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The Cuckoo Clock

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BfK No. 52 - September 1988

Cover Story
The illustrations on our cover are taken from Starting School by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, published by Viking Kestrel (0 670 81688 4, £6.95). We are grateful to Viking Kestrel for help in using these illustrations.

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The Cuckoo Clock

Mrs Molesworth
(Puffin Books)
978-0140350937, RRP £2.50, Paperback
8-10 Junior/Middle
Buy "The Cuckoo Clock (Puffin Classics)" on Amazon

A pleasant, old-fashioned story from the days when children were seen but not heard, did exactly what they were told, and were expected to keep to their station in life. This tale of lonely Griselda, who is befriended by a caring, didactic cuckoo, encapsulates the flavour of the Victorian children's story which was considered acceptable for young minds. It is written in the same vein as The Railway Children or the poem 'Matilda told such dreadful lies' and is full of advice e.g. 'Grumbling ... does not always do good, furthermore an ill-tempered child is not ... likely to be loved as much as a good-tempered one.' Mature readers, top juniors upwards (especially girls) might read this. I'd buy a copy for the school library but then I have a penchant for things old-fashioned!

Reviewer: 
Nigel Spencer
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