Obscure children's books that you used to love

(She was also v influential in bringing Montessori to the US)

Dorothy Canfield Fisher is a brilliant writer - her book for adults The Home Maker is published in a beautiful edition by Persephone. It's very moving.

Haven't read the whole thread so don't know if it's come up, but George and Matilda Mouse and the Dollshouse by Heather S Buchanan. The illustrations are so beautiful. There's another one called George and Matilda Mouse and the Floating School too.

I lived a couple of roads up from Norham Gardens in my postgrad year. They're lovely houses.

wol, they're almost all split into several apartments or used as university buildings now, but IIRC that is what the book says is happening even then. They're eye-wateringly expensive, too.

SydneyCarton yes, Tammy - that rings a bell, and you're bang on re the strangling in the Strawberry Handkerchief!

Am well chuffed to find someone else who remembers them, I'm nearly 40 and have never met anyone else who does!

I can forsee lots of hanging out looking for retro girls' comics on ebay this summer - have already managed to track down and order a Woodland Adventures Book.

Mind you, my nearly 11yo DD would probably look at me like if I did get hold of some - she's more into fantasy and steampunk!

Those of you who love the Green Knowe books, you can visit the actual Green Knowe house if you book in advance. It's near Cambridge, in a tiny village called Hemmingford Grey, and it's fascinating.

There are people living in the area who are actually called Oldknow.

In the night kitchen

Does anyone remember a book called Red Feather? Very odd story about fairies, a botched attempt to steal a mortal baby and leave a changeling in its place.

An absolutely brilliant book is Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher. A little girl being raised by well-meaning but rather clueless relatives has to go and live with another set of cousins in Vermont. The book shows her transformation from a sheltered, terrified child to a confident and competent girl. It includes a heart-breaking sub-plot about child abuse (with a happy if improbable conclusion) and some rather radical ideas about education, especially given that the book was originally published 100 years or so ago.

I've just googled Norham Gardens. The road is real, but (unsurprisingly) it doesn't go as far as number 40. There are, however, a number of houses which look like they could be the model for the house in the title.

SDTG glad to see you're curious enough about the Rose Dormitory girls to want to get a copy - I'm surprised that book's still around.

I have just been and bought The Girls of Rose Dormitory - I love school stories.

I've remembered another series - the Bagthorpes, by Helen Cresswell. In one of them, the mum (I think) becomes obsessed with winning competitions so takes the labels off everything, including all the tins of food - which makes mealtimes an interesting gamble!

A very old fashioned book called 'the tree that sat down', by beverly nichols. Haven't re read it as an adult but i was enchanted by it.

Tim The Traveller by Dulcima Glasby.

It's about a cat that gets sent away to the country from his home in London and treks home to find his family.

It was published in 1942 and is actually about child evacuees but I didn't get that when I first read it at about seven because it doesn't mention the war.

It talks about bangs and houses and people mysteriously disappearing and the howl of the Great Ghost Cat which is a cat's eye view of air raids.

Ice on the Lawn by Jill Stevens.

The Fortunes of Jacky by Katherine L. Oldmeadow.

I remember enjoying the Jennings books, the Bobbsey Twins books and Mrs Pepperpot too. Many of the others mentioned were, ahem, after my time.

Anyone else read the adventure books by John Putney. Monday Adventure, Tuesday adventure etc. And Winter Adventure, Spring Adventure etc.

OMG I've found it!!!!

It's called Little Sister and the Month Brothers:

www.goodreads.com/book/show/2610731-little-sister-and-the-month-brothers

Love, love love MN! Thank you

I want to buy a copy now.

It could be that private

The Uncle books by J.P. Martin. Brilliantly subversive and written by a vicar in the 1960s.

You're supposed to like Uncle but as I grew up I realised that in reality he's a peevish snob and autocrat. His arch enemy, Beaver Hateman, and his family are a great deal of fun.

Another Irish one was Wildflower Girl and the sequels - about the Irish potato famine, orphaned children travelling to catch a boat to emigrate, having to bleed a cow for food and all sorts. My mum wanted make sure that I stayed in touch with my roots! The later ones followed the children working in the US a skivvies in the big houses.

The girl turning into a bear was Ursula bear books.

I prefer the non-Susan stories by Jane Shaw. Breton adventure is very funny. Susan is a little too interfering for me.

A really obscure ones I have from my Gran's house. Winning her way which is basically Daisy Pulls it off written in all seriousness, school prise about 1914.
Another one I have is called Bluebell, which is one of the typical poor child adored by everyone who comes across her. Adopted by rich parents because so adorable. Of course turns out child was stolen by gypsies and really does belong to rich parents in some way another.
But child is too saintly to live so promptly dies. Cheerful eh?

Yes I read The Far Side of the Mountain! Not very believable (especially the snowstorm section where he is trapped in the tree for days - how did he go to the loo??) but lovely to fantasise about.

I have just skimmed this (wonderful) thread.

Has anyone mentioned/remember reading 'The Hunting of Wilberforce Pike'?

I has on a hillwalk yesterday & on the edge of a drop I suddenly remembered all the cats ganging up on Wilberforce Pike, on Striding Edge (I think). Ring bells for anyone?

Yes to the Growing Summer - I loved that book

Yes to the Land of Far Beyond - carrying their burdens is seared on my memory

Did any one read "the Far side of the mountain" about a boy who runs away and lives in a tree in some American mountain range, killing deer and tanning the hides. It was set in relatively modern times and fascinated me with the alternativeness.