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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:
talkingnonsense · 29/12/2013 16:45

And dancing shoes was originally Wintle's wonders I think!

talkingnonsense · 29/12/2013 16:42

Iirc, they were renamed to make them seem like a series in America- white boots became skating shoes and curtain up became theater shoes- I think tennis shoes was the same name in both though!

ProphetOfDoom · 29/12/2013 16:41

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ProphetOfDoom · 29/12/2013 16:40

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ChristmasSocks · 29/12/2013 16:39

it's confusing that they rebranded Ice Boots as 'skating shoes', Curtain Up as Theatre Shoes' etc.

ChristmasSocks · 29/12/2013 16:37

It's only as an adult that I realised the lady doctors were 'a couple'... scroll down for picture...

badreputation.org.uk/2011/01/27/we-three-fossils-in-praise-of-noel-streatfeild/

teacherwith2kids · 29/12/2013 16:35

(Many, btw, have been renamed in the most recent editions. heatre Shoes was, afaik, originally printed as 'Curtain Up', and Circus Shoes was something like 'Here comes the circus'.)

teacherwith2kids · 29/12/2013 16:33

I still have my childhood copy of Painted Garden.

And a copy of Ballet Shoes that was my mother's (one of the first Puffin books printed) www.penguinfirsteditions.com/Puffin/PS041.jpg

Have re-read many of her books, courtesy of DD.

MrsSippie · 29/12/2013 16:27

I've just ordered it Blush

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 29/12/2013 16:27

Oh it's gorgeous. One of my v favourite comfort reads. Unfortunately my barbarian dds didn't appreciate it at all.

Petrova is my favourite. I thought my dds would look like her & was v bemused when they didn't (switched at birth, I think).

PrincessFiorimonde · 29/12/2013 16:26

Oh, xpost, MrsS! I'd forgotten that Painted Garden is really about another family and that Pauline isn't the main character. My excuse is that it must be 40 years since I read it.

PrincessFiorimonde · 29/12/2013 16:23

I loved that book! Reread it a couple of years ago and might hunt it out for another go now.

Terraria, I haven't heard of Theatre Shoes; would like to read that. I did have a follow-up called (I think) The Painted Garden, which is about Pauline in Hollywood, but lost it years back.

MrsSippie · 29/12/2013 16:22

Does anyone remember a book by Noel Streatfield called 'The Painted Garden'? It was about a family who went to America (father a writer struggling with depression who needed sunlight) and ended up meeting the Fossil sisters as the eldest daughter was a ballerina and the middle daughter accidentally got the lead role in 'The Secret Garden' which was being filmed near to where the family were staying? it was so lovely..

Original poster
Orangeanddemons · 29/12/2013 16:20

I've read most of them, but can't remember them. Just Ballet Shoes stuck in my mind

OP posts:
ChristmasSocks · 29/12/2013 16:19

Don't stop with ballet shoes, the Author wrote loads, I've read almost all (just read Gemma Alone for the first time yesterday).

I love them.

Original poster
Orangeanddemons · 29/12/2013 16:19

the one I bought. Look at the bow!

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TerrariaMum · 29/12/2013 16:17

Oh, it is wonderful, isn't it? Bagpuss, yes, Petrova. I think in a later book called Theatre Shoes, she is a well-known pilot.

MadameDefarge · 29/12/2013 16:17

yes, that's the one super!

Reread it recently, and it was rather good on kids being old enough to understand not having money, and being responsible.

Original poster
Orangeanddemons · 29/12/2013 16:17

I remember copying one of the pictures in it when I was about 10 and realising that I could draw. It was a bit of a watershed moment

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GirlWithTheDirtyShirt · 29/12/2013 16:16

I love this book, I bought the special edition Cath Kidston version for both my God Daughter's and it's beautiful. I just wish I'd bought another for DD as I can't get it anywhere now.

superbagpuss · 29/12/2013 16:15

is this the one about the three girls adopted by the professor?

I was the middle girl more interested in engines Grin. (petrova?)

MadameDefarge · 29/12/2013 16:15

I wanted to dance like Posy, be cool like Petrova and successful like Pauline.

MadameDefarge · 29/12/2013 16:14

this is my copy

Original poster
Orangeanddemons · 29/12/2013 16:14

I used to want to be Pauline, but Petrova is more interesting

OP posts:
MirandaWest · 29/12/2013 16:14

I love Ballet Shoes :)