Joyce Lankester Brisley (1896–1978)

First sentence: Once upon a time there was a little girl. She had a Father, and a Mother, and a Grandpa, and a Grandma, and an Uncle, and an Aunty; they all lived together in a nice white cottage with a thatched roof.

Premise/plot: Milly Molly Mandy stars in a collection of stories. This book was originally published in 1928. There are other Milly Molly Mandy books. The stories--at least in this initial collection--are episodic. Each story stands more or less on its own. It features (relatively) the same cast of characters: her immediate family (see above) and her friends Toby and Susan.

The stories in this collection:

Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes Errands (I would personally say go ON errands, but the table of contents says otherwise)
Milly-Molly-Mandy Spends a Penny
Milly-Molly-Mandy Meets Her Great-Aunt
Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes Blackberrying
Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes to a Party
Milly-Molly-Mandy Enjoys a Visit
Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes Gardening
Milly-Molly-Mandy Keeps Shop
Milly-Molly-Mandy Gives A Party
Milly-Molly-Mandy Gets to Know Teacher
Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes to a Fete
Milly-Molly-Mandy Has A Surprise
Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes to A Concert
Milly-Molly-Mandy's Mother Goes Away
Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes to the Sea
Milly-Molly-Mandy Minds a Baby
Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes on an Expedition
Milly-Molly-Mandy Helps to Thatch a Roof
Milly-Molly-Mandy Keeps House
Milly-Molly-Mandy and the Blacksmith's Wedding
Milly-Molly-Mandy Has a New Dress

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one thoroughly. I did. It is old-fashioned for sure. These stories are like licks on a lollipop. I don't know that any one story stands out as wow or amazing. But taken together there is something satisfying about spending time with Milly-Molly-Mandy. I'm not sure how much appeal this character will have for young children or children. Perhaps if introduced to the stories by someone who passionately loves these characters, these books, and takes the time to pass on the tradition???

This is a book that I [and probably plenty of other adults] could imagine being read by their grandparents when they were little. And that adds an element of sentimentality perhaps.… (more)

This was one of my favourite books when I was little so when I saw it in an op shop for $1 I had to pick it up!
Milly-Molly-Mandy is a little girl who lives with her Father, Mother, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle & Aunty in the big white house with the thatched roof. The book is a collection of stories that are just delightful. They all have a lesson at the end of the story that will get your kid's brain working! Being a children's book it's veeery slow paced but I think it's perfect for the times we're living in right now.
This is a beautiful read that children will love & adults will find comforting as an old foavourite.… (more)