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Original poster

Ballet shoes. Noel Streatfeild

204 replies

Orangeanddemons · 29/12/2013 15:53

Wow! It is fantastic isn't it? I'd forgotten how good it was!

Dd got some book vouchers for Christmas. Took her to get some books and found this. I bought it for me, and M reading it again. It wad my best boom ever when I was little, and it's still great now.

This version even has a bow on the cover! Dd hasn't even been able to get near it!

OP posts:
BelleOfTheBorstal · 30/12/2013 00:41

Oh, yes, Thursday's Child. I read that book over and over as a child.
I can be content in the knowledge that my daughter was enthralled when we read her Ballet Shoes.
Must go and see if I can find a copy of Thursday's Child.

LaurieFairyCake · 30/12/2013 00:21

Girlwiththedirtyshirt - they have the Kidston edition on Amazon.co.uk Smile

2 second hand copies.

2468Motorway · 30/12/2013 00:14

This is such a brilliant thread. Thanks.

I wasn't a massive Ballet Shoes fan but I read loads of Noel S. I have been trying to remember the name of The Painted Garden for years. I remember puzzling over the nature of Drug stores. No ones mentioned Thursday's Child. I absolutely loved that.

beatricequimby · 30/12/2013 00:09

Poppy - yes Ginny is the stroppy but fun one in The Bell Family.

MadameDefarge · 30/12/2013 00:03

oh yes uncle gus. the aunt whose annuity stopped on her death. grumpy gus. annoying kids. loved it.

SorrelForbes · 30/12/2013 00:02

No, that was the Enid Blyton one with the whole family joining the circus. The N'S one is about two orphans, Peter and Santa and the uncle Gus.

SolidGold · 30/12/2013 00:00

I loved Ballet Shoes. Really enjoyed the televised version a few years ago with Victoria Wood.

I also loved White Boots and all the Gemma books.

ArgumentsatChristmas · 29/12/2013 23:56

I think I have read everything that Noel Streatfield ever wrote - some of them time and time again. The really disappointing thing for me initially is that my children never really got into any of them. Or E Nesbit as mentioned above. Or in fact Malcolm Saville or Arthur Ransome.

What I had to learn fast was to be led by them. If DS was only ever going to read Horrid books or Top Gear books, I learned to enjoy Jeremy Clarkson. DD is more interested in books and through her I got to read Eve Ibbotson and more. Don't be disappointed if your DCs don't feel the love.

MadameDefarge · 29/12/2013 23:52

ironing for the rich folk... man made fibres melting..

poppyknot · 29/12/2013 23:50

Madamedefarge. I loved those! 11 plus, hats, malt and oil, flower shoes and measles......

MadameDefarge · 29/12/2013 23:48

Is that the one where the whole family joined the circus cos the father lost his job? two kids etc?

poppyknot · 29/12/2013 23:48

Beatrice, was one of the Bell family called Ginny? Had that stored up us my 'favourite name'. In the end used something not a million miles away as DD1's short name....
Also, used Pevensey Bay as exotic destination in story when I was 10. Fossils went there I think....

miaowmix · 29/12/2013 23:44

Yes bean, 'swirling' was brilliant!
What a nostalgia trip

curlew · 29/12/2013 23:43

Please don't be disappointed if your young Dcs don't enjoy reading these books, they are harder than you think. They are perfect read alouds, though!

Don't forget The Circus is Coming........(fortunately never rebranded as Circus Shoes!)

beanandspud · 29/12/2013 23:42

This thread has brought back so many memories. I loved Ballet Dhoes and used to get books on ballet from the local library to try to teach myself the different positions despite having the grace and style of a fairy elephant I also loved White Boots and and the 'Gemma and her sisters' series. Anyone else remember Gemma falling 'in love' with her Romeo? Robin and his 'swirled' music?

MadameDefarge · 29/12/2013 23:42

Talking of which, did anyone ever read the Family at One End Street?

I gasp in horror at my memories of it, but loved it as a child.

miaowmix · 29/12/2013 23:42

As an aside does anyone else love all the names NS gave her characters? Wolfgang, Harriet, Petrova, Posy etc.
E Nesbit too: the Bastable children were Dora, Oswald, Dicky, Alice, Noel, and Horace Octavius (H. O.). Awesome!

beatricequimby · 29/12/2013 23:40

Claire - another one nobody has mentioned is The Children of Primrose Lane. Set during WW2. I loved it as a child. There is also a sequel to The Bell Family called New Town. Good luck tracking them down.

miaowmix · 29/12/2013 23:39

Love the sound of The Bell Family beatrice, being a SE London girl myself. I loved E Nesbit and her Bastable family for the same reason when I was a child. I am now compelled to read and reread everything NS has ever written.

MadameDefarge · 29/12/2013 23:38

yes, I didn't know about curtain up or a vicarage family...

think an amazon moment awaits...

ClaireUnderwood · 29/12/2013 23:37

Thank you for this thread! I recently re read ballet shoes for the eleventy-billionth time when DD was ill and I had to spend hours holding her sleeping in my arms... I loved white boots and curtain up as a child too but haven't heard of lots of the titles mentioned here. Am going to have to check them all out now, I can't wait.

NorthernLebkuchen · 29/12/2013 23:33

I love White Boots. Santa bought Theatre Shoes for dd2 for Christmas Grin

Vijac · 29/12/2013 23:29

Love it. Got same copy as Madame defarge. Been note to re read it every so often! I love gum too.

beatricequimby · 29/12/2013 23:29

Anyone read The Bell Family? That is my favourite NS. Family in South East London (quite evocative I think). There is a dancery girl and a stoppy but fun girl and two brothers. Really wish someone would reprint it.

Also think A Vicarage Family is fantastic and the end still makes me cry. I read one of the sequels though and was disappointed - I felt her style of writing didn't work so well writing about adults (although I do think Saplings is fab).

sallysparrow157 · 29/12/2013 23:24

A lot of the drina books are a few hundred pounds on amazon these days!
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/0750002441/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new