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Original poster

Who remembers the title of this fabulous, but slightly creepy children's book?

28 replies

pennyink · 02/07/2013 17:27

A girl was very sick. She was given or found a stubby pencil and amused herself by drawing a big house. In her dreams she visited the house, so she drew a young boy at the window. She drew some large boulders around the house, and after an argument with the boy, added eyes. They then had to escape from the house...

It was a brilliant, brilliant read, and I would love to give it to dd. Anyone remember the title? I read it in the late 1970s.

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Devora · 03/07/2013 23:05

I've never met anyone who's read The Dolphin Crossing, and it is out of print (though Amazon has it second hand) but it is a brilliant book. My brothers and I were obsessed with it. It's about two boys from different sides of the tracks who run away to take a little boat to Dunkirk. It has a very sad ending Sad. Hugely recommended, especially for boys around 9-10, I should think.

IceNoSlice · 03/07/2013 23:04

I LOVED that book as a child. Wow, hadn't thought of it in years.

Wondering whether to start collecting books for DS when he's older. He's currently obsessed with 'That's not my dragon', so perhaps it's a bit early!

Devora · 03/07/2013 22:57

Yes, IceNoSlice - I think the two main characters were called Jan and Bronia?

Devora · 03/07/2013 22:56

There are so many brilliant children's books, aren't there? There's a French woman working in our local bookshop who tells me that in France there is nothing like the quality and range of children's literature that we have here. I honestly think that long after my children are grown I will still have shelves full of their books that I can't bear to give away.

IceNoSlice · 03/07/2013 22:55

Devora - the Silver sword... Was that set in Poland in WWII, centred around child refugees?

SorrelForbes · 03/07/2013 22:51

I still re-read Charlotte Sometimes. A wonderful book (only with the original ending of course!)

Devora · 03/07/2013 22:49

No, who's that by?

How about The Dunkirk Crossing? I wept for about 48 hours straight after reading that. Or Summer of my German Soldier? Or The Silver Sword? [hobbles away sniffing and misty-eyed]

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 03/07/2013 17:44

Love Charlotte Sometimes - one of my all time faves.
'Playing Beatie Bow' anyone?

Original poster
pennyink · 03/07/2013 15:52

Me too - have just ordered Charlotte Sometimes as well. Fabulous book. I have never read Clever Polly but think dd2 would love it... Going to get that too.

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TheOriginalSteamingNit · 02/07/2013 23:16

Yup!

Devora · 02/07/2013 23:14

Oh, I love Marianne Dreams.

Anyone remember Charlotte Sometimes?

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 02/07/2013 23:06

Yes, she wrote Clever Polly, which I adored reading out loud to the dds at bedtime: funniest and most vocabulary expanding children's books ever!

PseudoBadger · 02/07/2013 19:52

Marianne Dreams is fantastic I may have re-read it in the last few years

Original poster
pennyink · 02/07/2013 19:52

Am going to buy the sequel Marianne and Mark... Actually quite excited at the thought of reading it,

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Original poster
pennyink · 02/07/2013 19:50

That's really sad camp. Have just googled her obits. I can't wait to read this again. X

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Ilovemydogandmydoglovesme · 02/07/2013 19:36

Ooh I loved Paperhouse. Had a very sad ending though.

Campaspe · 02/07/2013 19:08

I think it was by the same author who wrote the Clever Polly/Stupid Wolf stories - very unusual and symbolic. I googled her and found out she was a psychiatrist and she committed suicide. Her life story sounds very interesting a nd I think it's a great shame more isn't known about her.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 02/07/2013 17:59

'Marianne and mark' - very odd, in a different way!

Original poster
pennyink · 02/07/2013 17:55

Thanks for the thought Remus

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RoooneyMara · 02/07/2013 17:47

Storr

There was a sequel too

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 02/07/2013 17:46

Marianne Dreams - it's lovely. If you live in Birmingham, I've just taken one to the charity shop! What a pity this thread wasn't last week - I could have posted it to you.

Original poster
pennyink · 02/07/2013 17:44

I'd forgotten Not the light

Actually I told dd all about it, and made it sound a bit too spooky for her! Going to buy it and keep it until she is ready because it is on my 'must read' list!

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TheOriginalSteamingNit · 02/07/2013 17:39

Loved Marianne Dreams! Not the light....

pinkthechaffinch · 02/07/2013 17:39

I was in a play of it when I was 11. I was the doctor!

pinkthechaffinch · 02/07/2013 17:38

No worries Smile