To ask if you remember this VERY strange book from my childhood ...

[eatsleepread]

I'm mid-forties, and I've sometimes wondered about a book I read while at primary school. It really was weird. It's about a dark-haired young girl who lives in a tent with her family. Looking back, I think they were made out to be gypsies.
The girl discovered a tasty herb growing locally, or possibly some sort of salad leaf. She used to pick it and hide it under her duvet. When her father found out, he beat her.
I read it at lower primary, and it was a story/picture book, as opposed to a chapter book.
Reading my post, it makes me wonder how a book like this could ever have existed. But I'm not making it up!

Does anyone else remember a couple of poems that I was taught in Infant School? One began, 'Jennifer Jane has a cold in her head/ And a terrible big Achoo/ And it's 'Where's your hanky' and 'Come indoors'/ And 'Blow for Nursie, do!' Another was a horribly depressing poem about Sammy the Snail, who says 'I fear I shall never get out of this pail'. and eventually falls to his death: 'And that was the end of poor Sam-u-el!'

[quote pollyhemlock]@Karenenya Indeed. It’s quite sinister in parts.There is a sequel, Marianne and Mark.[/quote]
The sequel is hard to find online. It is a shame.

I really enjoyed Marianne Dreams.

pollyhemlock I saw this edition of Marianne and Mark, but I won't be buying it at the price. Another copy is available for the eye-watering price of over £700.

www.amazon.co.uk/Marianne-Mark-Fanfare-Catherine-Storr/dp/0571113362/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&s=books&keywords=Marianne+and+Mark&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1592675465&sr=1-1

@Karenenya Blimey! I’ve got a hardback copy upstairs somewhere!

For Marianne Dreams, you need Blackwells, as they have a printing machine for out of print books, enabling classics to be sold to readers at reasonable prices again. Here’s Marianne Dreams:
blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Marianne-Dreams-by-Catherine-Storr-Marjorie-Ann-Watts-illustrator/9780571313273

And, shameless plug, here’s a blog post I wrote on this topic some years ago:
biancasbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/bookish-bits-bobs-reading-is-for.html

@Iadoremylabrador I think you might be talking about the heartstone odyssey - was the girl called Chandra?

And @pollyhemlock can I assume your username is inspired by the Dianna Wynn Jones book Fire and Hemlock? If so, I’m with you - it’s still one of my all time favourite Childhood books (if not then it’s a brilliant coincidence to find you on this thread!)

@leftshark Yes, that’s absolutely where my username comes from. DWJ is one of my all time favourite authors and probably F and H is my favourite of her books. Though it’s a tough choice.

[quote Angelil]For Marianne Dreams, you need Blackwells, as they have a printing machine for out of print books, enabling classics to be sold to readers at reasonable prices again. Here’s Marianne Dreams:
blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Marianne-Dreams-by-Catherine-Storr-Marjorie-Ann-Watts-illustrator/9780571313273

And, shameless plug, here’s a blog post I wrote on this topic some years ago:
biancasbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/bookish-bits-bobs-reading-is-for.html[/quote]
Thank you very much. I was lucky to find a copy in Oxfam earlier on this year so it was great to read again.

Is this worth £700? It would be nice to think so....

MrHodgey I learned to read with those too! I still remember When the Clock Struck Thirteen, with the Tin Boy and Sandalwood Doll who want to become real children.

Perhaps I don't remember them quite as well as I thought. I've just googled and he was actually made of iron!

pollyhemlock Do get it valued!

Another puddlelane reader here. As with most things Mum kept them and my DC, and now my nieces and nephews have used them

@bookworm14 sadly I don’t think it will be worth that much as it has library stickers in. I also have a first edition of Marianne Dreams ,but that too has library markings unfortunately.

[quote leftshark]@Iadoremylabrador I think you might be talking about the heartstone odyssey - was the girl called Chandra?[/quote]
Thank you @leftshark I've just googled it and it is The Heartstone Odyssey.

[quote pollyhemlock]@bookworm14 sadly I don’t think it will be worth that much as it has library stickers in. I also have a first edition of Marianne Dreams ,but that too has library markings unfortunately.[/quote]
Some are going for about £40 on one website.

I would love a copy. Maybe it'll be something I can look out for in charity shops

The picture attached is of the first copy I owned when it was on sale in the school library. I believe I ended up donating it years ago. I hope it wasn't a first edition lol

Those who mentioned The Diddakoi/Kizzy early on. My parents dropped off a bag of my old books today for DD2 who has run out of things to read. And look what we have.

it will be interested to see how your dd feels about the book @PenguinsOnParade

Another great book was The Turbulent Term Of Tyke Tiler. It's really as relevant now as it was back in the seventies, I used to love reading it to classes in school, a chapter each day, and seeing their faces at the revelation at the end!

Oh I love Tyke Tiler.
It is a real challenge as the teacher to not use any pronouns when atlking about the book with the kids!

Tyke Tiler is wonderful. That twist has never been bettered.

Although... I read it to my ds, partly to counter his attitude to girls and boys, and the twist was lost as the name wasn't one he knew so he didn't get it! I had to explain it!

Tyke Tiler is a one trick novel, I'm afraid, the kids usually worked it out as well.

Have to say, none of the classes I taught ever worked it out, there were always gasps and shocked faces, then "No, can't be right, sure it said he's a boy!" Then we'd go back on the bits that made it seem it was about a boy, and it made for some really interesting discussions.