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Original poster

Garden Gang books, Jayne Fisher

67 replies

parrotcarrotclaret · 27/11/2022 22:25

Hi all,

My friends don't seem to remember these books to turning to the wisdom of MN.

I had a few when I was young and loved them.

My kids have recently got into them and I've bought them a few more.

I'm now trying to source some of the ones I don't have. EBay has been great (not much on Amazon).

But some of them seem really elusive and I'm wondering why?

Has anybody ever seen Barnaby Banana, Delia Damson, Tobias Turnip, or Paul Pumpkin?

Barnaby Banana seems particularly unusual because he doesn't often appear inside the front cover. I think I have only seen him inside one book.

I'm wondering if he maybe doesn't have his own book at all (sad Sad) of if it was just less popular than the others.

Similarly, I have Oscar Orange and Augustus Aubergine, but they don't appear inside the front covers of any of them.

Also, it's usually Simon Swede in top left inside cover, but sometimes it's Tobias Turnip. As swedes / turnips are so similar I originally assumed they had just changed the veg/name, but I have now read Simon Swede....he is a young lad, whereas Tobias Turnip wears a mortarboard and looks like a Headmaster or something.

Finally, does anybody know why Penelope Strawberry is the only one without an alliterative name?

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Original poster
parrotcarrotclaret · 27/11/2022 22:28

Front and back inside pages of Simon Swede and Avril Apricot

Garden Gang books, Jayne Fisher
Garden Gang books, Jayne Fisher
OP posts:
Knittingnanny2 · 27/11/2022 22:30

Ah I loved reading those books to my children
I still use one of the characters phrases regularly and would love you to be able to tell me who said
” it’s a good drying day”

IrmaGord · 27/11/2022 22:31

I had a couple of these. I'm sure I had Colin Cucumber and Tobias Turnip. Talking about the mortar board unlocked a memory somewhere. Going to see if I can find them out but I think my mum chucked them away 🫤

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Books Children's books
WGACA · 27/11/2022 22:32

I had some of these and I loved them! Follow Knee Deep in the 90s on Instagram!

GallopingGreen · 27/11/2022 22:35

I had a few of these and loved them!! Can't answer your questions though.
There are a few for sale on Etsy. Just search under Jayne Fisher.

LoisWilkersonslastnerve · 27/11/2022 22:35

I loved these! Rory Rhubarb was my favourite.

LoisWilkersonslastnerve · 27/11/2022 22:37

Oh wait. Rory was from the munch bunch books. I did have the garden gang too though, on a tape with a book to read along to.

mnahmnah · 27/11/2022 22:38

Oh that picture of the inside pictures has taken me right back to my childhood! Lovely.

BrutusMcDogface · 27/11/2022 22:40

I loved these books. I used to study the illustrations as they’re all felt tip and I used to copy them and dream of being Jayne fisher. Wasn’t she about 16 when she wrote them? (Sorry, I know that doesn’t help you OP!)

Yayyayitsaholiholiday · 27/11/2022 22:40

Yes I remember these books - the drawings and stories were done by a teenage girl (or so I was told) - that was so aspirational!
Was Penelope Strawberry a main character/narrator? Would that explain the lack of alliteration?

Original poster
parrotcarrotclaret · 27/11/2022 22:41

Knittingnanny2 · 27/11/2022 22:30

Ah I loved reading those books to my children
I still use one of the characters phrases regularly and would love you to be able to tell me who said
” it’s a good drying day”

Ah, I'm guessing that must be Lucy Leek?

She loves doing washing Grin

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IrmaGord · 27/11/2022 22:42

Although further to investigations and according to Wiki, there was never a Tobias Turnip book. Odd. Looking at the covers, I think I actually had the onion and tomato one and possibly the blackcurrant and gooseberry one.

Original poster
parrotcarrotclaret · 27/11/2022 22:43

IrmaGord · 27/11/2022 22:31

I had a couple of these. I'm sure I had Colin Cucumber and Tobias Turnip. Talking about the mortar board unlocked a memory somewhere. Going to see if I can find them out but I think my mum chucked them away 🫤

Yes, we've got Colin Cucumber, it's a firm favourite. He falls and breaks his leg in the garden. (Yes, he is a cucumber but he has legs.)

Ooh, good to know Tobias Turnip may actually have a book....although I guess you could just be remembering him from the inside cover pages?

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Original poster
parrotcarrotclaret · 27/11/2022 22:43

WGACA · 27/11/2022 22:32

I had some of these and I loved them! Follow Knee Deep in the 90s on Instagram!

Will check it out, thanks

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mum2jakie · 27/11/2022 22:43

I've still got my copy of Colin the Cucumber and used to want to be Jayne Fisher as a kid. (Although I was and still am shit at drawing!)

I also have a copy of one of the Twinkle rainbow books if people remember those too? Ghostly White anyone?

Original poster
parrotcarrotclaret · 27/11/2022 22:43

GallopingGreen · 27/11/2022 22:35

I had a few of these and loved them!! Can't answer your questions though.
There are a few for sale on Etsy. Just search under Jayne Fisher.

Thank you, didn't think of Etsy

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BrutusMcDogface · 27/11/2022 22:44

Percival pea!! 😁

Wiki says she was 9 when she wrote and illustrated them! It was aspirational, as I was convinced I was going to be a kids’ author and illustrator when I grew up.

(I’m not, but there’s still time!😂)

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parrotcarrotclaret · 27/11/2022 22:44

LoisWilkersonslastnerve · 27/11/2022 22:37

Oh wait. Rory was from the munch bunch books. I did have the garden gang too though, on a tape with a book to read along to.

Ah, yes, munch bunch. Different universe of veg Grin

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Original poster
parrotcarrotclaret · 27/11/2022 22:45

BrutusMcDogface · 27/11/2022 22:40

I loved these books. I used to study the illustrations as they’re all felt tip and I used to copy them and dream of being Jayne fisher. Wasn’t she about 16 when she wrote them? (Sorry, I know that doesn’t help you OP!)

Younger! She was 11!

I love looking at all the drawings as well.

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Original poster
parrotcarrotclaret · 27/11/2022 22:46

IrmaGord · 27/11/2022 22:42

Although further to investigations and according to Wiki, there was never a Tobias Turnip book. Odd. Looking at the covers, I think I actually had the onion and tomato one and possibly the blackcurrant and gooseberry one.

Oh, I didn't think to check Wikipedia.

Will do that now.

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mum2jakie · 27/11/2022 22:46

Didn't each book feature two different characters stories? I'm sure there are two stories in the copy I still have?

Fizbosshoes · 27/11/2022 22:47

I used to love those as well. Amazing that she was so young!

CrapBucket · 27/11/2022 22:47

Oh happy memories! I loved these books.

Original poster
parrotcarrotclaret · 27/11/2022 22:49

mum2jakie · 27/11/2022 22:46

Didn't each book feature two different characters stories? I'm sure there are two stories in the copy I still have?

Yes, that's right.

Some of the books have a colourful cover and the faces of the two characters in them.

Others have a white cover and the picture of one of the characters, and the other stories character in smaller writing.

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mum2jakie · 27/11/2022 22:49

Two stories, yes I was right!

Garden Gang books, Jayne Fisher