Uploaded March 2018 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The joys of libraries and reading, aimed fair and square at kids, but in a delightfully unpedagogical way.
Elizabeth Brown eschews dolls and hates skates, but just loves books. By the time they've taken over her house [a situation painfully familiar to your correspondent], something must be done.
Quirky, fun and splendidly illustrated.
More children's story read videos at thisoldHoarehouse.com
The joys of libraries and reading, aimed fair and square at kids, but in a delightfully unpedagogical way.
Elizabeth Brown eschews dolls and hates skates, but just loves books. By the time they've taken over her house [a situation painfully familiar to your correspondent], something must be done.
Quirky, fun and splendidly illustrated.
More children's story read videos at thisoldHoarehouse.com
![Lady Muck by William Mayne, with [inspired] woodcuts by Jonathan Heale, reviewed by Nicholas Hoare](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EwgbMuHt3zQ/mqdefault.jpg "Lady Muck by William Mayne, with [inspired] woodcuts by Jonathan Heale, reviewed by Nicholas Hoare
A pig named Boark lived in the mud, and one day to his wife, he said, Sowk, my Sowk, what can I do to please and happy you, my Sowky dear?
Oink, said she, go snuffly and diggy fat sweet rooties. That will happy me, Boark, my Boarky dear, from grunt to squeal.
This is, unashamedly, a childrens book for adults. In deliciously Lennon-like prose, one is not merely introduced, but transported to our heroes: two immensely portly pigs, whose devotion to each other is unquestioned, but whose predilection for truffles leads them into trouble plenty.
William Mayne is a master storyteller, who remains curiously forgotten. This book, which was first published in 1997, remains a minor (and most decorative) classic. Go forth with our blessing and procure this splendid piece of nonsense soonest. It will pleasure you, as the author might say, to such an extent that, if you have any sense of performance at all - and relish rhythm and rhyme - even your youngest will respond in kind.
https://thisoldhoarehouse.com")
