Author Archives: admin

330N: Krakatoa Survivors Stories

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I read a paperback in my parent’s basement about the explosion of the volcano Krakatoa. This would have been in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Although factual, it was an easy read as if historical fiction. It described how the politicians delayed evacuating the island because there was an election coming up. It also talked about a guy put in jail who was one of the few survivors. It described the pyroclastic cloud and flow. There were a couple of other people who survived that is focused on, one a baby, I think. All I can find is Winchester’s book, which I have read. It’s so long ago, I can’t recall the title or author. Do you think you can help?

330M: Hibernating Animal behind a Red Door

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This book was one my sister and I read in the 1970’s to early 1980’s. I recall that there was a forest creature (cannot remember what kind) who possibly (moved?) to a new house in the forest with a red door. I think his friends were supposed to wake him up for some reason but then they couldn’t find his house with the door, because it was covered with a fallen tree (?) or maybe snow(?). I think they kept finding red things that didn’t turn out to be the door. It would have been a shorter children’s story with a lot of pictures. We read it in English.

330L: “You can’t make a necklace out of that…”

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I’m hoping you can help me locate a book and/or locate at least the book title.  I was born in 1966.  From ages 5 to 8 yrs old, my grandfather would read me a children’s book that meant the world to me!  The premise of the book was a young girl trying to make a necklace, but she had mundane items like pennies or other things that were useless.  I do not remember the end of the story…sorry.  While I do not know the title of the book or the author’s name, on nearly every page was the same line, “you can’t make a necklace out of that!”  My grandfather (deceased) and I would almost yell it out together which delighted me to no end!  It might be from the 50’s or maybe even earlier, I’m not sure.  When I simply Google search the title, I cannot locate anything.  Thank you in advance!

330K: 12 Months Of The Year Board Book

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Hi! The book I am looking for is a tiny board book, about 2 or 3 inches square, of the 12 months of the year.  The illustrations are of a little girl and boy, a bit like Eloise Wilkins drawings or Tasha Tudor – large round heads, very sweet.  The only month I remember clearly is February, where they are cutting out valentines and it is snowing outside the window.  There was one summer beach scene – buckets and sand maybe, or a sailboat. The book would have been published before 1988 or 1989, as my son was born in 1986. Thank you!

330J: Interactive red/yellow circle piece board book

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This is a children’s board book.  I believe the pages are all white with black font writing.  This is an interactive pull tab book where, to start, you drop an actual red and yellow sided counter disc into the book.  Each page changes the color of the disc going from red to yellow.  I am not sure if the red/yellow color is necessary as perhaps other color counters may have been used?  It may have been about shapes.  I suspect it may have been a 1980’s or 1990’s book.  You can pull tabs, slide, flip and open pages to reveal the counter.  It was my son’s favorite book for years.  We cannot find it and he mentioned it to me the other day.  I would like to find it for his 14th birthday if I can.  Thank you.

330I: Replacement Clones Melt After Children Get Sick From Excessive Freedom

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As a child in the mid 80’s I read a book with a blue cover that only had the title (I am pretty sure it was the book cover as well), because I was trying not to judge a book by its cover. The book was science fiction about some children who were being replaced by clones of themselves so they could ditch school, and eat candy, and play- a little similar to a Pinocchio Treasure Island story. Until one day the children had stomach aches from eating too much, and not getting exercise, etc. and wanted to “go home”. I remember something about the rain melting the “aliens” or clones like cotton candy. I can’t remember much else and at first thought that maybe it was a Ray Bradbury book? At any rate I have been trying to find the title and would love if you could offer assistance.

330H: Creatures In Their Junkyard World

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I remember a book from my childhood with very detailed illustrations. The one that sticks out to me involves a junkyard with sort of a cutaway and you can see all of the creatures in their little junkyard world. In the same book, the protagonist (a young girl I think) visits the junkyard, which has a little house in it and I think she has tea there. That is about all I can remember. I’m now 25, for reference, and I remember reading it in the late 1990s/early 2000s. It’s not Junkyard Wonders or Paper Bag Princess.
Thanks, and can’t wait to re-read this book!

330G: Runaway Fairy Finds Love Along With Her Sister

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Ok, so this is an illustrated children’s book (the one I remember having was large and hard cover) and the details are fuzzy but this is what I remember. The style of the illustrations was similar to Kinuko y Craft’s although I don’t think it was done by that illustrator.
Basically, it’s about a fairy who runs away from home (she is blonde) and has to live by a stream and eats blackberries and is all alone.  Then a fairy prince finds her and likes her,  but his sisters are jealous of her – but he doesn’t care. The final scene is a gorgeous illustration of their JOINT wedding with the fairy, her sister and the fairy prince and his brother.  The protagonist fairy is beautiful and has blonde hair and her sister is pale and has black hair. It might be a version of the story of Thumbelina!
Please help, this was my favorite children’s book and I know this isn’t a lot of information but if you found it, I would be so happy!!!!

330F: A Demanding Doll

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I am wracking my brain and cannot for the life of my remember the name of a book I read as a child/pre-adolescent. The premise was that there was a blonde doll who was actually “alive,” and demanded all sorts of things from the nice girl who owned her—like a car, clothes, etc. And the girl would try to explain what she could and couldn’t afford. Later I think a brown-haired doll who is nicer replaces her? I remember the hard cover of the book being a teal color and there being a photo of the blonde doll on it.

330E: Late-90’s SciFi Book With Female Lead Pilot

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Hi! On the eve of my daughter’s 21st birthday, 11th of January 1998, I had just flown in to London from I think Paris. We were all staying in a London hotel in Piccadilly and as part of the birthday it was theatre and then dinner. I had in my possession a science fiction book I had bought on the way out to Paris at Heathrow airport. I had only read a few pages and i left it behind at the hotel. Although I had only read a few pages I found it a very good start and amusing. The hotel was unable to find  it. I have been looking for ages so all the current well known female leads are not it. I was/am a big SF fan.
I have no idea of the author or title. All I can remember is that a female captain/pilot was being sent again on a mission and she was joking with the guy sending her out.