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The Woodland Gospels According to Captain Beaky and His Band
Captain Beaky and his Band set out to spread the teachings of Jesus to the creatures of the forest.
- GenresAnimals
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 1984
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Jeremy Lloyd
40 books5 followersJeremy Lloyd is an English writer, screenwriter, author and actor, best known as co-author and writer of several successful British sitcoms.
The gangly Lloyd began his career as a writer in 1958 before making his film debut 2 years later in 1960 in School for Scoundrels, and appeared in numerous film and television comedies during the 1960s and 1970s, notably Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In as a regular performer in 1969-70. He was lauded in America where they loved his patrician upper class depiction of an Englishman. Back in England after one particular series had been completed he met Joanna Lumley. A decision had to be taken as to whether he return to America for the start of the new series or remain in the United Kingdom and marry Miss Lumley (he never returned to America). His first major success as a comedy writer was with Are You Being Served? in 1972, on which he worked with David Croft. He had worked for a short time for Simpsons of Piccadilly and many of the characters depicted are drawn from his recollections of his time there. They subsequently produced 'Allo 'Allo!, which was equally popular in the UK, a spinoff of Are You Being Served? , Grace & Favour was aired in 1992. Jeremy also wrote the poems/lyrics for the popular Captain Beaky album and books in 1980.
The gangly Lloyd began his career as a writer in 1958 before making his film debut 2 years later in 1960 in School for Scoundrels, and appeared in numerous film and television comedies during the 1960s and 1970s, notably Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In as a regular performer in 1969-70. He was lauded in America where they loved his patrician upper class depiction of an Englishman. Back in England after one particular series had been completed he met Joanna Lumley. A decision had to be taken as to whether he return to America for the start of the new series or remain in the United Kingdom and marry Miss Lumley (he never returned to America). His first major success as a comedy writer was with Are You Being Served? in 1972, on which he worked with David Croft. He had worked for a short time for Simpsons of Piccadilly and many of the characters depicted are drawn from his recollections of his time there. They subsequently produced 'Allo 'Allo!, which was equally popular in the UK, a spinoff of Are You Being Served? , Grace & Favour was aired in 1992. Jeremy also wrote the poems/lyrics for the popular Captain Beaky album and books in 1980.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 19, 2019
Who can not like Captain Beaky and his Band? Jeremy Lloyd has created a colourful cast of characters, Artful Owl, Batty Bat, Timid Toad, Reckless Rat and even the villain of the piece Hissing Sid, and Graham Percy has illustrated them beautifully in some superb double-page illustrations.
In this tale Captain Beaky and his Band are enjoying tea and cakes under a striped umbrella on the lawn outside Artful Owl's tree house. Owl had been preparing his sermon to be read in church the following week and discussion got onto the subject of that sermon. 'Greed' said Owl, 'That's a good subject,' said Ratty Rat but Captain Beaky wanted to enlarge it to include how God made the world in seven days. He was corrected by Rat, who told him 'Six days. He was worn out so he went to bed on the seventh.' Beaky reluctantly agreed six and that started the debate on the Gospels as a whole.
This led to a wholesale debate on the subject at the end of which Beaky and his Band agreed to set out to spread the Gospels to their fellow creatures in the woods. But just after they have set off and were about to impart knowledge to Old Badger it rained so they sheltered under an upturned boat. The Woodland Bible was opened and a discussion followed with all members of the Band joining in and asking questions.
Some of the questions were facetious ones such as 'Is Heaven sideways or up?' And then the Band could not remember Mary's full name, 'Mary Mag, - er, Mary, er ...' said one of them so Captain had to put them right, 'Mary Magdalene,' he told them. The debates continued even after they had made their way back to Owl's abode where they all eventually settled down to rest with Timid Toad making up a verse to thank Jesus for 'a smashing day' and also persuading the others not to be too cross with nasty Hissing Sid for his naughtiness. Their Bible readings had obviously done them some good.
In this tale Captain Beaky and his Band are enjoying tea and cakes under a striped umbrella on the lawn outside Artful Owl's tree house. Owl had been preparing his sermon to be read in church the following week and discussion got onto the subject of that sermon. 'Greed' said Owl, 'That's a good subject,' said Ratty Rat but Captain Beaky wanted to enlarge it to include how God made the world in seven days. He was corrected by Rat, who told him 'Six days. He was worn out so he went to bed on the seventh.' Beaky reluctantly agreed six and that started the debate on the Gospels as a whole.
This led to a wholesale debate on the subject at the end of which Beaky and his Band agreed to set out to spread the Gospels to their fellow creatures in the woods. But just after they have set off and were about to impart knowledge to Old Badger it rained so they sheltered under an upturned boat. The Woodland Bible was opened and a discussion followed with all members of the Band joining in and asking questions.
Some of the questions were facetious ones such as 'Is Heaven sideways or up?' And then the Band could not remember Mary's full name, 'Mary Mag, - er, Mary, er ...' said one of them so Captain had to put them right, 'Mary Magdalene,' he told them. The debates continued even after they had made their way back to Owl's abode where they all eventually settled down to rest with Timid Toad making up a verse to thank Jesus for 'a smashing day' and also persuading the others not to be too cross with nasty Hissing Sid for his naughtiness. Their Bible readings had obviously done them some good.
February 8, 2025
This is a lovely book which explores the principles of the Good News (Gospel) of the Christian message in a rather different and stimulating way. A great way to get younger children thinking about the life-changing message of Jesus.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews