Ask me a question

Here's a Question and Answer application that I was experimenting with for work. I didn't originally intend to share it as it looks like a bit of an ego-trip. But having created it and had a few people ask me questions ...

Ask me any question (about Ladybird Books)and I'll try to answer them for you here.

After typing your question in the box, click 'send'. But watch out for the next message which also requires you to click Send - it seems to need reassurance - and to be told to SEND 2 or 3 times! Click just once and I won't get your message - regardless of what I tell you! Give it a go.


Or click on the questions that someone has already asked me (below):

Cassettes

Cassettes - remember them?

It seems a lot of people do.

For a short period, I think between the late 1970s and 1980s, Ladybird started to publish many fiction titles with an accompanying cassette. Occasionally at a car-boot sale I'll still come across a cassette from a Puddle Lane, WLT or Children's Classic book.

Although these cassettes don't seem to have been issued for very long, they seem to have been valued, at least in retropect, by erstwhile owners. This email, which I received last week, is quite typical:

For some years now I have been searching for the "well loved tales" series by Ladybird with the accompanying audio cassettes. Especially their 1979 version of "The Ugly Duckling" would be a fantastic find. I see you offer most of the books but there is no mention of the audio tapes, do you happen to have these as well? Or know where I can find them, possibly converted to MP3?

I have no answer to these enquiries. Does anyone know if you can still get hold of them anywhere?

A Ladybird Books promotion - new and old?

Collect tokens for free Ladybird children's books - mirror.co.uk via kwout

The newspaper The Mirror's latest collaborative promotion.

I wonder if this promotion might encourage people to think back to the 'real' Ladybird Books of their childhood? (See my previous post)

A new Ladybird article

In March's edition of 'Home and Antiques Magazine' (BBC) there's an article on 'charming Ladybird Books'. It's subtitled Instant Expert and has been put together by Antiques Roadshow presenter Katherine Higgins - with a little help from a few Ladybods including myself.


Lots of lovely, retro images of lovely retro Ladybird Books (most of which came from my own shelf via Royal Mail to the magazine 'stylist' - and back again).
Coming to a newsagent near you ...

Hannibal Seeks a Buyer

Hannibal (The hamster, not the Alps and elephants one) would probably be my pick for the most under-rated Ladybird Book series. The stories are likeable and informative and John Berry's artwork is fantastic - his photographic style leavenened by the fact that his hero is a small furry animal, not a work-worn 1970s state employee.

This evening I have received an email from someone who has a piece of John Berry artwork that she would like to sell. If you are interested, she is quoting '£500 or nearest offer'.

So do email me if you'd like more details and I'll put you in touch with her.

nmccar1063@aol.com

Endearing Indira?

If you often visit eBay - perhaps in quest of Ladybird Books - you might some times have tried searching by 'Most expensive item first'. If you've tried that in recent weeks you might have seen a Ladybird Book 'Indira Gandhi' at the top of that list.

Yes, that's right. £350.00 for a laminated Ladybird Book which dates from 1986. A seller's typo? Did the seller mean £3.75? Isn't even that quite dear for a relatively recent book?

Well clearly £350.00 wasn't a typo. When the book failed to sell at that price, it swiftly re-appeared at £325. As you can see, it is currently listed with a starting price of £325.00 (Buy-it-now option of £350.00).

So should you 'Buy it now'? Well, guess what. I wouldn't if I were you.

Yes, actually this is a pretty rare book. Not many were printed. Perhaps the book was commissioned shortly after her assassination, when the world was still shocked at the turn of events. Perhaps when the book was finally ready for distribution in 1986, the world had moved on. Perhaps now Ladybird was concerned that they might be accused of political bias. Or perhaps it simply didn't sell very well.

At any rate, there were never many copies in circulation and so Indira Gandhi today is perhaps the hardest-to-find Ladybird Book ever printed with a glossy cover (ie after 1983).

But it's not exactly 'The Impatient Horse'. There are copies out there. I've come across 3 copies on sale in charity shops for charity-shop prices since I've been collecting. If really want one to complete a collection, you'll find one sooner or later if you hang on for long enough.

Can't wait? Just look a bit further down the list of the same eBay search and you'll find this one



A 'mere' £49.00 ...

And the winner is ...

I am proud to announce the winner of this year's Ladybird Christmas Quiz as ...

Robert Fearn. Robert, I can send you your grand prize of Ladybird wind chimes if you let me know your address.

Here are the answers. In general it was the classical music which foxed people.



Question 1


(2 words)


Answer: Black Beauty


Question 2


(3 words)


Answer: Boys and Girls (Peter and Jane book 3b)



Question 3


(Various contenders for this one. Choose the first of the series. 3 words)



Answer: The Silver Arrow(Theme to 'Robin Hood' Prince of Thieves)


Question 4


(1 word)



Answer: Fireworks(Music for the Royal Fireworks - Handel)


Question 5


(3 words)



Answer: Bonnie Prince Charlie(Skye Boat Song)


Question 6


(2 words)



Answer: Sleeping Beauty(Tchaikovsky)


Question 7


(2 words)



Answer: Baby Jesus


Question 8


(2 words)



Answer: The Snowman



Thanks to all those who took part

Happy New Year!