The Complete Brambly Hedge

The Brambly Hedge stories are one of our happy places.  We were first introduced to Jill Barklem's cozy characters and illustrations by a little second hand copy of "A Spring Story".  Surprisingly we were able to pick up a couple more of the stand alone stories at various thrift stores and used bookshops.

The Complete Brambly Hedge

Jill Barklem 

2015

Finally one Christmas, Charlotte received the giant "Complete Brambly Hedge" and we were able to pass off our other books to friends who we knew would enjoy them as we do.  This collection includes several stories we had never seen before, and once again we simply poured over the illustrations.  Sometimes when I would read it to Charlotte in bed we'd have to stop for several minutes on a page just so I could enjoy all the picture's details.  (For this reason, I don't recommend this as a bedtime book.  You really want to sit in the daylight and take your time looking at the pictures!)

Brambly Hedge is populated by a community of mice with names like "Poppy" and "Dusty" and "Wilfred".  The stories are sweet and genial and full of all the gentle things that make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Spring Story

The problem with having so many books is that they sometimes get misplaced.  We have tall bookshelves filled to the brim and still piles of books in every room.  Lately I've been thinking it's time for another purging.  I often keep copies of books to give away to friends (let me know if anyone wants to be on the receiving end!)  This sweet little book was part of a series about Brambly Hedge, a village of mice.  I'm pretty sure that at one time we had all four season books- Summer Story, Autumn Story, Winter Story, but lately this is the only one I could find.  It's possible the other ones are simply lost in the clutter of our house.

A Spring Story

Jill Barklem 1987

These finely detailed illustrations are pure pleasure to look at and remind me a little of Beatrix Potter. It takes me forever to read it aloud because I want to linger on each page!  Charlotte was a big fan of this story when we read it the other night.  It's about a little mouse's birthday and the surprise picnic that the village plans for him.