Dear Reader

I’m not reading like I used to (curse you, Internet!) so I’m having a little reading festival with these books I picked up recently. Starting with a lovely picture book of a Shaker sampler.
This is my favourite page: washing and a quilt on the line, a Durer-like rhinoceros plus a dear little kangaroo.I don’t remember ever reading Heidi so I'm starting here. I love the randy goats in the background; I’m sure they are just being friendly. I’m pretty sure I read Tom’ Midnight Garden when I was young but don’t remember the plot at all: Tom discovers something magical and adventurous when he is sent away from his sick brother. I love stories about children having to leave their families (during the war, because of illness) and the magical and strange people they discover (Carrie's War, Bedknobs and Broomsticks).
Rosemary Takes to Teaching, bought purely for the scary Rosemary on the cover. She doesn’t look like any teacher I know! No-one could have a waistline like that without drugs either. This is from a series called ‘Career Books’ for girls to give ‘a glimpse into the life of a school teacher'. Books in the series include Linda Learns to Type, Ann Hudson Apprentice Hairdresser, and Susan Kendall Qualifies (I'm not sure what Susan qualifies at, hopefully something like Assassin or Kickboxer).I love that Penny goes home again. Crikey, we send her away but the little blighter keeps finding her way home.