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!

Clawdy I agree, but it does require the teacher to be very clever as they talk about Tike while you are reading it. One slip and it is over.
But I think these days it wouldn't pass. They are too gender aware!

I love that book! And not just because of that twist; also because of the characters, and the friendship between an intellectually able child and one with some learning difficulties, dealt with very naturally.

@Puffalicious

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

I must have worked in schools full of thick kids then because I've never had a child spot it before the end

I certainly didn't see that ending coming.

Great thread! I remember Marianne Dreams really vividly, found it quite scary tbh! Or just my overactive imagination at the time....

I loved Marianne Dreams. I remember seeing a contemporary tv series years ago (90's?) that was just awful

and the friendship between an intellectually able child and one with some learning difficulties, dealt with very naturally.

I'd forgotten this! Yes it is lovely.