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Thursday, 19 March 2015

Scarfolk Children's Books (1970s)

This year it's 100 years since Ladybird books were first published. Generations of children turned to these pocket-sized hardbacks for their favourite fairy tales, but not only: They read sanitised, biased accounts of history's bloodiest chapters, as well as the biographies of popular, cruel despots such as Genghis Khan, Caligula and Queen Elizabeth II. They even learned how to make useless objects from hazardous components and how to destroy imbecilic superstitions with rudimentary science.

Unfortunately, Scarfolk children were not interested in Ladybird books or the subjects that entertained and educated other British children. To meet their needs, the Scarfolk Book company created its own series of small hardback books. A selection of some of the more popular editions is below.






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22 comments:

  1. riot ville19 March 2015 at 09:46

    Brilliant! Just brilliant!!

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  2. Carl19 March 2015 at 18:31

    Another fantastic post!

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  3. MumblingNerd25 March 2015 at 11:50

    I wish you'd stop making me laugh, it's making my face hurt and it's upsetting the neighbours...

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  4. Anonymous26 March 2015 at 07:55

    Oh, look a "witty" commentary on religion. How original and edgy.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous28 March 2015 at 10:32

      Oh lighten up! You'll find being alive a much more enjoyable experience

      Delete
    2. Anonymous17 December 2015 at 14:16

      Ponce. Thirty lashes and go get a sense of humour.

      Delete
    3. Bruce_Chattan_Actor18 January 2016 at 13:23

      I do "enjoy" the "unnecessary" use of "quote marks" by "people" whose iron rod is "irritating" their rectum. """"""""""

      Delete
  5. Unknown26 March 2015 at 08:45

    FAB FAB FAB

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  6. Unknown27 March 2015 at 11:31

    "The past is another country. They do things differently there. I wouldn't recommend it as a holiday destination" from the Kindle blurb. I'm sure our renewable-energy hating Treasurer,Joe Hockey, would enjoy building a Pylon Treehouse. Somewhere to smoke his cigars in peace.

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  7. Dad-of-Three2 April 2015 at 09:20

    Fantasic! The pylon treehouses particularly caught my eye. Fantastic easter project for the kids.

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  8. Duncan Lewis17 April 2015 at 10:28

    I remember trying to build the pylon tree house as a kid, but it was difficult as the instructions were fundamentally flawed. The wooden floor was far too flexible and the whole structure had an alarming tendency to sway in even a moderate wind. I advise any parent embarking on this project with their children, or anyone else's for that matter, to learn from my mistakes: Use a single piece of sheet iron for the floor, and tether the whole structure securely to the ground and overhead wires with steel cable at least 20 mm thick. Health and safety is no accident.

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    1. Unknown23 October 2016 at 23:22

      thanks! it's so nice to get friendly and helpful advice! that's what makes the difference between a collective and a community!

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  9. Anonymous20 April 2015 at 14:56

    Love the Hunting book. The sort of thing you used to be able to do with your siblings before Health and Safety!

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    1. Dad-of-Three28 April 2015 at 21:25

      ...and I did. She didn't need a left eye anyway. How we laughed!!!!

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  10. Anonymous29 June 2015 at 20:35

    I had a copy of "Dealing with Radiation Sickness" in this series. Our legal guardian read it to us so often it fell apart. Memories.

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  11. Anonymous25 September 2015 at 12:33

    I love this blog!!!

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  12. Unknown3 February 2016 at 23:17

    Once upon at time there were two Brothers. ITS GRIMM UP NORTH.

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  13. Lugodoc22 February 2016 at 13:11

    I just discovered this site searching for an old Ladybird Book Of Sex Education which I can remember from the early 70s so clearly that I can still picture the cover, but which all my friends say never existed and that I should get help. Your site has made all that unecessary. Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. Kirsty14 March 2017 at 19:55

      It does exist, Lugodoc. We had a WI talk last year on Ladybird books and the speaker specifically mentioned it. I believe the book is called Your Body and it was from 1967.

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  14. Unknown13 April 2016 at 08:14

    Absolutely wonderful!!!!!!

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  15. IdealFun23 August 2016 at 19:54

    One power line wow, boy mommy sure knew how to be efficient with her electricity.

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