; with many pictures made at the time by Virginia Keep" (Indianapolis, The Bowen-Merrill Company, 1901); an omnibus version of the series was also published: The book of live dolls, an omnibus for children, by Josephine Scribner Gates (Indianapolis, New York, The Bobbs-Merrill company, 1945). I think that a short version was excerpted in the Better Homes and Gardens Story Book, Selected by Betty O’Connor (Des Moines and New York: Meredith Press, 1950). What a day!  I can now forgive my brother for throwing the books out after I left home!



Fear Street Saga
Ok I know this is gonna be a stumper cause ive asked several people.  In 5th or 6th grade which was in 1995, 1996 I read a series of i think it was three books.  I remember the first one was starts off somewhere in the beginning of the book about a little girl whos parents get burned at the stake for witchcraft but she doesnt know that they were really witches until she finds some magic dust.  Somewhere it comes into play that there is this talisman or pendent, that belongs to this family and is passed on from generation to generation, is a curse to this family.  Throughout the series many people die because of this pendant.  I also think it has to do with two different families and some kind of curse between the two of them. I believe on one of the covers there is a picture of this talisman and it is a claw of some sort with stones in it.  Thanks for your time and i hope you figure it out

R.L. Stine, The Fear Street Saga: The Betrayal, The Secret and The Burning, 1993.  The cover has the talisman you talked about. In the story the girl dies not the parents but it does include the family fued between the Fier family and the Goode family. I'm pretty sure this is it especially with the time frame you gave. See book cover here



Fearless Treasure
In this British children's book, several children from different areas of England are summoned (by letter?) to one place, where they are taken back in time to different eras of English history.  Each child figures prominently in one of the time travel episodes, which is somehow related to his or her personal history or area of the country.  That's the best I can remember of this wonderful book that I read many times back in the early 1960s, although it may have been published a decade or two earlier.  I have a vague, possible incorrect, memory of the author's name starting with S, but the book I remember does not correspond to Noel Streatfield's book.  Thanks....I think this book stumpers website is a great idea!

Helen Clare, Merlin's Magic, 1953.  Maybe? It's listed in the Solved Mysteries.
Streatfeild, Noel, The fearless treasure. Are you sure this isn't Noel Streatfeild's The fearless treasure? I have just re-read it and it fits your description completely - six children picked out from various places in England, travel by themselves to London and are driven to the mysterious Mr Fosse's house. They experience ages in history from pre-Roman and Roman Bath to Industrial Revolution and each child takes part in a different age.
Yes!  I think it must be The Fearless Treasure!  Thank you so very much!!  I've been hoping to find this for years.  (It was Streatfeild's The Magic Summer which did not match--I didn't recall The Fearless Treasure, obviously).  I will try requesting the book--hopefully they'll have it.



February's Road
 A series of at least two books about a brother and sister, young teens, set in England--one is named Tuesday and I think the other January or February.  I think they wind up solving mysteries?  They have kind of smart repartee if I remember correctly.

there were a couple of books I read back in the late 60's, early 70's that sound like the answer to this post.  They were about a family named Callendar.  The father's name was Augustus and the mother's name was January (or something close to that).  They decided to continue the tradition and named the first daughter February, and the first son Friday.  After that they gave the other children unusual names.  The two books were called February's Road and Friday's tunnel.  I don't remember the author's first name, but his last name is Verney.
This is most likely the Callendar family series by John Verney (see Seven Sunflower Seeds in Solved list). Augustus Callendar and his wife are the parents of a somewhat eccentric English family, and started off naming their children Friday and February, then gave up and named the others Gail, Beryl, Chrysophrase, etc. There's usually a thriller element to each plot as well as humour and family adventure. The titles I know of are Friday's Tunnel (new super-metal) 1960, February's Road (new motorway and land speculation) 1961 Ismo (art forgery) 1964 and Seven Sunflower Seeds (mystery around Vita-mix breakfast food) 1968.
Just to confirm the previous solution - author Verney's first name is John.
Hi, I was searching the web for more info on Mr. Verney and came upon your site. What great reading! Thanks for keeping it up.  Under FEBRUARY'S ROAD and SEVEN SUNFLOWER SEEDS you have some information on the Verney books about the Callendar family. If you think folks might be interested in a bit more information about them here it is:  The Callendars live on the South Downs of England (Sussex) near Chichester; their home in three of the five books is a converted farmhouse called Marsh Manor near the town of Querbury (in ismo they are on their way to Italy for a year and in the final book they have moved into town). The father is Augustus Callendar, who is a journalist, works for a paper called the Messenger; mother is a former artist named Jan (short for January). The children are: Friday (eldest), then February--the calendar joke
is dropped for the remainder of the children, who are Gail (Abigail), Berry (Beryllium), Chrys (Chrysogon), Des  Desdemona), and Hildebrand (the only boy; Jan is pregnant with him in the first book, Friday's Tunnel). There are actually five books, which I didn't know about until a few years ago; I found the last book by luck via a web search. The books in order are:  Friday's Tunnel (narrated by February), February's Road (narrated by February), ismo(told in third person although Gail is the protagonist), Seven Sunflower Seeds (narrated by Berry), Samson's Hoard (narrated by Berry)



Feelings....  (Children's Press)
My stumper is apologetically vague, but after grilling even my old librarian with no luck, I'm desperate! In the late 70s-early 80s my library had a series of hardcover children's books that, IF i remember correctly, each addressed a different feeling. The books were thin hardcovers with maybe a white front cover and a colored binding and back cover, with each book having a different color. There were at least 10 books in the series, and I think they had simple illustrations and text inside. Again, I could swear each book was about a different feeling, and I thought the books were titled with the feeling it addressed, but my searches brought up nothing. All I know for sure is I'm NOT thinking of Serendipity books... Sorry again for the vagueness!

There are several series about emotions for kids, a just few that came out about this time period.  One is from Child's World (1980, several authors) - What Does It Mean? Glad...Afraid....Angry...I'm Sorry.....Jealous....I'm Sorry...Sharing...etc.  They are illustrated with realistic pencil sketches, some with color and some not.  Another series it the Let's Talk About series by Joy Wilt Berry (Children's Press, starting in 1982 and continuing through the years) and they have titles like Let's Talk About Being Bossy...Being Afraid....Being a Good Friend....Being Careless...Being Helpful. These are illustrated with colored cartoonish illustrations, and each illustration has a balloon caption obove one of the people's heads.
F181  I really think this is a series of books by Roger Hargreaves. They were published in the 1980's (my younger sister loved them, but I was 8 or 9 so they were a little young for me) and they were small and had white covers. The characters were very cartoony - almost like balls with legs and arms. Some of the titles were MR. FUSSY; MR UPPITY, MR. WORRY, etc. And Hargreaves later came out with the Little Miss series. You can find pictures of the covers online, and I think they are still in print, but in paperback. If this is not the series you are thinking of, then maybe try Joy Berry's LET'S TALK ABOUT FEELINGS series.~from a librarian
I just read the responses to my stumper, and can say for sure it's not Roger Hargreave's books I'm thinking of, as I do still have all those. These were mid-size hardcover books.  I'm trying to web-hunt for pictures of the other series suggested in the responses, as I will know for sure once I see the covers!  Hopefully I can find pics of the original editions...  Thanks for the tips so far!  I'll let you know if I can verify whether or not the others are correct!
There are a series of books Raintree Editions (Milwaukee) and distributed by Childrens Press. Publishing dates start about 1973. Each book is about 32 pages and most are illustrated with photos.  Titles include: Feelings between brothers and sisters,  Feelings between friends, Feelings between kids and grownups,  Feelings between kids and parents,  Are we still best friends?,  Being alone, being together,  Doing things together,  I'd rather stay home,  Feelings
sweet pickles series?  I think it might be a series I remember from the late 70's.  These were very thin hardcovers and each one had a story about an animal and a feeling, like "worried William" for example.  I can't remember any real titles.  The illustrations were cartoonish and all the characters lived in the same town and appeared in each others' stories.  I think the inside covers of the books had a map of the town showing where all these animal kids lived. 



Feeling of Power
This story, most likely in an anthology, is about a government clerk who teaches himself to do mathematics with a pencil and paper, and perhaps in his head, in a time when computers are used for all calculations.  Because war computers solutions are predictable by other computers, there is a stalemate.  The clerk who can do calculations by hand becomes the new secret weapon.

Isaac  Asimov, "The Feeling of Power."  short story.
Asimov, Isaac, "The feeling of power." It sounds like this is the story mentioned. I don't know which anthologies have it. The plot is where doing maths with a paper and pencil is so unheard of (computer do all calculations) that the military are mightily impressed by this ability
Asimov, Isaac, "The Feeling of Power."  Short story.  Mystery Solved.  Found in Nine Tomorrows.  Also found in The complete stories vol.1, Asimov, 1990, pp.297-308 (ISBN 0006476473).
M305 Asimov, Isaac.  The complete short stories.  2 vols    dust jackets by Barclay Shaw.  Doubleday vol 1 c1990; vol 2 c1994.



Felicia
I am looking for a book from my childhood (I am 45 years old now)........I remember reading it when I was about 5 or 6 or 7 (1964-66) when I checked it out of a library in Sonoma California..  I have tried to reach them about the book, but they were unable to help me.  The book was about a girl and a mouse. One of them was named Felicia.  Or perhaps it was a cat that turned into a girl or a mouse.  Anyway, one of them was definitely named Felicia.  and the girl had little pigtails near the temples of her head (kind of like animal ears).  I am trying to find this book for my three daughters, who are anxious to read the book I read and loved as a child.  We have even named many of our family pets Felicia, based on my childhood love of this book.  Please help if you can.

Lattimore, Eleanor, Felicia, 1964.  The one about the girl and the cat (one of whom is named Felicia) is most likely "Felicia" by Eleanor Lattimore.  Here is a synopsis: Charlotte wishes for a cat, but because her brother is allergic, she can't have one. Then she has a visit from Felicia, a cat who turns into a little girl, joins the family, has curious behavior & has to leave in a most unusual manner. There is also a mouse in the story.
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A book about a girl who has a cat, who turns into a real girl and is her best friend.  At the end the girl turns back into the cat.  I would have read this in the mid 1970's.

Anne Huston, The Girl Across the Way,
1970, copyright.  Also published as "The Cat Across the Way."  "Ten-year-old Lacey is unhappy in her dark city apartment, after moving from the country and leaving her beloved horse behind, until she sees a yellow cat on a neighboring rooftop." I have not actually read this, but came across it while searching online, so I don't know if the cat turns into a girl, or if Lacey befriends a little girl whom she meets because of the cat (possibly the cat's owner?) Anyway, I thought it was at least worth throwing out there as a possibility. Front cover shows Lacey (blonde girl with blonde hair, wearing a green jumper, white blouse, knee socks, and loafers) sitting on a wooden crate, with her chin on her hands. There is a chain-link fence in the background, and the yellow cat is approaching her.
Eleanor Frances Lattimore, Felicia.  It's in the "Solved" section with a description, and it sounds like this book.
Eleanor Frances Lattimore, Felicia, 1964, copyright.  Charlotte is a lonely little girl who wants a cat and can't have one because her brother is allergic. Another girl mysteriously appears and stays with her for a while. She hasn't any shoes, so Charlotte's mom buys her a pair of sneakers. Felicia is not really a girl but a cat from the general store. Charlotte knows this and has to keep other people from finding out. At the end Felicia turns back into a cat and all that is left are the sneakers sitting on top of the pickle barrel. Lattimore illustrated all her own books. She was best known for her stories about Chinese children -- the Little Pear stories, Peach Blossom, The Chinese Daughter, Journey of Ching Lai. I think I've seen this in Solved Mysteries E-F.
Hi and many thanks all, Felicia is definitely the book!


Fence: a Mexican Tale
Colorful picture book, c. 1969.  A poor (hispanic-looking?) family lives next door to a rich family.  The poor family eats bread outside their home while smelling the delicious food being cooked by the wealthy family next door.  The poor family's bread tastes better while the family smells the neighbor's food.  The wealthy family next door objects to this practice.

#P139, Poor Family Eats Bread, is the same as #R69, Rich Family and Poor Family.
Balet, Jan B., The Fence: a Mexican Tale, Delacorte Press, 1969.  "With the sound of his money the poor man repays the rich neighbor for the smell of his food."
Jan B. Balet, The Fence: a Mexican Tale, 1969.  "With the sound of his money the poor man repays the rich neighbor for the smell of his food."
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In this story, a rich family and a poor family live next door to each other. The poorer family was very happy and the rich family was not. When the poor family would eat, they would stand by the fence dividing the two houses and smell and enjoy the rich family's meals. This angered the rich family. The father of the rich family took the other family to court, saying the judge must have the poor family pay up for their enjoyment. The judge ruled that the poor father go outside and shake a bag of coins, so the rich father could enjoy the sound of the poor man's money, as much as the poor family had enjoyed the smell of the rich family's food. I believe that the origin of the book was Spain or perhaps Mexico, though my version was written in English.

R69: I'm sure there's more than one version of this story, but the one I know is from the Japan-based book Ooka the Wise, aka Case of the Marble Monster.
#P139, Poor Family Eats Bread, is the same as #R69, Rich Family and Poor Family.
Jan B. Balet, The Fence: a Mexican Tale, 1969.  "With the sound of his money the poor man repays the rich neighbor for the smell of his food."


click for image of bookFerdinand
I think the title was simply "Ferdinand", but I'm not sure. About a bull during the heyday of bullfighting in Spain. Instead of being rough and proud like all the other bulls, he is very docile. He would prefer to sit underneath the cork tree and smell flowers rather than to fight. One day, a man comes from the city to pick a bull to fight in Madrid. All the other bulls are showing off how well they can fight, when Ferdinand sniffs a flower and gets stung by a bee. He jumps and snorts and bucks and the man from Madrid decides that Ferdinand is the fiercest bull. When he gets to the arena to fight, he refuses to, and the audience throws him roses. Black and white line drawings. It was cloth bound...I remember it being gray, but it may have faded from a light blue or something. It was probably from the 60s, maybe earlier. It was pretty old by the time I got it in 85 or 86. Somebody HAS to have heard of this one!

Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, illustrated by the great Robert Lawson, 1936.  A classic.  New hardcover:  $16


Fields of Home
The book told the story of a boy that went to his grandfather's farm in New England, my recollection is for a period longer than a summer. At first the boy was unhappy about the work but gradually came to love the grandfather and respect the honest hard work. I remember a part where they talked about the rocks in the fields that had to be removed at the begining of each growing season and how hard it was to see why they kept coming up. I believe the period the book was written about was pre-1900, as they traveled at least part of the time in the winter by sled.

N22: Is this The Fields of Home (1953) by Ralph Moody? If so, it's the third book or so in the Little Britches series. He moves from Colorado to Massachusetts, then gets sent to Maine. It takes place in 1912.
You were exactly correct. Thanks so much for your help. Now if we can track down U5.
The Fields of Home, by Ralph Moody, illustrated by Edward Shenton, published Norton 1953. "Little Britches was 15 when he was sent to visit his Grandfather Gould and helped to reclaim the family's rundown Maine farm. His story is a rare compound of tears and laughter, of cantankerousness and love." (HB Oct/53 p.317 pub ad) The other two novels are Little Britches and Man of the Family.


Fifteen
This was a definitely dated book (obviously written in 1950's or early 60's) about a girl's trials and tribulation about going through high school.  She was wistful about not having the money or the figure to wear cashmere sweaters like the popular girl in school.  I also remember a scene in a Chinese restaurant where her date laughs at her for fearing that she would have to eat "flied lice".

This sounds like a Beverly Cleary young adult novel.  The girl sees the popular girl wearing cashmere sweaters, while her best friend wears plaid skirts she made herself.  The plaid is sewn crooked, hence embarassing the protagonist.  Is it called Tomboy?
Beverly Cleary, Fifteen and the Luckiest Girl, later 1950s.  This sounds like a combination of two Cleary books. In Fifteen, the protagonist, her date (his name's Stanley), and two other couples go into San Francisco's Chinatown for dinner. The girl does not want to eat any of the odd food and gratefully identifies a water chestnut in her meal. Afterward the six split into couples to walk around and her date buys her a regular American hamburger. I don't recall the cashmere sweater, but she does long to be more sophisticated, in behavior and food and perhaps with cashmere as well.  In the Luckiest Girl, Shelley's mother wants her to have the best of everything that she, the mother, couldn't afford. She buys her a fancy raincoat instead of the yellow slicker all the popular girls wear.
Beverly Cleary? Possibly Fifteen, or Jean and Johnny?
Almost certainly Fifteen by Beverly Cleary. The "flied lice" jogged my memory from 25 years back - interestingly, though she wrote it in 1956, she had the conscience to write that scene as a joke made by a white boy, aimed at Jane, and in the same scene, Jane's date Stan, I think, points out what the other boy is really saying and adds that he's never heard Chinese-Americans talk like that, IIRC. Jane first meets Stan when he delivers dog food (horse meat) to the house where she's babysitting the brat from hell, and he uses a trick done in pig Latin to get the brat to stop just before pouring ink on the rug. (I'd never heard of pig Latin, so that annoyed me as a kid.) She goes through all sorts of awkwardness in trying to seem mature around him, such as pretending to like coffee just because some other girls do. Her father quotes from Carl Sandburg and she gets a back-scratcher as a present at one point. Rather sweet, as I remember.
Beverly Cleary, Fifteen, 1956.  There are other books that this might be, but try this one first, especially if you remember the book as being very funny.  The girl's name is Jane Purdy, her (eventual) boyfriend is Stan Crandall -- it's not him who laughs, it's another boy named Buzz -- and there are six friends eating out in Chinatown. Jane does a lot of babysitting in the story, and has "typical teenage" problems with her parents. Her best friend is named Julie.  Hope this helps.
Beverly Cleary, Fifteen.  Yes!  I remember the heroine going on a double date and the other guy teasing her about fried "lice" (she wasn't very familiar with Chinese food).
Beverly Cleary, Fifteen, 1956.  Cashmere sweater notation is on page three! What a great memory.  I read
your notes and recognized the story but not the title and author until I went to the Library.  I loved this book too, I took it out to re-read.  The humor of going on a date in Chinatown and the unknown handling of chopsticks is classic.  My favorite part was when the date showed up not in a car to pick her up but in the van from work labelled "Doggie Diner"!  Thanks for making me remember it!
Beverly Cleary, Fifteen. This is definitely Beverly Cleary's Fifteen. I also remember the cashmere sweater aspect of this best, although I remember it as the nice girl feeling sad because she only has one cashmere sweater while the mean rich girl has one for every day of the year! The most handsome boy in town asks nice girl on a date, despite her sweater deficiency. I remember loving this in the 1970s, even though it already seemed dated then.
How about Fifteen by Beverly Cleary? There is definitely a Chinese restaurant scene where Jane is teased about "flied lice".
This is definitely Fifteen by Beverly Cleary.  I double-checked and the Flied Lice scene is there.
I remember reading Fifteen, but I don't know if it the same Beverly Cleary book that had the cashmere sweater.
C136 is most definitely Fifteen by Beverly Cleary. Jane Purdy's big date was to San Francisco's Chinatown with Stan in the Doggie Diner Truck, and one of the boys in the crowd ridiculed her for thinking that the Chinese eat flied lice.
C136 FIFTEEN by Beverly Cleary. Has both references to cashmere sweaters and "flied lice" ~from a librarian
The "flied lice" scene is definitely in Fifteen, which is about fifteen-year-old Jane Purdy.  Other details: her date's name is Stan  they're at the restaurant with another couple Stan buys her a Chinese backscratcher afterwards.I think cashmere sweaters enter into it somewhere, but I'm not so sure about that bit.
I am pretty sure that this occured in one of the Tobey Heyden series of books by Rosamond DuJardin.
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Teenage girl living in San Francisco area going on dinner date to Chinatown.  Also, babysitting for kids whose mother would say "hi there" to the babysitter, making her (babysitter) feel sort of childish

A138: Fifteen by Beverly Cleary, 1950s?
Beverly Cleary, Fifteen. This has to be "Fifteen." The girl is Jane Purdy, and the guy she falls for is Stan. She meets him while she's babysitting. Stan takes her on a double date to a Chinese restaurant in San Francisco. She feels awkward all evening and worries that he won't like her anymore. But in the end, Stan asks her to go steady, and give her his ID bracelet to wear.
Beverly Cleary, Fifteen.  Just a guess.
Beverly Cleary, Fifteen.


Fifth Form at St. Dominic's
a school book about a boys school which my mother read to me when i was a child.  the main character was i believe oliver greenwood. i think they were in the fifth form, and there was a major incident where an exam was stolen and because oliver greenwood went so well everyone assumed he had stolen the exam. of course he did not and it was shown when it was revealed the exam had been changed. i can't remember anything else about it, it was read to me in the mid 70's but it may have been much older.

#O13--Oliver Greenwood:  Well, Enid Blyton wrote The Twins at St. Clare's and Fifth-Formers at St. Clare's, but as those are about girls' schools, unless it was Olivia Greenwood that doesn't do you much good.
This sounds like the sort of school story Talbot Baines Reed churned out, but I can't say for sure. Stories set in boys boarding schools are frighteningly common in England, over at least a 50 year period.
Talbot Baines Reed, Fifth Form at St Dominic's, c. 1887.
Fifth Form at St Dominic's, by Talbot Baines Read, published Boys Own Paper 1900, reprinted many times, about 315 pages. I pulled out our library's copy and had a look. Some of the characters are Oliver Greenfield and his friend Horace Wraysford, Oliver's young brother Stephen, the clever lame boy Tony Pembury who starts up a Fifth Form newspaper, the bully Braddy, Loman who is a monitor in the Sixth Form, and the dishonest publican Cripps. Greenfield, Wraysford and Loman are competing for the Nightingale scholarship, but Loman spoils his chances drinking at the Cockchafer pub and laying bets with Cripps. Greenfield wins, but is suspected of having stolen a paper (it turns out to have been Loman). The Head has the three write a second  exam, with different questions, and Greenfield comes first again. Other plot elements include a strike by the younger boys who 'fag' (do chores and run errands) for the older boys, Stephen getting in debt to Cripps, almost drowning on the river, and any number of cricket games.



Fifth Grade Magic
here is the plot: at the beginning of the book, one girl, the main character, gets a good part in the school play. but she is cast as the villain, when she would rather be the heroine. the new girl in class is cast as the heroine, partly because of her long (blond?) hair. the main character girl is jealous of the blond girl. the main character girl somehow (by magic) switches identities with the blond girl, (like in Freaky Friday) so that she inhabits her body and the blond girl gets hers. the blond girl didn't agree to, and in fact didn't know anything about the switch until it happened, and is very upset the next morning in school. she makes a scene, and tells the main character girl that they have to do something about it, never suspecting that the main character girl did it on purpose. later on, the teacher tells the main character girl (who is now in the blond girl's body) that it's because the main character girl comes from a "broken home" and is troubled, etc. the first thing the main character girl does as her new identity (ie, in the blond girl's body) is to cut off her hair, hoping she will lose the part of the heroine in the play. (so that when she goes back to being her true self, she might be able to play the heroine instead.) it doesn't work, because the drama teacher thinks her hair is fine short. at the end of the book, the main character girl realizes that she is happy being herself, and that the villain is actually a good part even though its a boy's part, and she's content with it. just like in Freaky Friday, she realizes another person's life can be harder than it looks from the outside. she realizes she doesnt actually want to be the blond girl cause the blond girl's mother is kind of strange and domineering, and I think her father may be gone or dead or something. okay, I hope that made some kind of sense to someone. (it would be easier if I remembered their names, but I just dont! only that one might be blond.)

Sounds like FIFTH GRADE MAGIC by beatrice Gormley~from a librarian
Not a solution, but I remember this book too.  I think I got it from Scholastic in the eighties, and the magic elemnt was some sort of frumpy fairy godmother who used a magic calculator.  The cover showed a chubby godmother wearing a baseball cap.  I particularly remember how upset the unpopular girl was with the other girl's breakfast cereal (some sort of natural muesli, as opposed to sugary cereal).
Beatrice Gormley, Fifth Grade Magic, 1982.  I believe this is the book you're speaking of, as I own it and re-read it not long ago.  The girls in the story are Gretchen and Amy (Amy's the blond one).  All details match up.
Gormley, Beatrice, Fifth Grade Magic.  Gretchen is jealous of Amy, and she gets her fairy godmother, Errora to help her.
Beatrice Gormley, Fifth Grade Magic, 1984, reprint.  This is absolutely Fifth Grade Magic by Beatrice Gormley. I clearly remember the plot of the book and your description matches it exactly.
Thank you so much! Im surprised anyone managed to untangle that plot synopsis. great website!



Fifty Great Ghost Stories
Hi there, I am looking for a book about true ghost stories, mostly set in England. I read the book in the late 1980's, I know that the book had a GREEN cover, though I can't remember the picture on the cover. The book featured stories such as: Number 50 Berkley square, the brown lady (on stairs?!) a boy shut in a cupboard by his mother cos he didn't do his homework and one about a girl who comes home to find everything changed and a different family living in her house. One last story I recall is something like; there but for the grace of god go I, or something. About this boy who was meant to go to school with friends but stayed home with a cold, and the car crahsed. Any help would be greatly appreciated, what a great and rewarding service you offer!

I just remembered that the story I mentioned about the boy who was meant to go in the car, but didn't, is called "His Loving Sister" ...I just saw it by Phillipa Pearce. She is not the author of the book however, it's just one of the stories.
John Canning (editor), Fifty Great Ghost Stories.  Possibly this book? I know it has been published in several different editions in the 70s and 80s, I remember it as a dark-colored hardback with a blue dust jacket, each story had a small line drawing with the title. "The Brown Lady" story scared me half to death as a kid!
Aidan Chambers (editor), Ghost After Ghost, 1982.  The one anthology I can find containing the Pearce story cited is this (I'm not sure if the 1982 hc contained any stories dropped from the 1987 pb reprint or not). Data from Puffin 1987 pb edition:  7 • Foreword • Aidan Chambers • fw 9 • If She Bends, She Breaks • John Gordon • ss * 28 • Absalom, Absalom • Jan Mark • ss * 48 • Such a Sweet Little Girl • Lance Salway • ss * 64 • Sam and the Sea • George Mackay Brown • ss * 82 • Christmas in the Rectory • Catherine Storr • ss * 97 • His Loving Sister • Philippa Pearce • ss * 108 • Dead Ghost • R. Chetwynd-Hayes • ss * 126 • Old Fillikin • Joan Aiken • ss Ghostly Encounters, 1981 139 • The Haunting of Chas McGill • Robert Westall • nv *   This is a U.K. publication, and the date looks like a fit.
I'm the original author of this stumper, and after reading people's comments, it definately isn't the second book (in brown) but may well be the first one. I don't know this for sure yet because I've ordered the book but it hasn't arrived yet!  Thanks very much for your ongoing support!
Adrienne Adams, The Halloween Party,1974.Is there any chance at all the main character was a little boy named Faraday (kind of an androgynous name)?  Your description made me think of The Halloween Party, and A Woggle of Witches, both by Adrienne Adams.  The cover shows a witch on a broomstick, flying across the moon with gremlin children behind her.


click for image of bookFiggs and Phantoms
In grade school, I once read a library book that still haunts me. I can't remember much about it except that it was about a young girl who has to deal with the death (or impending death?) of a family member, and her family talks about dying with the euphemism "going to Capri." The girl has a lively fantasy life, and beyond that I don't have any other clues. Can you help? I've asked children's librarians for years, but nobody remembers it. This would have been in the mid-70s. Thanks.

This sounds like Ellen Raskin's Figgs and Phantoms.  I remember it only sketchily but it's about a girl whose last name is Figg, who has a lot of eccentric relatives including an uncle who assists her in stealing a book  I believe the uncle does eventually die, and a lot of the book is her fantasy about a paradise called Capri, or possibly Capricos.
Thank you thank you thank you! I'm going to recommend your store/site to every book fan I know. What a wonderful service! I'm going to check this book out from the library to make sure it's the right one, but it sure sounds correct.
Figgs and Phantoms, written and illustrated by Ellen Raskin, published Dutton 1974, 154 pages."Mona Lisa Newton, an unattractive, self-centered, sullen adolescent, is related through her tap-dancing mother, Sissie Figg Newton, to an astounding family of vaudeville performers, the 'Fabulous Figgs.' No longer itinerant players, the clannish, eccentric Figgs - to Mona's constant shame - live and work in the town of Pineapple: her Uncle Truman, the Human Pretzel, who is a sign-painter who cannot spell; her twin uncles, Romulus and Remus; and her Uncle Kadota, the dog trainer, with his dog-catcher wife and their son Fido. Rejecting her parents, Mona loves only her Uncle Florence, the gentle, sad-faced near-midget, a former child dancing star, now a respected dealer in rare books. But Florence is gravely ill; and Mona - misery adding to moodiness - is terrified that he is about to die and go away to 'Capri,' the Figg family's private heavenly kingdom. When Florence does die, Mona wants only to follow him, and frantically seeks a clue to her uncle's vision - his Capri - in his beloved books. Inconsolable and sick, Mona enters a long dream sequence - a surrealist phantasmagoria - full of her incarnate dreams and wishes, and of cryptic references to Velazquez, Gauguin, Schubert, Gilbert and Sullivan, Milton, Conrad and Blake; and emerges peacefully at last, knowing that "'We live as we dream - alone.'" (HB Oct/74 p.138)


Fig Tree
In the late '40s, early '50s, I read a children's book about a young girl and a big tree -- a fig tree, or maybe a magnolia tree. The girl found a china tea set in a hole in the trunk of the tree. Anyone recognize this book?

I'm thinking T132 is not A Tree for Peter because it's about a girl.  Part of the mental glitch I'm having is that I keep thinking of the part in The Secret Garden where they hide picnic fixings (potatoes, etc) in the tree.  I'm also harking back to To Kill a Mockingbird, where Scout finds lots of goodies in a knothole in the tree.
Eleanor Frances Lattimore, The Fig Tree.  I vaguely remember this book where a girl finds a key and teacup (I think) in a fig tree.  It was written in the early 1950's.  Could this be it?
I wanted to thank you for this solution.  I had taken your advice and looked up Fig Tree in the Library of  Congress, and knew immediately when I saw the author's name that this  was it! I have, in the meantime, goptten the book on inter-library loan, and re-read it.  This was a pleasure.



Figures of Earth
The title was Manuel Images of Earth I think.  It read sort of like a combination of mythology and fantasy.  The main character was named Manual. And the book started with him sculpting an image of clay by the river.  A stanger came riding up and asked him what he was doing and his reply was my mother told me that I would make a fine image of a man one day.  the stranger replied that he didn't think that was what she meant.   The rest of the book dealt with his quest for greatness.   I don't remember any illustrations.  It was kind of green brown color, hardback.  The copy I read was printed in the 40s or 50s I think.  I checked it out of a college library.  I believe that it was geared for adults but I believe it would be safe reading for a child.

James Branch Cabell, Figures of Earth, 1927.  This is one of about twenty books in Cabell's series "The Biography of Manuel," though it's the only one involving Manuel himself (and many of the twenty are only loosely connected to a series to casual eyes). Cabell's best-known book, Jurgen, is also part of the series, as is The Silver Stallion (about the fate of Manuel's followers) and others.


Finches Fabulous Furnace
I read this book when I was maybe 10, so it would have been around late 1970's, early 1980's, but I don't know how old the book was at that time.  The story is about a family who moves into a new house, and the father and son discover a miniature volcano in the basement.  The mother (and I think a sister) are unaware of it, but know that the house is kind of strange.  For instance, there is snow on the ground, but not near the house.  I remember one part vividly - the father and son had checked out some library books on volcanoes, and left them in the house.  The mother was vacuuming and when she stopped, there was a line about how she always felt a little deaf when she turned off the vacuum.

Robert W Drury, The Finches Fabulous Furnace.  I'm pretty sure this is the one you are looking for, people in the town become very suspicious and think they have invented a special furnace.
Roger W. Drury, The Finches Fabulous Furnace.
You're right.  I couldn't remember the name of this book to save my life!  Thanks so much for your help!  I can't wait to get my hands on this book to read it again...and to prove to my mother that my over-active imagination wasn't quite as over-active as she thought!
V16 Sounds like it could be THE FINCHES' FABULOUS FURNACE by Roger W. Drury, 1971. The heating system in their house is really a volcano in the basement. ~from a librarian



Fire Cat
Fireman's cat?  Book before 1984 about a cat wanting to become a fire-cat.  I remember something about a woman whom took the cat in, but he didn't want to play with toys.

Averill, Esther Holden, The Fire Cat, 1960.  I'm almost certain this is the right book. "Pickles is a young cat with big paws and big plans. But all he can find to do is chase other cats, until he is adopted by the local firehouse. Knowing that this is his chance to do big things, Pickles works hard to be a good fire cat. He learns to jump on a fire truck. He learns to help put out a fire, and he even helps out in a rescue!"
Esther Averill, The Fire Cat, 1961.  Reprinted many times, this is the story of Pickles, a yellow cat with big paws and big ideas, who isn't satisfied doing what other cats do. He is finally adopted by the firefighters at the fire station, and determines to be the best fire cat ever.
Esther Averill , The Fire Cat / Cat Club books, 1960s.  Maybe you're thinking of The Fire Cat, part of the "Jenny and the Cat Club" series? Illustrated "beginning reader" books. The description online of "The Fire Cat" is, "Pickles is a young cat with big paws and big plans. But all he can find to do is chase other cats, until he is adopted by the local firehouse. Knowing that this is his chance to do big things, Pickles works hard to be a good fire cat. He learns to jump on a fire truck. He learns to help put out a fire, and he even helps out in a rescue!"  There are other "Cat Club" books in which Pickes is not the main character.
Esther Averill, The Fire Cat, 1961.  I recognized this as "The Fire Cat", an old favorite that has been reprinted many times. It is very easy to find.
Averill, Esther, The Fire Cat, 1960.  This might be the one. It's a classic.


click for image of bookFire Dog
Sometime in the 1950's my family had a dime store book about a Dalmation named Dally(?). One phrase from the book was "Bad dogs don't go to fires!" (My father would use this phrase on my brother when his behavior was less than appropriate.) I haven't been able to find any such book and have no other information on it.  Thank you for any assistance you may be able to give.

Let's try - Fire Dog, by Lee Julian, illustrated by Charles Clement, published  Golden Tell A Tale, 1951 "Story of Dally the Dalmatian dog who lives in the fire house with the 3 firemen Joe Brewer, McKeever and Bill Brown. One day on a fire call, the dog is left behind but finds Joe's boot and carries it to him at the fire scene. Thereafter he gets to ride on the firetruck."


Fire-Hunter
Cave man banished from tribe because he broke a taboo.  Also exiled was an injured woman.  Man survives, befriends a wolf/dog, discovers principles of fire, throwing stick, bow and arrows.  Eventually reunited with his tribe.  His tribe asks him why he doesn't wander to survive.  I think I remember the last line of the book as he replies, "There is no need."  I think the work "cave" is in the title.

Jim Kjelgaard, Fire Hunter.  I'm sure about this one - it contains all the details mentioned.  The two main characters are Hawk and Willow if I recall correctly.
Jim Kjelgaard, Firehunter. Not sure of the date written.  After reading a description this has to be it.
C210 yes, this seems to be it. Kjelgaard, Jim, Fire-hunter.   ill by Ralph Ray. Holiday House, 1951.  sabertooth tigers; cavemen - juv fiction; cave men
 Interpreting
Condition
Grades
Kjelgaard, Jim.  Fire-Hunter.  Illustrated by Ralph Ray.  Scholastic, 1951, 6th printing, 1969.  Mass paperback, cover shows some wear.  G.  <SOLD>  


Firebrat
A boy and a girl descend into the subway and discover a magical subterranean world where they are hailed as messiah figures, marked by the fish necklace they wear around their necks.  Though skeptical, they agree to try to help the world's inhabitants and go on an adventure, during which they meet the man who--I think--had given them the necklaces in the first place (above ground).  They complete their mission successfully and make it back above ground, where a strange man gives them--I think-- an apple and a band-aid to help them out, but it's eerie because they'd had a magical apple and band-aid that they'd lost while on their quest.

Nancy Willard, Firebrat, 1988.  I believe that this is the book in question.  It was very beautifully illustrated by David Weisner  it's those pictures that really make it stick out in my mind.
It appears my stumper has been solved!  My mystery book is indeed Firebrat by Nancy Willard.


Firerose
A woman finds an abandoned girl on her doorstep. The child has a dragon tail. The woman addresses each obstacle with "Ah, a problem!" and solves it including finding the dragon that is missing a tail.

Susan Jeschke, Firerose, 1974.  Zora, the fortune teller, doesn't know what to do when she finds a fire-breathing baby with a curly green tail on the doorstep.



First Book of Space Travel
I'm looking for a children's book published some time in the 1950's or 60's that's along the lines of "So you want to be a spaceman" <note, this isn't the title, but more the tone of the book itself> It contained things like "To talk to another spaceman, just touch the same piece of metal or just touch your helmets together." It's for my husband and I would LOVE to have it... sorry this isn't more detailed!

Greene, Carla, I Want to Be a Space Pilot, 1961.   Could it be I Want to Be a Space Pilot from Carla Greene's "I Want to Be" series? Formatted like a picture book, with a blend of story and information.
Mae and Ira Freeman, You Will Go to the Moon, 1962.  I haven't read this since my own childhood  but it looks like a possibility
Robert Heinlein, Have Space Suit Will Travel, 1958.  Kip Russell enters a contest to win a trip to the Moon. It's fiction and adventure, not a non-fiction book, but maybe???
I remember You Will Go to the Moon, with its pictures of moon buggies and so on, but I don't think there was anything in it about touching helmets together or pieces of metal to talk.
Jeanne Bendick, The First Book of Space Travel, 1953.  I have this book right in front of me, and on page 45 it reads "The only way you can hear another spaceman without the radio is when you are both touching the same thing, or when you put your helmets together." This is a very cool book, very well-written from a scientific viewpoint, and full of great information. If only we were living and working in space now, as the author thought we'd be at this point! Pub by Franklin Watts Inc Lib of Congress number 53-6143.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Bendick, Jeanne. The first book of space travel. illus by Jeanne Bendick. Watts, 1953,  5th  printing.  exlibrary; no dust jacket; original cloth binding, edgeworn, some doodling; pages very good <SOLD>  



First Fairy Tales
I'm looking for the first two books I had as a child--books that got lost in a move.  Things I know for sure: there were two books that were nearly identical in many ways: size, format, illustrations, etc (so I assume they were from the same publisher and perhaps were a "series"); each was a collection of stories; hardcover, cloth cover/binding; 1 cover medium/dark tan, 1 cover light yellowish-green; size was less than 6X9; all illustrations were black and white; the tan book was simpler to read with shorter stories (and perhaps even 1-page poems/stories); the green book was at a higher reading level but still clearly a children's book; 1 contained Thumbelina; 1 contained a story about Dancing Princesses (though I'm not sure it was Grimm's 12 Dancing Princesses—it seems it was shorter than this); 1 contained ". . . stormy night. . . the father turned to his oldest son and said, 'Jack (?) tell us a story. . .' so he crossed his legs, poked the fire and began. . .", no color illustrations on cover.  Things I think I remember: thickness less than œ inch, slick pages, regular size print, title on cover of one (maybe the green one) was possibly dark blue; title of one (maybe both) contained the word "giants" and/or "giants and fairies"; probably 5X7 inches; probably purchased new in 1957 ± one year.

I have found one of the two books. The ‘tan’ book is First Fairy Tales, “retold” by Mildred L. Kerr and Frances Ross with illustrations by Mary Sherwood Jones and Ray Evans, Jr. Published by Charles E. Merrill Books, it has a copyright of 1946 (Wesleyan University) and is a 1954 printing. I would be interested in purchasing (2-3) copies if available and am still very interested in finding the other book—the one with the lime green cover. It is almost certainly the same publisher and format and most likely same authors, illustrators, and copyright date.


click for image of bookFish Out of Water
I believe they were published by the same folks who did the Beginners Books series Dr. Suess sort of lit. The books were out about the same time as "Are you my mother?", "Go Dog Go!", and "I wish I had Duckfeet". One was about this kid who buys a pet Goldfish and despite warnings feeds it too much...the poor fish gets huge, to big for his bowl and eventually is transported to a bucket and then a pool (I think), but eventually the pet guy comes in to save the day...

G26  is Fish Out of Water, by Helen Palmer Beginner Books, Random House 1961 Feed him so much and no more, never more than a spot or something may happen you never know what!
A FISH OUT OF WATER by Helen Palmer, illustrated by P.D. Eastman
A Fish Out of Water by Helen Palmer and illus. by P. D. Eastman.
#G26--Goldfish, portly, is definitely A Fish Out of Water.  The author is Helen Palmer, who just happens to be Dr. Seuss's wife.  I didn't rediscover this one myself until just a few years ago when I spotted it at the house of a friend who had wisely saved their childhood favorites to pass on to their own children.  The copy I had as a child either belonged to a friend or didn't survive our move.
I am looking for the title of a children's book that has a goldfish named Otto who grows too big for his bowl
Have any ideas?
I can remember a book that I had as a child but what I can't remember is the name. It was my favorite and I actually wouldn't mind being able to buy it again. I have done some online searching and I think that I may have found a match, but the site that I found it on doesn't have a picture. I think it is a book called "I Got a Goldfish" published in 82 by Curriculum Press. It is a story about a boy that bought a goldfish and was told to only feed it a certain amount of food, he decides to feed it more and the fish grows and grows. It grows to the point that it's bigger than the house and the whole city needs to join in to help keep the thing in water. I think he gets it small again but I can't remember how. Anyway this is the book I am looking for, again not sure if "I Got a Goldfish" is not the right title, but any help from anyone would be great. Thank you!
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Palmer, Helen.  A Fish Out of Water.  Illustrated by P.D. Eastman. Random House Beginner Book, 1961.  New copy.  $8



Five Against Venus
Children's chapter science fiction book about a family that went to Venus.  It was constantly foggy or misty.  The ship wrecked, I think, and the family hid in a cave.  They saw grazing animals about the size of sheep outside the cave, and each animal had an odd hump on its back.  When the family was able to see more clearly, they realized that the "humps" were actually some sort of vampiric animal sucking the blood of the grazing beast.  Family consisted of parents and at least a son, possibly another child as well.

Latham, Philip, Five Against Venus,
1952, copyright.  Possibly FIVE AGAINST VENUS by "Philip Latham" (pseudonym of Robert Richardson).  I haven't read the book, which is scarce and expensive these days, but from memory of a review it does involve a family homesteading on a traditional (at the time) "wet" Venus, and is a YA chapter book.  Cover here, if that helps: http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/philip-latham/five-against-venus.htm.
Philip Latham, Five Against Venus, 1952, copyright.  My copy of Five Against Venus arrived today and I am halfway through.  This is, indeed, the book I remembered.  Of course I had a few details wrong, but the blood-sucking creatures are there, as is the constantly cloudy atmosphere.  Thanks so much for solving my stumper!


click for image of bookFive Chinese Brothers
This may be the longest shot you've ever seen, but here goes. I only remember a portion of the book I'm going to describe, no author or title. But the character or characters were Oriental (Chinese or Japanese). It was an illustrated book, and the only part of the story I can remember is a picture of the one Oriental guy taking a large amount of water into his mouth,(perhaps a whole pond or lake), and his head is swelled up to tremendous size as a result, with all the water in his mouth. I seem to recall him struggling to either hold onto the water, or being unable to get rid of it. Sometime later I believe he does spue the water back into the pond or lake bed. That is a key part of this story, so maybe it helps. That's all I know and it's driving me nuts. I'm 34, but I had this obscure storybook in the very early 70's. The characters were definitely Oriental and the story may have been set in the Far East. Good luck, and please contact me with any info.

Oh, but I know that one immediately!  It's The Five Chinese Brothers, written by Claire Bishop and illustrated by Kurt Wiese.  It's hard to find old copies of it, but fortunately, it's back in print.  I can send you a new copy for about $15.  :-)
Thank you very much for your lightning fast response. About the new edition of  The Five Chinese Brothers, is it just like the original? I'd like to find a nice copy of the original if I could. (I know, maybe that's weird or picky, but that's me.) However, if the new edition is an exact reprint of the one I had, that would be great. Maybe this all sounds a little dumb to you, but I really know nothing about books as far as "out of print" vs. "back in print."  If I haven't totally annoyed you by now, please let me know. And THANK YOU.
Well, of course, old copies are best: they look like the original copy you remember reading with that aged paper and all.  But a reprint is an exact facsimile, same words, same pictures, and since Five Chinese Brothers is basically a black and white book, the illustration reproduction is fine.  You can wait for an old copy, but it might be awhile, and it might be expensive.  Or I can send you a new one today.  Your choice.
Hi, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner, but I didn't get your e-mail for a couple of days. I've been having trouble sending and receiving e-mail from time to time. Anyway, I picked up a copy of Chinese Brothers last weekend at Barnes & Noble. It's just like I remember it. Sorry I bought the other book from a different source, I just had to have it the next day. Hope you understand. Thanks and take care.
Did you ask the B&N clerk for the book about an "Oriental guy taking a large amount of water into his mouth"?

Book about 5 chinese brothers each having a special talent- one could hold his breath, one could swallow the sea, one could withstand fire etc.  I can't remember too much more but if someone knows please help!! Thanks
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I remember there were five chinese brothers who had braided hair and caps and mandarin collars who where sent out on adventures and each one had a way of surviving peril:  ones neck stretched when he was thrown into the ocean so he wouldn't drown, anothers neck was steel and therefore couldn't be chopped.

A classic.
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The book I remember from when I was a child was a story of a little oriental boy ( I believe he was Chinese). It was a thin book with pictures. The story was fictional and involved one part I remember well which the little boy swallowed the whole sea and his head became very large. I can't remember what the rest of the story was about. it was basically an allegorical tale.

Rebecca believes it is Bishop, Claire Huchet and Kurt Wiese, The Five Chinese Brothers.
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This children's story revolves around a young man's ambition to marry the emperor/king's daughter. He has to pass a series of tests, each of which one of his brothers has the ability to do. One of which is surviving being baked in a pie!
I'm a bit hazy on the others but one may have been sitting at the bottom of the sea. This was one of the first books read to me at school so would have been published around or before 1960.

Margaret Mahy, seven chinese brothers.  There have been many versions of this book printed this is one of the most recent. an alternate title is the Five Chinese Brothers.
Claire Huchet Bishop, The Five Chinese Brothers.
I have bought both the Five and Seven Brother versions and while neither seemed to be exactly the same as what I remember, they were both delightful to read and sufficiently different in their storyline to be worth keeping to read to my grandchildren.The Five Brother story is certainly the older of the two ((c) 1938) but the illustrations I recall seem to belong to the Seven Brother book but this is dated 1990. I wonder if there might have been an earlier variation as I was told this story in my first year of school, 1960.
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It was a story about several identical asian brothers (sextuplets or septuplets, perhaps), each of which had an outstanding ability (to withstand fire, to survive being stabbed with sharp things).  So one of the brothers' talent was the ability to take the entire ocean into his mouth for as long as he could hold his breath.  One of the noble families in their village requested that he perform this trick so their children could collect some shells from the ocean floor and he happily agrees. However, when he began to run out of breath, despite his motioning to the children, he is unable to wait for them to crawl out of the  ocean basin and he releases the water back into the ocean, killing the children.  Naturally, he is condemned to death but this is where his brothers come in.  First he is to be burned to death (but flame-resistant brother takes his place and thus survives), next he is thrown in with unfriendly alligators  (and there is a picture of non-punctureable brother with an alligator gnawing unsuccesfully on his arm), and so on.... any ideas?

Bishop, Claire Huchet, Five Chinese Brothers. "Five identical brothers have remarkable talents: one can swallow the sea, one has an iron neck, one can stretch and stretch his legs, one cannot be burned, and one can hold his breath indefinitely. The first one`s talent gets him in serious trouble, but the other four step up to receive his punishment, one after the other, and their remarkable attributes come in very handy indeed."
Claire Huchet Bishop (Author), Kurt Wiese (Illustrator), The Five Chinese Brothers
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Bishop, Claire Huchet and Kurt Wiese.  The Five Chinese Brothers. Coward McCann, 1938.  New Hardback copy, $15.  New paperback copy, $6.



Five Fairy Tales
I am looking for an oversized fairy tale book copyright date between 1960-1970. It may have been a deluxe Golden Book. Stories included Cinderella, Rupunzel, Snow White & Rose Red and Diamonds & Toads. Beautiful color illustrations including Cinderella in french-style ballgowns (one in blue with blue fan).  One picture had the stepmother and sisters eating cheesecake in their powdered wigs. Gift from my grandmother and am dying to find a copy. Please help.

I remember many more of the illustrations for this fairy tale book.  The Rapunzel story has a picture with Rapunzel, her long blonde hair unbraided walking with outstretched arms towards her prince.  The Diamonds & Toads story shows one picture with the dark-haired good sister, hand resting on her neck, spouting small jewels and roses from her lips.  The other "bad" sister is shown running away while lizards and toads leap sideways.  The Snow White and Rose Red story has an illustration showing the 2 sisters clutching the dwarf in mid-air while an eagle tries to carry him away.  As I described earlier, the illustrations are very vivid and made quite an impression on me as a child.  I believe Cinderella was shown in 2 or 3 elaborate, french ball gowns (one gold/white another in blue with white fur trim).  I hope someone remembers the title and author.
Five Fairy Tales, 1962.  Maybe this one illustrated by Gordon Laite and published by Golden Press?  It's a Big Golden Book with the stories Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, Toads and Diamonds, Snow White and Rose Red, and Cinderella.  "48 pages of beautiful color illustrations."
Thank you so much for solving my bookstumper question “F192”.  The book I remembered was Five Fairy Tales illustrated by Gordon Laite, published in 1962.  I did an online search and found a few copies for sale.  You folks are doing a great job with your website and I am so impressed by the looks of your store in Shaker Heights that I hope to visit it sometime soon.  Again, thank you for your help finding my favorite old book.



Five Fall Into Adventure
In 1957, a grade school teacher read aloud a series (4 or 5?) of books about 3/4/5 children (boys and girls) who took "holidays" (one to the "Puffin Islands"?) and ate out of "tins". I believe there was a brother and sister or some familial relationship between two of the children. I can't recall any adults in the book -- except for the individuals involved in solving they mysteries.

This sounds like one of Enid Blyton's "Five..." stories. Five Fall into Adventure, maybe?
Arthur Ransome.  Could be one of the Swallowdale series. Or one of Enid Blyton's books.
Yes!!!! It is Enid Blyton -- as soon as I read that name, I recalled it. Thank you so very much!!  What a wonderful site this is!!


Five in a Tent
I read a Parent's Magazine Press book when I was in  grade school, probably 6th and 7th grade in the early 70s. The book is called Five In A Tent. It was about a sleepaway camp in New Hampshire and the girls who shared a tent. The author was Victoria Furman. I used to take this book out of the library and read it over and over until it was due back. Then I would take it out again, and again, read it over and over again. My aunt used to volunteer as a librarian on my class' library day. She used to constantly ask me to try another story, but I just loved this one so much. I think it was because there was a character by the name of Donna, which is my name and also the main character, Chris, was a preteen on the chubby side which was also my experience at the time. Needless to say I just LOVED this book and have thought of it through the years. I mentioned it to my sister in law last week. She is the school nurse at the Catholic grammar school that I had attended as a child. A couple of days later, she appeared at my door with my book!! It looked just like I remembered. The school librarian was weeding out some old books and gave her this one as a gift for me to keep. I was so happy and excited that I almost cried. I'm now in the process of reading it to two of my daughters who are 10 and 8 years old. At one point, I turned a page and saw where I had doodled in the margin, and had written "72"...my 8th grade graduation year. This has brought me back, I remember all of the characters and the story in general. My daughters love it as much as I did way back when. This is running very long, but I'm wondering if Victoria Furman is still alive and if there is a way to reach her. I'd love to let her know how happy her work made me as a child and now as a 44 year old mom. I did a search and found two Victoria Furmans...one in Illinois and one in Brooklyn. I'd so appreciate any information
you can give me. Thank you so much.

Five Little Peppers
I remember a book I read when I was young (1970's) that was about a family that had a mother and several young children (I don't remember a father character). They were very poor and lived in a rural area.  I remember one of the character's names was Joel (a younger boy). There was an older sister and an older brother and a younger sister too I think.  It was a chapter book, not a picture book.  I remember there was another character, an older neighbor lady, who gave them cakes in one of the chapters. And another chapter that was about how they saw an ad for the circus in the town general store but they wouldn't be able to go because they didn't have any money. Joel was a precocious character.  He tried to have a circus himself with their animals/dogs.  But he always doing precocious things.  This is all I can remember and it's not even clear.  I have no idea of the author or when it was printed. Can you help me find it?

Margaret Sidney, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew, 1881.  This was the first of 12 books about Ben, Polly, Joel, Davie, and Phronsie Pepper and their widowed mother. The circus episode may be from a later book in the series.
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Sidney, Margaret. Five Little Peppers and How They Grew.  A Dell Yearling Classic, original copyright 1881, paperback 1985 edition with an afterword by Betsy Byars, 1990 paperback printing.  F.  $6



Five Little Raccoons
Five Little Racoons and How they Grew, 1938-1942.  Would like to puchase this book.

Buchanan, Gladys, The Five Litttle Raccoons. Rand McNally, 1936, illus. Clarence Biers.
Gladys Buchanan, The Five Little Raccoons, 1936.  Maybe?
Margaret Sidney, Five Little Peppers and How They Grew.  Probably not the book (no raccoons in this one) but the title is so similar I thought one should check.



Five on a Merry-Go-Round
The book I am trying to find is about a homeless family who lives on a run-down, in-operable carousel they find in the woods. I remember them making beds in the chariots.  They end up getting the carousel running and end up keeping it from being torn down.

Marie McSwigan, Five on a Merry-Go-Round
, 1943, copyright.  It sounds like this book. The family is looking for work and a job as well as a place to live. When they find an abandoned amusement park with a merry-go-round, they decide to live in it until they can find a better house. I just read this recently and it's a terrific book.
Marie McSwigan, Mary Reardon (illus), Five on a Merry-Go-Round, 1943, copyright.  The Sloan family moves South for Father's health, and to find a defense job for Father.  When they are unable to find housing, due to a housing shortage, they make their home in an abandoned merry-go-round.
Merry-Go-Round Family, '60's, approximate. Just a guess: there is a chapter book called Merry Go Round Family; I don't remember much about it except the red cover with a picture of a girl on a horse.  Could this be your book?
Five on a Merry-Go-Round is indeed the book I am looking for.  I bought the Merry Go Round Family just in case and it definitely wasn't that one.  Unfortunately, the only copies I can find sell for too much money online.  If anyone knows where I can find a reasonably priced one, please let me know!


Five Were Missing
see Ransom



click
        for image of bookFix it Please
young children have parents who fix tummmy aches with pink medicine and flat tires etc.it is a little golden book with beautiful illustrations both in charcoal and white and also in vivid color.

You've got it.  It's called Fix it Please, written by Lucy Sprague Mitchell and illustrated by Eloise Wilkin.  Published in 1947 as LGB #32.  It's one of the harder LGB's to find, but I'll keep an eye out.



Fix the Toys
I am looking for an old children's book about a toy store owner who received a shipment of dolls in a crate but the heads had been removed. The cardboard heads are in an envelope in the front of the book, and the pages have the doll bodies, with slits for inserting the correct doll heads.  Lots of sentimental value.

I think those are called "Slottie books"!  They were a series of books published by Rand McNally in the 40s and 50s with Jan B. Balet as most common illustrator.  The "slotties" were paper doll-like pieces in the back of the book that could be inserted into slots in the illustrations to complete, or change, the picture.  They weren't all about dolls with missing heads, but what a great match of story and technique!  There are several fairy tales, as well as The Theatre Cat, Bean Blossom Hill, Papa Pompino, and Rosalinda.  Haven't found the one that matches your stumper yet.
Your stumper about the book with dolls/toys and separated heads is FIX THE TOYS, I think the author is Dorothy King.  A fun book, and hard to find with all of the pieces still in the 'toybox'. Great website by the way.
Hooray – I now have ordered a book I have been looking for in every used bookstore and flea market for years.  The original I had carried such sentimental value and I am so glad to find a replacement. Thanks for your great service!


Flaming Bear
approx. date: late 1950s early 1960s.  When I was 5-8 years old my father read me a book aloud about the search for a frightening bear who everyone thought was a ghost.  It turns out that the bear is not a ghost but is living in a cave where he gets phosphorescent dust on his fur.  I remember this as a thrilling adventure story that I would like to find for my children.

B139 bear: sounds to me like The Flaming Bear, by Harold McCracken, published Lippincott 1951, 222 pages. "Full of Arctic quiet and loneliness, of beliefs from Aleutian legend, and the persistent courage of a young hunter, this beautifully told story about the giant Alaskan brown bear is new and different. Tan, a chief's son, is the real hero, whose successful journey through waters and volcanic terrain solved the mystery of Flaming Bear's glowing appearances." (HB Feb/52 p.37)


click for image of bookFlat Stanley
I'm trying to find a book about a little boy who got squashed "flat as a pancake" by a steamroller.  I loved that book as a preschooler.  Guess I've always had a bazaar sense of humor.

I don't remember the title, but maybe I can add some details -- my sister and I loved a book, mid 1960's, where the flattened boy hides in a picture frame (dressed as a shepherdess, I think) and catches an art thief, and then his little (brother or sister) figures out that the way to make him round again is to blow him up with a bicycle pump.
The person who responded to the steamroller stumper is actually thinking of Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. Stanley is flat, and does catch an art thief, but he is flattened by the bulletin board that falls onto his bed. Flat Stanley is a fun book.
Sure sounds like Flat Stanley (1964) by Jeff Brown and illustrated by Toni Ungerer(?) I read it in school
in 2nd grade or so. Stanley Lambchop is flattened by a bulletin board and finds his condition to be very useful. There's a sequel - something like A Lamb for Lambchop.
Sequel to Flat Stanley, A Lamp for the Lambchops 1983.
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I am looking for a children's book about a little boy that is flattened by a steamroller.  He then wants to visit his grandmother, so his mom folds him up and mails him to his grandma in an envelope. 1960s.

Jeff Brown, Flat Stanley.  If it could be a bulletin board that flattened the boy, and a friend that he was mailed to, I think it's probably Flat Stanley.  I see it's in Solved Mysteries, too.
Jeff Brown, Flat Stanley.  A possibility, even though Stanley is flattened by a bulletin board,not a steamroller.
Brown, Jeff, Flat Stanley, 1964.  Stanly is flattened by a bulletin board that falls on him in his sleep. He has all sorts of adventures, including being folded up and mailed to friends and family, though I don't remember if his grandmother is specifically mentioned.
Jeff Brown (author), Tomi Ungerer (illustrator), Flat Stanley, 1964.  Could the stumper requester have confused some of the details?  Stanley is flattened by a falling bulletin board, not a steamroller, and is mailed to a school friend who has moved to California, not his grandmother.  Followed by A Lamp for the Lambchops (retitled Stanley and the Magic LampInvisible Stanley; Stanley, Flat Again; Stanley in Space; and Stanley's Christmas Adventure.  Please see the "F" Solved Mysteries page for more information---more than one stumper requester thought a steamroller caused Stanley's accident!
Are you sure it was a steamroller?  This sounds like Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown (Harper & Row, 1964), but it was a bulletin board that flattened Stanley.  School teachers often use this story to teach several lessons - the kids make a 'Flat Stanley' and he gets mailed all over the world.  When he arrives/gets mailed back to the school, they often have a big party and read his journal and look at the pictures that people took of his various visits.
L129  Possibly  Brown, Jeff Flat Stanley    illus by Tomi Ungerer    Harper    1964  Copy 2 is Bk Cl        copy 1)no dust jacket; white publisher¹s library binding shows soil; corners & spine ends some wear; shaken; ink doodles on endpaper; hole in fly from pocket removal; page good Copy 2) glossy boards soiled; corners  & spine ends worn; name on endpaper; pages very good except light crayon streak on 1        2.00;1.00    1382
Lofting, Hugh, The Crazy Story of Dizzy Lizzie,  1953?? This is the second stumper to remind me of "Dizzy Lizzie" (the other being L98), although in both cases there are differences as well as similarities.  The story appears in Volume 4 of the Spencer Press CHILDREN'S HOUR collection (reprinted, says the indicia, from CHILD LIFE magazine).  Lizzie is indeed flattened by a steamroller and then mailed elsewhere, but she goes to Persia rather than to her grandmother, and she's a girl, not a boy -- though Lofting's illustrations could suggest otherwise. "Dizzy Lizzie" may well not be the story the requester is thinking of -- but one wonders if the author of the requester's story had read the Lofting tale.
Jeff Brown, Flat Stanley,1968.  This was a favourite of mine and I still have it.  My copy was printed in the U.K..  It's all about Stanley Lambchop who gets accidentally flattened and then has a number of adventures, including getting mailed to his Grandma.  This is a great site.  I've been searching for the Great Alphabet Race for years, and by a stroke of luck found it in a random search that ended up at your Monthly Stumpers.  To further extend the good karma, I saw this mystery was still unsolved.   Thanks again.
L121  FLAT STANLEY by Jeff Brown, 1964 (and there are other adventures with Stanley)~from a librarian
Jeff Brown, Flat Stanley, 1964.  Sounds like the classic Flat Stanley, although Stanley was actually flattened when a bulletin board fell on him as he slept, not by a steamroller.  But he is mailed to visit relatives in a big envelope.  This book became popular again in the 1990s, when teachers and librarians around the country started mailing cardboard "Flat Stanleys" to other schools as a sort of "pen pal" project.  This led to several sequels being published.


Flibbity Jibbit
pre WWII.  snall paperback with "art deco" style illustrations  believe it was published to advertise "Junket", a custard-like, instant mix type product.

Vernon Grant, Flibbity Jibbit, 1943.  'Childrens' story of a duck - created for the advertisement of "Junket" Brand Rennet
Powder and Tablets."  There was at least one sequel.


click for image of bookFlicka, Ricka, Dicka
Hi... I have been posed a question. "In children's books, who is the sister of Flicka and Ricka?"  Any info you can send would be greatly appreciated..  Thanks in advance!

Dicka!  Maj Lindman wrote these series books in the 40's featuring (and titled)  Flicka,Ricka, Dicka and Snipp, Snapp, Snurr.  I have paperback reprints available for $6.95  See list on the Back in Print page.
Thank you very much..... is hard to stump the bookseller... LOL



Flight of the Doves
Title possibly similar to Flight of the Sparrows. Boy and (blonde?) younger sister run away from abusive uncle to grandmother (?) (+other extended family).  Most of the story is the journey throughout which they are pursued by a well-intentioned detective(?).  Boy plays street soccer at one point, cuts younger sister's hair (I think). I read this in school in the very early 80's.  It was a paperback edition with a drawing on the cover of the two kids, clearly fleeing something. The triggering incident for the escape was an assault by the uncle (who might have been intoxicated) in the kitchen. There was a very dramatic scene in the hills or mountains where the pursuer might have turned his ankle... When they reached their grandmother, the family barricaded the house (figuratively I think) and there was a happy resolution.

Macken, Walter, Flight of the Doves. This is it, no question
Walter Macken, Flight of the Doves, 1968. Why do the Dove Children run away? Because their parents are dead and life with Uncle Toby is a series of unbearable cruelties." Twelve year old Finn and seven year old Derval run away to find their loving grandmother who lives somewhere across the Irish Sea.
Macken, Walter, Flight of the Doves. A twelve-year-old English boy Finn and his seven-year-old sister Dervil run away from their abusive stepfather and set out to reach their grandmother in western Ireland, despite the publicity about their flight and a police search for them.
Walter Macken, Flight of the Doves, 1968
Walter Macken, Flight of the Doves. Wow!! That was fast.  Thank you so much everyone - I have been trying to remember this for years... now I have a copy and will be able to share this with my own children.



Flight of Time
This is a book I remember reading in elementary school during the years of 1970-1974. All I seem to remember was some kind of small animal (cat?) was lost in an area of cliffs. Some children (1 older girl/1 boy perhaps) were looking at the base of the cliffs when they saw a silver reflection. What they found was a partially buried machine that turned out to be a time machine. Thats about all I do remember, other than I read it over and over again. I seem to remember it having a green hardback cover, and perhaps the girls name was meg or megan. No, its not "wrinkle in time" but I did think about that. I seem to remember the cat was the owner of the machines, but again that could be false. If I recall right, they eventually link up with the machines owner and travel with him for a while.  I know thats not alot of definate info, but its the best I can do after 30+ years!

Capon, Paul, Flight of Time.  London: Heinemann, 1960. "Jill sat on the sand facing the sea and closed her eyes. She started to count up to a hundred, to give the others plenty of time to hide. She opened her eyes and was just about to jump up when - whoosh - it happened. At one moment there was nothing in front of her, and at the next there was a great shining object looking like a huge silver dishcover." If I recall from reading the review in Junior Bookshelf, the object is a time machine, and the children travel in it. No idea about a cat, though.



Flipsville/Squaresville
Illustrated, cartoon-style 70's satire---two separate "manuals" in one boot for teens and parents.  This book was a paperback illustrated satire "manual" about teens and their parents.  Half the book was geared toward teenagers from their point of view.  If you turned the book over, the "back" had a front cover that was geared from the parents point of view.  I don't remember too much, but I do recall one scene in the "parents" side of the book/manual that suggests putting your daughter in a convent.  Very funny illustrations.

Stan and Jan Berenstain, Flipsville/Squaresville


click for image of bookFloating Island
I remember a book from my childhood during the late 1950s and early 1960s about a doll family that was shipwrecked on a deserted island. They used seashells for plates and ate seafoam. I would love to find that book again. Thank you for your help.

#D37:  Doll family shipwrecked on island, sounds like Floating Island, by Anne Parrish, a 1931 Newbery Honor Award book published by Harper.
Hello! I have the answer for D37's question. The book is called Floating Island by Anne Parrish, copyright 1930, Harper & Bros, Publishers. The pictures are by Mr. Doll! The Doll family's dollhouse is shipwrecked on an island (Mr. and Mrs. Doll, and their children Annabel and William, the maid Dinah, and their fake food Lobby, Finny, and Pudding try to become reunited on the island. I found this old favorite of mine at a library booksale. I love your site!
D37: Just a warning...if the book you're looking for IS the 1931 book Floating Island, be aware that there's some very painful racism in it (when the dolls get to leave the island, the black cook doll feels compelled to stay on the island with the monkeys). I read one parent on the Net who said she kept it out of her kids' hands until they were old enough to listen to and fully understand her explanation of why this is so appalling. If it weren't for that character, this would be a pretty good book.

I am looking for a children's fiction book that I read in the 4th or 5th grade (1974 -75).  The book was about a family of dolls stranded on an island.  The dolls were alive and explored the lsland.  The doll family had a maid/nanny dressed in clothing that reminds me of Aunt Jemima on the syrup bottle.  As they explored the island, they encounter a crab and make it the family pet (named Crabby?).  The book is illustrated throughout and contains lots of hand drawn maps and figures and has an over abundance of asterisked references to the bottom of the page.  The book must have had between 100 - 250 pages.  I can neither remember the title or the author, or even much more about the book.
***And yet another...
This would be a children's book from the 50's.  It involved a doll family and their doll house being shipped by sea to the states from England.  They crash on an island and the story involves their being separated and then trying to find each other.  It involved Mr. and Mrs. Doll, their son (William I think) their daughter and their cook who is helped by monkeys.
---
Sorry, I didn't read the explanation thoroughly.  The book I am looking for was my favorite back in the early seventies, and was about a dollhouse family which comes alive and leaves their dollhouse for an adventure.  I remember that there was also a talking fish on a plate, with a lemon slice, and I'm pretty sure that the dollhouse family ends up on a desert island.  It was quite a long book, not a 15 page kids' book.  I have looked all through the descriptions of talking dollhouse family books on this website and none of them look familiar.  Help!

Actually, now that I've wandered around on your wonderful website some more, I've discovered that the book I requested you to identify is apparently "Floating Island" by Anne Parrish.  The stumper request I sent in is one referring to a dollhouse family and a talking plate of fish.
______________________________________________
A chapter book, pre-1963; my 2nd grade teacher read us a chapter daily. A doll family is shipwrecked on a desert island. My only distinct memory is the father and another male family member dragging a starfish into their make-shift dwelling to use as a rug and the mother's horrified reaction, whereupon she makes them remove it. Don't think it's from The Borrower's series, though that's the scale of their adventures. Seemed British...

Sounds like it could be FLOATING ISLAND by Anne Parrish, 1930~from a librarian

Definitely ‘Floating Island’ – mark this one solved

Floating Market
This book had colorful pictures. Asian? girl sells the dumplings her mother makes in a boat (sampan?). There are many other people in boats selling other things, fruit and vegetables, etc. I don't remember the point of the book just that I liked it.

Floethe, Louise Lee, Floating Market, 1969.  New York : Farrar, Straus & Giroux.  A Thai sister and brother sail to the market hoping to sell their fruits, vegetables, and dumplings so they can buy their younger sister a present.
Wow, I'm sure that's it! Thank you so much!



click
        for image of bookFlower Fairies
The 1st book tells the storie of "The very 1st faery." I do not know the title but it starts off like this: I am here to tell you the true story of faeries because I am the 1st Faery ever. (or somethin like that) The books may also be for young adult series. I saw them in a book and paper show in Austin. From what I can remember their Author was a woman and writin in 1933 (not real sure) The book size were about 5x3 in size w/ art work. The lady (book show) had 4 on display but there may be more or not even a series. Anything you can do will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Sounds like Cicely Mary Barker to me. She wrote and illustrated many books about fairies, including a series of four through the seasons: Flower Fairies of the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. These are rather small, in verse, and with her delicate drawings. None has the quote you mentioned, but one of her other books might. They were originally published in London in the 1920's and the originals can be quite pricey. However, they are back in print for only $5.95 each.

I am looking for 2 books that I remember reading when I was a child.  I don't have much information except the following:they were cloth covered - one in yellow and one in a brownish color (could've been red originally) I believe the illustrations in both were by Cicely Mary Barker.  One book was about Flower Fairies and in particular there was a page that featured "Hollyhock" with a corresponding poem.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
please check current availability...
Barker, Cicely Mary.  Flower Fairies of the Spring.  Frederick Warne, 1923, 1990.  New copy.  $6
Barker, Cicely Mary.  Flower Fairies of the Summer.  Frederick Warne, 1925, 1990.  New copy.  $6
Barker, Cicely Mary.  Flower Fairies of the Autumn.  Frederick Warne, 1926, 1990.  New copy.  $6
Barker, Cicely Mary.  Flower Fairies of the Winter. Frederick Warne, 1923, 1990.  New copy.  $6
Barker, Cicely Mary.  A Treasury of Flower Fairies.   Frederick Warne, 1992.  New copy.  $20
Laing, Jane.  Cicely Mary Barker and Her Art.  Frederick Warne, 1995.  New copy.  $35



Flowers for Filbert
This has been bothering me for years; hearing about you on NPR seemed providential. I read this book when I was  five, in 1955. It's about a donkey who eats the flowers off the mayor's wife's hat (I picture a straw hat). He becomes ill with a stomach ache. That's all I can recall. I hope it's sufficient. Thanks so much.

Maybe - Flowers for Filbert by cecile Lamb, Whitman Pub. Co., 1951.  "Filbert the donkey learns the difference between real and artificial flowers."
I am sitting here holding Flowers for Filbert amid a flood of memories. I cannot begin to express my gratitude. I feel so fortunate to have been listening to NPR that Saturday morning. Thanks very much. Ps. I've already submitted my second book stumper request.


Fluffy Little Lamb
Is about a little lost lamb, but is not Little Lost Lamb by Golden MacDonald (1945) because that lamb was black and this one was white.  This was a large (at least Big Little Golden-sized) color picture book, and my clearest memory is of the lamb sitting up, its front feet out to hold a skein of yarn for somebody, and crying. I believe everyone it met on its journey were animals, and humans come in only at the beginning and the end, if at all.  It eventually gets found but I just remember how sad it was being lost!  No later than 1969 and probably quite some time earlier.  (1 answer, possibly right, but won't know until I hear from a bookseller.)

And--I can't believe this--I FOUND my book about the little lost lamb!  It's Fluffy Little Lamb, a Wonder Book by Gilbert Delahaye, pictured on page 408 of Santi's "Collecting Little Golden Books," Fourth Edition.  This guidebook was expensive, but, it seems, worth it!  It's actually a lot more entertaining reading after seeing everyone's stumpers.  Now I gotta find this book!


The Flying Hockey Stick
I remember reading a book when I was a kid in the 1970's about a boy who flies around the world (I believe). He is doing it on a vacuum cleaner until he reaches the end of the length of the cord. I think this was before I could actually read but for some reason I thought his name was Barnaby.

Jolly Roger Bradfield,
The Flying Hockey Stick. Purple House Press republished this book. Barnaby Jones invents a flying machine.
Jolly Roger Bradfield, The Flying Hockey Stick, 1966. I just want to thank the person who solved my question. Looks like the original was in 1966 and there is a reprint in 2007.


Flying Machine Boys
When I was a young lad, in the early 1930's, I read a book or series of booklets about a boy, who was my age (12-14 years) who had some exciting experiences with FLYING MACHINES.  He may or may not have built these machines himself. I do not know the name of the book(s) nor the author.

Frank Walton, Flying Machine Boys series, 1913 on.  These look likely.  I can find five titles, but no descriptions:  The Flying Machine Boys on Secret Service or, The Capture in the Air; The Flying Machine Boys on Duty or, The Clue Above the Clouds; The Flying Machine Boys in the Wilds; The Flying Machine Boys in Deadly Peril;  The Flying Machine Boys in the Frozen North or, the Trail in the Snow.



Flying Trunk
I am looking for a book from childhood that I think is called the flying trunk-  it had moveable parts on the inside.-  there was a prince and I think the trunk burned at the end of the story.  Ringing any bells

The Flying Trunk is a fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson.  You're probably thinking of the Kubasta pop-up version printed in 1960.  Kubasta was a master of paper engineering, and his books are very collectible... 


Focus the Bright Land
I read this book about 1972 or 71.  It was about a girl who happened to be the first to photograph a tornado.  The cover had the girl, tornado and old time camera. I loved the book but have never been able to read it again.

T-60 is one of my other all time favorite books.  I don't recall the author's first name (she is famous, though) and her last is Friermood.  The title of the book is Focus the Bright Land and I just checked it out of the library again..first time this year, though!  Thanks for letting us help out, this is fun!!
I just fininshed reading it again and am ready to take it back to the library..the author's full name is Elisabeth Hamilton Friermood.
Focus the Bright Land, by Elisabeth Hamilton Friermood, published Doubleday 1967, 240 pages. "Vicky's father, founder of the Bodkin Photographic Studio, had gone to Washington at the special request of President Garfield to photograph his inauguration. Two of her brothers, also expert photographers, were preparing for a summer of traveling in their caravan studio. Vicky, practiced in the art of getting her own way, finally succeeded in winning permission to accompany her brothers, provided she made herself useful. She had the imagination to see and the skill to catch remarkable artistic effects in landscapes ... and she proved her ability with the double lens for stereoscopic views." (HB Dec/67 p.757)


Fog Magic
I am looking for a book that I must have read in the late 60s or early 70s.  It was situated in New England I believe.  The main character was a girl who made her way through the fog into the past. In the end, on her last visit back in time, the child is given a kitten.  Although she could never bring anything back from the past to her time, she gets to bring the kitten home.  I believe she named it Fog or Wisp.  It also turned out that her father knew of this place and time and that he too had visited there.

Sauer, Julia L., Fog Magic, 1943 and reprinted again and again.  The kitten's name is "Wisp," the girl's is "Greta," and it takes place in Nova Scotia, Canada.
This one is definitely Fog Magic by Julia Sauer. The protagonist is a girl who can walk back in time through the fog until her 11th birthday--then she is too old. On her birthday she discovers her father did the same.
Quite sure that the answer to F49 is Fog Magic by Julia Sauer.  I think it's still in print.
I'm certain this is Fog Magic, however it is set in Novia Scotia, Canada.
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also see A Sound of Crying
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A short novel from maybe the late 70's early 80's (possibly). It's a story about a young girl who walks through fog and ends up in a different time (maybe the time of the Pilgrims?) And that's all I can remember!

Margaret Jean Anderson, In the Keep of Time.  Don't know if this is it--but a little girl goes back in time while exploring a tower somewhere in the U.K. (I thought it was Wales, but someone on Amazon says it is Scotland). Her siblings (at least one brother and one sister, and maybe one cousin) go to find her and bring her back. As I recall, they go through fog to find her. The creepy thing that has stuck with me all this time is that they find a little girl who looks just like the sister, but who belongs to that previous age. Since they can't find their sister, or they think this is their sister under some kind of magic, they bring the little girl home and try to pass her off as their sister to their parents (she does not even speak their language and screams when they do things like run the vacuum!). As I recall, it works (!) and so none of the adults are ever the wiser--but the reader is left wondering, WAS this their little sister?  If not, WHERE is she and WHAT is happening to her???  It always haunted me to think of the modern girl being abandoned by her siblings, who seemed to assume one look-alike girl was as good as the next.  It looks like it is part of a trilogy, and another of the titles in the trilogy is The Mists of Time.  But it sounds like all the stories take place in Scotland.
I think the story about only a girl (if I remember correctly) takes place in the United States and I think she meets early settlers in New England. Thanks though!
Julia Sauer, Fog Magic, 1943.  This is Fog Magic by Julia Sauer...a perennial favorite of many generations, as well as a Newbery Honor book. Originally published in 1943, its been in print more or less continuously since then, (including a Scholastic printing in the 1969, which is the edition many remember) from different publishers, with different art, but same text....its even out in hardcover right now!!
Sauer, Julia L., Fog Magic.  This is very likely your book.  A girl is able to walk into a town from the past when the fog comes in.
The Girl Who Slipped Through Time, 1980, approximately.  I'm not sure this is the book you're looking for.  I read this book in the early 1980s.  The main character's name was Paramecia, and her father was a scientist.  I have a vague memory of her walking through some sort of fog and being transported to another time.
Julia Sauer, Fog Magic, 1943. This is probably Fog Magic(see solved mysteries)
Sauer, Julia, Fog Magic, 1960s.  A little girl discovers a magic world in the thick fog which occurs regularly along the coast of Nova Scotia
Sauer, Julia, Fog Magic, 1943.  Probably this book, which was reprinted numerous times.  Greta can walk backwards through time to an old-fashioned village.
Julia Sauer, Fog Magic
Maybe Fog Magic by Julia Sauer??
Julia Sauer, Fog Magic. This one is also a possibility, depending on what you remember.  It's about a girl named Greta, and there's a description on the Solved page.


Folk Tales
Could be British. The title may well be, simply, Old Folk Tales, but that didn't help when I went to
bibliofind. The writing style definitely dates it between 1960 and 1976. The stories in it that I
remember are: "The Hundred-Year Clock", "The Enchanted Garden", "The Rose Garden", "The Green Man", "Jack Grumbles", "King of the Chestnut Trees", "Gicks in the Bakehouse", "Timpel in the Reeds", "Servewell",  "The Little Jar", "The Rainbow Bridge", and "Hornickel", a story similar to "Iron Hans" in which the princess marries not the prince, but the wild man himself - for
his beautiful singing voice. Title? Editor? Publisher? Date? ISBN? Thank you.

The names sound German, but I'm reasonably sure they aren't in Grimm. It could be either another collector, or some of the 'literary fairy tales' written in Germany during the Romantic period, like Brentano's long story of Gockel, Hinkel and Gockelia. A couple of possibles: Matthiessen, Wilhelm Folk Tales NY Grove Press, 1968, 8vo, 208 pages, color illustrations by Ruth Bartlett. Fairy Tales of Ludwig Bechstein translated by Anthea Bell NY Abelard Schuman 1967, illustrated in color by Irene Schreiber. "Bechstein was a 19th century poet and scholar and a collector of folklore. This volume has a selection most likely to appeal to children"
Folk Tales by Wilhelm Matthiessen - that's IT!! No wonder I had such trouble finding it - even in the Boston area, most libraries don't carry WM and the few copies in abebooks.com list none of the tales' titles at all! The 13th tale is "Golden Acres". The translator is Kathleen Shaw. I knew the edition had to be from the last 40 years simply because in older books of "mainstream" fairy tales, you just don't read about girls named Maureen or kings that smoke "big fat cigars", or a kingdom which "you can walk around in a quarter of an hour - I tried it only recently". Shaw translated another of Matthiessen's books called The Potato King and other Folk Tales as well. WM died in 1965. Thank you, I've helped solve 40 stumpers, I've posted 25 or so, and this was one of the ones I cared about most!



Folk Tales Children Love
My stumper was for a children's book of stories. It was a big, hard cover, red book with stories in it such as how the Christmas tree got its needles; how the bear got his short tail; the little turtle that couldn't stop talking; why the woodpecker has a red head. I remember how beautiful and colorful the pictures were. I'd say my mother read this book to us in the early to mid 1950's. I just loved this book. It would be wonderful to be able to find it and purchase it.

C219 These sound like 'porquoi' tales [why?] There are many of them in just about every culture. Anansi stories from Africa, Iktomi tales from native american tribes, by way of who knows where? Hope this info helps you narrow your search.
This may not be what either is looking for, but let me try to hit 2 stumpers with 1 stone: C 219: Children's book of how stories and W 120: Winds, Stories About could both be Old Mother West Wind, by Thornton W. Burgess, 1910. Put that title, in quotes, into Google, and you'll even find entire online versions of it; for example, chapter 2, Why Grandfather Frog Has No Tail.
Thanks for the last suggestion to go to Google but this was not the book I was looking for. There were specific stories in my book but we're getting closer!
Rudyard Kipling, Just So Stories.This is another possibility.  I don't remember any of the stories you mentioned, but it does contain things like "How the elephant got his trunk" and "How the leopard got his spots" and "How the whale got his throat."  Might want to look into it.
Thanks again but Kipling's book is not it either I've checked into that one. The book I'm searching for has stories in it such as how the Christmas tree got its needles, The little turtle who couldn't stop talking and other "how" stories.
I recently submitted an entry under "Cautionary Tales" and you and I are looking for the same marvelous book.  I have had no luck yet.
Watty Piper, Folk Tales Children Love, 1934.  I have been looking for exactly the same  book you seem to be looking for.  I found my solution in the solved mysteries section of this website under children's tales.  I then went online to confirm it by getting a look at the cover.  I think you may be seeking the same book.  That story of the turtle was so wonderful and I've looked for the book for YEARS.  I hope I've helped to make you as happy as I am.



Follow My Leader
A boy is stricken blind (in an auto accident?) and receives a guide dog, whom he learns to work with. He doesn’t like the dog’s name but shouldn’t change it because that would interfere with the dog’s training. He shops with a sighted friend, who learns that his bills are folded in different ways by denominations, and he gets a Braille watch. It feels like a ‘50s or early ‘60s setting. I might be confusing two stories here, because I’m pretty sure his dog is a German shepherd but I kind of remember someone telling him (and he can remember the color from before his accident) about how red his Irish Setter’s coat is.

I think you might be mixing two books here.  I'm not sure about the Irish Setter book, but the German Shepard guide book may be Follow My Leader by James Garfield.  The boy was blinded as a youngster playing with fireworks.  I'm not sure what the other book might be.
Dorothy Clewes, Guide Dog, 1965.  This might also be it.  This one is set in England, the boy was nearly an adult when he was blinded by an exploding package.  It was a Weekly Reader Book Club Selection.
Thank you, Ms. Logan. You and your readers are excellent book detectives. Those three titles are the books I remember.
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My third grade teacher read a book to the class (circa 1965) about a boy that was shooting fireworks and became blind. The story goes through the changes in the boy's life as he adjusts to his blindness. I remember he gets a guide dog and the orginal name of the dog was for a star, but I think the boy called the dog by another name. I also remember the boy cooking one day (maybe oatmeal or mashed potatoes) and using powdered detergent instead of the food product. The book also talks about how he learned to tell a cup was full, and something about  feeling the air pressure at a wall before walking into it. It would make my day...no year if someone could tell me the title of this book.

HRL:  I remember this one from elementary school, too.  It's Follow My Leader, by James Garfield.


Foolish Fir Tree
This is a book about a tree that wanted to be different than he was. He "asked" for leaves of glass and got them, then the wind blew off allof his leaves and they were shattered. He asked for leaves of...??...I remember a goat coming by and eating them...he asked to have leaves of other things too (can't remember) and every time it turned out to be a disaster.  Finally, of course..he asked to just be himself...and realized that was best of all.

#T157--tree asked for glass leaves:  appears to have been solved in #T137 with The Foolish Fir Tree, by Henry van Dyke.
Henry Van Dyke, The Foolish Fir Tree, 1911.  This poem has a number of variants I've seen online.  "A Presbyterian Minister, Henry Van Dyke is perhaps best known for The Story of the Other Wise Man and for the Hymn of Joy ("Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, ..."). He was also a prolific poet, and the above poem can be found in: Van Dyke, Henry. The Poems of Henry Van Dyke. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1911."
I found this one on the Solved pages: Children's Stories selected by the Child Study Association.



For a Child: Great Poems Old and New
Thank you so much for finding The Tall Book of Make-Believe. I a now searching for another book, a book of poems. Titles include: "The First Thanksgiving", "Clang Cling the Cowbells Ring" and "Smells". The first line of "The First Thanksgiving" starts with "Peace and Mercy and Jonathan and Patience very small..." They were the names of four children celebrating the first Thanksgiving. "Clang Cling" was a poem my sister used to recite for me. In "Smells", a young child describes how his father "smells like tobacco and books, mother, like lavendar and Listerine" and someone else smells "better than most. She smells exactly like hot, buttered toast." Again, thanks for Tall Book of Make-Believe and for any help you may be able to offer in finding this book.

you helped, a few yrs ago, with a successful booksearch. now, i am searching for a poetry book may sister & i enjoyed as children. the cover is red, i think. poems, include:  clang,cling, the cowbells ring;
smells ("my daddy smells like tobacco  &   books; mommy, like lavender& listerine");  the first thanksgivng ("peace & mercy & jonathan,& patience, very small"); I'm hiding ("i'm hiding, i'm hiding &  no one knows where, for all they can see are my toes & my hair ").  we enjoyed this book during the 50's & 60's. unfortunately, i cannot recall the title. can you help?

I don't know the book, unfortunately, but the Thanksgiving poem quoted here  is "The First Thanksgiving of All" by Nancy Byrd Turner.  That poem, at  least, is fairly easy to find -- it's still being used in patriotic and  holiday collections!
re: "I'm hiding, I'm higing, and no one knows where..."- a poem written from the perspective of a very young child who is hiding from his parents. They are playing along.  It was in the Childcraft Encyclopedia which, by the time my four older siblings had done with it, was quite dog-eared and worn before it got to me.  There were many other treasures in it as well.
Zounds! Antiquing today and suddenly -BAM! An old book has Smells by Christopher Morley,-then I see First Thanksgiving of All by Nancy Byrd Turner,and-YES!!- Cow Song by Aline Kilmer (Klang! Kling! the cowbells ring) Yippee!!  FOR A CHILD great poems old and new- collected by Wilma McFarland,1947. illustrated by NINON,1947. A fabulous book: wonderful collection of poems, enchanting illustrations- a treasure! I think this may solve some other stumpers!


For Love of a Horse
A young girl moves from the city to the country with her family.  She really wants a horse, and by a way I can't remember, comes across a wild one.  She hides its existence and tries to tame it. At one point in the story the horse kicks her and bruises her arm badly.  She is also struggling to fit into her new place - particularly in school.  She attends a one-room school with a hateful headmaster to hits the students' hands with a ruler then they do something wrong.  She gets into trouble shortly after the horse injures her arm, and the headmaster tells her to come up to the
front of the classroom but she refuses because she knows he will discover her injury and then her secret will be out.  She finally obeys and he ends up grabbing her by the arm that is injured and she faints.      I know it ends well, but that is as far as I can remember.  I think the horse is black, but I am not sure.

Christine Pullein Thompson, Phantom Horse.  Phantom Horse is about an English girl called Jean who moves to America and tames a wild palamino. Could this be it?
Unfortunately that isn't the book (Phantom Horse).  Thinking about it, I am pretty sure the girl's name was Samantha, and that she moved from the city into the Virginia countryside.  She attended a one room school with her siblings and rode a pony to school.
Patricia Leitch, For Love of a Horse, 1976.  I have a copy of The Phantom Horse and it does not fit the description given. It could be  For Love of a Horse by Patricia Leitch where the family move from the town of "Stopton" to the west coast of Scotland. The heroine is called "Jinny" and the horse is called "Shantih". The punishment incident by the headmaster in the small school takes place in Chapter 6 but it is not directly connected to the horse.  For Love of a Horse is the first in the "Jinny" series of stories and is followed by A Devil to Ride, The Summer Riders and 8 others. Hope this information helps.
For Love Of A Horse by Patricia Leitch matches this request perfectly. Jinny is the girl, Shantih is the wild horse that she wants. It's been a long time since I've read this book, but I distinctly remember the scene with the headmaster using a ruler to hit Jinny's hand as punishment for some minor transgression.   I recently found out this was the first book in a series.
For Love of a Horse.  That's it!  Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!  Funny that I thought it took place in Virginia when the girl's name is Jinny.  Thank you!


Forbidden Forest
Book is older than 1984 because I read it in the 4th grade. Illustrated children's book having to do with World War I. A soldier has a dogfight, gets shot down and parachutes past massive cannons. I think I can remember a lot of blimps/Zeppelins as well. Pages were very colorful, full-page drawings.

Longshot, but I'm wondering if it's William Pene du Bois' "The Forbidden Forest". It's a fanciful tale that originates with a traveling showman and his tame kangaroo friend Lady Adelaide, who get stranded in Germany when the Great War breaks out. At a critical time the lady kangaroo, plus Buckingham, the bulldog she rescues, use a slingshot to humiliate a General General, altering his critical orders and ultimately bringing an end to the war. There are several pages of missiles and shells exploding, including a two-page spread of an Allied pilot in a proper dogfight with a German ace, a fight cut short by the Lady's lucky misfire of ammunition. The grimness of the war is downplayed in favor of letting it end with a most magnificent series of bangs and booms; and the showman is reunited with his animal friends. Hope this helps.
This description makes me think of "Trouble for Trumpets", which was published in 1982.  (The Trumpets aren't musical -- they're creatures who look like yellow hippos.  They have a war with the Grumpets.)
SOLVED: William Pene du Bois, The Forbidden Forest, 1978. Just received a very old copy of The Forbidden Forest in the mail. I had to order it just to verify that the suggested book was indeed what I was looking for. This is definitely the book, though somewhat different than I remember. Thanks so much for providing this service. I searched for this book on and off for years and I can truly say now that I never even came close to finding it on my own. Also, huge thanks to the person who took the time to respond, despite doubting their suggestion.

Forbiddden Game
It was a YA book I read about 10 years ago. I believe it was a trilogy. It had something to do with this guy that was either the devil, or a demon. He wanted this girl and pretty much watched over her. I remember a scene where she goes into a shop and buys something and he is the cashier. I think that he could change his apperance. In one of the books he tries to lure her(?) to hell, or something. She has a boyfriend, but leaves him, but in the end doesn't choose this devil guy. I think the devil guy had white blond hair. I HOPE , HOPE, HOPE you can solve this. It has been driving me mad. I am an author writing my first YA trilogy and loved this story so much, that I am still obsessing over it for the last 7 years of my life. Please help me find it. Thanks!!!

LJ Smith, The Forbidden Game  (I: The Hunter, II: The Chase, III: The Kill). (1994)  LJ Smith wrote a trilogy of books about a guy with white-blonde hair (Julian) who tricks the main character (Jenny) and her friends into various games in an attempt to get Jenny, who he has been watching for years.  He has magic powers and could well be a demon or something, and his initial appearance is as the cashier in a mysterious game store where Jenny goes to buy a game to play at her boyfriend's birthday party.  I haven't read these since they first came out, but I own copies, so can provide many more details upon request.
Smith, L. J., The Forbidden Game,1994.I agree with the first poster. this is very clearly the Smith trilogy, first published in 1994 (I believe there's since been an omnibus edition).  The plot and character details are a close match.



Forest of Lilacs
I used to check a book out of the library mutiple times in the early 70's but I can't recall the title or author.  The cover illustration was of a huge oak-type tree w/ odd creatures peering out from the branches & leaves, done in sepia tone, as was the rest of the book. It was about a princess who was a child of about 7.  Apple of her father, the  king's, eye of course.  Evil step mother.  King gives princess an ostrich drawn cart for her b-day which she rides around the castle grounds.  She goes into a forbidden garden or forest, and falls asleep, waking as a teenager.  She is educated by a stag and a cat named Fair Minou.  Something about a rose that cannot be touched.  Fair Minou may turn into a prince at the end.  Not sure how it ends, specifically.

Mandy Bingham and Francoise Seignobosc both wrote children's storoes named Minou. The problem is minou just means "Kitty" in French.
This is definitely NOT Minou by Mindy Bingham.  That book is about a cat whose owner dies and wanders through Paris looking for a new home.
This looks like a retelling of the French fairy tale Blondine by The Comtesse de Ségur.  I found these possibilities, but couldn't determine whether "Fair Minou" was part of them.  Forest of Lilacs illus. by Nicole Claveloux, NY: Harlin Quist, 1969.  Abstract: "Powers of good and evil struggle in the enchanted forest to decide the fate of Princess Blondine."
The Enchanted Forest by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers, illus. with old prints by Gustave Doré, NY: Atheneum, 1974.  Abstract: "Lured into the Enchanted Forest through the wiles of her wicked stepmother, Princess Goldenhair is found by Bonnie Cat and Gentle Doe and kept in their castle with the assurance that one day she will return home."
Countess de Segur, Forest of Lilacs.  The book that I was looking for is called Forest of Lilacs, as provided by someone who responded to my stumper question.  I received an original copy of it yesterday from a bookseller in Brooklyn, NY and it is indeed the book I had been searching for!  Thank you so much for your help and thank you to the person who solved my stumper!


Forest Fire Mystery
I remember a book I read in the 60s, a juvenile mystery about a series of mysterious forest fires solved by a young boy.  the fires were started in the forest by pop bottles filled with water.  The action took place in Colorado and around a diner called the dew drop in.  Any one have any recollection?

This is probably Troy Nesbit, The Forest Fire Mystery ('62).
F17 I read this one too, but don't recall it being part of a series. I do remember the boy hero answering the phone "Dewdrop Inn!" and realising that it sounded like "Do drop in!". I think the inn belongs to his aunt and he's
helping out for the summer. Sorry I don't remember anything useful.
F17 forest fires: finally got hold of a copy of The Forest Fire Mystery, by Troy Nesbit, illustrated by Shannon Stirweis, published Whitman 1962, 284 pages, and can confirm that this is it. The story is set in the Colorado
Rockies, in the small town of Belmont. Art Mills and his family have recently moved there, and Art's father is the new owner of the Dew Drop Inn. On page 253 Art and his friend Joe discover "a soda pop bottle! What
was a pop bottle doing here in the middle of a tangled, remote forest? But stranger still, the bottle was held a little way above the ground by two forked sticks." When the boys open the corked bottle, inside is not water, but "'Gasoline!' Art cried. 'This is Homer's time bomb!'"


Forgotten Beasts of Eld
I am looking for a children's book about a woman who has small dragons as pets, lives in a far away place, and has power over "beasts" just by finding out their name.  There is also a monster of some sort that is feared by all.  I think it is invisible or shadowy.  She gets power over the monster because she finds out its name.  I think she also has to keep her name a secret so some other character isn't able to control her.  Thanks for your help!

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip, maybe?
Patricia McKillip, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld.  I wonder if N21 might be The Forgotten Beasts of Eld.  The "pets" Sybel keeps aren't all dragons, but the copy I have does show a dragon beside her on the cover.  And the book is certainly very concerned with the power of naming. I believe this is the only book of McKillip wrote as a children's book.
N21 was the correct book!  Thanks for the help.  I bought the book and am enjoying it for a second time.  Thanks for solving my book stumper!
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I can't remember much about this book now. It was a fantasy type book. I can remember a large black wild cat, I believe it was a panther, named Moria (not sure which spelling of Moria was used). The panther could speak to the girl, who was the main character of the book. I think that the girl was on some type of mission, journey, adventure, and from what I remember, other wild jungle type animals. It seems like there was even some mystery involved, as well. It was a chapter book, and I was about 11 to 13 or 14 years of age when I read it. At the time, it looked to be a new library book. The black panther, Moria, was on the cover. I remember very hypnotic, piercing eyes, and I think the girl was on the cover as well. Can't remember if any other animals were also on the cover. I've searched for this book for many years. I'm a 6th grade reading teacher, and have read much children's literature - both then and now. Yet, this book haunts me, as I'd  just love to have it and read it again to see if it was really as wonderful as I remember. Thanks so much in advance for any help you can be in finding this.

Patricia McKillip, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, 1974. I think your book may be this one, a beautiful, complex story about Sybel, descended from wizards and living alone on a mountain in the kingdom of Eldwold.  She has inherited a collection of animals including "the huge black Cat Moriah", the Lyon Gules, the Dragon Gyld, the Falcon Ter, and a Black Swan, all of whom were "called" (kind of a combination of telepathy and hypnotism) she herself attempts to call a great white bird, the Liralen.  Meanwhile, a baby boy is left with her one night -- an orphaned relative named Tamlorn, who turns out to be a prince, and eventually must choose whether to stay with Sybel or go down to the world of politics and warfare that awaits him.  Coren, the man who brought him to Sybel, falls in love with her and together they, with their different but equally emotionally impoverished backgrounds, struggle to learn how to love. There are various covers but I can't find a photo of the one I remember (it may have been the first), where the cat was black and had the eyes you describe.  Good luck!
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A young adult book, about a young woman living alone on top of a mountain, who can 'call' all these mystical creatures to her. She calls a man to her, moves down off the mountain to live with him; he's a prince? I think she returns to the mountain with her creatures at the end, but don't remember.  I read the book as a kid in the 1970s, if that helps any.

This sounds like The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip.  I read this as a teenager in my "Magic Carpet Books" phase.
Hi, I just looked at the site, and someone already 'found' my book. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld. As soon as I saw the word Eld, it rang a bell. Thank you for this service you provide!


Forgotten Daughter
Hi, I remember a book I read as a young teen, in the early 1970's.  It might be a Rosemary Sutcliff book.  I looked at some of the description of her books still in the library but haven't been able to identify it. I don't remember it taking place in Roman Britain.  I thought it took place in a villa outside Rome.  There was a slave girl who received special treatment because she and an older slave were responsible for making some beautiful tapesties.  They were given a lot of freedom.  The book goes into some fascinating detail about their life and weaving and dying cloth as well as detail about Roman life.  I don't remember the ending, but I do remember that some trouble started and the young slave girl may have had to run away.  I just don't remember much more.  I'd really like to find the book and the author again.  Thanks.

R14 might be The Forgotten Daughter by Caroline Dale Snedeker.  It's a Newberry Honor book that was published in 1933 and reissued in 1966. The Roman slave in this book is a girl named Chloe whose father was a
patrician Roman and her mother a Greek woman taken prisoner in a mlitary raid.  I read it many years ago and remember that Chloe had an older slave woman as a companion, who I think was also Greek, but I don't
specifically remember the tapestry weaving.


Forgotten Door
I'm looking for a book from the late 60's or 70's. It was a story about a boy from another planet, who is taken in by a family. The father was a retired intelligence officer, and the family tries to help him. The boy has special healing powers, and restores a deer to life.

Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door, 1965.  Perhaps it's this one or another by the same author, who often wrote about gentle displaced alien children.
B176: Alexander Key, Illustrated by Dom Lupo. The Forgotten Door, 1965. "Who is the strange boy who can talk to animals and read people's minds? Where does  he come from? The boy, Jon, has lost his memory and does not know. He only knows that he has fallen through the forgotten door to the strange planet, Earth, and that he is in great danger."  He can't heal others, but when injured himself, he recovers quickly. He does prevent a deer from being killed by a lowlife character.
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anonymous boy (from future?) found in cave in forest. The book I'm trying to find is one that my 3rd grade teacher read aloud to us (the same year we heard Where the Red Fern Grows, etc.), so that would have been in about 1983-84. As best as I can remember, it was about siblings (I think) who found an anonymous boy in a cave/grotto/secret place in the forest near their home (which may have been a farm/ somewhere else rural, but also might not have been). He may have been naked/mute when they found him. I *believe* they eventually discovered that he'd come from the future somehow -- that the cave/grotto was a portal of some kind. I don't remember how it ended up, but I've always wanted to track down the book and re-read it. The words "green door" have stuck in my head regarding it, but no amount of title searching on those words has turned up anything that seems right.
Key, Alexander, The Forgotten Door. Little Jon falls through a door into our world, where he is found by a family. He is telepathic and doesn't speak at first as he learns the language. Later he is persecuted for his telepathy, but after speaking up for environmentalism and world peace, he returns to his home.
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door. I don't remember what year this was published, but I'm sure that this is Alexander Key's The Forgotten Door.  His people had once had some sort of gateways into other worlds, but these had been long abandoned.  He happened to be standing over one of those forgotten gates when the earth covering it caved in under him.   Because he fell through into an underground chamber (the one that housed the gate mechanisms) he'd struck his head somewhere along the line and when he arrived in our world he had developed amnesia.  The rest of the story was about the family who found him and tried to figure out who he was and where he'd come from.
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door, 1965. I read this a long time ago but this title came to mind when reading your description.
Could this be The Forgotten Doorby Alexander Key???
Key, Alexander, The Forgotten Door, 1965. Could this be the one?
Key, Alexander, The Forgotten Door. The boy has fallen through a portal/door from another planet and lands on earth.  He is able to communicate with animals and heals quickly. I believe it is also in Solved Mysteries.
Alexander Key, Forgotten Door, 1965. I think you're looking for The Forgotten Door.  It seems to stick in the minds of a lot of readers!
Key, Alexander, The Forgotten Door. Try this one - I'm sure it's the right one.  (You may have gotten "green door" from the fact that your book was green - mine is!)
WOW! I never expected a solution so quickly -- from the description posted on the site, The Forgotten Door is the book I've been trying to remember forever; I just ordered a copy, so we'll see for sure soon! Thanks so much.
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anonymous boy (from future?) found in cave in forest. The book I'm trying to find is one that my 3rd grade teacher read aloud to us (the same year we heard Where the Red Fern Grows, etc.), so that would have been in about 1983-84. As best as I can remember, it was about siblings (I think) who found an anonymous boy in a cave/grotto/secret place in the forest near their home (which may have been a farm/ somewhere else rural, but also might not have been). He may have been naked/mute when they found him. I *believe* they eventually discovered that he'd come from the future somehow -- that the cave/grotto was a portal of some kind. I don't remember how it ended up, but I've always wanted to track down the book and re-read it. The words "green door" have stuck in my head regarding it, but no amount of title searching on those words has turned up anything that seems right.
Key, Alexander, The Forgotten Door. Little Jon falls through a door into our world, where he is found by a family. He is telepathic and doesn't speak at first as he learns the language. Later he is persecuted for his telepathy, but after speaking up for environmentalism and world peace, he returns to his home.
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door. I don't remember what year this was published, but I'm sure that this is Alexander Key's The Forgotten Door.  His people had once had some sort of gateways into other worlds, but these had been long abandoned.  He happened to be standing over one of those forgotten gates when the earth covering it caved in under him.   Because he fell through into an underground chamber (the one that housed the gate mechanisms) he'd struck his head somewhere along the line and when he arrived in our world he had developed amnesia.  The rest of the story was about the family who found him and tried to figure out who he was and where he'd come from.
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door, 1965. I read this a long time ago but this title came to mind when reading your description.
Could this be The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key???
Key, Alexander, The Forgotten Door, 1965. Could this be the one?
Key, Alexander, The Forgotten Door. The boy has fallen through a portal/door from another planet and lands on earth.  He is able to communicate with animals and heals quickly. I believe it is also in Solved Mysteries.
Alexander Key, Forgotten Door, 1965. I think you're looking for The Forgotten Door.  It seems to stick in the minds of a lot of readers!
Key, Alexander, The Forgotten Door. Try this one - I'm sure it's the right one.  (You may have gotten "green door" from the fact that your book was green - mine is!)
WOW! I never expected a solution so quickly -- from the description posted on the site, The Forgotten Door is the book I've been trying to remember forever; I just ordered a copy, so we'll see for sure soon! Thanks so much.
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The stumper I was interested in was a story about a couple of kids (boy and girl) living in the Smoky Mountain area. They were exploring a cave and came upon a boy that had somehow traveled from another dimension where his world was in trouble. He had to do something here and get back to them. This book would have been at least back in the mid-sixties and would have probably been a Scholastic Pub.

The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key. See Solved Mysteries. A real treasure. There was a British 1966 TV version of it.
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door. This, I believe indeed, is the book I wanted. I remember the name of the main character Jon and the fact that he read minds.
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I remember reading a book in the late 80's/early 90s, as a kid. A boy arrives through some sort of space or time door, and gets adopted into this family. He's got strange clothes (some unusual fabric). He tries to figure out how to get home, but is also really attached to the family, who helps him.

Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door
, 1965, copyright.
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door.  Could this be the right book?  "Jon, a boy from another world, accidentally falls through a forgotten door to Earth, losing his memory, but retaining his ability to communicate with animals and hear people s thoughts. He is warned of danger by a deer, and narrowly escapes peril throughout his adventure. He happens upon the farm of kindly Mary and Thomas Bean. Jon's supernatural abilities are almost immediately apparent to Mary, and she suspects he is otherworldly. Thomas is skeptical, at first. Word travels fast about a genius boy staying with the Beans. Mary and Thomas realize there is precious little time to take Jon elsewhere before everyone from threatening neighbors to the CIA tries to get their hands on him. The military and the press are closing in on the house when Jon hears his father s voice calling him from their world. Jon realizes the door is open again, and without a moment to lose, the three of them steal away through the woods on a moonless night, guided by the voice of Jon's father to seek the forgotten door."
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door.  The strange fabric part of this makes me think of The Forgotten Door. It's in the solved mysteries!
Key, Alexander, Forgotten Door.  "Jon, a boy from another world, accidentally falls through a forgotten door to Earth, losing his memory, but retaining his ability to communicate with animals and hear people s thoughts. He is warned of danger by a deer, and narrowly escapes peril throughout his adventure. He happens upon the farm of kindly Mary and Thomas Bean. Jon s supernatural abilities are almost immediately apparent to Mary, and she suspects he is otherworldly. Thomas is skeptical, at first. Word travels fast about a genius boy staying with the Beans. Mary and Thomas realize there is precious little time to take Jon elsewhere before everyone from threatening neighbors to the CIA tries to get their hands on him. The military and the press are closing in on the house when Jon hears his father s voice calling him from their world. Jon realizes the door is open again, and without a moment to lose, the three of them steal away through the woods on a moonless night, guided by the voice of Jon s father to seek the forgotten door."
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door.  I'm sure you'll get many answers on this one!  Many people have fond memories of it and it comes up frequently on book search sites.
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door, 1965.
Key, Alexander, The Forgotten Door.  Could this be the book? Jon, a boy from another world, accidentally falls through a forgotten door to Earth, losing his memory, but retaining his ability to communicate with animals and hear people s thoughts. He is warned of danger by a deer, and narrowly escapes peril throughout his adventure. He happens upon the farm of kindly Mary and Thomas Bean. Jon s supernatural abilities are almost immediately apparent to Mary, and she suspects he is otherworldly. Thomas is skeptical, at first. Word travels fast about a genius boy staying with the Beans. Mary and Thomas realize there is precious little time to take Jon elsewhere before everyone from threatening neighbors to the CIA tries to get their hands on him. The military and the press are closing in on the house when Jon hears his father s voice calling him from their world. Jon realizes the door is open again, and without a moment to lose, the three of them steal away through the woods on a moonless night, guided by the voice of Jon s father to seek the forgotten door. - I think it was published in the early 80's but I don't recall any particular "alien" clothing mentioned but great book anyway!
This sounds a lot like The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key.
Key, Alexander, The Forgotten Door, 1968, copyright.  This is definitely The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key.
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door, 1965, copyright.  In this book, a boy from another world falls through a door and ends up in our world.
Margaret Mahy, Aliens in the Family, 1986, copyright.  Perhaps this one?  A bit of a long shot, sorry.  It's set in New Zealand.  The boy from the future is called Bond, and he wears strange clothing: a suit of many pockets.  The children who help him are Dora, Lewis and Jake.  Lewis and Dora are brother and sister  Jake is their stepfather's daughter, staying with them for a holiday.  I don't think the parents have much to do with Bond, though, and I don't think he's adopted by the family in a literal way - though it's been a long time since I read it.
Most likely The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key. See Solved Mysteries.
Alexander Keyes, The Forgotten Door.  A boy comes through a forgotten door from his own peaceable, vegetarian society and arrives here. The unusual fiber of his clothing and shoes is plant, since they do not use leather.
Paul Samuel Jacobs, Born Into Light, 1988, copyright.  I have read this book a couple of times, but several years ago. It sounds like what I remember, but I can't fully remember about the special cloth.
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door, 1968, approximate.  This is The Forgotten Door; Little Jon is the boy who ended up on Earth and yes, his clothes are made of a fabric the mother of the family who takes him in has never seen before.
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door, 1965, copyright.  This is the beloved classic, The Forgotten Door by Alexander Key. Currently in print, as it has been almost continuously since its publication.
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door.  The boy's name is Jon.  He falls through a door from another world and lands on earth, a local family helps him.
Alexander Key, The Forgotten Door.   Thank you so much, everyone! I'm so glad someone in the world remembered this book!

 Interpreting
Condition
Grades
Key, Alexander.  The Forgotten Door.  Illustrated by Dom Lupo.  Scholastic, 1965, 1968.  Trade paperback, VG.  $10



Fortunately
Story about a boy who goes through many travails to get to his birthday party. Pages vary through  "fortunately" occurrences and "unfortunately" ones. Like "Fortunately there was a haystack to break my fall, unfortunately there was a pitchfork in it; fortunately I missed the pitchfork, unfortunately I missed the haystack" and so on.
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I don't remember the story at all. I only remember there is a series of unfortunate incidents alternated with fortunate incidents. Ex. Unfortunately, my car broke down  fortunately, I had a cell phone so that I could call for help.

Fortunately by Remy Charlip has been re-issued in a good-quality paperback.  See the Most Requested page for more on Remy Charlip.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Charlip, Remy. Fortunately.  Simon & Schuster, 1964, 1993.  New paperback, $6.99



The Fortune Cake
YA mystery – mustard in cake acts as distress signal A girl is trapped in a house with a criminal who’s been posing as a neighbor’s nephew.  Her only chance to tell someone on the outside that something is wrong is to spike the birthday cake she’s making with mustard.  This was one of those grey coverless books from my grade school library.

Jordan, Hope Dahle, The Fortune Cake. This was one of my favorites!  Jenny is the daughter of a Judge.  The escaped convict kidnapped her at Horseshoe Park, her family's vacation home.  She tutored a niece who was mentally challenged.  She baked tokens into the cake that would tell your fortune, and the mustard to get attention of a rescuer.  This was later published by Scholastic under a different name.  It was something like Summer of Fear, but I am not sure about that.
THE FORTUNE CAKE is the book I remembered.  Thanks so much!



click for image of bookFour Little Kittens
Hi, I have a torn and tattered copy of a cute children's book: it's photographs of kittens dressed up in doll clothes and a story of how they spend a day, including making presents for their mother. The kittens' names (I think) are Buzz, Fuzz, Suzz, and Agamemnon. I would love to find a whole copy of this book - I don't have any of the cover or other information about it.

Hello! The May 1997 request about a book with photos of kittens dressed up in doll clothes sounds a lot like a treasured book I own. I'm not willing to part with the book, but maybe this information will help you, and I'll keep my eyes open as well for another copy. My book's main characters are rabbits (although there are kittens as well; I believe they were neighbors of the rabbits). If I remember right (the book is in storage) the rabbits names are Muff, Fluff, Puff, and Algernon. They wave goodbye to their mother and set out for an adverturous day which includes babysitting for a pair of tiny bunnies, freeing White Rabbit, who had been tied to a tree by some naughty boys, and finally helping the Easter Bunny decorate eggs with frosting and chocolate. At the end of the day, the Easter Bunny gives them the eggs that they had helped to decorate, which they fly home to their mother in a blimp! The name of the book is Four Little Bunnies by Harry Whittier Frees. It was published in 1936, and is about 6" tall by 8" wide. I don't recall any information being listed about a publisher.
This is probably the companion volume to the kitten story, but thanks for information on the author's name!
Frees, Harry Whittier. Four Little Kittens. Rand McNally 1935. Children's picture book which features photos of kittens dressed in doll-clothes, posed with various objects to look like children with simple accompanying text. Very Good. <SOLD>

What a remarkable website you have.  As a child I had two books (wider than tall) that had colored photos of actual puppies in one book and kittens in the other.  These little animals were dressed up and posed to illustrate the simple stories.  One photo was of a puppie wearing in a dress and bonnet, standing on its hind legs with its front legs resting on the handle of a two wheeled stroller with a smaller kitten tucked in under a blanket also wearing a bonnet.  A photo of a puppy wearing pants and a shirt standingon its hind legs pulling a wagon with two puppies dressed in baby dresses. (or as I remember)  Another was of kittens dressed in snow atire but they are telling the mother cat wearing a dress that their mittens were lost.  I spent hours trying to visualize how those little animals were posed and I have looked everywhere for reprints and of course sounded like a fool trying to describe them.  Can you help me find them?  I've got my fingers crossed.
I'm looking for a book form my childhood in the 1950's. It featured a family  of kittens, one of whom was named Agememnon. I recall that the kittens spent  time under a cookstove in the kitchen and were frightened of the two feet of  the cook (who might have been named Goody Two Shoes). Can you help?
I have this book, it is called Four Little Puppies.  The puppies are Wags, Rags, Tags and Obadiah.  The author is Ruth Dixon, the photographer was Harry Whittier Frees.  The copyright date is 1957, published by Rand McNally.
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I am looking for another book that my sister had when we were children.  I am assuming that it was published by Whitman but am not sure, it could have been a Little Golden, but it was that type of book.  It was a book about 4 little puppies and their names were:  Wags, Tags, Rags and Obediah.  In fact
that may have even been the name of the book.  Whenever we get a new pet we go through this routine,  "What shall we name it?" and I say "How about Wags, Tags, Rags or Obediah?"  of course my kids (7 of them) just look at me kind of strange.  I would love to share this book with them so they can see why I love those 4 name so much.

P85- I think the book is Three Puppies.  It also is a Rand McNally Elf book from the 1950's.
An amplification on these titles, which I remember encountering as well-loved volumes in my grandmother's closet when I
was very small: some months ago I was in a bookstore in Long Beach, Washington and discovered that someone has issued new facsimile editions in paperback, very modestly priced.  My mother immediately bought copies for her grandchildren -- my niece and nephew -- but I don't now have access to those books and can't recall who the new publisher is!
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I'm looking for a book that I remember as "Agamemnon", not sure of the spelling. Don't remember the story but it was full of pictures of cats dressed up in people clothes. I owned it in the sixties. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Frees, Harry Whittier, Four Little Kittens, 1935.  This is in Solved Mysteries with a picture of the cover.  One of the four little kittens was named Agamemnon (the other three were Buzz, Fuzz, and Suzz).  Mother's name Samantha.  Great photos of them dressed up in dolls' clothes.
Harry Whittier Frees.  I'm not sure which book this is, but it's one of Frees' kitten photo books (the kittens were Buzz, Fuzz, Suzz, and Agamemnon, I think).



Four Little Puppies
I am trying to find or at least remember a child's book of my Grandmothers that had stories along with photos in black and white of kittens and puppies, dressed up in clothes and posed in pictures with props of daily, life-like like scenes. It was a paper back book.  I loved those pictures and would love to be able to find one of those books again!  Can you help me?

check out the listings under Four Little Kittens on the Solved Mysteries page.  I don't remember the Frees books ever being issued in paperback, however.
It was Four Little Puppies as was on your site on the solved page!  Thanks a lot!!  Now If I could just find a copy.


click for image of bookFour Puppies
I remember a small sized book that was about four puppies (believe they were collies).  Rather short story and showed them growing up through the seasons.  One scene in winter where they are sliding on ice and another where they are chasing leaves.  It may have been a Golden Book but am not certain.  Sorry I don’t have more but remember my mom always reading it to me from ages 4-6.

This site is so fun -- here's the 6th book I've solved for your Stump the Bookseller page! I was looking through some children's books at a thrift shop and came across a little book I recognized instantly as one described on your site.  It's Four Puppies, a Little Golden Book written by Anne Heathers and illustrated by Lilian Obligado.


click
            for image of bookFour Story Mistake
When I was younger, I used to read a series of books about a family with several children...I think they lived in a large house in the country.  They found a secret door and in the secret room was a painting.  The painting was of a girl that used to live in the house.  In a later book in the series, they adopted a brother or sister. One of the children's names was Miranda.  It's driving me crazy that I can't remember the name of this.  I'd appreciate your help!

C52 is Definitely the series about the Melendy family by Elizabeth Enright. The first book The Saturdaysis about the 4 Melendy children and all the adventures they have together. The second book is Four Story Mistake about them moving to a large house in the country. The 3rd book Then We Were Five is about them meeting and adopting a fifth Melendy child. The 4th book Spiderweb For Two is about the two youngest who are left behind when the 3 oldest go off to boarding school.
Sounds the books about the Melendy family (could be why the person's recalling the name Miranda - similiar sound). They move into a new house, complete with secret door in THE FOUR-STORY MISTAKEand they adopt a boy in THEN THERE WERE FIVE. The first book was THE SATURDAYS. All by Elizabeth Enright. Published in the 1940's, although reprinted since then.
C52--The Four-Story Mistake by Elizabeth Enright
C52 is The Four Story Mistake by Elizabeth Enright.  Four children, Mona, Rush, Randy (Miranda), and Oliver Melendy move to a house in the country.  On a rainy day, Randy finds the secret room in the attic with the portrait of  a beautiful young girl.  Later they meet an old couple who live near by who knew the girl in the portrait when they were children.  Great book, second in the four book Melendy series, the first being The Saturdays.
C52 is another of Elizabeth Enright's books, called The Four-Story Mistake.  It involved siblings Mona, Rush, Randy (Miranda) and Oliver, who find the secret room when they move from New York City to a house in
the country.  They keep it a secret from their father for a while, but eventually let him in on it.  Lots of other fun things in this fabulous book, which is a sequel to The Saturdays:  they put on a fair and a show for the war effort; Randy finds a diamond in the creek; they build a dam in the same creek; they meet a woman who keeps a crocodile in the bathtub...There's a third book too, called Then There Were Five, in which they befriend a country boy named Mark, who lives with (and is neglected by, if not actually abused) his mean cousin Oren.  These books are great and sure do stand the test of time.
I'm almost certain this is Four-Story Mistakeby Elizabeth Enright.  The Melendy children are Mona, Rush, Miranda (Randy) and Oliver.  They discover a secret room in their new house in the country.  In a later book (I think called Then There Were Five) they adopt a brother, Mark, into the family. The first book about the Melendys is The Saturdays, about their life in the city.  My favorite book of the Melendy series is Spiderweb for Two, which focuses on Randy and Oliver after the older kids have gone away to school.
#C52, "Children in the Country," sounds an awful lot like Elizabeth Enright's Melendy family series, The Four-Story Mistake, The Saturdays, Then There Were Five, and Spiderweb for Two:  A Melendy Maze.  The oldest girl is named Mona, not Miranda, and they do adopt a child in the last book.  These can be found in new editions from Children's Book-of-the-Month Club.  They are set before, during, and after WWII, with
many references to the times.
I think that C52 is Four Storey Mistake by Elizabeth Enright.
C52 - These are the Elizabeth Enright books about the Melendy's - Mona, Rush, Miranda (Randy) and Oliver.  Two of the books are Four-Story Mistake, and Spiderweb for Two.
C52- This sounds an awful lot like the Melendy Family books written by Elizabeth Enright.  There is a daughter named Miranda; there is an adventure with a lady they know who is old that turns out to be a little girl in a picture in a museum; the family is large in number, lives in the country and in a later book adopts a boy.

I'd love to locate a book I read and enjoyed as a child.  The title was something like "The ?th Window" or "The Hidden Room".  This family moves into an old house.  I think there was no mother, and the housekeeper's name is possibly Mrs. Oliphant (unless I'm mixing her in from another book)  Anyway, after living in the house for a while, one of the kids realizes there are more windows on the outside of the house than there are rooms inside.  So they investigate and discover this room that has been boarded up for years.  Inside, they find all kinds of old newspaper clippings, and there was some kind of mystery involved.  Ring any bells anyone?

Elizabeth Enright, The Four-Story Mistake, 1942.  This is the 2nd book in the series about the Melendy children. They move to the country and notice that the wall to their "office" (playroom) which is covered with clippings appears to have a hinge and find the room. The only thing in the secret room is a picture of a young girl titled: Clarinda, 1869.  Mrs. Oliphant is a family friend  the housekeeper is Cuffy.
It could be GO TO THE ROOM OF THE EYES by Betty K. Erwin. A family with 6 children move into an old house, and a clue that falls out of a rolled-up window shade leads them on a treasure hunt that ends in a secret rooms full of toys. I can't remember whether there's a housekeeper or not. But I'm not 100% sure, so try to borrow a copy through the library before purchasing.
This sure sounds like Elizabeth Enright's Four Story Mistake, which is on your Solved Page.  The four Melendy children have no mother, a housekeeper named Cuffy, and an older friend of the family named Mrs Oliphant. They move into an old house in the country and find a secret room, complete with newpaper clippings (I think behind the wallpaper, but now my memory may be failing!).
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This book is about a group of children who must go live at a relative's house, and they end up solving a mystery about a secret room in the house. What tips them off is that from the outside in the back they count a certain number of windows, but from the inside, the number is one less.  They find the secret room, and it ended up being a priest-hole, I think.  Thanks.

Elizabeth Enright?, The Four Story Mistake.  I'm sure about the title, not sure about the author.
H42 Sound like it could be GO TO THE ROOM OF THE EYES by Betty K. Irwin, 1969. When they move into an old house, the first clue the children find was in a rolled up window shade. The treasure they find is a secret room full of toys.  ~from a librarian
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A fictional account of a family with 4 or 5 children living in the US during WWII  how they coped with rations and blackouts and the adventures they had. There may be more than 1 book, am fuzzy on that. One of the girls was named Miranda, Randy for short. I have some recollection of the children discovering something in an attic, also of paper lanterns during a party. Remotely akin to Molly of the American Girl doll series or Willliam Saroyan's Human Comedy.

I'm not sure if this is a match or not, but there's definately a Miranda/Randy in Elizabeth Enright's Four Story Mistake (and other books in the Melendy family series).  Check out the other memories posted on the Solved Mysteries Page under the title Four Story Mistake, and let me know if this is a match.
Thank you so much--the Elizabeth Enright books are the ones I've been looking for. Do you have them?
 Interpreting
Condition
Grades
Enright, Elizabeth. Then There Were Five.  Rinehart & Company, Inc., 1944.  Ex-library copy with usual markings.  Slightly cocked spine.  Reading copy only.  G-.  $25


click here for pictures and profileFourteen Bears: Summer and Winter
This is a book that my sister and I read when we were young- both of us born in the 70s.  It is a book about a family of bears who wake up from hibernation and decide to go out and explore the winter "wonderland"  They ice skate (in this illustration the baby bear is looking down through the ice at hibernating pond animals) and eat, what looks like, different kinds of ice cream (from frozen honey combs).  I seem to remember there being more than three bears, perhaps five. Basic color illustrations.  Softcover, I believe.

Lots of bears, ice skating included, in The Fourteen Bears Winter and Summer by Evelyn Scott.  See the Most Requested tribute page.
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Looking for my sister's favorite book from childhood.  All she can remember is that a family of bears goes out for ice cream.   She would have read this book in the late 60's or early 70's but doesn't  remember if the book seemed current or older.

Sounds like a Frank Ash book...
The Thirteen (or Fourteen?) Bears in Summer and Winter.  This sounds like it could be a book I read to my daughter. The 13 or 14 bears go out for a summertime stroll in the first half of the book and end up with ice cream.  The second half finds them waking up from hibernation to a snow-covered landscape, and walking around for a while, eventually decorating their trees (each family member has his or her own tree) for Christmas before returning to sleep at the end.
Oh, well of course it could be that!  It's Fourteen.  See more on the Most Requested Pages.
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The book I am looking for was one my mother got us from the library back in the 1970's - probably early to middle. We only had it once so the details are a little sketchy now. I remember it was about bunnies or bears, possibly siblings, and the homes each one lived in. I think it also had a theme of the seasons, holidays or months of the year. It was in the juvenile section and I can remember there were pictures to go along with the story. I have no clue of the name or title. Thanks for your help.

I vaguely remember that the "homes" were cute...not "regular" homes. They were decorated depending on the animals likes.
Sounds like this could be FOURTEEN BEARS: SUMMER & WINTER by Evelyn Scott which you have posted on the Back in Print page because they are going to republish it in May 2005 ~from a librarian
That sure sounds like what I'm looking for. So glad it's soon to be back in print. Thanks so much!!



Fourteen Bears in Summer  and Winter
1960s or 1970s, A baby(younger)bear wakes up from hibernation as she cannot sleep. She goes to her parents room and wakes up her father. They then go explore the world outside during winter and, if I remember correctly, inside their house as well before finally going back to bed for the season. Two of the scenes I remember the most are: they go snowshoeing outside and an illustration of one of the bears bedrooms---it was an alcove bed (kind of like a bed in a nook with curtains around it). What I remember best about this book are its wonderful color illustrations. I read this book in the mid 70's and I was around early elementary school age, so it is likely published before or around then and written for that age level. Also, I remember the book I read as being large and hardcover, rather than a small paperback.

golden book, The Fourteen Bears in Summer and Winter.  It seems like this might be The Fourteen Bears in Summer and Winter. In it, the whole bear family wakes up in the middle of winter, and they explore outside. The illustrations are wonderful and at one point they do go snow shoeing. This was a golden book but much larger than the standard golden books.
Scot, Evelyn, The Fourteen Bears in Summer  and Winter, 1973.  This book is made up of two distinct stories. Although you only mentioned one little bear, this book has some similarities you might want to check out.  One of the bears sleeps in the type of bed you described.  In fact, each bear's home has a unique style, with a special kitchen, living room and bedroom. Each of the bear children (Veronica, Virginia, Johanna, Ramona, Emma, Anna, Gloria, Hannah, Henrietta, Flora and Dora) lives in her own tree, except for the baby bear, Theodore, who sleeps at the foot of his parents' bed.  In the winter story, Little Theodore wakes up and wants to see what winter is like.  Everyone gets dressed and explores the frozen pond, the forest, and a neighboring farm where they try different winter activities.  At the end, they return home and  decorate their trees for Christmas before going to sleep again.  The next morning, there is a message that birds have made in the snow with their footprints.  It says, "Sleep tight good neighbors. See you in the spring."  This Golden Book is oversized (maybe 14 by 11) and very expensive, but it has been recently reprinted in a smaller size, at a much more affordable price.
Scott, Evelyn, The Fourteen Bears. I think this might be what you are looking for. At one point in the story, the baby bear wakes up while his family is hibernating and the whole family decides to go outside and play in the snow. The book also has lots of illustrations of all the bears' rooms which was always my favorite part of the book! The book is large and hardcover, as you described.
Well, shame on me, but I didn't recognize this one from the description.  If Fourteen Bears is correct, then it's a favorite around Loganberry, and readily available.  See Most Requested for more nostalgia.
'I checked out the book Fourteen Bears:Summer and Winter at my local library and I believe this is the correct story. I was a bit dissapointed as my memory of the story is a bit different. While the illustrations were good, I remembered them much more elaborately. Maybe to a small child the original larger edition seemed more so. Hopefully my own duaghter will find them as I remember, since that was my reason for seeking this book out.


Fox and Heggie
Year: 1988. The story follows Fox who sees a Captain's hat in the window of a shop and pictures himself as a sea captain - but he can't afford it. To earn the money, he begins to do odd jobs for his friends. He does yard work for Mrs Rabbit who has a sick child and can't afford to pay him and the doctor. He helps out bear in the restaurant by playing the fiddle but bear can''t afford to pay him either. He helps out someone else who feels terrible about not being able to pay him either. Eventually he raises the money and goes to buy the captain's hat but it's been sold from the shop. Sadly he goes to a party where all his friends have pooled their money together and bought the hat since he's been so kind to help them. As I recall the book had a red cover and fairly simple pen ink drawings. Isn't it terrible that we forget titles and authors when we're young?!  If it rings a bell, I would appreciate your help! Thank you everyone!

Sandra E. Guzzo, Fox and Heggie, 1983. Fox tries to earn enough money to buy a Greek fishing hat by helping out all his friends and neighbors. But his generosity keeps him from earning the money, so his friends pull through for him in the end.
Guzzo, Sandra E, Fox and Heggie, 1983. Fox tries to earn enough money to buy a Greek fisherman’s hat, but his generosity keeps him from achieving his goal.
That's it! I couldn't remember Heggie in the story at all but I found a copy from a book seller in great condition and I am delighted to find that this is the book - and one I will treasure from now on! Thank you both so much for sharing your knowledge.

Fragile Flag
Children's/young adult book, pre 1995.  Couple of kids--maybe orphans or runaways--start walking to DC, more kids join until it's a huge march.  Stop at fast food places to bathe/wash hair; may be an infant involved; probably during Depression with Hoovervilles; go to see President--maybe Roosevelt.

Jane Langton, The Fragile Flag.
  Not set during the depression but during the Energy Crisis of the 1970s.  Still, a lot of the other clues sound right...
Jane Langton, The Fragile Flag.  May not match in all details, because it's been years since I read it, but The Fragile Flag was what the description brought to mind.  Parade of children going to Washington to protest against the latest weapon.
Langton, Jane, The Fragile Flag, 1984, copyright.  I'm sure this must be the one. "A nine-year-old girl leads a march of children from Massachusetts to Washington, in protest against the President's new missile which is capable of destroying the earth."
Jane Langton, The Fragile Flag, 1984, copyright.  The time frame in which the book is set does not match the recollection of being set during the Depression - but then, neither does the detail about the kids stopping at fast-food places. "When Georgie Hall decides to walk from Concord, Massachusetts, to Washington, D.C., with a letter to the President and an old flag capable of producing magical visions, no one doubts that she has the will or ability to do it. Along with her stepcousins Eleanor and Eddy, Georgie begins the Children's Crusade to stop the President from building a globally fatal nuclear bomb, known as the Peace Missile. But 450 miles is a long way to walk, and even as the Crusade picks up members along the way, its marchers can't help but wonder if their actions will make a difference, or if it is already too late...."
Jane Langton, The Fragile Flag, 1984, copyright.  The Fragile Flag by Jane Langton, the fifth in the Hall Family series....the whole series, in order, is: The Diamond in the Window (1962), The Swing in the Summerhouse (1967), The Astonishing Stereoscope (1971), The Fledgling (1980), The fragile Flag (1984), The Time Bike (2000), The Mysterious Circus (2005), The Dragon Tree (2008). The Diamond in the Window was an Edgar Award Honor book, The Fledgling was a Newberry Honor book.
Jane Langton, The Fragile Flag.  You guys are awesome!  I had almost given up on finding this book, but I'm glad I didn't.  Thank you so much to everyone who offered a suggestion.  This mystery is solved!


click for
        image of bookFreddy the Pig
When I worked in the Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Library, we had a series of fiction books about a pig  named freddie, his barnyard companions, and their escapades. They were for children in the age range of 8-12. Ring any Bells? They were new in the 40's to 50's.

Freddy the Pig by Walter Brooks.  a very popular series with a devout fanclub.... I'll let you know when I have some in stock.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Brooks, Walter R.  Freddy the Detective.  Illustrated by Kurt Wiese.  1932. Scholastic paperback copy, 1962. Right hand corner of cover and endpaper torn, general wear, but good for another read (see image).  G-  $10


Freedom's Daughter
A girl named Jane with a horse called Starr (that's the correct spelling) and an interest in politics lives in the area that was part of Virginia before it broke away to become West Virginia. She has an older sister, a younger sister, a brother, an invalid mother and a father. As it is just before the outbreak of the Civil War, Jane is forced to give up her horse to the army when it comes requisitioning. When her father is chosen to represent her hometown in the debates held at Wheeling to decide on whether to break away from the rest of seceding Virginia, Jane disguises herself as a boy and persuades her father to let her come along. At Wheeling, she makes friends with a boy named Phillip whose father is also a delegate. She gets into a fight alongside Phillip against some ruffians and is also offered an appointment to West Point by Phillip's father, which she has to refuse and explains why by admitting that she's a girl. Of course, she eventually returns home with her father, and later on meets Phillip again as a girl when Wheeling is selected as the capital of West Virginia.

Starr of the Chincoteaque by Marguerite Henry.  I don't have any hardbacks right now, but I might have a large paperback version...
Is it really? The title makes it sounds as if it's more focused on the horse than the human character, and Chincoteague is in the eastern shore instead of inland, isn't it? I'd have to look at it to be sure. Could you give me a synopsis of the book?
Hi! Just thought I'd let you know that I solved one of my own stumpers (Hallelujah!) - the one about a girl named Jane with a horse called Starr. It's Freedom's Daughter by Helen Oakley.


Freddie Bear
I had an opportunity to peruse "The Lonely Doll" and "Edith and Mr. Bear" books at  a local book store.  Unfortunately, they are not the books I recall as a child. To refresh your memory, my brother, sister and I grew up in the mid-60's and recall that the books were very large in size.  The books included bears as characters and I believe there were also young children in the books.  It's one of those cases where I know if I saw the books I would immediately remember them.  I really would love to be able to locate these books.  Do you have any other leads that I might investigate from the era mentioned above that would include bears in the stories.  I would be interested in purchasing 3 of these books if you are able to give me any leads.  I know I haven't give you much to go on but would appreciate any assistance you can give me.  Thanks, again, for your help.

B36 Bears and kids--  Possibly The Shoe Shop Bears by Margaret Baker? American printing Farrar,
Straus Giroux 1965, illustrations by C. Walter Hodges. Boots, Slippers and Socks are three live toy bears who live in a shoe shop and keep children amused while their parents are trying on shoes. A short series of books.
Hoban, Little Bear. Could this be one of the Lillian and Russell Hoban Books? Such as Little Bear's Friend?
Laydu, Claude, Illustrated by Paul Durand , Freddie Bear, 1965 or 1967.  golden press, A Big Golden Book
Story of the adventures of little boy Peter & his sister Lucy as they spend a summer visit with a family of bears. The bears are Emily, Roly, Poly, Puff and Muff and of course, Freddie.  Note: Little Bear series is not by Hoban, it is by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak



Frederick
children's story about some animal (mouse? maybe?) who is among others who are making preparations for the long winter ahead. The other (mice?) gather up seeds, etc. to eat and complain because this other (mouse?) sits idle, when, in fact he is 'storing' up the bright colors he sees and the warmth of the sunshine. Then, in winter, when the food runs out and everything is cold and dark, he talks to everyone and reminds them of the bright colors, the warm sun, etc. and he is the hero of the winter, helping them all make it until springtime with what he has gathered

Lionni, Leo, Frederick, 1967.  There are many editions of this out there, though according to Amazon none are in print/stock currently.  This story has been a staple in library storytimes for years, and I imagine it won'\''t be that hard getting a used copy.
Leo Lionni, Fredercik, c. 1973.  This sounds so much like the book you described that it almost certainly has to be it!
This sounds like Frederick, the poet mouse that stores up stories and poems for the winter.
Leo Lionni, Frederick.  A beautifully illustrated classic.  Frederick the mouse appears to be daydreaming while his fellow mice are preparing for winter. However, when winter comes, Frederick'\''s descriptive powers help his friends through the winter days.
Leo Lionni, Frederick.  "While other mice are gathering food for the winter, Frederick seems to daydream the summer away. When dreary weather comes, it is Frederick the poet-mouse who warms his friends and cheers them with his words".
Leo Lionni, Frederick. This is definitely the one.
lionni, leo, frederick.  Great little story that shows that thoughts and ideas are just as valuable as hard work.
Leo Lionni, Frederick.  Love this one! Highlights the value of dreamers among us. Caldecott Honor book.
Leo Lionni, Fredrick, 1967.  This sounds like Fredrick by Leo Lionni.  Fredrick is a mouse who writes poetry and gathers sun, colors and words.  These all are needed during the long cold winter.
From the person who posted request: THANK YOU! BLESS YOU! Through you I have also rediscovered a favorite childhood author to share with my kids.
 Interpreting
Condition 
Grades
Lionni, Leo.  Frederick.  Pantheon, 1967.  Vintage hardback copy, no dust jacket.  Cover soiled, pages clean.  G.  $6

Lionni, Leo.Frederick.  Dragonfly Books, 1967.  New paperback edition in a slightly smaller format.  New, $6



Friend
I read this book to my daughter last year (got it from the library) and I can't remember the name. It was about a little girl and her best friend, who happened to be her nanny that took care of her all day. There is a part where the little girl almost drowns and the nanny saves her. The book was a great tale of friendship and it had wonderful illustrations. I don't think the book is particularly old, and I remember the author dedicated it to her real life nanny. Any ideas on the name of this book?

Sarah Stewart, The Friend, 2004. I think you're definitely looking for Stewarts The Friend.  CIP says: "With Mom too busy and Dad away much of the time, Belle finds companionship with a household employee who after each day's work takes Belle "hand in hand" to the beach."  There is an almost drowing, and the nanny saves the girl.  (The illustration of the poor nanny in the aftermath, after she's realized what happened and what she did still sticks with me!)
Sarah Stewart, The Friend. You can mark N-98 as solved. This was definitely the book I have been searching for. Thank you for yoru help!



click here
        for pictures and profileFriend is Someone Who Likes You

Friendly Gables
I am looking for a children's book I read sometime between 1962 and 1964. I don't know if it was new then or not. It was a chapter book and written at a 3rd to 5th grade level.  It involved a family with about 4 kids who move, I think, up to Vermont or New Hampshire or thereabouts. They are new kids so have a bit of trouble fitting in. The book is told from the point of view of an older brother, but the only character whose name I remember is his younger sister Angela. I remember that Angela was blond and that at one point in the school yard he sees her surrounded by classmates and is able to distinguish her because of her blond hair. (It may be that just the older brother has trouble fitting in.)  The only other thing I remember is that at one point they go maple sugaring.

Hilda Van Stockum,Friendly Gables,1960. Except for the fact that the family has 8 kids and they move from Washington, DC to Canada, the rest of the details match up. This was reprinted by Bethlehem Books in 1996.  It is one of a three book series about the Mitchell family the other two titles are The Mitchells: Five for Victory and Canadian Summer. These are among my daughter's favorite books.
Hilda Van Stockum, Friendly Gables. Wow! That was fast! Thank you so much. This has been nagging at me for thirty years. After I submitted the stumper, I suddenly had a feeling that Canada might be the setting. I look forward to sharing all three Mitchell books with my daughter.



Friendly Village primers
Ok here goes,  I remember reading a book and being particularly in love with the colorful illustrations.  In this one book I loved, there was a scene of a boy and girl riding bikes on a country road and then they were shown in an old country store looking through a glass case at candy.  I thought it was an alice and jerry book but I am not sure.  The illustrations looked to be 1950's style and I read it in about the 2nd grade in 1960-61.  I have searched for this book for two years and cannot find it.  Can you help me?  I think it was horizontal in shape.  The illustrations gave me such a good feeling like I was going back in time.  I though the boy on the bike was called Jack. But I am not sure about that.  I just have a vivid memory of the illustrations I described.  Good luck.

#A17--Alice and Jerry?:  Recently I acquired the Alice and Jerry books Friendly Village and If I Were Going.  Friendly Village (at least, the original 1936 version) has only one small illustration of bicycle riding which is a black-and-white page border.  There is a boy named Jack but no store windows.  The section about England in If I Were Going includes both bicycle riding and a pastry shop (not candy shop) store window, but no boy named Jack and the illustrations are small and unprepossessing.  Another textbook I saw was Happy Times, by Guy L. Bond, which was published in Sacramento by the California State Department of Education and Chicago by Lyons and Carnahan, 1949, 1954, 1955, and 1962.  It has a boy named Jerry and a lot of store windows but leafing through I couldn't find any bicycle riding or any candy--just a lot of elephants, both real and imaginary.  Did your book include elephants?  By the way, none of these books are horizontal, just small, standard grade school textbook size.  All about third grade level.


Friends and Neighbours
I am looking for a grade 2 or 3 English reader that was used in an elementary school in Quebec Canada in the late 1950s.  I have been told it was probably an American school reader.  The story is about a mouse who wore a red dress, red shoes, and put a red rose in her hair.  There was some sort of special occasion, but I cannot remember any more than that.  I am not sure if it is similar to the country mouse and the city mouse, but it may be of that type.  I sure hope you can find it for me.  Sorry I haven't more information, but if I think of anything more, I'll pass it along.  The book was a hard cover about 6" by 8" or so.  Not sure if it was the only story in it.

M108 mouse wears red sounds like C25 country mouse cleans up. The 1950ish date, special occasion/visit, the red dress and shoes, ...
C25 mouse cleans up and M108 mouse wears red: Another possible is Margie Merry Mouse, written & illustrated by Willy Schermele (Blyton illustrator), published Clifford series 1950, reprint Agfa 1986. A mouse in a red dress cleans house with the help of friends. If it's the earlier printing it's not a bad match, though I couldn't find any mention of a visit as the reason for cleanup.
Friends and Neighbours, or More Friends and Neighbours, 1950-1960's.  Childrens Reader in Canadian Schools, a small red book.  it had a story called "Little Brown Mouse" who bought red shoes and dress, and spent so much time dancing around that she didn't have a clean house.  When she danced, she sang something like "Why fuss all day in your house, its better to dance like Little Brown Mouse".  One day she realizes the house is a mess and there is dust on her new shoes and dress.  She cleans everything, and then sings about cleaning the house, and then dancing all day like little brown mouse.



Friendship Valley
The book I'm looking for is a child's picture book that I read in the late 40's.  It was about a little girl kitten who was put on a log by her mother and sent down a river or creek to escape a forest fire.  She is rescued by badgers (I think they were badgers) that live under a huge tree.  She doesn't talk and the only clue they have about her is that she is wearing a ribbon on one of her ears.  A rat peddler comes to their tree and promises to keep his eyes open for her mother.  On Christmas day the peddler returns with the kitten's mother and they are reunited.  This book had black and white illustrations; but the color illustration were outstanding.  Especially the picture of the kitten on the log and the forest fire.  There was also a cross section of the underground home and a beautiful two page spread of the badger's home at Christmas, complete with a Christmas tree.  It was my favorite book when I was little and I have been looking for it for the past 45 years.  I hope someone can help me.

Wolo (pseudonym of Wolf Von Trutzschler), author and illustrator, Friendship Valley, 1946.  This sounds like unsolved stumpers F153: Forest Fire drives animals to new home and A153: animals escape forest fire.  Friendship Valley is a story packed with illustrations about a variety of animals, large and small, who work together to make a home after the tragedy of a forest fire. Endpapers are a pictorial map of "The Little Lake and Friendship Valley," color pictorial paper over board.
Thank you for your input, however I don't believe the book Friendship Valley is the book I'm searching for.  In the book I'm looking for the story line was about reuniting the rescued kitten child with her mother.  The animals living among the roots under a huge, old tree were all badgers (I think).  All the animals walked upright, wore clothes and behaved as humans.  The reason the kitten wouldn't speak was because she was from another country and didn't understand English.  It was a fairly large picture book about 9" X 11".  Again, the illustrations were wonderful!  Please keep looking.
Wolo (pseudonym of Wolf Von Trutzschler), author and illustrator, Friendship Valley, 1946. I was surprised when the original poster dismissed my solution without examining the book, so I borrowed it through interlibrary loan.  I was correct---the book being sought is Friendship Valley!  Here's a quote from the book: Suddenly Mother Raccoon let out a scream.  "Look out!" she cried.  "We're going to hit a rock!"  Everyone jumped to his feet.  But it was only a big log floating in the water. "Something's sitting on it---something with funny tasselled ears," said Miss Tuffins.  "Looks like some sort of a kitten to me, wearing a little blue sock." "Why, it's only a baby," said Dorinda, lifting her off the log, when they caught up with it.  "Here, let me get you warm." At first the little stranger was very frightened but after some coaxing, she told them that her name was Thedy.  She was too little to talk much.  All they could make out was that she became lost during the fire and had jumped onto the big log to save herself.  Dorinda cuddled her closely.  "Poor little thing!" she said.  "We'll try awfully hard to find your mother." The original poster remembered almost everything correctly.  There is a forest fire, but the kitten saves herself by jumping on a log.  The kitten is saved by a raft full of animals escaping the fire---badger, woodchuck, racoons, squirrel, hedgehog, and frog.  The kitten speaks English, but is very young and doesn't talk much yet.  She has ribbons on both ears, a shirt and a single blue sock. Peter the trade rat passes through once the animals have established a new home, and recognizes Thedy's blue sock because he sold the bikkiberry blue wool to her mother.  He brings Thedy's mother, Mrs. Willow-cat, with him when he returns on the day before Christmas.
Wolo, Friendship Valley, 1946, copyright. When I read the reply for this book I didn't think it was the one I was looking fore.  However, I purchased the book and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was the correct book.  It's funny how the mind remembers some things from your childhood and forgets others.  Anyway, thank you for all the help...what a great website!



Frightened Forest
Read this juvenile fiction book as a child in 1979 or so... about some kids (maybe cousins, one might have been English) who have an encounter with a witch one summer. One girl may have been named Gillian or Jillian. I remember a part where they go through a cave, not knowing that, as they move forward in the darkness, they are actually pushing the witch along the cave wall with a rowan branch they are holding... another part involves a heart-pounding struggle on an ice and snow covered pond or lake in July (the witch has caused the weather to be all messed up). Would love to have this book-- can't remember title or author, but I remember loving it!

Joan Howard/Patricia Gordon, The 13th is Magic.  Parts of this stumper sound like The 13th is Magic.  I know the author wrote another book (The Summer is Magic) involving the same kids, a brother (Roland? Ronald?) and sister (Gillian).  In this title, the thirteenth of each month is magical.  From my recollection, they're guided by a black cat.  They definitely have an encounter with a witch who makes it snow at one point  I think there end up being snow-related animals (polar bears, etc.) in Central Park during the snowstorm.  They travel back in time to the times of the Childe Roland poem--there's a
connection between the children's names and the poems.
Margaret Storey, Timothy & the Two Witches.  Could this be "Timothy & the Two Witches"? The girl's name is something like Ellen - and there is a rowan branch involved in warding off the bad witch. And there's an ice dragon,isn't there?
Turnbull, Anne, The Frightened Forest, illustrated by Gillian Gaze.  Kestrel 1974.  Pretty positive it is this one. "When on a dare Gillian walks into the abandoned railway tunnel, she has no idea her act will unleash a long-trapped witch and leads to a cosmic clash between the forces of good and evil." The witch was sealed in the tunnel, but when Gillian breaks off a rowan branch to guide herself along in the dark, she forces the witch out ahead of her. The witch causes the seasons to go out of whack, and the river freezes over.
Ann  Turnbull, The Frightened Forest, 1974.  This is THE ONE! Many thanks to the person who identified this book for me. I was able to get a copy and I sat down and devoured it in one very enjoyable sitting! Thanks for allowing me to enjoy this most-loved book from my childhood once again. What a great website!



Fripsey Summer
The first book had the word "Fripsy" in the title, and was a book about a family named Fripsy.  Thee are a lot of children in the family, and they are getting ready to entertain the boss of their father's business, who has the initial "T" for his first name.  The children begin calling him Terrible.  I remember in the book that girls go on a campout, and are forced to leave when high water overtakes the campsite, and they stay at the home of a nearby woman.  The Fripsy family also paints their house, and on the day of the dinner for the boss, the mother falls and is injured, and the children have to entertain the boss, who turns out to be a woman named Tabitha.  The baby of the family hasn't spoke any words yet, nor has a name, and the first word she says is Tabitha, so they give her that name.  I have been searching for this book for YEARS, and if anyone can help me, I'd appreciate it.

Madye Lee Chastain, Fripsey Summer, 1953.  The missing "e" in the name "Fripsey" is most likely why you were unable to find this book.  This is the first of two books about the many adventures of the large Fripsey family.  The second book is "Fripsey Fun" (1955).
Madye Lee Chastain, Fripsey Summer, 1953.  Others are Fripsey Fun, and Leave It To the Fripseys: "With next door neighbors like the numerous high spirited Fripseys, Marcy knew life never could be dull. But when she and her best friend Patty Fripsey discovered that Gwynn Gilson would be in their eight grade class that fall, they both thought the whole year would be ruined."  This last one is supposed to be a sequel to a 1952 book by this author called Bright Days, so I suppose that could be the first one in the series.
Madye Lee Chastain, Fripsey Summer ?, 1953.  I only remember this title of a book I used to see on library shelves I've no idea of the plot.  It's definitely spelled "Fripsey", though -- hope this helps.
Chastain, Madye Lee, Fripsey Summer (1953), Fripsey Fun (1955), Leave It To The Fripseys (1957)
The Fripsey books are by Madye Lee Chastain- Fripsey Fun, Fripsey Summer etc.
Madye Lee Chastain, Fripsey Summer,  1953.  This looks like it may be the book.  I scanned the first chapter and it mentioned Mr. T, the fearsome boss.  This is the second book of a 4 book series which includes Bright Days, Fripsey Fun and Leave It to the Fripseys.
Chastain Madye Lee, Fripsey Summer, 1953.  There are other books about the Fripseys.  They are Fripsey Fun published in 1955 and Leave It to the Fripseys published in 1957.



Fritzie Goes Home
I am looking for a book that was read to me when I was a child (c.1978).  It is about a family that moves to a new house and the dog isn't home when it is time to leave, so they leave without him.  When the dog comes home his family is gone and he travels by foot to find them.  On one page there is a moon in the sky looking down on him with eyes and a smile.  I think he ends up finding his family in the end.  I loved this story when I was a kid, but my mom had to hide it (and probably got rid of it) becuase it used to make me cry when she read it.  I thought it was a little golden book, but could be wrong.  I would be thrilled is some else remembered this book and could tell me the name and author of it!

Burnford, Sheila, The Incredible Journey, 1960, 1988.  This is what 1st popped to mind when I read your stumper.  If there were 2 dogs, and a cat, then maybe this is your book.
golden book, little dog lost
D252 is NOT Guillot Little dog lost; NOR Robinson Lost dog Jerry.
Kate Emery Pogue, Fritzie Goes Home, 1974. I figured out the name of my book!!!  I found some websites with old Little Golden Books and there it was!  Thanks to everyone who offered solutions!  I feel like I have found part of my childhood that has been lost!


From Bad To Worse (Silly Tales in Silly Verse)
This book was full of illustrations in color, drawn with pen-and-ink or woodcuts maybe. The heads of the children were slightly oversized. I think there was a story of a boy (girl?) who was playing with matches and set his/her hair on fire. I also think there was a story about someone with long fingernails, or perhaps someone sucking their thumb and getting their thumbs cut off. THIS IS NOT THE BOOK STREWWELPETER, SUCK-A-THUMB, or SHOCK HAIRED PETER. They have similiar themes, but this one was American (I think) and had more realistic, really creepy illustrations. I have looked up those other three books and none of those is right. One print I saw recently that was in the book was of a boy in a Scout uniform kneeling over an unlit fire with matches, looking up at the viewer. I could not make out the name of the artist, but this is the same artist. Someone told me the artist was Anita Kunz, which is not true, but her illustrations are somewhat similar. Google "Anita Kunz" and click on "Anita Kunz images" and you will get the idea of the style of the artist.

The original poster wrote that the book could not be Struwwelpeter, but the stories described (thumb-cutter, hair on fire, etc.) are definitely from Struwwelpeter.  There have been newer editions of the book with different illustrations; one is illustrated by Sarita Vendetta, and you can see some of the pictures here.
Struwwelpeter: Fearful Stories and Vile Pictures to Instruct Good Little Folks, Author: Heinrich Hoffmann, Illustrator: Sarita Vendetta.
1999. You said "not Struwwelpeter." Well, yes, this is an English translation of Der Struwwelpeter, but I'm almost positive it is your book. It is also an adult art book featuring the seriously creepy illustrations of Sarita Vendetta, and the style seems very similar to what you are remembering. If you do a google image search of the illustrator's name you'll find reproductions of the cover of the book and several of the interior illustrations. Also, the website of the La Luz De Jesus Gallery has a large collection of her work here, including several pieces which were used in the book.

From Bad To Worse (Silly Tales in Silly Verse) by Geraldine Richelson (illustrated by Claude Lapointe) This is heavily based on Struwwelpeter/Shocking Peter, and has all the stories described (and versions of most of the other popular Struwwelpeter stories), as well as the "big headed characters" in the illustrations. My version is a small, square book if that helps you with the identification at all.
Richelson, Geraldine, From Bad to Worse (Silly Tales in Silly Verse). I'm so grateful for your service! This one is solved -- it's the book listed at the end (From Bad to Worse). Many thanks.


From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
I'm looking for a children's chapter book that I read in 4th grade, about 1994. It had a little girl who ran away and took her brother with her. They went to, maybe, New York. I know they had to stay one night in a furniture store. I know there was something about a taxi in it as well.

Konigsberg, E.L., From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.  It's not a furniture, it's a musuem. Claudia and Jamie run away to the Met. They take a taxi ride at the end of the book, on their way to investigate a particular statue's origins.
Konigsburg, E L, From the mixed-up files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler.  Sounds like this book to me, although it was a museum, not a furniture store.  Still in print.
E. L. Konigsburg, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, 1967.  I think this may be From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, in which Claudia takes her younger brother Jamie (who is very good with money, so she knows he has quite a stash!) and runs away to the Metropolitan Museum in New York. They don't go to a furniture store, but they do stay in the decorative arts section of the museum (in one of the period rooms, in a fabulous antique bed). You might remember them bathing in the fountain (and collecting coins from it!). Winner of the 1967 Newbury Medal, its been in print and very popular ever since its debut.
Konigsburg, E. L., From the Mixed-Up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, 1967.  Sounds like the "mixed up files" except for the furniture store.  However Claudia and James sleep in the furniture section of the museum. "When Claudia and Jamie plan to run away from home, they decide that the Metropolitan Museum of Art would be a very comfortable place to live. So they settle in and soon find themselves in the middle of a controversy over the authenticity of a new statue."
E.L. Konigsburg, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E, Frankweiler Could it be this classic?  Claudia and her little brother Jamie run away to NYC, where they spend a week living in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  They sleep in an antigue bed in the furniture gallery.  They frequently bicker about whether to take taxis -- Jamie is a tightwad and wants them to walk.  In the end, they do spring for a taxi to Mrs. Frankweiler's mansion and blow their budget.
E.L. Koningsburg, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Franweiler, 1972.  In this book, a girl and her brother run away to New York.  They stay in the Period Rooms in the Metropolitan Museum for a few days.
Could the poster possibly be thinking of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler?  The sister runs away, taking her brother with her, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  They do sleep in a furniture section, and there is some detail about the beds.
E.L. Konigsburg (author and illustrator), From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, 1967.  If you're certain the children stay in a furniture store, then this can't be it, but the rest of the details match!  Claudia and her younger brother Jamie run away to New York City and sleep in an antique bed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  While staying at the MMA, the children see an angel statue that may have been sculpted by Michelangelo, and they take a long (and expensive) taxi ride to meet the statue's donor, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.  The book won a Newbery Award in 1968.
E.L. Konigsberg, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, 1967.  This could be the one: Claudia and Jamie Kincaid run away to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  (They sleep in one of the beds on display and ride in a taxi.)
 Interpreting
Condition
Grades
E.L. Konigsberg, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Atheneum, 1967, fourth printing 1968.  Hardcover, dust jacket has some minor tears.  VG/G+.  $14
....  new paperback, $5.99



From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
The title of this book is quite long and I remember reading it a few times back in the very early 80's.  It was about a girl (and possibly her brother) who either run away from home or get stranded in NYC and live in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Between the two of them, they have between $2 to $3 dollars to live on.  I don't remember much more about it.  I am hoping someone can give me an idea of the name of this book.  Thanks.

E.L. Konigsburg, From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, (1967). i think this might be what you're looking for -- i read as a youth too! :)
E. L. Konigsburg, From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, 1960s. This is almost surely it.  Claudia lives with her family in Westchester County, NY, and feels unappreciated.  She plots to run away, and takes her younger brother Jamie with her, because he's "rich" (by a kid's standards - he wins money by diligent cheating at nickel card games). They escape to NYC on the train, and live at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they sleep on historic beds, bathe in the fountain (and collect coins from it), evade security, and eat at automats. Eventually, Claudia becomes obsessed with an angel statue at the museum, and with finding out if it really is a Michaelangelo.  They leave the museum and track down the wealthy statue donor, Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. She's an eccentric old lady who won't answer Claudia's quetion - but gives them a chance to search her "mixed up" files.
M434: I wanted to say that, according to the online Inflation Calculator, the amount Jamie and Claudia had in 1967 - $28.61, IIRC - is equal to $162.89 in 2005 dollars. That site is great fun for use with old stories!


Frog and Toad Are Friends
This was a very short book, geared to very young children,  with old fashioned illustrations.  I read it to my son in the 1980s but it may very well be a much older book.  It is about a toad and a frog who are friends and the frog sleeps over at the toad's house but can't find a comfortable place to sleep. He eventually winds up sleeping in the sink after he hears the "drip, drip, drip" of the faucet.

Surely one of the Arnold Lobel I Can Read stories.  Frog and Toad Are Friends (1970);  Frog and Toad Together (1972), Frog and Toad All Year (1975), Days with Frog and Toad (1979).



Froggy Goes to School
This is not a "frog and toad" book, but here it goes. I read this children's book in the early 1990s. It had color pictures and some text. It was an animal fiction book,the plot that I can remember was about young frogs who run off to  school but have to keep coming back to their home because they forget their jacket, then books, etc. I really hope you can find it!

Jonathan London (author), Frank Remkiewicz(illustrator), Froggy Gets Dressed, 1992.  Possibly this one?  Froggy wants to go out and play in the snow, but his mother repeatedly calls him back inside to retrieve the essential pieces of clothing he has forgotten.  A funny and colorful picture book that was followed by numerous sequels, including Froggy Goes to School.
I think you might be thinking of one of Jonathan London's books! Froggy Gets Dressed is written on this premise! Perhaps you want Froggy Goes to School, or one of his others! Cute books. 



Frosty Filly
pre 1968.  a girl called Frances runs away from her mean Grandmother, buys a Scottie, and ends up at a foxhunting barn where she breaks and rides horses. She cuts off her hair and is known as a boy called Frankie. The barn is run by a woman and her aunt. Lots of hunting scenes. The woman evenually marries her boyfriend and they adopt Frances. One of the horses at the barn is named Lilliputian and called Lili though he's a gelding.

Janet Herron Hughes, The Frosty Filly, 1961.  I'm pretty sure this is The Frosty Filly by Janet Herron Hughes..."Young orphan Frances disguises herself as a boy and runs away to Virginia to find her father's Army buddy and soon finds herself working in disquise at a riding and training stable."
Confirming my earlier post...I've checked my copy of The Frosty Filly, and this is definitely the book....the scottie's name is Dominie, the girl is Frances, masquerading as Franky...horse Lilliputian, aka Lilly, is there as well!



Fun at the Beach
The book contained a short story (or word picture) in verse about a boy and his brother (and parents?) spending a day at the beach.  I remember a crab and big toe (?) being mentioned.  Tommy plays in the sand and is struck by a wave.  I think I remember the big brother shouting, "Watch out, big wave!"  And little Tommy starts to cry to see his sand castle washed away.  I saw this book in the library in the 1960's.

Please look at S343.  The reader's comments in green match my memories of this book (B629).  The comments about changing into swimsuits in the bath house do not.  I wrote to a book dealer and asked him to look through Dorothy Koch's book, I Spend the Day at the Beach, and he did not find anyone named Tommy in this book.  I hope the readers can solve this one for me as it's been driving me crazy for quite a while.  I remember the big brother shouting, "Watch out, big wave!"  And then little Tommy cries to see his sand castle washed away.  Thanks for all your help!
Gloria Trachtenberg, Fun at the Beach, 1960, copyright.  I'm certain this is the book.  "Daddy shouts, 'Watch out! Big wave!' And Johnny stops his play. He cries a little when he sees his castle washed away."  The version I have is a Whitman Tiny Tale. My mom found a bunch of these little 3"x4" paperback books cleaning out her aunt's house.  It starts: "Summertime is here at last. The sun shines every day, and Mother says 'We'll pack a lunch, then off to the beach to play!'"  There is a crab, "with wavy waggly feet and one big pincher claw."  But the brother's name is Johnny Joe, not Tommy.
Gloria Trachtenberg, Fun at the Beach, c. 1960.   I'm very grateful to the reader who took the time to solve my stumper!  It is indeed a Whitman Tiny-Tot Tale book.  I ordered the book and was thrilled that the words were familiar.  (However, I'm a little chagrined that my memory is so bad!)  Thanks, Harriett, for your wonderful service!


click for image of bookFun with Decals
Seek specific children's book (maybe it was a Golden Book?)  I believe that the parents and children rented or purchased a vacation cottage.  They cleaned and painted the interior and finishing decorating by applying decals.  Actual decals came with the original book for application by the young reader (me!)  I think the title was something like "Fun With Decals" but have not located mention of that title in readings.  Years ago, I saw one Golden Book title listed on a back cover as "Weekend in the Country" (maybe that title is the book I seek?)

V8- Fun With Decals (Little Golden Book #139)
V8 vacation cottage: more on the suggested title, Fun With Decals: A Very Special Little Golden Book with a page of Real Decals, by Elsa Ruth Nast, illustrated by Corinne Malvern, published by Simon and Schuster, New York 1952. The cover shows children applying decals to a chest-of-drawers and a lamp.
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There was a picture book I remember from the 50's about a family being at a lake and planning a picnic. However, it rains and the children have a grand time playing and having the picnic indoors. Before they know it, the sun is out and they can go swimming.

The only one that comes to mind is The Book of Live Dolls (1901) by Josephine Scribner Gates (see Solved
Mysteries), though I don't remember them swimming. I read part 1 in Better Homes and Gardens Storybook,
vol. 1.
A Little Golden Book: Fun with Decals
P121 can be moved to the "Solved" catalog! The book is Fun with Decals. When I read the answer, I remembered the book but had not put it with the story I was thinking about. Thank you to the person who submitted the answer and thank you to Loganberry Books for providing the forum.
1955, childrens.  The book was in the Golden Book series, I think published by Simon & Schuster back then. It probaby had to do with summertime or going on vacation. The last page had an illustration of a child jumping into the water from a pier.

Elsa Ruth Nast, Fun with Decals: 1952, copyright. The description of the child jumping off the pier definitely matches.  The family is on vacation, waiting for rain to stop, and then they all put on their bathing suits and jump in the lake at the end.  The decals are a huge part of the story though, so maybe this is not the book youre looking for.  There is a Little Golden Book titled Summer Vacation, but it wasnt published till the 1980s and the last page does not match your description at all.

Elsa Ruth Nast, Fun with Decals, 1952, copyright. The solution posted is correct. We obtained the book and verified that this was the book my wife remembered having over 55 years ago. Thank you to the reader who submitted the solution. and thank you Loganberry Books for having such a wonderful resource as Book Stumper available.



Funny Bunny Factory
mid-1950s:  This picture book featured a bunny who was running or lost.  He is inside a factory (trapped?) where on each successive floor he finds something wonderful -- toys, candy -- I don't remember exactly.  But he isn't interested in any of those things.  Finally, he reaches the very last floor and finds carrots and is happy.  I adored this book.  Does anyone else remember it?

Possibly-- The Funny Bunny Factory by Adam Green, illus. Leonard Weisgard , Grosset & Dunlap, 1950, 1967.  "Nice little story about hundreds of bunnies who take up residence in an abandoned factory. They find sugar eggs, penny candy, toys and party hats but one little bunny finds carrots! "


Funny Guy
This Funny Girl is not Fanny Brice. I read a book in the 1950s about a girl who is teased and called (I think) "funny girl" by the kids in the neighborhood. The source of the nickname is a dare where the girl eats a worm (wrapped in a leaf). She has lost her mother and feels depressed and isolated, and taking the dare makes things worse for her since she now seems very odd to the local children.  The girl finds a diary written by children who lived in the house in the past (or meets the ghosts of the children, I can't recall). Following their adventures helps heal her. The book may be set in the early years of the 20th century, or maybe it is the diary that takes place then. I remember St. Nicholas magazine being mentioned in the story.

#F116--Funny Girl--not Fanny Brice:  The Funny Guy, by Grace Allen Hogarth.  New York:  Harcourt Brace & Co., 1955.  First Edition.  A girl whose name is either Grace or Helen must spend the summer with Auntie Cris.  She is absent-minded and very lonely--maybe that's why she does so many odd things.   No wonder the other children call her "the funny guy."  The harder she tries to disprove it, the more the hateful nickname sticks.  She attempts to rid herself of the nickname until she really gets herself into trouble.
Called- Funny Guy- I'll check my copy for author- possibly Grace Allen Hogarth-I'll verify...
Grace Allen Hogarth, The Funny Guy, 1955.
Verified the author I suggested- Hogarth, Funny Guy, (1967)-description matches.
The date 1955 is good, and the title could well be Funny Guy. But the description of Funny Guy doesn't quite fit. The event that has made the girl "funny" in the book I recall takes place before the book begins, and there is definitely this interaction with children who used to live in the house via their diary. It's a possibility, though. I think I'll check further into this book.
I got the book and began reading it. This is it! I wonder if I got some of the details mixed up with another book (or two) that I read. There may be other books to track down here. But I recognize all kinds of details in the first chapter, so this is definitely the book I had in mind. Thanks so much.
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I'm looking for a children's book i got secoI'm looking for a children's book i got second hand in the early 90s, however it was probably from late/70s early 80s.  It was about a girl who lives in the USA in what i guess was the early 1900s. She lived with her aunt, (think her parents had died or just her mother) and it was just about her life eg. going to school. I particularly remember that on her birthday her aunt gives her a pink dress but she only has red ribbons to wear, so goes to buy some pink ribbons and ends up being late for school and wearing one pink ribbon and one red and all the kids laugh at her. I think she gets bullied a lot by other kids, for example after school they line up on a wall after school and throw things at her. I think either the girl or her aunt is called helen.

Grace Hogarth, The Funny Guy
That's the book i was looking for, i've found a copy now i know the title! thank you very much!


click for image of bookFunny Little Woman
This is a delightful story about a little Japanese woman who made dumplings out of rice. One day the dumpling rolled off  of the table and rolled down into the under world of the wicked Oni.  My youngest daughter loved that book..and I need to find it for her now that she's grown ..she can read it to her own child.

Hello, I know that one!  Mosel, Arlene.  The Funny Little Woman.  Illustrated by Blair Lent.  EP Dutton, 1972. First edition, no dust jacket.  VG.  <ON HOLD>



Funny Thing
1950's Book won a literature award. Dragon likes treats called jum jills.

Wanda Gag, The Funny Thing. This is definitely it.
Wanda Gag, The Funny Thing.  A description on the 'net says it's about "a dragon who devours dolls and a man who tries to change his mealtime habits."
D129  PEANUT BUTTER BALLS - JUM - JILLS  1 c. crunchy peanut butter; 1/2 c. raisins; 3/4 c. non-fat dry milk powder; 1/4 c. honey nut wheat germ; 1/4 c. honey.  Mix together. Roll into 1 inch balls. Refrigerate. Makes about 15 balls. Make these after reading The Funny Thing by Wanda Gag, call them "jum-jills".
Gag, Wanda, The Funny Thing,1929.  I just answered this stumper for a patron last week who was looking for a story with a 'dragon with blue points on his tail' and the phrase 'And very good they were jum jills'  What a coincidence!
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I had a collection of stories as a child in the '60s.  Unfortunately, the cover was missing.  Each story was illustrated in black, white and one additional color.  The one that stands out was of a dragon that was terrorizing a village until a "little man" began to make special cookies to feed the dragon, whose tail grew ever longer until it would around the dragon's mountain.  This one illustrated in black, white and aqua.  Other stories included one about a beautiful black cocker spaniel and one involving a double-decker bus.  The book was about 8 x 11; unfortunately, the cover was missing.

I can't help with the name of the anthology, but the story about the cookie eating dragon whose tail grew until it wound around a mountain is definitely The Funny Thing, written and illustrated by Wanda Gag.  A kind and gentle little man, Bobo, meets The Funny Thing and is horrified to discover that it makes children cry by eating their dolls.  Bobo feeds his animal neighbors every day, and he tries to alter the Funny Thing's diet by offering it the nut cakes, seed puddings, cabbage salads, and little cheeses he prepares for the animals.  The Funny Thing rejects all of these foods, and in a last ditch effort to save the children from heartbreak, Bobo mixes all four ingredients together, rolls the mixture into little balls he calls jum-jills, and offers them to The Funny Thing.  The Funny Thing loves them, so Bobo feeds him daily.  His appetite satisfied, The Funny Thing stops eating dolls, and his tail gets so long that he can't leave the mountain it is wrapped around.  The Funny Thing says repeatedly, "And very good they are, jum-jills!"  The beautiful illustrations show The Funny Thing sitting on a mountain peak as his tail grows longer and curls around the mountainside.
Wanda Gag, The Funny Thing.  It sounds like one of Wanda Gag's stories, which included the dragon story, The Funny Thing, as well as Millions of Cats, ABC Bunny, Snippy and Snappy among many others.  They are available in reprint.  She herself lived from 1893 - 1946.
Wanda Gag, The Funny Thing / ABC Go! 1962, reprint.  The story is called The Funny Thing, by Wanda Gag, orig. published 1929. The animal in the story looks like a dragon, but the word "dragon" is not actually used. It is referred to as
"the funny thing" throughout the story.  The funny thing (who refers to himself as an aminal, rather than an animal) goes to Bobo, the kind old man on the mountain, who provides food for all the little animals.  The thing (dragon) likes to eat children's dolls (and listen to the children cry afterward) until Bobo makes little cakes called jum-jills for him to eat. The
jum-jills make his tail grow longer and longer, until he can't move around anymore, so he perches on a mountain top, wrapping his tail around and around it, while birds continue to deliver the jum-jills to him.  The last picture shows him on the mountain, tail wrapped round it 6x, Bobo holding up a tray of jum-jills, and a long curved line of dozens of birds flying between, delivering the jum-jills in their beaks. This story appears in the book ABC Go! which is book 1 of Collier's Junior Classics / The Young Folks Shelf of Books, published in 1962. The story (at least, in this anthology) is illustrated only in black & white, but the cover of the book is aqua w/ gold lettering. Some of the stories in the book are illustrated in 1 or more colors, others are b&w. However, I don't see any stories in this book w/ a black cocker spaniel (though there is a
black scottie - Angus and the Cat, by Marjorie Flack) and nothing at all w/ a double-decker bus, so maybe you had a different anthology, or maybe those stories were in another book? Another book to look at - First Story Book (1954 - book 1 of The Children's Hour series, by Sears & Roebuck). I don't have this one, so I can't look inside it, but the table of contents lists The Funny Thing, also stories called The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy (Jane Thayer) and Runaway Bus . Even if these aren't the specific anthologies youre looking for, knowing the titles/authors of the stories should help.


Furious Flycycle
Great book with vivid, detailed illustrations; boy inventor scares his mom/grandmother with light up goggles (they think he's on fire, I think). He then saves his camping/picnicking family from bears/wolves by riding his flying bicycle upriver at night. Should be plenty of detail, I hope, thanks!

So many boy inventors...  Danny Dunn, Rick Brant, Tom Swift....
B170 could be Furious Flycycle by Jan Wahl
Jan Wahl, The Furious Flycycle, 1968.  This is definitely The Furious Flycycle--I have a copy here and all the details fit. I have read this book more times than I can remember. It's a great story and the original illustrations by Fernando Krahn are fantastic. The book is back in print now, but the illustrations in this reprint edition are by Ted Enik and are nowhere near as captivating.


Fussbunny
I am looking to find a book from the 50's or 60's about a bunny who didn't like to eat anything, so his mother had a party with other animals who brought what they liked to eat and he learned to eat other food. maybe a elf book, or other small book.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this book is titled Fussbunny. It was read to me a jillion times when I was little. Fussbunny was a bunny who didn't like anything he was offered to eat and "Fussbunny's mother felt so sorry for him." I can still hear my mother bearing down on that line. She gave a party, all the other animals came and brought what they liked to eat, and Fussbunny shaped up. It was one of those little golden books or wonder books. I have a copy somewhere buried away.
Evers, Helen and Alf. FUSSBUNNY. New York: Rand McNally and Co. , 1946, 1955.
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Im in desperate need to find this childrens book... must have been sometime in the 60's. It has card board book pages.  a squirell or an animal was having a birthday and all of his animal friends forgot and when they final recalled that it was his birthday they all went out and had a party and decided to bring presents. every present was food. and every food item was geared towards the giver rather than the birthday animal. eventually they recongnized this and decided to eat what they brought. and they all ended up enjoying the party. moral of the story was kind of think about others before yourself.  it was a picture book. please help!

Helen and Alf Evers, Fussbunny, 1944. Possibly Fussbunny, published by Rand McNalley in 1944, and reprinted as Elf Book #8405 and Tip-Top Elf Book #8642 in various years, at least up through 1963. The original printing has a dark green cover with a background pattern of white clovers, and Fussbunny sitting up in the middle of it.  There are two different covers for the later editions.  One has a pale green polka-dot cover featuring Fussbunny sitting in a patch of flowers, holding a carrot.  The other has an orange polka-dot cover featuring Fussbunny's head, surrounded by a wreath of foods, such as corn, clover, letuce, etc. Cute story about a little Bunny who was a very picky eater and didn't like anything, until his Mother gave a party.  All of the animals who were invited brought along what they liked to eat, and Fussbunny learned that he could eat a variety of different foods


Fuzzies: A Folk Fable
I'm looking for a book that I can barely remember from my youngest childhood. I don't know the author or title but I believe it was a hardcover children's book that may have been as old as 1950-60. It was printed in color and the only thing I can remember is that it was about these funny little creatures that were round fuzzy balls and I can remember how each one was a different brilliant color. Based on what I can remember from the illustrations, sometimes these creatures were inside a house and then I think they were out in the yard or in a pen and some got out. I don't really remember much about the plot but maybe some of them started to get sick and shrivel up and die? I know it's a long shot but any information about this book would be appreciated. Thanks!

F14 - Fuzzies. It had some sort of subtitle, like A Fable for Everyone. The story was about a sad town that had once been a joyful place with many little fuzzies that made people happy. The townspeople got too possessive of the fuzzies and almost all of the fuzzies died.  The story and and the illustrations had a real 70's pop-psych feel. Richard Lessor? I saw the book recently, I think that's the author.
Good lead, but I couldn't find anything like it...
Back in junior high Home Ec. (Circa 1975) I heard a story about warm fuzzies and cold pricklys.  There is a book called Original Warm Fuzzy Tale, by Claude Steiner that sounds the same still in print.  Could it be the one.
I came across this book last night in a thrift store and actually bought it, just because the stumper was in my head!
(Sad, eh?)  Fuzzies:  A Folk Fable by  Richard Lessor.  Niles, IL: Argus Communications, c1971, 1975.  The illustrations are photographs of drawings with fuzz balls pasted on them.  I think this must be the one.  "Once there was a valley of happiness and delight where everyone shared Fuzzies.  But one day, someone began to hoard Fuzzies, and lo and behold, there was a serious shortage in no time at all.  The allegory reveals an essential truth about human choices."



Fuzzy Wuzzy Elephant
Elephants were sitting in a circle stringing pink pearls. The texture on the pearls was fuzzy in the book. 1950s.

Sanchez, Pat, Fuzzy Wuzzy Elephant.  Whitman 1944.  It could be this one. The Fuzzy Wuzzy books had fuzzy texturing on parts of the pictures. The cover shows a grey elephant with pink soles, wearing a top hat and coat and banging a drum as part of a circus procession. The title is on a pink flag carried by a small clown. No plot info, but does have elephants and pink fuzz, and the date is plausible for a book read in the 50s.
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E37: I have a book whose author, title, publisher and date are missing because the cover, undoubtedly a paper one, is missing. It is 10 x 9; some of the pictures of the bear and elephant are flocked [coated with brown or gray fuzz.] The theme of the book raises the question of career choice for the elephant. He decides to be a circus clown. By the way, is this the last page?  And is the first one  "Should I be a policeman?"  Thanks.

Pat Sanchez, Fuzzy Wuzzy Elephant, 1944. This is a  Fuzzy Wuzzy Book, published by Whitman.  Description:   Edgar the elephant cannot decide what he wnts to be when he grows up.fireman?, sailor? or.?






 
 
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3/15/13