h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I thought The Hunger Games made a very good film this year. I'm not sure why but I think having it on screen, particularly the way it was shot, made it much more visceral than in my imagination.

Terry Pratchet's Nation asks the fundamental question: what do you do when the world ends? We start off with two characters who lose everything and then have to rebuild with the book looking at all the different ways things can die and be reborn. Even in amongst these grand questions of philosophy and theology, the human story at the heart of it all doesn't get lost. Aimed at a young adult audience (though everyone should read it) Nation doesn't shy away from the difficult questions and the biggest challenges and never once patronises its audience. There's a delightful seam of scientific enquiry in there as well as Pratchet's trademark humour.

The His Dark Materials trilogy covers similar ground to Nation: following two teenagers through world-(or worlds-) changing events but the scale is so much bigger and the fundamental schism between destiny and free will. Whilst Nation discusses alternate realties, His Dark Materials explores them in gloriously rich detail.

(A87762513 – Page Turner)
The worst ever film 'based' on a book has to be Biggles – the Movie.

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Sven Nordqvist
Swedish illustrator and writer, born 1946

Nordqvist is mostly known for his children's book series 'Pettson and Findus', which are apart from Sweden especially popular in Germany. The elderly farmer Pettson lives together with his young and cheerful cat Findus, whom Pettson has found in a cardboard box. Findus can talk and wears trousers and a hat. All books have colorful and detailed illustrations and tell of the everyday life on the farm - which Findus makes a bit unusual.
There is also a TV series and films of Pettson and Findus.

Sorry, this is probably my fault, but the Title of the Megan McDonald book is 'When the Library Lights Go Out' I just always shortened it and I realise I did in me last post.

Me very naughty.

Lynley Dodd

Is a New Zealand author who wrote the charming rhyming books for under fives, such as Hairy Maclary, Slinki Malinki and my particular favourite, (which she illustrated and co-authored with Eve Sutton), 'My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes.' Young children love the repetitive rhyme and her adorable illustrations. There is enough humour in both the text and the images to keep parents amused even after countless readings.

The Cat from France likes to sing and dance ...

I didn't realise that was one of hers!

Little Women by Louisa M Alcott is the story of the trials and tribulations of four impoverished sisters and the rich but lonely boy who lives next door. A classic which everybody should read, there are three sequels.

[Honestly. It's *Little Women*. Just read it.]

Mol

Although this article is taking shape, there are still a lot of authors and books that I don't know much about which I would like an explanation of. These are:

Sandra Boynton
Anthony Buckeridge
David Carter
Susan Coolidge
Susan Cooper
Janosch
Madelein L'Engle
Rosemary Manning
Robert Munsch
Malcolm Saville
Shel Silverstein
Neal Stephenson
Rosemary Sutcliff
TH White
David Henry Wilson
Luzmilla Zeman

Chalet school
Dr Doolittle
Animal Ark books
Conrad's War
Brer Rabbit books
Emil and the Detectives
How to Eat Fried Worms
The Phantomn Tollbooth
Zane Gray westerns
the Black Cauldron series
Bobbsey Twins
The Princess and the Goblins
Milly Molly Mandy, And My Naughty Little Sister.
Mrs Pepperpot
Trixie Beldens
Encyclopedia Browns
Robert Peck

I'm not ashamed to say that I've not read all the children's books discussed in the thread by a long way, but it would be a shame if some of these books, which hold treasured memories for many of our researchers, get left out of the article through my ignorance when there are people in this thread who can tell me a short paragraph about them to be included in the article.

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Emil and the Detectives is covered in the section about Erich Kästner.

And I found out that I certainly made a mistake with the translations of the book titles in the section about Thomas Brezina, I'll let you know about the right titles as soon as I know.

I'll try and help out with a few more BB, but it will be after the weekend at the earliest.

If we get to a position where we don't have any details, we can just take the author out. If new information comes in, we can add it later, after the Entry is Approved, via the Curator scheme.


Lanzababy

Mrs Pepperpot was written by alf proysen. These are books for children starting out as independent readers. Mrs Pepperpot shrinks (to the size of a pepper pot). Once she has shrunk she had all sorts of amusing adventures. I have memories of her riding on a bird and falling in soup although not simultaneously.

ISTR Neal Stephenson is another one nest know for his adult science fiction work.
All I know about TH White is that he wrote one of the better known modern adaptations of the Arthurian mythology.
Both of the above I can flesh out with the aid of Wikipedia, but then I could do that for all the ones I've never heard of too: it's not what you're looking for.

The Phantom Tollbooth one of my favourite books as a child (the first time I read it it only took me a day)

Milo is a bored early teen, when he get home from school one day there is a package addressed to him. He opens it and a large 'toy' car and a Tollbooth appear. There's a token (somewhere - I'll find the book and check). He's really bored but tries the car and booth anyway and is transported to another world. There's a war of sorts going on between the peoples of Digitopolis (the numbers) and Dictionopolis (the words).
He meets a dog called Tock (because he has an alarm clock round his neck) in the first place he comes to, The Doldrums. Tock scares away the inhabitaants and together they try to stop the war. There's *lot* more to it than that, they are also trying to save the Princesses, Rhyme and Reason, meet various strange characters (again, I'll need to find the book to give any names) and there is all the stuff about numbers being better than words and vice versa. It's a very clever, very funny little book.

It was made into a film in 1970 Some live action (which looks very dated, now) and the main story is animated and quite psychedelic.

I highly recommend either.

Dr Doolittle was written by Hugh Lofting in the 1920s. The Dr eschews his human patients in favour of animals with whom he can converse. The books are fairly long and densely written with some fantastic language yet nothing too alarming happens. There are a number of adventures, they have to save their house and then he Dr goes travelling and collects animals from around the world rescuing them from danger. One of these is the push me - pull me an animal with two heads which argues with itself. I enjoyed these books when I was young and found them great to read with my son when his ability to comprehend language outstripped his ability to deal with plots meant for older children. They are quite innocent books and funny.

Thanks everyone - hope I didn't seem too impatient earlier. (A87762513)
Just Bob, as you've said I'd prefer to avoid too much fleshing out from Wikipedia - as this article's based on a Talking Point, I think it's better to have as much of the content come from researchers who have read their books so we can benefit from their own uniqye opinions and perspectives on the authors concerned, rather than paraphrasing whatever Wikipedia has to say. (Although the article does need a factual structure and can't just be opinion). We're not Wikipedia and shouldn't try to be.

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Hi BB

I think you missed my (very small) amount on Johanna Spyri (Post 128) So I'll add it again here with a small amount of elaboration.

Johanna Spyri

Johanna Spyri (1827-1901) was a Swiss writer of fiction for both children and adults. Her most widely known book is Heidi, which was published in two parts - Heidi's Years of Apprenticeship & Travel in 1880 and Heidi Applies What She Has Learned in 1881. This is a much-loved children's story about a little orphan who goes to live with her grandfather and his goats in his hut in the Swiss Alps. It has been made into both films and TV mini-series.

Great job by the way!

Deb

The Chalet School books are a series of 68 stories by Elinor M Brent-Dyer, which follow the girls at a fictional school started in Austria in the 1920s. The school moves to Guernsey after the Anschluss, then relocates to the English/Welsh borders during WW2; after a couple of years on a Welsh island the school moves to its final location in the Swiss mountains. During the series, former pupils and staff marry and send their own daughters to the school, or come back to visit or teach, so the reader feels part of a big community of friends. There are currently two fan clubs, and several 'new' Chalet School books have been published in recent years. Elinor M Brent-Dyer herself wrote several more books with characters that subsequently arrive at the Chalet School (as well as others that have no connection). Not all of her books are currently in print but there is a wide second-hand market - although beware, as the paperback versions published in her lifetime were often heavily edited, and some of the hardbacks now change hands for over £100.

Susan M Coolidge is best known for her series of books about Katy Carr and her siblings, who live in Ohio. Katy is a heedless 12 year old, the oldest of six children who live with their father and his sister, Aunt Izzie. Katy wants to be beautiful and serene like her grown-up Cousin Helen, who is an invalid, but is forever getting herself into mischief. Her life changes when she injures her back in an accident and is unable to walk; 'What Katy Did', the first book, tells the story of Katy and her scrapes, her accident, and her eventual recovery. In 'What Katy Did At School' Katy and her sister Clover spend a year at a small boarding school in New Hampshire. Three sequels followed, following Katy, and later Clover, into their respective marriages - and, in Clover's case, relocation to Colarado. These are excellent family stories, with humour and romance, and plenty of American scenery.

Mol
(Have we done Laura Ingalls Wilder yet?)

Sorry that should be 58 not 68 in the Chalet School series. It's a really good one for if you are convalescing from flu ...

Sorry Deb, I thought I'd added you, but perhaps it didn't save properly with the problems I've had lately – thanks for pointing it out!

Mol, I've written a little about Laura Ingalls Wilder (I've actually read most of them!) but if you wish to add more/rewrite what I've put, you're more than welcome to.

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My Naughty Little Sister (MNLS) was written by Dorothy Edwards. These are stories of childhood, an older sister writing about her younger sister. The stories are fairly short and usually amusing. I remember one where my MNLS was ill and spoke to everyone who came to the door during the day (the postman, the milkman) eliciting sympathy, stories and treats. These stories differ substantially from the modern day equivalent (Horrid Henry) as MNLS has a more complex personality, sometimes she’s good, sometimes she means to be good and sometimes she’s naughty.

Laura Ingalls Wilder: you've missed out the word 'ghastly' in front of 'TV series'

The Milly Molly Mandy books were written and illustrated by Joyce Lankaster Brisley (sister of Nina K Brisley, who provided the early dustwrapper illustrations for the Chalet School series). Millicent Margaret Amanda is a small girl who lives with her extended family in a cottage in 1920s rural England. Her playmates are Susan and Billy, and these gentle stories tell of a very simple life, about events like a day at the sea, buying fabric for a new dress, or mother having a haircut.

I suppose, given that it was my original name here, I ought to mention the Agaton Sax books by Nils Olaf Franzen. Agaton Sax is a Swedish super detective who also edits a newspaper 'The Bykoping Post'. He fearlessly assists Inspector Lispington of Scotland Yard in the detection of crime and the snaring of cunning international masterminds (as well as their dimwitted associates). The stories are hugely entertaining, and brilliantly illustrated by Quentin Blake.

Mol