posted on 20 Oct 2024

My Caterpillar and Other Animals

While I love collecting old Puffins, Antelopes, Lions and other books from the myriad children’s imprints of the second golden age of children’s books – say, from the realism of the 1950s, through the fantasy of the 60s and to the new realism of the 70s – to me, these books are more than archival objects. They are working documents which I dip in and out of, compare and contrast, trying to build a record of the innovations and developments of children’s writers, illustrators, publishers, librarians, critics and advocates. It’s important to remember that a lot was achieved in the past, in terms of making books accessible to as many children as possible, and for those children to feel their lives were reflected in the books offered to them. And so it can and must happen again.

I also enjoy making new out of old. So I’ve been gathering together essays, articles and profiles from decades past by and about those pioneering creators. I’ve put them together in a little zine which is published quarterly – it’s called the gab, short for ‘the golden age bulletin’. The pieces speak to each other, conjuring the spirit of a fabulous children’s books conference in the 1970s, for example. I’m writing new pieces, too, surveying books and interviewing legends whose stories might otherwise be lost. And readers are beginning to send in contributions, too. I think of the gab as a kind of publisher agnostic Puffin Post.

Going further, I’m keen to use the gab as a platform to publish new editions of old books that are hard to come by and for which there is a demand. Earlier this year, I came upon a fabulous thread of enthusiasm about Anne Barrett’s work. She wrote six highly acclaimed novels in the 50s and 60s, of which only two – Songberds Grove (1957) and Midway (1967) – were ever paperbacked (in the 60s, and then again in the 80s). Her debut, Caterpillar Hall (1950), exists only in its first printing but it has captured the hearts and minds of many. The late, great Jan Mark claimed it was her own favourite book as a child. Other readers continue to treasure their rare copies; some have paid a fortune to reclaim them, while others had given up hope of ever reading it, despite longing to do so.

So the gab, in association with Anne Barrett’s estate, has published Caterpillar Hall in a brand-new paperback edition – already to much enthusiasm. I hope readers will treasure their new copy of this glorious timeslip novel, set in post-war London, but maybe they will bring it to a gab symposium someday – for I’d love to organise a physical event – and swap their caterpillar for a much-wanted Gazelle or a Kite or a Pelican …

You can read more about Anne Barrett in the current Autumn issue of the gab, and there are details of how to subscribe to the magazine and buy the book.

I’d love to hear from interested readers. My email is jon@lettersfromrobin.com

 

Jon Appleton

October 2024