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As Mr. Potter discovers, operating a grocery store is no easy business, especially when the competition takes all the business.Tags
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There are some books that I really, really wonder how they made the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up list. This is one of those. Yes, the author is the magnificent author Graham Greene (though, it should be noted, I think, he is generally thought of as very much of an author for grownups, not kids). Yes, the illustrator is the magnificent illustrator Edward Ardizzone (who actually illustrates and/or writes a grand total of seven books on the 1001 list).
But is that enough to put this book on this list? Are there other, murkier reasons that I do not know? I liked it just fine, but it's shiny special-ness eluded me.
The plot is a simple tale of progress vs. tradition. Mr. Potter's Shop is the place where everyone does show more their marketing. Until the Hygienic Emporium opens up. Desperately trying to compete with a grand hansom cab used by the emporium for deliveries, Mr. Potter tidies up an old horse bus.
Old always beats new in children's stories. Not in the obvious ways, as new is always faster and shinier. But in the important ways.
A 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up. show less
But is that enough to put this book on this list? Are there other, murkier reasons that I do not know? I liked it just fine, but it's shiny special-ness eluded me.
The plot is a simple tale of progress vs. tradition. Mr. Potter's Shop is the place where everyone does show more their marketing. Until the Hygienic Emporium opens up. Desperately trying to compete with a grand hansom cab used by the emporium for deliveries, Mr. Potter tidies up an old horse bus.
Old always beats new in children's stories. Not in the obvious ways, as new is always faster and shinier. But in the important ways.
A 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up. show less
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356+ Works 87,436 Members
Born in 1904, Graham Greene was the son of a headmaster and the fourth of six children. Preferring to stay home and read rather than endure the teasing at school that was a by-product of his father's occupation, Greene attempted suicide several times and eventually dropped out of school at the age of 15. His parents sent him to an analyst in show more London who recommended he try writing as therapy. He completed his first novel by the time he graduated from college in 1925. Greene wrote both entertainments and serious novels. Catholicism was a recurring theme in his work, notable examples being The Power and the Glory (1940) and The End of the Affair (1951). Popular suspense novels include: The Heart of the Matter, Our Man in Havana and The Quiet American. Greene was also a world traveler and he used his experiences as the basis for many books. One popular example, Journey Without Maps (1936), was based on a trip through the jungles of Liberia. Greene also wrote and adapted screenplays, including that of the 1949 film, The Third Man, which starred Orson Welles. He died in Vevey, Switzerland in 1991. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Graham Greene has a Legacy Library. Legacy libraries are the personal libraries of famous readers, entered by LibraryThing members from the Legacy Libraries group.
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Awards and Honors
Series
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Little Horse Bus
- Original publication date
- 1952
- Original language
- English
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 61
- Popularity
- 506,760
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.67)
- Languages
- English, German
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 7
- ASINs
- 2
