The Idyllic World of Peter and Jane

On Friday I found an old Ladybird Peter and Jane book. As soon as I opened it, I was taken back to a day when my parents solemnly announced that I was going to learn to read, as if it was an unpleasant medical procedure that had to be endured. I protested, but they wouldn't listen and silently, we got in my dad's clapped-out Ford Prefect and drove to "The Christian Bookshop" in Richmond.

We returned home with a Ladybird book and I began to read for the first time: "This is Peter. This is Jane. This is Peter and Jane. Peter likes Jane. Jane likes Peter..." It wasn't the most exciting narrative, but it did the job.

Even at the age of five, I could see that the late 1950s/early 60s illustrations belonged to another world. Listening to threads of my parents' conversations, it seemed to have once been a real world, but was destroyed when young men decided to grow their hair longer. I couldn't understand why it should be bad to have hair like Jesus, but I accepted that I wasn't being told everything.

If you're not familiar with the idyllic world of Peter and Jane, here is a typical story:

Peter and Jane's mummy is making an apple pie. She does not have any apples.

She asks Peter and Jane to buy some at the greengrocer. Peter has the money and Jane has a basket.

On the way to the shops, Peter says that they should walk into town and spend the money on sweets.

They can take the apples from Mrs Pippin's garden on the way home.

It is a long walk to the shops in town.

Luckily, a friendly stranger offers them a lift.

He lets Peter and Jane sit in the front. They like this.

When the stranger sees a police car, he says that Peter and Jane must get out quickly.

The shops are not far now.

"Look!" says Peter. "Here is the sweet shop."

Peter has aniseed balls. Jane buys some sherbert lemons.

Peter has some money left, so they travel home by bus.

On the way home, they see the friendly stranger helping some other children.

Before going home, Peter and Jane climb into Mrs Pippin's garden. There are lots of juicy red apples.

Peter gives Mrs Pippin's dog an aniseed ball to stop it barking.

Jane's mummy has made a surprise tea, but Peter has eaten too many sweets. He has a tummy ache.

There is a knock at the door. It is Mrs Pippin.

As you can, it's a nice innocent story for young boys and girls who are learning to read. The illustrations are by John Berry, who also illustrated the Ladybird Book of the Recession and a very informative title about scout badges. I hope that these titles will reappear in print at some point in the future.