The 1970's cover for Miss Osborne |
The original Miss Osborne. This is the library edition we bought, and also the same edition I read as a kid. |
Miss Osborne the Mop was originally published in 1963 and is most certainly out of print now. It still shows up online and, as I said, at second hand book sales! Another book set during the summer,the story concerns a girl named Jody who is sent to spend the summer with her aunt and uncle and cousin Dill. Jody and Dill don't get along very well, so Jody is expecting a miserable summer.Add to that situation the fact that Jody finds out she has to wear glasses for the summer. When strange things start happening it becomes apparent (to the reader at least!) that Jody's new glasses have the magical power to grant her wishes. Things really start to hop when Jody brings a mop to life. And what life! Miss Osborne is named after a teacher and she takes charge of Jody and Dill the way a teacher would. The three embark on a series of adventures over the summer, not least of which is keeping bossy Miss Osborne a secret.
The story is full of magic (gone wrong alot of the time!) and humour, as Jody and Dill--and the mop!-- become friends. The descriptions of the beautiful mountain setting are wonderful. My kids all loved the book. My 18 year old son only recently talked about the chocolate cake with orange icing that Jody wishes up for Dill! It sounded delicious and was something I always remembered too, and in fact I make such a cake every now and then.
Expect a few tears at the end of the book, but the ending is a happy one really. Good reading!
Awesome review Tam! I loved this book so much as a kid. I think it's so cool that you make the same cake for your son. :) Thanks for the lovely comment you left on my blog. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteYay! I have a follower! Thanks Chelly! Some of you might want to check out Chelly's blog imissmychildhood.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of this book, but it sounded good. I looked it up on AbeBooks - nearly $30 a copy! Oh, be still, my beating heart! I don't think the great-grands are going to be getting one of these unless I hit the lottery!
ReplyDeleteI had paperback copy too. I'll have to see if I still have it. If nothing else, you might get a scan of the pages!
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