Positively Not Potter Message Board

If I could recommend one book from my children's collection which, so far, no one on LT shares with me, it would be Mary Wesley's Haphazard House. What would be your recommendation?

How 'bout The Magic Meadow by Alexander Key, or The Magical Land of Wew?

The Magical Land of Wew?

John G. Kaufer, 1954. It's been called an Oz wannabe, but that's not entirely fair.

That's so obscure that Google only found two hits. I don't suppose there are many copies of it still knocking about.

Nope, but it sure has its moments. Love those ice cream trees.

I'm surprised to find a lot of my children's fiction is shared only with my son (so: the same copy, just listed twice) or with no one else. I'm very fond of Rosina Copper by Kitty Barne, a horse novel in the Black Beauty mould but actually rather sweeter IMO.

I'd have a much more extensive children's collection but I made good use of the library as a child and so it was only later that I began to collect in a somewhat random way. I still rely on the library; I'm running out of shelf space or space for shelves.

I wonder how I missed Rosina Copper? I was a huge fan of Marguerite Henry and Walter Farley.

I've just started posting some of my childrens' books and noticed no-one else has one that was one of my absolute favorites as a child - The Talking Dog and the Barking Man by Elizabeth Seeman. It's very usual, set in Mexico and really quite melancholy, and somewhat has the flavor or an old B-movie from the '50s. Not your typical child fare.

I would recommend The Blue Nosed Witch, because it's a very charming halloween tale. I enjoyed it a lot when I was younger, and it seems that only one other LTer has this book.

It's not a Hallowe'en version of Rudolph, is it? ;-) I'll see if I can find it at the library.

I'll never be able to find it, but it sounds interesting.

It's nothing to do with Rudolph. LOL It's set in the 50's, it's a girl going to witch school I think, I haven't read it in a while.

I thought she had a bright blue nose? The library doesn't have it, so I'll keep a look out for it at my favourite bookshop. I'm currently reading something you might like, but I'll talk about it on LJ, if I ever go back there.

Honestly, I can't remember if she really had a blue nose or if it was a false nose. I'll have to dig out my copy now! :)

Hardly an obscure name, but I'd recommend John Bellairs to anyone who appreciates fantasy. He's an author that I grew up with and still enjoy a great deal today.

The Face in the Frost is one of my favourite novels, but all of his books are worthwhile and the Gorey illustrations are icing on the cake.

Hi,

I just found & immediately joined this group. What a great idea! Up with Ursula LeGuin & Lloyd Alexander! My recommendations would have to include her Earthsea series and his Chronicles of Prydain series. Also, does anyone else remember The Gammage Cup?

Good idea, even if it's a bit quiet.

Where is the group picture from?

Dark is Rising was one of my early favourites, Owl service another.

The group picture is by the Swedish artist John Bauer (1882-1918). He specialised in trolls.

The Gammage Cup was one of my most loved books as a child. I checked it out of the library again and again. There is a sequel, The Whisper of Glocken, that is a bit darker, but just as enchanting.

Okay, I may not be welcome. I love the Harry Potter books, but I had to comment on The Amazing Land of Wew by John G. Kaufer. It was one of my favorite books!

My brother won it at school and I read it many, many times. I ended up with it but he found out and wanted it back (50 years later) so I bought myself a copy. It is just a great book for stimulating the imagination!

Other books I remember: Beautiful Joe by Marshall Saunders which made me cry, Hans Brinker by Mary Mapes Dodge, Scarlett O'Neal and Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I'm sure there are others I'll remember later! :D

I wasn't able to get the touchstones working in the previous post so I will try it here.

The Amazing Land of Wew
Beautiful Joe
Hans Brinker
The Invisible Scarlet O'Neal
Farmer Boy

I read The Gammage Cup again not long ago and liked it as much as I had the first time. A charming book in every way.

There's astonishingly little about The Amazing Land of Wew online. More than there was a year ago now that it's been mentioned here, but not much.