I just sent a query regarding the children’s story Never Worked and Never Will. Looking to find the book that contained this story that we read in the mid to late 1950s.
Stump the Bookseller
New format, same book stumper solving.
I just sent a query regarding the children’s story Never Worked and Never Will. Looking to find the book that contained this story that we read in the mid to late 1950s.
This was the story of a wood carver, probably written by Margaret Wise Brown, but I’ve been unable to find the name of any book in which the story appeared.
In the Solutions pages, T6 mentions the following: Storytime Tales-A Treasury of Favorite Stories Pictures by Corinne Malvern – A Big Golden Book; 1950, Simon and Schuster, that includes the story “Never Worked and Never Will” by Margaret Wise Brown about a woodcarver
Well, I feel stupid here, but I find a Solved page but no Solutions page and the numbering goes with the number first and the letter second. Can someone give me directions on how to find this? Thank you!
Bridget, Margaret is referencing our old archives page which can be found here: . Our whole website will be changing soon and I am not sure if this will be included in the new page or not.
Ami
Ami, thank you but there is no “here” here. There is no link.
Bridget
Sorry wordpress is acting stupid. Let’s try again. http://w1.loganberrybooks.com/nostalgia.html
This story is one of my favorites from Margaret Wise Brown’s Wonderful Story Book. My mom got it at a used library book sale when I was little, and I still have it.
the book is Strange Lands and Faraway Places
the story is about woodcarver Hans Vril (or Vrill) who,
according to the sign outside his shop,
never worked and never will
I got it – if you love what you do, it ain’t work
I had a collection of Margaret Wise Brown stories in the early 50’s, called, I am sure, The Wonderful Story Book. It included “Never Worked and Never Will,” as well as the story about the little girl who got a steamroller for Christmas, my all-time favorite — and many other good stories and poems. I would love to find this book again, now that I’m in my second childhood.
I will never forget reading that story back in second grade. It made a big impression on me as the firs story I felt like I understood had important meaning. The teacher asked the class what the title was about and I was so proud that I could tell the class about it, and I was not yet a particular strong reader.
I first read this story, or most likely an abbreviated version of it, in a second-grade reader titled “Friends and Neighbors.” I loved that story! It has been a lifelong influence.
This story appears in a 1954 school reader called Treat Shop. The author is indeed, Margaret, wise brown, and it is illustrated by either Hans Helberg or Imero Gabbato (not clear which, unfortunately).