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254D: Toothsome, savory and oh-so delicious pancakes

My brother and I are searching for a childhood book. I remember having the book read to me when I was two, so about 1957.  It was a story about a nun who made ‘toothsome, savory oh-so delicious pancakes.”  I don not remember the title, nor the author.  It was a picture book.  Not much to go on, but I will not give up, lol.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

254C: A girl called Chan (Solved!)

Mid-1960’s chapter book for 3rd to 7th grade. Characters are twins Gregory (called Gory) and Marcus. Their sister is the main character and I believe her name was Chaneth (called Chan), whom I think was a blonde. The book may be a mystery and may be British. There were some illustrations featuring the girl and at least one of the boys. One twin was more gregarious than the other.

254B: Witch whose hair floats above shoulders and beds become boats (Solved)

I am looking for a children’s book, published in the 1970s or earlier (I was born in 1975, read this sometime between the ages of 7 and 12, and recall the book itself physically feeling “old” at the time). Most probably published in the 50s or 60s.

Two children were the main characters, I think they were a girl and a boy. I don’t remember any names of characters, unfortunately. They lived next door to a witch whose property included a walled and gated yard. When the witch did magic, her hair “floated above her shoulders” or something like that. I remember that rowan trees figured heavily in the story line; either they were searching for them or there was something about them the witch needed.

At the beginning of the adventure part of the story line, the children’s beds turned into boats and they were magically transported to a river or creek while they were asleep – one of the children wakes up because they become aware that their hand or the bed linens are trailing in the water.

I loved this book – hope someone can help me find it.

Thanks!

254A: Small chapter book on solving mysteries (Solved)

Okay, this book was maybe from the early- to mid- 90’s, and is a “mystery” book, but wasn’t a series – it had several small chapters, with a story and a picture. Based on the story, and the picture, you had to try and solve the “mystery”. They were simple – one took place in a school classroom where a small windmill made out of popsicle sticks had been broken, and the reader had to figure out if the open window and a strong gust of wind broke it, or if another classmate did. The answers (and specific hints about the clues that helped to solve it) were all in the back.

253F: Collected rock n roll tales

I read a book,12 or so years ago, which I found in my library (I think it had a white cover with black writing and was quite thick), which included articles/chapters about the history of popular culture. there are only two chapters that I can remember- one is about a journalist meeting Dylan in a cafe and Dylan arrives without any bodyguards as he has somehow managed to project a kind of defense around himself and the other chapter had a title along the lines of ‘and the pilgrims visited Kerouac’s grave’ about how ‘kids’ go on a pilgrimage to visit Lowel to see Jack’s grave

I can find no trace of this book anywhere and have been looking for a few years and as stumper has helped me before I place myself in your very capable hands again!
thank you

253E: The man who scented the flowers

This was a short story in a book of many. It was a book from the late 1960’s or early 1970’s and tells a story about an old bearded guy or a gnome type that would give the flowers their scent and color. He was carrying the bottles over a river as he walked across a log and slipped into the water and the fish tried to help him collect the bottles. There was also a girl or fairy who was in the story. The pictures were very colorful and fun.

 

253D: Secret Ancient Ruins (Solved)

I read this book when I was in middle school in the mid-90s. This student (at a boarding school?) is blindfolded by another student and led through the woods following a windy path so he won’t be able to retrace his steps later. They reach a secret cave or something where the other student has discovered ancient ruins of tiny buildings (like maybe pygmies lived there, or some unknown tiny people?). Together, over a long period of time, they excavate these buildings. Then for some reason, (maybe this knowledge is going to get into the wrong hands?) the main character decides he needs to get back to the site on his own. He’s never seen the way, since he’s always blindfolded, but he remembers the twists and turns by feel. Once he arrives there, he destroys the buildings he worked so hard to uncover so no one will ever know they were there.
Thanks!

253C: Two girls form a friendship and write a book

Children’s book, probably writer in the 40’s or 50’s about two women who were friends when they were younger. They had started a book; one girl would write a chapter and then pass it to the other who would do the same. They had a teacher who they didn’t like. The teacher had hair that was rolled in a bun that looked like sausages. They also painted illustrations for the book on the wax paper the Shredded Wheat biscuit came in.

Thanks!!!

253A: Evil Curiosity Shop

All I can remember is a young girl enters a curiosity/antique shop with a disturbing old man as proprietor. She purchases a toad figurine that appears attractive in the store but when she gets home appears less so. As days go by the toad appears uglier and uglier, even evil. Bad things begin happening and people in the house become ill. Somehow the girl knows the toad is responsible. She tries to return it to the shop but the shop is closed and when she looks through the dirty windows it appears to have been closed for years. I don’t think she lived with her parents, may have been an orphan living with an aunt or grandmother. Remember something about the evil curiosity shop. Would LOVE to find it again.