Peter and Jane in Rehab

I can confidently say that, growing up, I was never more than twenty feet or one hour away from a Ladybird Book.

The former being when I was at home and the latter not.

For UK children in the 1960's the publications by Ladybird provided a principal source of easy to read and understand books on early years vocabulary. Delivered in large print and with a watercolour type illustration on the facing page our attention was caught for a few minutes either reading alone or with that revolutionary trend for the time of two live-in parents.

In 1964 the brother and sister pairing of Peter and Jane conveyed an idyllic and very middle class childhood going about a busy life accompanying Mother around the house and shops and being very respectful of Father who made an occasional appearance after work and at weekends.

The text was clear and precise and you could easily imagine it being spoken in a posh accent like the personalities on the TV not afflicted by a regional accent or other affectations.

Normality and conformity were portrayed to such an extent that if attempted today there would surely be an outcry of conspiracy and right-wing plot.

Ladybird progressed in subject matter to publish my favourite childhood series from 1962 to 1973 on the theme of "People at Work". Sadly and following the demise of such industries in the UK the titles covering "The Miner", "Car Makers" and "Shipbuilding", these appear more like works of fiction than fact.

Ladybird were accused, more retrospectively than anything, on being sexist in enforcing stereotypes for female nurses and a male dominance in other professions and careers. To a 1960's child there was no basis to question roles and genders, innocent times indeed.

By the 1970's the bookshelf of Ladybird Books in the storage cupboard in the family home was extensive providing reference and information to assist in homework or to settle an argument arising from a TV quiz programme or in general conversation. Historic events ,characters, hobbies and interests were amongst the wide topics.

The purchase of a Ladybird Book was a regular thing because of affordability with the price of, in old money, two shillings and sixpence or early decimalisation, twelve and a half pence ,being frozen for 30 years.

In a recent and clever marketing initiative Ladybird have attempted to recapture their baby boomer readers through a number of titles with an adult outlook and theme.

By adult I mean the target audience and not pages of nudity, lewdness and bodily contortions.

My wife kindly gave me a couple of the books for Christmas on "Mid Life Crisis" and "The Hangover" which set the tone  of the very funny but poignant and relevant writing. Well known contributors include comedy writers and contemporary novelists but importantly utilising facing page artwork from the original publications which gives a retro-feel and authenticity.

The Ladybird Book of "Mindfulness" satirises that particular modern trend and fad, "Leanne has been staring at this beautiful tree for hours. She was meant to be in the office. Tomorrow she will be fired. In this way mindfulness has solved her work related stress" and "Sophie is concentrating on her breath. It smells of Frazzles. She says she has light for breakfast, air for lunch and love for supper but Sophie has also secretly had some Frazzles".

Other subjects include Dating, "It is surprising how often that your soul mate turns out to not be on the other side of the world but fairly nearby and reasonably drunk", a male orientated topic of "The Shed", with "Cyril has a shed on his allotment 9  miles from his home. He also has an emergency shed in Italy for when his wife finds this shed", and "The Hipster"- "He is childless, unaccountably wealthy and always well turned out".

A sub-group of the books are under the series, well known to original devotees of Ladybird, of "How it Works" but not in relation to technology or machinery but The Wife, The Mum and The Husband.

These strike a chord with my generation,  promised so much in the post war years of plenty but experiencing the harsh reality of adult life now what with mortgages, pensions, taxes and to support dependants and any habits or hobbies we may have.

In The Wife "Rosie is a member of a fitness club. There she has tried cross-fit, spin and ultra ballet. Her £600 annual membership means that each visit last year cost £200".

I strongly suspect that I may have been the inspiration behind "The Husband", in "He sighs as he gets out of a chair and talks like Inspector Clouseau when he feels conversation has dried up. He also 'pom-poms' as he goes from room to room. This is to remind himself that he's still there".