The Complete Brambly Hedge: The gorgeously illustrated children’s classics delighting kids and parents for over 40 years!

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Barklem first conceived the stories in the 1970s, as she commuted from her Epping home into St Martin’s School of Art on the London underground. “I did not have a very clear idea of my future but assumed I would earn my living by illustrating other people’s books. I certainly never imagined that one day I would write my own,” Barklem said. The Mice of Brambly Hedge Celebrate (1998) is a joint publication version of Winter Story and Secret Staircase.

The Secret Staircase It is Midwinter's Eve in the Brambly Hedge and as per tradition, all of the mice are preparing for celebrations. Primrose and Wilfred have a special performance for the village mice and while they practice, they accidently discover a secret staircase in the house of Lord and Lady Woodmouse!! What ever will they find in there? Jill Barklem, who has died of pneumonia aged 66, was the creator of the Brambly Hedge children’s titles, a richly imagined and beautifully illustrated series of stories that are a fine example of the pastoral tradition in children’s books. Inspired by her observations of the countryside around Epping in Essex, where she grew up, Jill created the series on the underground as she commuted to her degree course at St Martin’s School of Art in central London. Hating the overcrowded trains, she transported herself to a place of her own imagining that offered peace, space and friendliness, populating it with a community of mice. Jill married David Barklem, an antiques dealer, in 1977. The couple went on to have a son and daughter. [6] She went on to publish Spring Story, Summer Story, Autumn Story and Winter Story in 1980. They were followed by The Secret Staircase, The High Hills, Sea Story and Poppy’s Babies. Each of the stories was deeply researched, and would take up to two years to finish; all of the food that features in the stories, for example, was created by Barklem in her kitchen first, to see that it worked. In 1996, the stories were adapted for television, using the voices of actors including Jim Broadbent and June Whitfield. Sadly, the books appear to be a UK phenomenon, which means it's hard to find copies of them in the U.S. When I consulted my librarian, she found a spin-off by Alan MacDonald called Wilfred to the Rescue. While the story was cute and the illustrations engaging, it was hard to see from this book exactly why Snapdragons would write about the Brambly Hedge mice with such passionate devotion. (I should probably mention here that The Four-Year-Old adored Wilfred to the Rescue. I liked it myself. I just didn't find it exceptional.)Two of the house's three bedrooms have king-sized beds and are beautifully furnished to create a private place to retreat at the end of the day. Both rooms have rural views and an HD Smart TV. I consider this collection of stories to be classics that every child should read. However, from what I have found out, they are currently out of print. Even though they may be hard to find, try your local library.

The four seasons were originally released as individual volumes in a miniature format (17.6×14.6cm / 5.7×6.9in). The next two, The Secret Staircase and The High Hills, were published as full-sized books (24×19.5cm / 7.6×9.5in). The last two books, Sea Story and Poppy's Babies, were released in the miniature format (17.6×14.6cm / 5.7×6.9in). Many later collections have all books in a larger format. The books are published by HarperCollins Children's Books in the United Kingdom and United States. When the residents of Brambly Hedge - a community of woodland mice all living together in a small settlement on the other side of the stream, across the field... amongst the tangled roots and stems" - wake up one winter morning and find their world has been blanketed in fresh snow, they respond in their usual fashion: by working, and then celebrating as a group. Digging tunnels to connect all the residences of the hedge with one another, and with the Store Stump, they decide to honor the traditions of the ancestors, and hold a Snow Ball... It is easily the most magical and fantastical of the Brambly Hedge seasonal stories - the Ice Hall is gorgeous and the later illustrations in this book benefit from its majestic blue-green pillars and high ceilings. And, in typical Brambly fashion, the more mundane scenes of kitchens and storerooms are just as impressive. It would not be a Brambly book without at least two kitchen illustrations, and this book has some of my favorites. This is the only seasonal Brambly book to be set mostly at night, which gives the illustrations a warm and magical quality. Even reluctant cooks will find self-catering simple in the stylish kitchen with Bosch appliances and a convenient Quooker boiling tap. Thanks to the U-shaped layout and big windows that look onto the garden and the countryside beyond, there's loads of natural light. There is a dining table that seats six.

After graduating she became an illustrator for children's bibles and a series of collections of prayers and graces. Under her maiden name she illustrated the Haffertee Hamster books by Janet and John Perkins.

I get completely absorbed into the quaint little world that the author has created. I adore these stories and will continue to enjoy them with all of the children in my life.The High Hills Mr Apple has to go to the High Hills to visit some of the isolated mice in need of supplies...and Wilfred invites himself along! Wilfred has heard of stories of gold in the mountains and will not miss this adventure for the world. There is a wonderful community of mice that live in a hedgerow called Brambly Hedge. Here life is peaceful and busy. They spend the spring and summer months collecting nuts, berries, and various fruits and flora for deliciously homemade jams and baked goods. Everything is kept in the Store Stump, an enormous tree stump that has many rooms for everything a mouse might need. The first four seasonal books were produced in audio form; one hour narrated by John Moffatt. Audiobooks and CDs are marketed under the titles The Brambly Hedge Collection (2005) and A Year in Brambly Hedge (2014). Autumn Story "Now keep close to me and don't get lost."Autumn is the time for excitement and adventure with the leaves changing colors, fall harvests and more. But then Primrose goes missing - and Lord and Lady Woodmouse don't know what to do. They simply must find their daughter before too late! Uno splendido paesaggio bianco si prospetta ai loro occhi il mattino seguente, tutto è coperto di neve, i prati, i sentieri, le piante. Tutti gli abitanti del bosco, entusiasti, decidono di organizzare una festa "Il ballo della neve".

Tales from Brambly Hedge (1997) contains the other 4 original titles: Staircase, Sea, Hills and Babies. Summer Story (1980) – The mice celebrate a special wedding, and everyone takes part in the preparations. Tutti sono in fermento, chi a scavare gallerie nella neve, chi a cucinare tante prelibatezze. Costruiscono un vero e proprio palazzo del ghiaccio, con una bellissima pista da ballo. Gli abitanti di Boscodirovo si presentano al ballo con i loro abiti migliori, ballano tutta la notte e, quando vanno a dormire le neve continua a cadere.The Secret Staircase (1983) – Primrose and Wilfred go up to the attic on their own to practice reciting the Mid-Winter Poem for an important performance. Spring Story (1980) – Wilfred Toadflax enjoys a picnic and a surprise for his birthday at Bluebell Bank. They carefully make the most amazing courses and joyfully eat fantastic meals. It's wonderful and I was in love. I don’t think I’d realized how much I imprinted on the visual style and artistic themes until I saw them again as an adult. The rich yet soft colors! The light and shadow! The natural themes! The ornate and intricate detail-filled pictures! The cutaway views of houses built into trees and stumps! The food! Poppy's Babies Dusty and Poppy, who were married in the Summer Story have just had their first bundle of joy - or should I say bundles? Poppy is absolutely in love with her trio of babies but with Dusty's dusty mill constantly bringing messes into the house and loud noises, Poppy just cannot live in that spot anymore.