George, Don't Do That ... Six Nursery School Sketches and 'Writer of Children's Books'

by Joyce Grenfell, John Ward (Illustrator)

Joyce Grenfell's Nursery School Sketches are perennial favourites in her repertory and have entertained millions. Here they appear in print for the first time, and are just as funny on the page as they are in performance. They exactly catch the bright, bluffingly calm, and occasionally desperate way in which teachers talk to small children. Added to these six monologues is a devastating self-revelation by a Writer of Children's Books. John Ward R.A., is a well known as the illustrator of 'Cider With Rosie'. His deceptively casual pictures capture the mingled innocence and ferocity of children and beautifully point up the humour of the words. Mrs Grenfell's foreword describes how they came to be written.

Genres: Humor, Comedy, Fiction

80 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Joyce Irene Grenfell, OBE (née Phipps; 10 February 1910 – 30 November 1979) was an English actress, comedienne and singer-songwriter.

Reviews

[Gerry]

Two works by the inimitable Joyce Grenfell in one volume; the first 'George, Don't Do That ...' is wonderfully funny while the second is not quite so, although it does contain some of this lovely lady's humour.

George is quite a character, and the author tells us in a most amusing foreword how we should address George and how we should talk to children generally. And there is a great story about how her father talked to a little child in a pram.

George is always doing the wrong thing and not paying attention, thus the title, particularly when performing, or supposedly performing a nativity play or being a flower. But he is mischievous rather than naughty and one cannot help but like him in these lovely short stories.

'Stately as a Galleon' are monologues written to perform before adults and have some amusing moments, none more so than the visit to the launderette, with which I can empathise from my earlier days!

[Allie Riley]

Utterly delightful and so funny. My parents were big fans of these monologues and as I read, I could hear them in Joyce Grenfell's voice. Apart from the names and some turns of phrase, they haven't really dated at all. She has that teacher sing-song voice down pat and I know many children who behave just as the ones in the monologues. A very quick and entertaining read.

[Katy Wheatley]

Beautifully written and I can hear Grenfell's voice in my ear as I'm reading. So nostalgic. Still very funny and great illustrations in my copy

[Norma]

( Format : paperback )
"You shall be a cauliflower - only do it gently."
Joyce Grenfell's Nursery Sketches remains an enduring memory from my growing up, with snatches offer repeated on BBC radio, and, reading them here, they remain as delightfully funny as my first encounters with them.
In addition to the six nursery monologues - Nativity Play, Flowers (a personal favourite), Free Activity Period, Story Tims, Sing Song Time, and Going Home Time - there is also another story, Writer of Children's Books, and to further add to the delight, this little book is illustrated throughout with a multitude of sketches by John Ward.

This is a total must have for anyone who remembers Joyce Grenfell's very funny monologues. For readers who have yet to encounter her beleaguered nursery teacher, you are in for a treat..

[Jane]

A friend had been to collect a minibus for the school she's involved with. And it made me think about school trips. And children kicking the back of the seat in front. Which in turn made me think of Joyce Grenfell and "George - don't do that". So I found the copy on my bookshelf amongst other books I brought home from Mum's room. And I read it. All the time hearing Mum's voice from the times I'd heard her read them at various events. Lovely!

[Ellie (bookmadbarlow)]

Amusing set of monologues and poetry.

[Hattie]

One of those random books you pick up at home. Actually pretty funny, and a complete coincidence that Joyce Grenfell featured in 84 Charing Cross rd.

[Trepkos]

Very nostalgic - I remember some of these sketches from my childhood. They were much funnier to listen to, however. Well illustrated. A quick read.

[Judith Nicholls]

Some of the Nursery sketches are really very funny and have stood the test of time

[Jenny Cooper]

Joyce Grenfell's "school" sketches in written form. They are not as good in this format but still quite entertaining. They brought back fond memories.

[Jenny]

I suspect (and hope) that many people will recognise the well-known and much loved phrase ‘George – don’t do that’. If you don’t, why not?! It is of course from the brilliant Joyce Grenfell’s set of Nursery School sketches. Joyce - who sadly died in 1979 – was a beloved English actress, comedienne, monologist and singer-songwriter. An extremely talented woman. I knew her best as Sergeant Ruby Gates in the original St Trinian’s films where she was marvellous. I discovered Joyce’s monologues after a YouTube search and was hooked. Finding the book with the scripts of many of them in was an added bonus.

I really enjoyed reading ‘George – Don’t Do That’ although it was best read aloud. My talents were nowhere near those of Joyce however – and occasionally rather embarrassing – so I shall keep my monologue reading to myself. The book was relatively short at 88 pages but did contain six Nursery School sketches; ‘Nativity Play’, ‘Flowers’, ‘Free Activity Period’, ‘Story Time’, ‘Sing-Song Time’ and ‘Going Home Time’ along with a monologue called ‘Writer of Children’s Books’ which was new to me. The book also contained a number of illustrations by John Ward which enabled me to picture some of the scenes even better.

I think this book will end up becoming one of my go-to escape books and I couldn’t have chosen better. Give it a go (or a watch!) and tell me what you think.

[Ape]

2007 bookcrossing journal:

This is actually two books in one:

1. George, Don't Do That: six monologues set in a children's nursery by their harrassed nursery school teacher

2. Stately as a Galleon: collection of monologues and songs on various themes.

They're both good, but I think the George, Don't Do That stories are by far the best; and in the second book they're a mixed bunch - some I liked better than others. This does also hark back to comedy of a few decades ago as well I think, and most of this was actually written for radio, so it probably works better being read aloud.

I would really like to know what it was that George shouldn't have been doing though...

[Wayne Farmer]

The first half of this collection "George, Don't Do That!" is great fun and if you know kids then you know how true it must be. All the sketches in this part of the book are funny, well observed and true to life.
The second book in this collection "Stately As A Galleon" however seems to have lost something over time - they just aren't in the same class as "George, Don't Do That!" and I found it pretty boring and unfunny - yes it is quite well observed and true to some peoples characters but they just aren't witty enough.
If you can get hold of "George, Don't Do That!" in a single volume then I recommend it, but "Stately As A Galleon" isn't worth reading.

[Norma]

( Format : Paperback )
"A cauliflower."

A delightful book, complete with fine line illustrations by John Ward, of the 6 nursery school sketches so brilliantly performed as monologues by Joyce Grenfell, plus the Writer of Children's Books, a book signing scene in a department store.
As I read this little book, Ms.Grenfell's voice filled my head and I was instantly transported back to my own childhood.
highly recommended to anyone bu, for those not familiar with the very funny author, try to get an audio copy. Her delivery is truly hilarious

[Saleris]

Well, I liked the first half. Not really enamoured with the second half and I'm old enough to remember Joyce Grenfell on TV performing some of the sketches, though I can't quite remember all the voices. As such, this book won't be as significant to those who've never watched her. But, as for the second half, It's not that they weren't well written, since if you read the items in the second half as performing pieces, they work very well, but I got bored, if I'm honest.

[Blanche]

When young on holiday my Granny suggested I trying reading the Joyce Grenfell book that was there. I did and loved it. So in recent years I got this book. I think it is brilliant and very funny. The reason I took a star away was because my favourite are the Nursery ones so I wanted more of that!

[Nicky]

I loved my Mum to read me this book as a child and although some of the language isn't perhaps the way we'd speak to kids these days, I've read it to my kids and they howl with laughter at the antics of the children and are still debating what George was actually doing!

[Esther]

I recommend this to any primary teacher or parent-it is so funny and such a good, honest reflection of children and schools. From the perspective and commentary of the class teacher, a range of problems are presented in a lighthearted and hilarious way. I really enjoyed this.

[Sandra Brown]

Joyce Grenfell was one of the funniest women who ever lived. Her monologues created the most wonderful images that were familiar to anyone who remembered being a small child or had witnessed a teacher speaking to small children, showing absolute patience while being clearly exasperated.

[Teenytorch]

very funny, loved it, doing it in drama club as a monologue, rip joyce

[Kate Berkeley]

I remember loving this as a child

[Alison]

Very funny, especially when you know people who work in schools and nurseries and you don't... Definitely take the time to read it properly in JG's voice if you can :)

[Vincent Darkhelm]

Gentle humour at it's best.

[Hazel]

A gem from my childhood and something to pass on to my own children