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Original poster

To ask what on earth is this children's book... driving me mad!

123 replies

surreygirl1987 · 31/03/2023 20:34

I have a little boy who loves books. I remember a book I read as a small child that I absolutely adored, and gives me such a warm fuzzy feeling when I think back to it. I'd love to read it with my son. Trouble is, I can't remember what it was called. Can anyone help?

Here are the things I can remember:
It is a colle tip of short stories.
It's about a toyshop full of toys.
The toys are magical and come to life.
There are dolls, a Teddy and a jack in a box.
In one of the stories, the toys all go outside at night and getting muddy and cold.

I think it was a hardback book in portrait. I've gone loads of Googling but although there seems to be loads of magic toyshop books, I can't find the one I had and loved!
Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
AiryFairy1 · 31/03/2023 23:08

I was also thinking of Holly and Ivy.

or Edward Tulaine - Kate Di Camilo

tobee · 31/03/2023 23:20

Mummapenguin20 · 31/03/2023 21:58

The animal shelf maybe

I was about to suggest this! The boy was Timothy

DorritLittle · 31/03/2023 23:36

DaphneDeloresMoorhead2 · 31/03/2023 22:38

What a lovely thread ! I loved Teddy Robinson and "Ex and Shoff" is one of mine and my mother's little shared phrases nobody else knows the provenance of.
I loved five dolls in a house and had completely forgotten it. I'm going to have to try and dig mine out.
Might it be The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden @surreygirl1987
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_Holly_and_Ivy.
if it isn't I can highly recommend it.

Ex and Shoff 😁

Loved Teddy R.

ILoveNigelTufnel · 31/03/2023 23:50

surreygirl1987 · 31/03/2023 21:15

Were they definitely in a toyshop? As this rings so many bells, but I could have sworn they were coming out of a nursery

It could have a been a nursery I suppose! That gives me more to search for at least! Argh - so frustrating! I remember it so vividly yet at the same time barely at all!

I know the story you mean! It rings a bell!

The toys live in a nursery and the little girl forgets to close the nursery door one night and the cat gets in.
I think it might have been in a book called “When the moon was blue and other stories.”

DontMakeMeShushYou · 01/04/2023 00:15

It's a chapter in one of the Amelia Jane books.

PILinOz · 01/04/2023 00:16

Does this ring a bell OP? There are a few stories in there about toys that come to life.

To ask what on earth is this children's book... driving me mad!
To ask what on earth is this children's book... driving me mad!
Goingtobee · 01/04/2023 00:28

Is it Mr Jolly’s Toyshop? The toys go outside one night to rescue the old monkey who has been bought by a naughty child? There’s also a rocking horse, a naughty devil toy that eats the food in the dolls house and a doll that ends up being the fairy on top of the Christmas tree. If that rings a bell I’ve a copy somewhere that I can dig out and find the author for you.

DasAlteLeid · 01/04/2023 00:40

It’s not the one where there’s a haughty sugar mouse who accidentally gets melted in the rain is it? And all the other toys try to save him and keep him dry (even though he’s a knob) but to no avail?

Smineusername · 01/04/2023 00:56

Puddle Lane The Wideawake Mice?

Wedoronron · 01/04/2023 01:34

Teddy Robinson does get left out in the rain :(

oakleaffy · 01/04/2023 02:21

DobbyTheHouseElk · 31/03/2023 20:45

Enid Blyton.

I have a copy where there’s a picture of the toys and one makes an outfit from a banana skin. For me too it’s a warm comfortable feeling. I will see if I can take a photo of the book.

I know it has characters which we wouldn’t use today. So possibly may be upsetting.

I listened to an Enid Blyton story on you tube....a kid was called ''Fatty'' ..Imagine the hoo~hah now if an author called a child that.
My mum forbade Enid Blyton..So I missed out.

oakleaffy · 01/04/2023 02:22

The Velveteen Rabbit.

A beautiful classic.

Swirlingcurlish · 01/04/2023 02:28

parrotonmyshoulder · 31/03/2023 22:25

@JuanitathePizza
Are you thinking of the book ‘Tottie, Story of a dolls house’?

Oh I stil love this and I’m in my late fifties!

TotallyScouting · 01/04/2023 07:33

DasAlteLeid · 01/04/2023 00:40

It’s not the one where there’s a haughty sugar mouse who accidentally gets melted in the rain is it? And all the other toys try to save him and keep him dry (even though he’s a knob) but to no avail?

😂. Oh I remember this one too! Was it Enid Blyton as well? I love this thread 😃

Phos · 01/04/2023 07:39

InhaleAndExhale · 31/03/2023 21:54

I wanted to buy a copy recently but the toys on the cover were just too ‘wrong’ so I could not bring it home.

I loved the story where a character ?the clockwork clown lost his home so they bought him ready-made rooms to rebuild it. I think. Or something like that?! Or was it a bear. Called Bruin? I might be making it up now.

Show quote history

Oh I'm sure you're right but I can't remember what toy it was! I think I might need to re-read it. There was a teddy called Bruiny. And there was Josie, Click and Bun who I think were a doll, clockwork mouse and rabbit.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 01/04/2023 07:53

I loved Teddy Robinson so much. Does anyone else remember the Ponder and William books? Ponder was a panda shaped pyjama case who came to life when he and William were together 😂

Also loved Five Dolls in a House.

Allthingsbrightandbeautifulx · 01/04/2023 07:55

TheNestedIf · 31/03/2023 21:32

I thought this one too.

MischiefTheChicken · 01/04/2023 08:12

I’m just going to throw Waggy and his Friends out there. I don’t remember the stories in detail but the one about going outside and getting muddy rang a bell. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1248291

@oakleaffy if it was a Five Find-outers story you were listening to, his nickname is Fatty because his initials are FAT - Frederick Algernon Trotteville.

Waggy and His Friends

Sixteen bedtime stories record the adventures of David …

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1248291

SydneyCarton · 01/04/2023 08:12

Five Dolls in a House is great. I love the monkey who dresses up as a duchess to get invited to tea and then tells the other dolls that Vanessa’s hair comes off at night 🤣

Original poster
surreygirl1987 · 01/04/2023 08:17

Wow, so many suggestions! Thanks so much!! I've gone through them and sadly I don't think it is any of these... but now I'm half doubting my own memory of the book anyway. I think I'm just going to buy a bunch of the ones you have recommended and I'm sure my son will love them :)

I dreamed about that book last night... clearly overthinkinf this!!

OP posts:
RosettaTheGardenFairy · 01/04/2023 08:27

What a thread!

I spent years trying to remember a book from my childhood and was 100% sure it was a book, only to realise one day it was a story tape! That's why I had such a vivid picture in my head but couldn't find it - did you ever have story tapes when you were little? Mine was the Magic Faraway Tree and to this day I could swear I saw Moonface and Silky on a page!

Good luck OP!

mozzierella · 01/04/2023 08:48

Noddy

Wolowl · 01/04/2023 09:27

Is it Rabbits' Night Out? Set in a toyshop & the rabbits go outside to live like real rabbits. There are other books in the series too.

To ask what on earth is this children's book... driving me mad!
To ask what on earth is this children's book... driving me mad!
Cookiesanddecafcoffee · 01/04/2023 10:08

Wolowl · 01/04/2023 09:27

Is it Rabbits' Night Out? Set in a toyshop & the rabbits go outside to live like real rabbits. There are other books in the series too.

Omg thank you! This is the one I was thinking of 😀 I had the collection book of her stories

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