Category Archives: 1960s

377L: The White Blob From The Moon

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Hi there! I’m seeking Stump the Bookseller’s help in finding a lost book from my childhood. It was about a white, blobby creature that came down to the earth from the moon and had adventures. This book was available in the Huntingdon Valley Public library in the Philadelphia area in the 90s (I’ve looked there and asked the librarians without success) but I’m sure it was not self-published. It was a picture book or perhaps an early-reader chapter book (I believe it was portrait orientation) and I think it was part of a series. It was illustrated–if not fully illustrated–on the interior. It was not new in the 90s–it had a slightly vintage feel–perhaps 60s, 70s, or 80s. The art style was graphic and cartoony–more akin to the Space Case books by Edward Marshall than something illustrative like Moornhorse by Mary Pope Osborne (and no, it’s not either of these–It’s also not Moon Man by Tomi Ungerer, the Matthew Looney series, or Dmitri the Astronaut by Jon Agee.) There were themes of loneliness–perhaps the moon creature came down to earth to make friends? It’s possible he was not from the moon but rather a different planet. I believe the background color of the cover was black. It’s possible that this unsolved query is describing the same book: http://w1.loganberrybooks.com/stumpthebookseller/145x-moon-creatures/. [EDIT: I now believe this is a book in the Moonbird series called The Unicorn and Witch. I don’t think it’s the book I’m looking for, though.] My mom remembers the moon creature as having had a pear-shaped body, maybe a bit of neck, and then an oval or round head, whereas I more clearly remember a white horse or perhaps unicorn. There could have been a little boy protagonist too, but I don’t remember clearly.

377J: Looking for a teen funny book from 70’s (Solved!)

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I read a book in the early 70’s. It was about a teen boy and his misadventures in a small town. It had a cover with a kids driving and old blue jalopy In the book. In One of the stories he gets a commercial propeller and puts it on a car to make a go faster. It flies loose and goes flying through the town, destroying things. I think the book had a white hardback cover, and the picture of the boy in the car was like light blue drawing I think it may have been a Scholastic book. But it was about this young early teen boys misadventures. And I recall the propeller wrecking havoc story. The book may have been from the 60s. But I read it in the early 70s. It may have been one of my older siblings book. And it probably was from the Scholastic catalog.

377E: Main character Terrie

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I don’t have a lot to work with but it is a unique story so fingers crossed. I recall it was an English author – the main character was a brave, strong and resourceful young girl called Terrie. She so impressed me I decided at 13 years old I wanted to be a person like her, I knew would even change my name legally one day (and I did). I read it in 1967 from a country Australian library so it would unlikely be a new book so am guessing it was written in the fifties or very early sixties. It’s not much to go on, but there are very few books with a main character called Terrie. So I am just hoping someone may have also read it and knows the title or author. I don’t think it was a biography I recall it was fiction. As I am now 70 the chance to re read this book would be truly wonderful, and yes I did mould my character on her and had a very adventurous life- so am eternally grateful to the author. 

377D: Older Children’s Book Set in Charleston, SC

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I know this is a long shot- but i don’t know where else to turn. There was a children’s book written about a brother and sister who found arrowheads on either the wappoo bridge or the bridge going to folly. As you can tell it was written in the Charleston area. I had checked the book out from the old Charleston Library when visiting with my grandmother one summer- it had to have been in the early 80’s, but I feel like the story took place in the 50’s (not sure), but I loved the book. I just wish i could remember its name. If anyone can help i would be extremely thankful.

377B: Cory in Northern Europe

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I am looking for a children’s storybook read in 1965 and published 1965 or before.  It was not a picture book per se. The only thing i remembered was that a character was named Cory. I believe the spelling is correct.  It may have been slated for 12 year olds to read. I think but i am not sure it was related to a setting in northern Europe. I took it out of the library back in 1965 and my mom named my sister after the character. I don’t know whether or not ice skating was a part of it.

376O: The Friendly Wolf (Short Story)

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The children’s short story The Dissatisfied Little Lamb by Catherine Jones, perhaps under her maiden name Catherine Hallman, published in a magazine sometime between 1940-80, about a lamb who leaves the farm to go exploring and finds a dog or wolf who is actually friendly and brings him home and he then protects the flock from a predatory wolf or other animal. Probably a magazine published in Georgia or SC.

376B: Book about a Southern family

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The book I am searching for may be from late nineteen forties through early sixties. The mother of two (a high-school boy and a married daughter) is the main character. The daughter, named Tilghman, has her first baby near the end of the story. Then the main character, now a grandmother, finds out she is expecting!

375V: Girl Lives On Underground Railroad Station

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Seeking a 1960s children’s book (possibly Scholastic Book Services) about a girl (an orphan?) who goes to live with relatives whose house is a station on the Underground Railroad. One of the former slaves they help is named Phoebe. The Emancipation Proclamation is signed at the end of the story, and Phoebe and her mother are able to appear in public with the girl.

375S: Children’s book about Marvin

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As a child in the 60s our family had a book about a boy named Marvin. Marvin leaned against a brick building. Adults who went by kept telling him to go home. He would reply that if he did, the building would fall down. He finally left, and the building fell down.
It was a hard cover book with a picture of a little boy learning on a brick wall on the front. Our version was similar in size to the Dr. Seuss books. 
I would love to find a copy to read to my grandsons!