The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook. Joyce Lankester Brisley. 1928. 224 pages. [Source: Library]
First sentence: Once upon a time there was a little girl. She had a Father, and a Mother, and a Grandpa, and a Grandma, and an Uncle, and an Aunty; they all lived together in a nice white cottage with a thatched roof.
Premise/plot: Milly Molly Mandy stars in a collection of stories. This book was originally published in 1928. There are other Milly Molly Mandy books. The stories--at least in this initial collection--are episodic. Each story stands more or less on its own. It features (relatively) the same cast of characters: her immediate family (see above) and her friends Toby and Susan.
The stories in this collection:
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes Errands (I would personally say go ON errands, but the table of contents says otherwise)
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Spends a Penny
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Meets Her Great-Aunt
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes Blackberrying
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes to a Party
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Enjoys a Visit
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes Gardening
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Keeps Shop
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Gives A Party
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Gets to Know Teacher
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes to a Fete
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Has A Surprise
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes to A Concert
- Milly-Molly-Mandy's Mother Goes Away
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes to the Sea
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Minds a Baby
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes on an Expedition
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Helps to Thatch a Roof
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Keeps House
- Milly-Molly-Mandy and the Blacksmith's Wedding
- Milly-Molly-Mandy Has a New Dress
My thoughts: I enjoyed this one thoroughly. I did. It is old-fashioned for sure. These stories are like licks on a lollipop. I don't know that any one story stands out as wow or amazing. But taken together there is something satisfying about spending time with Milly-Molly-Mandy. I'm not sure how much appeal this character will have for young children or children. Perhaps if introduced to the stories by someone who passionately loves these characters, these books, and takes the time to pass on the tradition???
This is a book that I [and probably plenty of other adults] could imagine being read by their grandparents when they were little. And that adds an element of sentimentality perhaps.
© 2023 Becky Laney of Young Readers
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