Review - childhood memories / Reviews / Blog

I hope we all have happy memories from our childhoods. For me, many of these involved reading. I’ve always loved books.

Book cover for Cinderella by Ladybird. Cover shows a painted image of a young woman with long blonde hair wearing a long pink satin gown. A golden coach with a coachmen and footman wearing red and gold livery is in the background.

Cinderella by Ladybird - a whole generation grew up reading these wonderful little books

I’m from the generation who grew up reading Ladybird books. We all learnt to read following the adventures of brother and sister Peter and Jane, and their loyal Red Setter, Pat. These small, cheap, readily available books covered a bewildering range of topics – from fairy tales, history and science to the modern world around us. The illustrations were works of art in their own right. One of my favourite Ladybird books was Cinderella – who didn’t just have one gown to go to the ball in, but three! Each one was bigger and more beautiful than the last.

I no longer have any of my Ladybird books, but I still have some of my favourite childhood books to this day. Two, in particular, have wonderful illustrations of 17th Century fashions.

Dean's Gift Book of Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes

I’m sure many people growing up in Britain during the 1970s and 80s had these books as children – they were very popular. I was given these as a gift by my nan, and it’s innocently charming that at that time I was unable to write my own name properly!

Illustrated by the very talented Johnstone twins, the pictures used alongside classic tales such as Sleeping Beauty and Babes in the Wood are exquisite. Each story or rhyme is given a very specific historical setting, which is depicted in fine detail and accuracy.

Painted illustration showing the title page from a book of fairytales. Printed text in an antique font says 'This book belongs to:' and underneath is a child's name written in an unsure hand. A cat in bucket top boots regards the message.

Taking ownership of my book - I'm sure I used my very best handwriting!

There’s only one rhyme which has a 17^th Century illustration – ‘Curly Locks, Curly Locks, wilt thou be mine?’ – but there are two fairy tales which are given a definite 17^th Century vibe.

A young girl with long, curly blonde hair, sits on a large cushion sewing. She is accompanied by two toy spaniels, and then is a silver tray bearing a large silver bowl of strawberries, a silver jug and silver sugar sprinkler

This is my dream life!

Puss in Boots is set in the 1630s. The king has more than a passing resemblance to Charles I, and I adore his curly eared spaniel. There’s only one illustration of the Princess, but she’s beautifully painted, wearing a simple but utterly stylish olive green satin gown – so typical of the elegant dresses worn at this time.

Painted illustrustration of a 17th Century king, wearing a red suit. He has long brown curly hair and sits on his throne. A small black anf white spaniel stands at his feet on a black cushion, and a young page boy with blonde hair stands by his side.

Painted illustration of a young 17th Century couple. She has long auburn hair and wears a pale green/gold satin gown. He wears a white satin suit trimmed with gold braid, and offers his lady a pink rose. A cat stands on his hind legs in front.

Beauty & the Beast has a slightly later setting - more 1650s. I didn’t think the Beast was particularly handsome when he turned back into the prince, but his clothing is bang up to date with the latest fashions. And the stunning red gown worn by one of Beauty’s sisters has inspired at least two of my own court/banqueting gowns.

Painted illustration of four figures in 17th Century dress. Two young women stand, whilst a mature man sits on a stool with another young woman seated on the floor at his side

Anne & Janet Graham Johnstone really knew how to paint satin fabrics, and their talents show off the beauty and lustre of mid-17^th Century fashions perfectly.

Fairy Tale Time - published by Octopus

Painted illustratration of a young woman with fair hair dressed in ringlets. She wears a 17th Century style gown in green and white. She holds her arms out to the side as if she were flying like a bird

The title page to 'Donkeyskin'

This book was a birthday present from a neighbour. The stories are a little different to most collections of fairy tales – several are Eastern European (I think) and are much darker. So, we have the sad tales of the Little Match Girl and the Little Mermaid, alongside other less well-known stories such as Mother Holly and the Three Little Men in the Woods.

Painted illustration of a young woman wearing 17th Century dress making a cake. She has golden hair dressed in ringlets, and wears a red and blue dress, with wide white collar and cuffs

The book is the product of more than one illustrator, and I liked some more than others. But the one story which really caught my imagination was that of Donkeyskin. Again, it’s a little dark, but the setting is pure mid-1600s. I’d say the images are more unpolished than the Johnstone’s work, with more of a fanciful element. But, still, as a child, I was captivated.

Do you still hold on to treasured works of literature from your childhood? What inspired you when you were younger?

Review - childhood memories

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