I remember the Raggedy Ann and Andy books - comfort stories like the Rupert Bear books.
I cast my mind back into my own bookshelves and came up with the Drina ballet books by Jean Estoril and which transported me right across Europe and through the greatest ballets. I loved them. Funnily I still do.
But the other great favourite was The Summer of The Great Secret by Monica Edwards. A horse story with a difference set in post-war Cornwall, complete with smuggling. It was seriously wonderful escapism.
Swallows and Amazons was another.
TBH, I think children's books in our day were better and definitely kinder than now - the plots were always brilliantly positive and wonderfully escapist.
We did look for comfort books, didn't we? One of my girlfriends had books about dance and ballet and another was all horses all the time. So no matter where we've lived on the planet, we are often more similar than we are different. Thanks for your memories, Prue.
Ah, Ramona, you brought me to tears (again)! Raggedy Ann and Andy were my favorite dolls as a girl, though I did not have the books. Raggediness set them apart and made them more like friends than dolls. You've stirred up a memory: me, trying to prop the Raggedies in my rocking chair; but it had such a smooth finish that one or the other would eventually slide to the floor. A girl couldn't keep those two mischief makers smiling in a chair for long. Thank you for the beautiful memory and the shout-out for the contest. :-)
I have you to thank for this, Tara. I might never have thought to write this story but for your clever contest. I had a whole collection of Raggedys at one time and I have no idea what happened to them. It's interesting how many little girls loved those ridiculous-looking rag dolls!
Readers who would like to cast a vote for this essay over at the Enchanted by the Book competition may follow the link below, find Ramona's post in the comments section of the competition page, and click the Heart button below it: https://enchantedinamerica.substack.com/p/the-enchanted-book-contest-enter. (Ramona: If you want to add this link to the end of your post to make it easy for readers, feel free. See Julie's entry for an example.) :-)
What wonderful memories. Among my own childhood favorites were the Noddy books. Every night, those toy characters would come alive in my mind as I drifted off to sleep.
I was born in the 70s and split my childhood between then and the 80s. Raggedy Ann was a big part of the earliest years! I think my mom passed the tradition down to me.
Way to heed the call Ramona! This is a lovely, enchanting entry into Tara's contest. I will be sure to hop over and give it a like. It was special to hear about your Mom recognizing the need for imagination in a child during and following the war years.
I've never read the Boxcar Children. I may have to now. Thanks.
And I love the image of rubbing Raggedy's heart.
Fellow Boxcar Children reader - yes! Their independence was breathtaking. :-)
Here's a direct link to the contest page if you want to scroll down and "vote" for Ramona's story by clicking the heart over there. :-) https://enchantedinamerica.substack.com/p/the-enchanted-book-contest-enter/comments
Thank you for helping me relive some beautiful memories of that heart doll and sharing your story.
Thanks so much for reading it, and for reminding me that I forgot to mention Raggedy Ann's candy heart. I've fixed it!
Here's a direct link to the contest page if you want to scroll down and "vote" for Ramona's story by clicking the heart over there. :-) https://enchantedinamerica.substack.com/p/the-enchanted-book-contest-enter/comments
That's such a wonderful story.
I remember the Raggedy Ann and Andy books - comfort stories like the Rupert Bear books.
I cast my mind back into my own bookshelves and came up with the Drina ballet books by Jean Estoril and which transported me right across Europe and through the greatest ballets. I loved them. Funnily I still do.
But the other great favourite was The Summer of The Great Secret by Monica Edwards. A horse story with a difference set in post-war Cornwall, complete with smuggling. It was seriously wonderful escapism.
Swallows and Amazons was another.
TBH, I think children's books in our day were better and definitely kinder than now - the plots were always brilliantly positive and wonderfully escapist.
We did look for comfort books, didn't we? One of my girlfriends had books about dance and ballet and another was all horses all the time. So no matter where we've lived on the planet, we are often more similar than we are different. Thanks for your memories, Prue.
Here's a direct link to the contest page if you want to scroll down and "vote" for Ramona's story by clicking the heart over there. :-) https://enchantedinamerica.substack.com/p/the-enchanted-book-contest-enter/comments
I never had the books, but I had the dolls!
Did you ever catch them moving around at night? 😏
Nope 😂
Here's a direct link to the contest page if you want to scroll down and "vote" for Ramona's story by clicking the heart over there. :-) https://enchantedinamerica.substack.com/p/the-enchanted-book-contest-enter/comments
Ah, Ramona, you brought me to tears (again)! Raggedy Ann and Andy were my favorite dolls as a girl, though I did not have the books. Raggediness set them apart and made them more like friends than dolls. You've stirred up a memory: me, trying to prop the Raggedies in my rocking chair; but it had such a smooth finish that one or the other would eventually slide to the floor. A girl couldn't keep those two mischief makers smiling in a chair for long. Thank you for the beautiful memory and the shout-out for the contest. :-)
I have you to thank for this, Tara. I might never have thought to write this story but for your clever contest. I had a whole collection of Raggedys at one time and I have no idea what happened to them. It's interesting how many little girls loved those ridiculous-looking rag dolls!
Readers who would like to cast a vote for this essay over at the Enchanted by the Book competition may follow the link below, find Ramona's post in the comments section of the competition page, and click the Heart button below it: https://enchantedinamerica.substack.com/p/the-enchanted-book-contest-enter. (Ramona: If you want to add this link to the end of your post to make it easy for readers, feel free. See Julie's entry for an example.) :-)
Thanks again, Tara. I'm so bad at this! I'll add it now.
The Bad-o-meter detected no badness here. ;-) I think I'd better add something about it to the contest guidelines.
I do think the hardest part will be to get readers back over there to vote. Still, I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed this!
Readers: Defy this! Get on over to the contest page and vote, vote, vote - early and often. :-)
Nice job, I can see how these stories gave you the hope you needed.
Here's a direct link to the contest page if you want to scroll down and "vote" for Ramona's story by clicking the heart over there. :-) https://enchantedinamerica.substack.com/p/the-enchanted-book-contest-enter/comments
What wonderful memories. Among my own childhood favorites were the Noddy books. Every night, those toy characters would come alive in my mind as I drifted off to sleep.
Aw, so I wasn't alone. Such sweetness...
I love Toy Story for those reasons, too.
I was born in the 70s and split my childhood between then and the 80s. Raggedy Ann was a big part of the earliest years! I think my mom passed the tradition down to me.
Yay for your mom! I love that.
I had no idea about the story behind Raggedy Ann or what the character was like. Thanks for sharing that!
My absolute pleasure!
Thank you, Ramona, for sharing your childhood memories. What a beautiful essay 🧡
Excellent prompt for us. I like how you weave two histories together--your childhood memories and the Raggedy Ann origin story. Well done!
Way to heed the call Ramona! This is a lovely, enchanting entry into Tara's contest. I will be sure to hop over and give it a like. It was special to hear about your Mom recognizing the need for imagination in a child during and following the war years.
Aw, thank you. My mom was very special.
Thanks, I needed that! Lovely!
I needed it, too! ❤️ Thank you.