I've been busy cataloguing a collection of vintage Ladybird
books. It takes me ages to list each one because I find myself caught up in the
illustrations and fascinated by the text. It’s not unusual for an hour to pass
with nothing achieved! I’m not complaining
as they are delightful little books and the ones from series 536 (nature) are
some of my favourites. Introduced in the 1950s by Douglas Keen they are a range
of thoroughly researched educational titles, commissioned from specialist
authors and illustrators, including C.F.Tunniclffe and Frank Hampson.
The Ladybird Book of British Wild Flowers. Now sold, thank you for your interest.
Series 536 The Ladybird Book of Trees. Now sold, thank you for your interest.
The painting above is by Johnina Hamilton or Ena as she
prefers to be called. Ena is a very talented artist and really what could be
nicer than a bunch of flowers painted by a friend. I've always loved the
picture and was delighted when Ena gave it to me.
Series 536 The Ladybird Book of British Wild Animals. Now sold, thank you for your interest.
There are 25 books in the nature series. For those of you
wishing to collect the full set, the titles to look out for are;
British birds and their nests
A second book of birds and their nests
A Third Book of British Birds and their Nests
British Wild Flowers
The Ladybird Book of Pets
British Wild Animals
What to look for in winter
Garden Flowers
What to look for in summer
What to look for in autumn
What to look for in spring
Weather
Trees
The Seashore and Seashore Life
The Night Sky
Butterflies, Moths and other insects
The Story of our Rocks and Minerals
Pond Life
Your Body
Garden Birds
Sea and Estuary Birds
Heath and Woodland Birds
Pond and River Birds
Birds of Prey
Birds of Northern Britain and Northern Europe
This one is not part of series 536, but it's such a sweet
book I wanted to share it with you...
Series 497 Ned the Lonely Donkey. Now sold, thank you for your interest.
When I had my closing down sale Ladybird books were some of the first things to go, it just goes to show how popular they are.
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Did you know we each have a flower sign?
I was born on August 26th so that makes me a Morning Glory! Want to check out your flower sign? Head over to Whats-your-sign.com
Morning Glory August 22 - September 22
Morning glory zodiac flower signs are thoughtful and reflective. You tend to think and plan first before you take any action. You are organized and very observant. You have a natural eye for detail, and can be very analytical. You love to help people, and often use your organization skills to help others who struggle in "getting their act together." You bloom beautifully right where you are planted, and you have a neat way of making things right and tidy. People come to you for guidance and healing.
Morning glory zodiac flower signs are thoughtful and reflective. You tend to think and plan first before you take any action. You are organized and very observant. You have a natural eye for detail, and can be very analytical. You love to help people, and often use your organization skills to help others who struggle in "getting their act together." You bloom beautifully right where you are planted, and you have a neat way of making things right and tidy. People come to you for guidance and healing.
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The hand-painted ribbon for Lilly’s doll arrived (see previous post here) so I must get the parcel
ready to send to Australia. I also found a couple of 'Lilly' books, so they
will be going in the box
along with a few things for Zoe;
That's all for now. Happy Wednesday!
Awesome books ..... First the term ladybird in itself is much dear to me ..so much so that I owned (still have) a fuchsia bicycle with the same name and an image of fluttering butterflies on its basket. Then the images and the titles like 'what to look for in summer'.. are just my type. No wonder it took a lot of time to list them... They are simply engrossing ! And I am Accanthus flower. Heart felt thanks for the link and beautiful info and pictures :)
ReplyDeleteHello Kokila, your fuchsia bicycle sounds wonderful! I’ve just read about your flower sign. Your birthday must be any time now? You are certainly warm and sympathetic, and I would think a secure home life, surrounded by friends and family who love you is important to you. I think these flower signs really work.
DeleteI've just popped onto the landing....(No planes about)..:).
ReplyDeleteI have a small bookcase there...Just wanted to check the
number of Ladybird books...203....Mostly run of the mill
stories...Pinocchio..Little Red Riding Hood....Princess and
the Pea...Cinderella...All bought for my daughter, some years
ago now...Don't laugh! I still read them!
And, yes, l'm also Morning Glory...HeHe! People come to me
for guidance and healing....True! Very True!
Hello Willie, your comments always make me smile. I am quite sure people do come to you for guidance and healing, just reading your words makes me feel good!
Delete203 Ladybird books, I’m very envious! Good for you reading them – so do, but let’s keep that as our little secret! :0)
that should say "so do I" - that's me doing everything at 100 miles an hour again!
DeleteNed the Lonely Donkey, OH BARBARA! Many of these books are totally new to me since these were never in our American school library! What I see here is that innocence I see every time when you share these treasures. I love what you collect. You collect that which is edifying, beautiful and almost lost these days. I can see how you could spend an hour on each book, reveling through each page. It would be like stepping back in time to savor that one special day in your childhood imagination.
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT! Anita
Hello, my lovely friend, it’s a shame you didn’t get the Ladybird books, but then again, you did have the little golden ones! Some of those are very beautiful and full of nostalgia.
DeleteThank you for coming to see me today Anita, your visits are always a pleasure. xx
What lovely books, Barbara. The illustrations as so sweet and your flower painting feels like a summer morning. I checked my flower sign and I am a sunflower - one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing and I hope your little grands love their presents.
ReplyDeleteHello Alex, sunflowers are such joyful flowers – what a lovely thing to be. Having just read about your sign, I’m sure this “You are a loving, faithful and tender hearted friend. You are generous and enjoy a wide range of intellectual gifts” sums you up perfectly.
DeleteI love my Ladybird books ... such charming illustrations and you can still learn so much from them.
ReplyDeleteThe little dolly with her customised ribbon is so sweet!
M x
Hi Marina, it’s amazing how popular the Ladybird books are, but then they are beautifully made and illustrated and contain all the best stories!
DeleteThe little dolls and books are on the way to Australia. I know my granddaughters will be excited when the postman knocks.
Thanks for your visit. Barbara x
I loved the illustrations, dolls are cute too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Aunt Mary, glad you like them. Barbara
DeleteOh sweet friend, hello! Thank you for dropping by today with the kindest words! Today marks my official first day of SUMMER HOLIDAY! I had one meeting this morning, but it was a good one and my last until school begins in late August.
ReplyDeleteHow I love little Ned the Lonely Donkey! XOXOX
Hello Anita, I know how hard you work so these few weeks must be exactly what you need. Try to take a little time just for you if you can.
DeleteNed the lonely donkey is one of my favourites so it’s nice to know you like him to. xx
Oh, how I love reading your posts....my favourite book from those days is The Wise Robin. I still have a copy and it still makes me very emotional. Thanks, Barbara, as always.
ReplyDeleteHello Marilyn, I’ve not seen a copy of the wise robin for quite some time, but I know it and love it! Maybe you could feature it on your blog one of these days. I’m looking out of my window at blue sky and sunshine. I hope the sun is shining for you too. xx
DeleteI love this post. My flower sign is the Water Lily
ReplyDelete"My roots touch unseen knowledge."
February 20 - March 20
Water lily flower signs are perceptive and deeply psychic. Water runs through all the flower signs but especially through yours and this accentuates your intuitive abilities. You are sometimes able to absorb ideas and thoughts of those around you. You can be emotionally swayed by other people's feelings too. Sometimes your emotions can run out of control, but you can turn to your natural creative abilities to help you get grounded. You are a natural artist, dancer, and musician. You are also an excellent communicator, and may be drawn to other languages too.
Your flower sign matches you very well too. I'm sure Lilly and Zoe will be delighted with the gifts you are sending them. I know I would be!
Hello Darlene, well it certainly sums up your creative side, and the fact that you are a natural communicator. I don’t know how flower signs work, but they do seem very accurate.
DeleteI think of water lilies as beautiful, serene flowers with just a little touch of mystery – very much like you!
Have a lovely day, Barbara.
Well, Barbara - you'e made me smile with your flower signs as, apparently as a Chrysanthemum, I have "no end to suitors"! Not sure I have ever noticed, but I'll take that!
ReplyDeleteThe Ladybird Books took me right back to childhood - we had many of those titles. My brother had a tree obsession at one point so had these and the Observers books. After trees he moved onto clouds! We also both loved the Ladybird history books.
The story of Ned looks delightful - and also vaguely familiar.
Hi Susan and you made me smile with your suitors! How funny, I love the bit that says you are active and amorous! I would trade that for my analytical and organized!!
DeleteMy brother had lots of Observers, but I was always fonder of the Ladybird books. I just loved the illustrations. They are every bit as good as I remember them being.
Thanks for your visit, Barbara
Oh I do love the older Ladybird books, a lot of people dismantle these books and make the hard covers into bags :(
ReplyDeleteYour grandaughters will absolutely love their personalised dolls, what a brilliant idea, and how lucky to find books with their names in them.
Two lucky little girls xx
Hi Yvonne, yes I love them too, as you can probably tell! I’ve never seen a bag made of book covers and would be very sad if I did. I suppose if the books falling apart it’s a good way of preserving it, but otherwise, I would much rather have the book.
DeleteFinding things for Zoe is easy, but it’s a little more difficult when it comes to Lilly. There are plenty of things for Lily, but the extra L makes it more of a challenge.
Enjoy the sunshine. xx
Lily and Zoe are two very lucky girls and I imagine they must be checking their mail box every few hours! I love the beautiful painting by your friend, Ena. There is something so glowing yet calming in the blue flowers. I used to read Ladybird books with my sisters but don't remember their illustrations to be as good as the ones you feature here. As for your flower sign, Barbara, you are thoughtful, observant, organized and kind. You do bloom beautifully wherever you are planted! Have a wonderful week ~
ReplyDeleteI was chatting with Zoe on the ‘phone yesterday, and she was telling me about the postman bringing the parcels on his motorbike. I remember exactly how exciting that can be because my Godmother used to send parcels to me. The only difference is they were delivered by a postman on a push bike!
DeleteThank you for your lovely words, I like to think I’m fairly content wherever I live so maybe that’s what it means!
Have a lovely weekend Claudine, thanks for calling in. Barbara.
I love those dolls! How fun. You have a talent for finding unique things. I'm sure you're the best gift-giver in your family and social group!
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie, I don’t know about that, but I do enjoy looking for special things for special people. Have a good weekend, Barbara.
DeleteI can see how you can get lost in the illustrations, Barbara! They are beautiful and intriguing. :)
ReplyDeleteYour granddaugthers are going to love the dolls and books! Lucky girls!
Hello Stephanie, yes I feel sure Zoe, and Lilly will love their new dolls. I posted them last week, so they should be well on the way to Australia now.
DeleteI’m glad you enjoyed the illustrations. Thanks for taking the time to look. Have a great weekend. Barbara.
Oh my goodness, I have such lovely memories of Ladybird books. Wonderfully illustrated and costing relatively little I think I must have had just about every book that was published during my childhood. Thank you for such a nostalgic walk down memory lane.
ReplyDeleteHello Tracy, they were 2/6 when I was a little girl a bit more than that now I’m sure but worth every penny. I think we were the lucky ones having such lovely things to read. Glad you enjoyed this walk down memory lane. Barbara.
DeleteI've always loved nature books and these are delightful! Those are such cute illustrations and I think I have some of those very creatures running around my garden, all except for the hedgehog of course! Well and no donkey, but I would love one!
ReplyDeleteHello Diane, I’ve just been looking at the pictures of your garden. It's absolutely beautiful. I’m sure most of those creatures d inhabit your little bit of heaven, and it would be easy enough for a donkey to hide! I read (and thoroughly enjoyed) your latest post last evening and will be back to comment in a bit. Have a lovely day. Barbara.
DeleteYou are so sweet! I'll still be around this summer , just not as much. Thanks for your lovely comments. Mean time..I'm in the garden. ;)
DeleteExcellent! :) Enjoy the garden. Wishing you lots of sunshine xx
DeleteHello Barbara, I love the lady bird books and the nature series are so educative. A perfect way to learn for kids.
ReplyDeleteYour granddaughters dolls are absolutely adorable! And a perfect book to go with them how lucky they are!
I forgot to mention that I love that painting it is very beautiful and your friend has a lovely delicate touch
ReplyDeleteHello Shashi, thank you for your lovely comments. We are blessed by our beautiful little granddaughters and grown-up grandsons. I had no idea there were so many pretty things around. Buying gifts has become a lot of fun.
DeleteEna is a very talented artist, and I feel lucky to own one of her paintings.
Thanks for calling in, enjoy the rest of the week. Barbara.