SOLVED. Young Children's Short Stories collection. One story (1 page?) for every day of the year. One story was about a family of forks living in a cutlery drawer. Hardback, Quarto size? (8" x 10"). Read mid 1950s (before 1958). [s]

[Val]

I can't remember much more than what I've put in the header. I think I received the book as a Christmas present around 1955 or 56 (when I was about 6 or 7 and living in Africa). It was certainly before mid-1957 because I remember the house we were living in at the time and we moved mid-1957. I was able to read it myself and possibly the print was quite large. It may have been an American book. I remember it as a hardback, quite thick and similar to A4 in size. Each story may have had a small illustration under its title. It was a compendium of short stories, one for each day of the year. I always loved the story of the family of forks and would read that one over and over.

[Kris]

A few guesses:

- The Golden Book of 365 Stories (1955) by Kathryn Jackson? 236 pages

- 365 Bedtime Stories a Story for Every Day of the Year About the Children on What a Jolly Street (1955) by Nan Gilbert? 383 pages

- 365 Bedtime Stories: a story for every day in the year (1944) by Janet Robson? 382 pages

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Keywords: stories day of the year | 1940-1958 ? | Juvenile | Fiction | Book | English

[Val]

Hi Kris,

Thank you for your suggestions.

The Nan Gilbert title is possibly "the one" but, unfortunately, the 1955 edition is outside my budget. There are many later editions but reviews suggest the illustrations have changed and the text has been modernised. I will keep an eye out for it.

I doubt the Richard Scarry/Kathryn Jackson one is right but I've ordered a copy anyway through ABE. My grandchildren will surely get something out of Richard Scarry.

I also don't think that the Janet Robson book (1944) is what I'm looking for. But there may have been later editions because I think the book I received in the mid-50s was probably new. I am watching one on eBay and will probably buy it.

I wish I could find that fork family!

Thank you for all your help.

[Becca]

There's a copy of the Nan Gilbert one on archive.org - looks like the original 1955 edition.

I searched inside for the word 'fork' and there is a story called The Silverware Family. It's about a little girl who makes up stories about the forks etc as she cleans them, pretending that they're people. Here's the link so you can read it yourself and see if it's the one you remember!

https://archive.org/details/365bedtim...

[Val]

Becca, you're a star! That's definitely the right story and book, even though I didn't recall it all that well in my original post. I recognised the illustration right away. And why was it my favourite story? Because June 23rd is my birthday! Now I definitely have to buy it.

Thanks again Kris and Becca!

- 365 Bedtime Stories a Story for Every Day of the Year About the Children on What a Jolly Street (1955) by Nan Gilbert? 383 pages

Do I now edit the header to SOLVED?

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Val. I moved your request to a Solved folder by clicking the small "edit" link after the header/topic title. This only works on the full Desktop website, not the Mobile website or app.