Category Archives: 1980s

356G: People With Special Powers Live On Narrow Inhabitable Strip Of Planet

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This is about a two-book series that was likely written between 1975 and 1999. The survivors of a planet lived on a narrow inhabitable strip of the planet. On both sides there were less habitable areas. On one side lived mutants who were like vampires and werewolves. In the strip lived the main characters in a town, one a strongman, one a mind reader whose wife was a healer and operated a clinic, one a blind woman who could see the future. There were several towns. The mind reader has a female child whose skin changed colors and also had a son. The leader of the werewolves had a son who killed those living in the town where the main characters lived. When the blind woman got her sight back temporarily, she lost the ability to see the future. The healer’s wife died near the end of the book and the mind reader decided to move to another town where his children had previously moved.

355V: 1970s Judy Blumesque YA Novel

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I’m sure I got this book from Weekly Reader in the early 80s but was probably published in the 70s. Opens with protagonist making a homemade costume for school with spray painted gold boots and a sword. I think I remember parents getting a divorce. I remember main character going into his parents’ bedroom looking for help with costume and mom getting dressed and getting a run in her pantyhose and saying, “Damn!” which I perceived as scandalous as may mother would never use such language - ha! Protagonist has an older high school age brother who is enamored with girlfriend and their song is “Stairway to Heaven”.

355M: Messy kid, their stuff gets fed up and leaves (Solved!)

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I am looking for a children’s picture book I remember about a kid (can’t remember if male or female) who was so messy that all his stuff got up and left. I believe his toys left. His bed was tired of being unmade, so it walked out. I think eventually the whole house left. That’s about all I remember!

It was likely around in the 1980s or perhaps 1990s in the US. I hope you can help me, it’s driving me nuts! Thank you!

354P: A Girl Discovering Interesting Things in the Woods

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I don’t know the title, but this is my memory of it. I grew up as a kid in the 1990s, so it would be from around then or earlier. I think it was probably made in the 1980s or 1990s, but I could be wrong. My memory of the artwork is watercolors.
Synopsis: Girl goes out for a walk in the forest. I think she brings sandwiches with her (possibly peanut butter)? She might also have had a thermos to drink something. She goes and picks berries and puts them in a glass jar she has with her. I think she ends up eating all the berries and instead fills the jar with tadpoles. Not sure if I am remembering the tadpole part correctly. It could be that she sees tadpoles in the brook in the forest. My memory is that nothing extraordinary (no adventure) happens. It’s just the girl with her thoughts and discovering interesting things in the woods. My memory of the illustrations is lush and detailed and more sophisticated.
Sorry to be so vague, but this is as good as I got! Thanks so much for your help!

354O: Blue Jay Book With Sound Effect

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The book I’m looking for was a children’s book my grandmother had in her home before it had burned down years ago. The only things I truly remember is that it was about a Blue Jay and I’m pretty sure it had a speaker in it that would chirp at you like a Blue Jay. I may not recall much, but I hope to recognize it if I see it.
It was more than likely a book leftover from one of my cousins born between 1980 and 1996. And I want to say that speaker was yellow for some reason, but that could be wrong.
Thank you so much in advance!!

354J: Children’s book about woman who thinks her daily routine doesn’t matter

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I used to read a book to the children I took care of and I believe it was their father’s book growing up, so I believe it’s at least 40 years old? Maybe older. It was about a woman who lived in an apartment alone and had the same routine every day. The only specific thing I can remember is that she let her tea kettle boil for 1 or 2 minutes before she took it off the stove. She also maybe listened to the radio and opened the window? She doesn’t think her life has any impact on anyone so one day she doesn’t do her routine and many people show up at her door to tell her how their day was thrown off because she didn’t do the things she normally did (ie a neighbour would wake up to the sound of her boiling kettle etc). I think the title of the book had the main character’s name in it?

354G: Children’s Book Featuring Cute Characters Including Green Monster

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I do not remember title but remember characters and some details from this book. It was a children’s book I loved reading when I was little and I was born in 1983.

I vividly remember what the characters looked like in illustrations - adorable soft illustrations. The characters had big eyes (not Precious Moments but similar in cuteness factor).

The book I want had a little girl with dark hair (black or brown) and had red poppies, plus a cute green monster that I think liked to eat cookies but I feel had a Loch Ness monster type feel and maybe lived in a lake.

I’ve done searches trying to find the cover of the book but haven’t seen what I’m looking for. Hope you guys can help me.