Customer Reviews

Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There may be no better book for reading aloud to pre-teens. Originally one of the stories in Farjeon's "Tales Told Under the Green Umbrella" -- long out of print -- Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep is easily as much fun for the adult reader as for the young listener, and in this case that is saying a great deal. It is actually two consecutive stories (ideal for consecutive nights), one a delightful fantasy of fairies and skipping rope -- just as appealing to boys as to girls, honest -- and the second an adventure, at once enthralling and emotionally satisfying, with an ending that will bring tears of delight to all who hear it.

Any child, and I am now fifty-nine years old, who can recite Andy Spandy's ropeskipping rhyme has me for a friend. This is one of those tales for children that sounds better being told aloud by a good reader. When I was growing up, both my parents loved to read aloud, and my sister and I heard many fine tales before the fireplace, listening to mother or father.
But the lilt of the language as the rope swings round is the unforgettable part:
ANDY SPANDY SUGARDY CANDY
FRENCH ALMOND ROCK!
BREAD AND BUTTER FOR YOUR SUPPER'S
ALL YOUR MOTHER'S GOT!

This is a wonderful book. It has everything a girl (around 8 or 9) might love: fairies, jumpropes, politics. My daughter really enjoyed it and so did I.

I just want to say that this is my favorite children's book ever. My father found it in paperback when I was young, and read it to me, and it remains my favorite. It is a bit long (might be a two night read for younger kids), but the ending gives you goosebumps like a Springsteen song. I have this edition in hardback, and it's really nicely made. Also if you like this I would recommend Roald Dahl's Danny the Champion of the World. Not as famous as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but a really good kid's novel. That said...Andy Spandy Sugardy Candy French Almond ROCK! breadandbutterforyoursupper'sallyourmother'sgot.

Farjeon is a welcome memory from my own childhood; her books are somewhat out of fashion these hectic days, but they are so worth looking into again! For the parent who wants her child to be entertained by great writing and a true touch of what matters to a child, this is the book for you! I love it.

All the other reviews here have it right, Elsie Piddock Skips in Her Sleep is a wonderful, well-written story with a good foundation and a positive ending. However, there are some themes within the book (the loss of childhood/innocence, poverty, the coldness of industrial development, etc) that are very sad. Those themes give it weight and breadth, of course, and it's exceptional - but if you wouldn't give your child The Velveteen Rabbit to read, maybe reconsider this one.

We were given this book when my children were ages 4 and 6. At the time, I was involved in trying to save natural areas near our neighborhood. The kids loved this book, I loved this book, and we all understood the relationship between fairies, using your natural gifts, and pursuing your dreams. I was surprsed the kids loved it as much as they did (girl and boy). We still read the story about once a year -- always aloud, even thought the kids are now 9 and 11! We, too, loved the rhyme, almost like a chorus, which another reviewer shared. The illustrations are also lovely.

Wasn't sure my son would go for this book, because the main character is a girl who loves to jump rope (not our usual fare), but I was enamored with it and gave it a go. I'm glad I did, because he loved it. The writing flows very nicely, and has it's own 'Old World charm' - "Elsie Piddock skips as never so." Lots of fun to read, and a great story about standing up for what is important to you sort of snuck in there...
Buy this book as a gift for anyone who has girls because they will surely love it!

A 1001 CBYMRBYGU. Elsie Piddock is the most amazing skipper ever. Elsie can do the Strong Skip. Elsie can do the Long Skip. Elsie can do the Skip All Together. Elsie is so good she gets tutored by the fairies. And these skipping skills can come in handy when a bad guy comes to town....A modern tall tale.

"In the Sly Skip not a fairy could catch her, or know where she would skip to next; so artful was she, that she could skip through the lattice of a skeleton leaf, and never break it."