I am looking for a book which was the first full length read I had, which was
in about 1955. I believe the book was written in the 1940’s or 1950’s, not sure.
It concerned a group of creatures, a squirrel, elf, bird, maybe others, who were
comrades, and hung out either by an old abandoned mill, or big oak tree, by a
river or stream.
At the end of the book, something caused this group to break up, and some of the
comrades to have to leave, travel, wander. ( I was shattered)
I have tried ABE books, not much success, just saw you bookstore & service in
Book Review / NY Times, “Authors Note / sarah manguso” Sunday March 8.
The longing she describes about a “lost” chidren’s book is all too familiar to me.
Like most people, I have suffered partings, endings of life eras, but nothing so
deep as the loss of these characters & the world they inhabited.
I think ABE suggested, maybe, Dorothy Clewes as author, but when I reviewed
various contents of books, did not seem right. If any, might be: The Wild Wood 1945,
but I really have little idea.
HELP ! & thanks
Maybe one of the Woodlander Series books by Elleston Trevor? They were published in the 40s and early 50s. Deep Wood is the first of them. Stripe the Badger and his friends start out in a hollow tree, and I believe at least one of the animals moves to a newly fixed-up abandoned mill at the end of the first book.
Have you tried Elsa Beskow? Her books are described here–scroll down for the individual titles. http://www.florisbooks.co.uk/authors/elsa-beskow.php
This could be “Pookie in Search of a Home” by Ivy Wallace, a British book originally published in 1951.
A long shot, but maybe ‘The Secret of the Ancient Oak’ by Wolo (1942)?
“Deep in the woods near a lily-pond is a rugged oak tree. The busy woodpeckers and squirrels, the orioles and the family of fishing raccoons, the wild honey bees, a deaf old owl and a watchful groundhog have all made this tree their home.
The oak tree families are all so busy, finding food and bringing up the children, that, even though they share the same happy home, they scarcely know each other.
One day, however, for across the pond comes Tarrux, the savage black beaver-so wicked that not even his brother beavers will have anything to do with him. He has destroyed all the trees on his side of the pond, and now he starts to gnaw on the old oak tree.
The animals of the oak tree are too busy with their own affairs to pay attention to the warnings of Ilgamoot, the groundhog, who realizes their danger and begs them to come down and drive Tarrux away.
But Tarrux gnaws on, for no one believes that he really means to destroy their home. Not until it is almost too late do the animals realize their danger and that there is only one way to save their home.”
Could you perhaps be looking for Mother West Wind stories by Thornton W. Burgess?
thank all of you so much. I was losing hope. At least I have the
options you have generously given me to search out.
Delighted, & grateful, no kidding!
mk
thank all of you VERY much, was losing hope.
Now have some great leads, much to do.
Wonderful. Will let know if succeed.
The post about the “Mother West Wind” stories has helped my brother and I solve our childhood book mystery. Thank you so much.