Buy, Buy, Buy!

I found this online and could definitely relate, as will anyone who collects children's books that are mostly out-of-print ...

The Collector’s Nightmare
(Tune: This Old Man)

What to choose? Can’t pick one!
Now my nightmares just begun!
There are Blyton, Oxenham,Needham and Jane Shaw,
Fairlie Bruce and many more.

Can’t afford to buy two,
Children’s Press will have to do!
‘Cause there’s Compton,
Buckeridge, Streatfield and the rest,
Have to settle for second best.

On the shelf I’ve found three,
Which one is the one for me?
I’ve found Bunter, Ballet Shoes,
Biggles and beyond,
Bobbsey Twins and Michael Bond.

Catalogues? I’ve had four,
Can’t stop sending off for more.
They’ve got Ransome, pony books,
Forest and Brazil,
Courtney, Johns and Lorna Hill.

Tolkein, Famous Five,
Won’t come out of this alive!
All my shelves are full, but I cannot
seem to stop,
I keep buying out the shop!

Comments

[YTSL]

Hi once more Daph --

Teeheehee re your thinking that the Chalet School's nuts. I guess that for me, it's part of the charm!

And thanks for your offer -- which I'd like to accept! -- to photo copy "The Chalet Girls Grow Up" for me. :)

[Daphne]

The school is nuts and Joey Bettany is a weirdo of the highest order! LOL

Have you ever read The Chalet Girls Grow Up by Merryn Williams?

It's hilarious.

I could photocopy it for you ...

[YTSL]

Omigod Daph --

You don't like the Chalet School series??? They're my absolute favorite boarding school series -- and so much so that they inspired me to go visit the Tirol (yes, even to the Aachensee which is the real-life inspiration for the Tiernsee), Switzerland and Guernsey!!!!!! ;(

[Daphne Lee]

Hi Yvonne, maybe the person who wrote it doesnt like the chalet school books. I don't ... apart from "Highland Twins". Or maybe she couldn't make Brent-Dyer scan or rhyme!

[YTSL]

Hi again Daph --

Thanks for taking the trouble to answer all my queries! :)

Re Jane Shaw and Anthony Buckeridge: *slaps head* Of course! Funny how it is that in their case, I can remember their books' main character but not the name of the authors!

However, the others are new to me.

Oh, and while we're on the subject of children's book authors: Oh my re no mention of Brent-Dyer in that poem! ;(

[Daphne]

Hi Yvonne!

Violet Needham .. wrote "historical" fiction set in fictional kingdoms ... Like Flavonia (IIRC) which is based on Romania, I think.

Jane Shaw ... Her Susan books are prob best known. Set in boarding school.

Anthony Buckeridge ... His best known books are the Jennings ones, abt a boy in prep school.

Gwendoline Courtney ... boarding school author, I think. Have not read anything by her.

Not sure who Johns is.

Lorna Hill ... ballet books like Dream of the Sadlers Wells and No Castenets at the Wells.

Hope that's OK!! :-)

[YTSL]

Hi Daph --

Could you please enlighten me as to who are Needham, Jane Shaw, Buckeridge, Courtney, Johns and Lorna Hill? (OTOH, the other references I do get! :b)

Thanks in advance if so! :)