I love all of your posts but you outdid yourself with this one. I am an avid (slow) reader and a late-in-life librarian - I am sure my colleagues will enjoy it as well.
Brilliant! This is why you read books mindfully; because you consider everything you read with such attention! I on the other hand who read at least 4 books a week, couldn’t tell you half an hour later what I’d just read, it just needs to pass my eyes and escape me from raging anxiety before I go to sleep.
Ahh the psychologically scarring children's literature of the 70's. And our parents wondered why we all addled our brains with psychotropic drugs in the 90's. My Ladybird favourite was the Musicians of Bremen, a revenge tale so violent it's a wonder Tarantino never adapted it for the screen, in which a ragtag gang of abused, folk-singing farm animals turn vigilante to fight rural crime
This is what I got through just during last Thursday afternoon between yoga and going out for a meal with James to discuss our honeymoon plans HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so funny
Tom, your article really made my day. Ladybird books were wonderful. I credit them with encouraging my love of art. The illustrations were just magical. I still have a few in a cupboard. Time to dig them out and have a read, I think.
I’m very taken with the fetching (and practical) apron being worn by the woman who appears to be chasing an enormous fox poo on the cover of the pancake book.
I don't recall the American versions of these as being so terrifying. They were cartoony, sort of sub-Disney. Not realistic or frightening. Look on book reselling sites for the original, classic Little Golden Books.
I wonder why someone didn't think to go cross-country and intercept the fleeing bakery goods from the sides, or in ambush. You can't tell me some of the boys wouldn't make it, and some of the men might know hunting strategy. Raise the halloo as you go instead of all following them. The last illustration in the pancake one looks like the woman's pan is in fact a black hole, and the children's faces are becoming distorted as it sucks them in.
At first glimpse of Red's papa, I thought he was swinging a golf club instead of an ax. He's wearing golf clothes, after all, and they look damn polyester. Agree on the Rock Hudson interpretation.
In the mid-70s, I was a wee ice skater and played Little Red in a show, along with an older woman (who I helped teach as she was new to the sport) as Grandmother and a tall woman in a furry suit as the wolf. Being the age of Women's Lib, no male rescue was involved; Red smacked the wolf with the loaded basket as Grandmother fought the wolf off with her frying pan. The wolf lived but of course never tried that again as he slunk off the ice in pain. The crowd went wild.
My version of Dick Whittington had no racist stereotypes. Dick stayed in London, followed the talking cat's advice, and became Lord Mayor. The cat became famous for killing tons of rats in London, boosting Dick's profile and business.
But your interpretations are MUCH funnier and cleverer! It's a very gray and damp day here at my house, matching the national mood, so I quite needed it.
Sorry to say I missed this when you posted it a few weeks ago, but have been quietly -- and not so quietly -- chuckling at the Alternative Subtext Analysis, and really think you should offer a University course in it :)
I read these books as a kid and they scarred me - now I know why.
I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time. Thank you for that!
Thanks Barbara! Nice to know you enjoyed it. Rereading these was one of many fun parts of researching my novel 1983.
I love all of your posts but you outdid yourself with this one. I am an avid (slow) reader and a late-in-life librarian - I am sure my colleagues will enjoy it as well.
Brilliant! This is why you read books mindfully; because you consider everything you read with such attention! I on the other hand who read at least 4 books a week, couldn’t tell you half an hour later what I’d just read, it just needs to pass my eyes and escape me from raging anxiety before I go to sleep.
What a fascinating analysis. And you are absolutely right about the way the internet is ruining reading and victim blaming about it.
Thanks Alexandra!
Loved this piece! I still have most of them too. Have you got The Old Woman and her Pig? Really ramps the insanity/psychedelic levels up to the max.
Thanks Estelle. That’s one of the few I haven’t got! But I remember reading it…
I must find this now.
Ahh the psychologically scarring children's literature of the 70's. And our parents wondered why we all addled our brains with psychotropic drugs in the 90's. My Ladybird favourite was the Musicians of Bremen, a revenge tale so violent it's a wonder Tarantino never adapted it for the screen, in which a ragtag gang of abused, folk-singing farm animals turn vigilante to fight rural crime
I loved the comment about the Boris Johnson lookalike kid. Hilarious.
This is what I got through just during last Thursday afternoon between yoga and going out for a meal with James to discuss our honeymoon plans HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so funny
Tom, your article really made my day. Ladybird books were wonderful. I credit them with encouraging my love of art. The illustrations were just magical. I still have a few in a cupboard. Time to dig them out and have a read, I think.
Tom, this post needs a content warning for anyone who’s recently undergone abdominal surgery- I think I nearly burst my stitches!
Sorry Judith!
I’m very taken with the fetching (and practical) apron being worn by the woman who appears to be chasing an enormous fox poo on the cover of the pancake book.
I don't recall the American versions of these as being so terrifying. They were cartoony, sort of sub-Disney. Not realistic or frightening. Look on book reselling sites for the original, classic Little Golden Books.
I wonder why someone didn't think to go cross-country and intercept the fleeing bakery goods from the sides, or in ambush. You can't tell me some of the boys wouldn't make it, and some of the men might know hunting strategy. Raise the halloo as you go instead of all following them. The last illustration in the pancake one looks like the woman's pan is in fact a black hole, and the children's faces are becoming distorted as it sucks them in.
At first glimpse of Red's papa, I thought he was swinging a golf club instead of an ax. He's wearing golf clothes, after all, and they look damn polyester. Agree on the Rock Hudson interpretation.
In the mid-70s, I was a wee ice skater and played Little Red in a show, along with an older woman (who I helped teach as she was new to the sport) as Grandmother and a tall woman in a furry suit as the wolf. Being the age of Women's Lib, no male rescue was involved; Red smacked the wolf with the loaded basket as Grandmother fought the wolf off with her frying pan. The wolf lived but of course never tried that again as he slunk off the ice in pain. The crowd went wild.
My version of Dick Whittington had no racist stereotypes. Dick stayed in London, followed the talking cat's advice, and became Lord Mayor. The cat became famous for killing tons of rats in London, boosting Dick's profile and business.
But your interpretations are MUCH funnier and cleverer! It's a very gray and damp day here at my house, matching the national mood, so I quite needed it.
The Canadian versions were identical to these. Some of them traumatized me so much back then that I can still remember them 50 years later.
So glad I grew up American.
(Not as much now, but at least I don't have this additional trauma.)
Reading through, chin on palm, smiling like an idiot. Thankful
Thanks Patris!
I loved these books. Such great memories. Thank you
Sorry to say I missed this when you posted it a few weeks ago, but have been quietly -- and not so quietly -- chuckling at the Alternative Subtext Analysis, and really think you should offer a University course in it :)
😂👏
I snorted with laughter whilst reading this and drinking coffee, and coffee came out my nose.
As much as I love all Tom's work, this is easily one of my favourites.
Thanks SarahLouise. And sorry about your clothes/furniture!