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The Painted Garden
The Painted Garden: A Story of a Holiday in Hollywood
303 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1976
About the author
Noel Streatfeild
176 books632 followersMary Noel Streatfeild, known as Noel Streatfeild, was an author best known and loved for her children's books, including Ballet Shoes and Circus Shoes. She also wrote romances under the pseudonym
Susan Scarlett
.
She was born on Christmas Eve, 1895, the daughter of William Champion Streatfeild and Janet Venn and the second of six children to be born to the couple. Sister Ruth was the oldest, after Noel came Barbara, William ('Bill'), Joyce (who died of TB prior to her second birthday) and Richenda. Ruth and Noel attended Hastings and St. Leonard's Ladies' College in 1910. As an adult, she began theater work, and spent approximately 10 years in the theater.
During the Great War, in 1915 Noel worked first as a volunteer in a soldier's hospital kitchen near Eastbourne Vicarage and later produced two plays with her sister Ruth. When things took a turn for the worse on the Front in 1916 she moved to London and obtained a job making munitions in Woolwich Arsenal. At the end of the war in January 1919, Noel enrolled at the Academy of Dramatic Art (later Royal Academy) in London.
In 1930, she began writing her first adult novel, The Whicharts, published in 1931. In June 1932, she was elected to membership of PEN. Early in 1936, Mabel Carey, children's editor of J. M. Dent and Sons, asks Noel to write a children's story about the theatre, which led to Noel completing Ballet Shoes in mid-1936. In 28 September 1936, when Ballet Shoes was published, it became an immediate best seller.
According to Angela Bull, Ballet Shoes was a reworked version of The Whicharts. Elder sister Ruth Gervis illustrated the book, which was published on the 28th September, 1936. At the time, the plot and general 'attitude' of the book was highly original, and destined to provide an outline for countless other ballet books down the years until this day. The first known book to be set at a stage school, the first ballet story to be set in London, the first to feature upper middle class society, the first to show the limits of amateurism and possibly the first to show children as self-reliant, able to survive without running to grownups when things went wrong.
In 1937, Noel traveled with Bertram Mills Circus to research The Circus is Coming (also known as Circus Shoes). She won the Carnegie gold medal in February 1939 for this book. In 1940, World War II began, and Noel began war-related work from 1940-1945. During this time, she wrote four adult novels, five children's books, nine romances, and innumerable articles and short stories. On May 10th, 1941, her flat was destroyed by a bomb. Shortly after WWII is over, in 1947, Noel traveled to America to research film studios for her book The Painted Garden. In 1949, she began delivering lectures on children's books. Between 1949 and 1953, her plays, The Bell Family radio serials played on the Children's Hour and were frequently voted top play of the year.
Early in 1960s, she decided to stop writing adult novels, but did write some autobiographical novels, such as A Vicarage Family in 1963. She also had written 12 romance novels under the pen name "Susan Scarlett." Her children's books number at least 58 titles. From July to December 1979, she suffered a series of small strokes and moved into a nursing home. In 1983, she received the honor Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). On 11 September 1986, she passed away in a nursing home.
She was born on Christmas Eve, 1895, the daughter of William Champion Streatfeild and Janet Venn and the second of six children to be born to the couple. Sister Ruth was the oldest, after Noel came Barbara, William ('Bill'), Joyce (who died of TB prior to her second birthday) and Richenda. Ruth and Noel attended Hastings and St. Leonard's Ladies' College in 1910. As an adult, she began theater work, and spent approximately 10 years in the theater.
During the Great War, in 1915 Noel worked first as a volunteer in a soldier's hospital kitchen near Eastbourne Vicarage and later produced two plays with her sister Ruth. When things took a turn for the worse on the Front in 1916 she moved to London and obtained a job making munitions in Woolwich Arsenal. At the end of the war in January 1919, Noel enrolled at the Academy of Dramatic Art (later Royal Academy) in London.
In 1930, she began writing her first adult novel, The Whicharts, published in 1931. In June 1932, she was elected to membership of PEN. Early in 1936, Mabel Carey, children's editor of J. M. Dent and Sons, asks Noel to write a children's story about the theatre, which led to Noel completing Ballet Shoes in mid-1936. In 28 September 1936, when Ballet Shoes was published, it became an immediate best seller.
According to Angela Bull, Ballet Shoes was a reworked version of The Whicharts. Elder sister Ruth Gervis illustrated the book, which was published on the 28th September, 1936. At the time, the plot and general 'attitude' of the book was highly original, and destined to provide an outline for countless other ballet books down the years until this day. The first known book to be set at a stage school, the first ballet story to be set in London, the first to feature upper middle class society, the first to show the limits of amateurism and possibly the first to show children as self-reliant, able to survive without running to grownups when things went wrong.
In 1937, Noel traveled with Bertram Mills Circus to research The Circus is Coming (also known as Circus Shoes). She won the Carnegie gold medal in February 1939 for this book. In 1940, World War II began, and Noel began war-related work from 1940-1945. During this time, she wrote four adult novels, five children's books, nine romances, and innumerable articles and short stories. On May 10th, 1941, her flat was destroyed by a bomb. Shortly after WWII is over, in 1947, Noel traveled to America to research film studios for her book The Painted Garden. In 1949, she began delivering lectures on children's books. Between 1949 and 1953, her plays, The Bell Family radio serials played on the Children's Hour and were frequently voted top play of the year.
Early in 1960s, she decided to stop writing adult novels, but did write some autobiographical novels, such as A Vicarage Family in 1963. She also had written 12 romance novels under the pen name "Susan Scarlett." Her children's books number at least 58 titles. From July to December 1979, she suffered a series of small strokes and moved into a nursing home. In 1983, she received the honor Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). On 11 September 1986, she passed away in a nursing home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 27, 2013
This is one of those books that you need to read as a child to experience what the author intends.
I am sure I'd have loved it if I'd read it at 10. A family in need of money given the chance to travel to Los Angeles, away from rationing and towards adventures in dancing, radio and Hollywood. It's wish-fulfilment at its peak.
Eldest child Rachel wants to be a dancer, and meets Posy Fossil from previous book Ballet Shoes (to the delight of readers I would guess). Youngest Tim is talented on the piano and finds his own niche in their new home. It is middle child Jane, envious of her siblings' abilities and opportunities who is given the biggest chance of all...
The story goes in the way you'd expect it, with just a few curveballs (the reason for Mr Winter's inability to work seems quite shocking, the relationship between Jane and Maurice not ending as you'd think). It's quite formulaic, plot wise, but enjoyable for a reader, as you yearn for certain things to happen, and lo and behold...
As an adult, The Painted Garden is sweet, cloyingly so at times, the children actually pretty annoying. As a parent I'd be talking to my child if they spoke in the way the girls sometimes do. The entitlement they seem to feel that they deserve certain things really don't sit well with me.
The awful stereotyping of Italian and 'coloured' accents also was though I suppose of its time, something I'd alter if I read it to my child. And I would also have to discuss the probably-inappropriate present of a cigarette case to an eight-year-old too! I know it would have not been unusual then.
Overall, a great children's classic read and a trip down Of-Its-Time Lane for an adult reader.
I am sure I'd have loved it if I'd read it at 10. A family in need of money given the chance to travel to Los Angeles, away from rationing and towards adventures in dancing, radio and Hollywood. It's wish-fulfilment at its peak.
Eldest child Rachel wants to be a dancer, and meets Posy Fossil from previous book Ballet Shoes (to the delight of readers I would guess). Youngest Tim is talented on the piano and finds his own niche in their new home. It is middle child Jane, envious of her siblings' abilities and opportunities who is given the biggest chance of all...
The story goes in the way you'd expect it, with just a few curveballs (the reason for Mr Winter's inability to work seems quite shocking, the relationship between Jane and Maurice not ending as you'd think). It's quite formulaic, plot wise, but enjoyable for a reader, as you yearn for certain things to happen, and lo and behold...
As an adult, The Painted Garden is sweet, cloyingly so at times, the children actually pretty annoying. As a parent I'd be talking to my child if they spoke in the way the girls sometimes do. The entitlement they seem to feel that they deserve certain things really don't sit well with me.
The awful stereotyping of Italian and 'coloured' accents also was though I suppose of its time, something I'd alter if I read it to my child. And I would also have to discuss the probably-inappropriate present of a cigarette case to an eight-year-old too! I know it would have not been unusual then.
Overall, a great children's classic read and a trip down Of-Its-Time Lane for an adult reader.
March 26, 2016
This felt like a slightly different Streatfeild book. Of course, it's also (I think) the first one I've read for the first time as an adult. But, mostly, it's that it's about the untalented sibling. And, unlike characters like Petrova, she is not happy being untalented. Which I thought was very realistic! She's written with sympathy, but the narrative still make it clear the poor girl isn't that talented, despite the movie role!
Anyway, it just felt a little less . . . fun, I guess. But you get to see adult Fossils!!! And I liked Rachel. She has a quiet kind of journey. (I like Tim, too, but I guess he felt less distinct. I guess Streatfeild's boys have never stuck out to me much.)
But I am sad the book ended
Anyway, it just felt a little less . . . fun, I guess. But you get to see adult Fossils!!! And I liked Rachel. She has a quiet kind of journey. (I like Tim, too, but I guess he felt less distinct. I guess Streatfeild's boys have never stuck out to me much.)
But I am sad the book ended
June 1, 2010
Better known as Movie Shoes, this story follows the three Winter children from their London home to the shores of Santa Monica in order for their father to recuperate from a nervous breakdown in the warm climate of his sister’s home. Like in Ballet Shoes (a favorite of mine as a girl), the youngest and the eldest children hold the recognizable talent and looks in the family and the middle child is prickly and difficult.
The story opens with Tim, Jane, and Rachel eavesdropping on the doctor’s conversation with their mother, trying desperately to learn if their father will ever recover from the shock of accidentally killing a child who runs in front of his car. The doctor’s advice of sending him to a sunny climate for the winter holds little hope, but a letter is sent to the children’s aunt, who has lived in California for many years. A positive response from her — inviting the whole family to visit — and a surprise inheritance for their mother’s friend and the children’s nanny to fund the trip set the stage for an international adventure.
First there’s travel — on trains and an ocean liner; then there are the cultural differences. And then when they reach California, they find their aunt is unbearable, prone to taking to bed with nerves and sick headaches, and unwilling to share much beyond room and board (which the adults agree is still terribly generous of her). Plus, she seems to stand in the way — intentionally or otherwise — of what each child wants most out of the California trip: for Rachel, a chance to meet with the famed Posy Fossil and to take dance lessons; for Jane, a friendly dog to hang out with; and for Tim, a piano upon which to practice.
Luckily, what the children seem to learn in America is that generally its inhabitants are friendly and inclined to help you out. Posy tracks Rachel down, gets her an audition, and takes her under her wing; Aunt Cora’s cook, Bella, helps Tim track down a piano upon which to practice and generally counsels him to keep a positive outlook on things; and Jane encounters a sympathetic dog owner who also happens to be a director about to film The Secret Garden, but whose star suddenly became unavailable. The family’s six months in the U.S. offers up wild adventures — but will these be enough in the end to keep them on this side of the Atlantic?
[A couple notes:
* One, I bought my copy second-hand, and all but the first page of Chapter 16 is missing.
* Two, I believe I own this book back at my folks’ as Movie Shoes but was lured into buying it again because of the title difference. (For what it’s worth, Movie Shoes is the later, American title.) It was totally the mention of the return of the Fossil sisters that grabbed me and made me buy it.
* Three, in looking into the title question, I have learned that this is a revised and abridged version of the book. I had been surprised by how casually they worked food parcels into the story. Had I not read/watched 84, Charing Cross Road, I certainly wouldn’t have realized how long food shortages and rationing went on in England and recognized the reference. Apparently some of the other things they cut referred to similar bits of British post-World War II restrictions.
Although the book wasn’t nearly as good as I remember it being, nor as good as Ballet Shoes remains, it was still an enjoyable read. I’d recommend it to those who an enjoy a Pollyanna-type ending to their stories.
The story opens with Tim, Jane, and Rachel eavesdropping on the doctor’s conversation with their mother, trying desperately to learn if their father will ever recover from the shock of accidentally killing a child who runs in front of his car. The doctor’s advice of sending him to a sunny climate for the winter holds little hope, but a letter is sent to the children’s aunt, who has lived in California for many years. A positive response from her — inviting the whole family to visit — and a surprise inheritance for their mother’s friend and the children’s nanny to fund the trip set the stage for an international adventure.
First there’s travel — on trains and an ocean liner; then there are the cultural differences. And then when they reach California, they find their aunt is unbearable, prone to taking to bed with nerves and sick headaches, and unwilling to share much beyond room and board (which the adults agree is still terribly generous of her). Plus, she seems to stand in the way — intentionally or otherwise — of what each child wants most out of the California trip: for Rachel, a chance to meet with the famed Posy Fossil and to take dance lessons; for Jane, a friendly dog to hang out with; and for Tim, a piano upon which to practice.
Luckily, what the children seem to learn in America is that generally its inhabitants are friendly and inclined to help you out. Posy tracks Rachel down, gets her an audition, and takes her under her wing; Aunt Cora’s cook, Bella, helps Tim track down a piano upon which to practice and generally counsels him to keep a positive outlook on things; and Jane encounters a sympathetic dog owner who also happens to be a director about to film The Secret Garden, but whose star suddenly became unavailable. The family’s six months in the U.S. offers up wild adventures — but will these be enough in the end to keep them on this side of the Atlantic?
[A couple notes:
* One, I bought my copy second-hand, and all but the first page of Chapter 16 is missing.
* Two, I believe I own this book back at my folks’ as Movie Shoes but was lured into buying it again because of the title difference. (For what it’s worth, Movie Shoes is the later, American title.) It was totally the mention of the return of the Fossil sisters that grabbed me and made me buy it.
* Three, in looking into the title question, I have learned that this is a revised and abridged version of the book. I had been surprised by how casually they worked food parcels into the story. Had I not read/watched 84, Charing Cross Road, I certainly wouldn’t have realized how long food shortages and rationing went on in England and recognized the reference. Apparently some of the other things they cut referred to similar bits of British post-World War II restrictions.
Although the book wasn’t nearly as good as I remember it being, nor as good as Ballet Shoes remains, it was still an enjoyable read. I’d recommend it to those who an enjoy a Pollyanna-type ending to their stories.
Read
April 18, 2022Jane is the middle child in her family - the untalented, ungracious and plain one in between ballet dancer Rachel and pianist Tim. When the family moves to California for six months for her father's health, Jane is once again the odd one out, with any aspirations or talents. But then a movie director invites her to audition for the role of Mary in a film adaptation of The Secret Garden.
Jane is one of children's fiction's genuinely difficult main characters. She is crabby and unreasonable and stubborn, she has an awful temper and bottles things up, and she's a bad loser and an ungracious winner. I did not always like her, but I did find her very sympathetic! ("Were you an awful child" yes yes I was.) But you do see why she is always acting up and in a temper, because it does feel from her perspective that she isn't considered important to anyone.
The parallels between The Secret Garden and her role of Mary aren't subtle. In fact she is cast for that very reason, for being so like the sour, unhappy Mary - and it's the transition to the gentle, blooming Mary that she finds difficult in both film and real life. I found that so interesting, that even though Jane does get happier and make some friends, she was difficult in many ways to the very end.
All of the children act in ways which feel both childish and real, their concerns and their point of view are taken seriously - though the book is also quite funny, so it's never too earnest.
Jane is one of children's fiction's genuinely difficult main characters. She is crabby and unreasonable and stubborn, she has an awful temper and bottles things up, and she's a bad loser and an ungracious winner. I did not always like her, but I did find her very sympathetic! ("Were you an awful child" yes yes I was.) But you do see why she is always acting up and in a temper, because it does feel from her perspective that she isn't considered important to anyone.
The parallels between The Secret Garden and her role of Mary aren't subtle. In fact she is cast for that very reason, for being so like the sour, unhappy Mary - and it's the transition to the gentle, blooming Mary that she finds difficult in both film and real life. I found that so interesting, that even though Jane does get happier and make some friends, she was difficult in many ways to the very end.
All of the children act in ways which feel both childish and real, their concerns and their point of view are taken seriously - though the book is also quite funny, so it's never too earnest.
February 22, 2025
A typical Streatfeild family feature in this book: a gifted ballet dancer, a talented musician, and an irritable un-artistic middle child. The family have the chance to spend the winter with a relative in California, and the middle child gets a chance to shine. Family dynamics push this book forward; a lovely gentle read with humour and moving moments.
Most of the story takes place in California, with some mildly amusing scenes as they try to adjust to American culture and language, and discover that children are expected to earn pocket money rather than being given it by parents.
One of the things I particularly like about this book is a side story about two of the sisters from Streatfield’s classic ‘Ballet Shoes’. I also enjoyed the children’s gradual changes in outlook and motivation, and the way they come to love their new environment and the people around them. There are caricatures amongst the minor characters, but I don’t see that as a problem.
I very much enjoyed re-reading this, and would recommend it to anyone who likes children’s fiction of this kind.
Four and a half stars, really.
Longer review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
Most of the story takes place in California, with some mildly amusing scenes as they try to adjust to American culture and language, and discover that children are expected to earn pocket money rather than being given it by parents.
One of the things I particularly like about this book is a side story about two of the sisters from Streatfield’s classic ‘Ballet Shoes’. I also enjoyed the children’s gradual changes in outlook and motivation, and the way they come to love their new environment and the people around them. There are caricatures amongst the minor characters, but I don’t see that as a problem.
I very much enjoyed re-reading this, and would recommend it to anyone who likes children’s fiction of this kind.
Four and a half stars, really.
Longer review: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/...
June 11, 2007
A fabulous companion-of-sorts to The Secret Garden -- about a grumpy, awkward middle child named Jane Winter who ends up starring in a film version of it. It's interesting to consider them side-by-side to see how dramatically children's literature changed in a relatively short period of time (and for the record, I also love The Secret Garden!).
Read
September 9, 2015The painted garden is a heartwarming book and was recommended to me by my mother. It can occasionally be dry and boring but is normally engaging. It explores the theme of self discovery. It is about the Winter family, mainly the middle child, crabby Jane, and their adventures during their trip to America.
March 26, 2008
The only Streatfeild I didn't like. Could not warm up to the children in this story at all.
January 29, 2025
I discovered this Streatfeild at boarding school and have loved it ever since.
The Winters have had a bad time as John has been very ill since he had a car accident and he hasn't been able to work since so they have been poor. Britain is also still recovering from World War Two and his wife Bee is feeling pretty low about things until the doctor suggests going abroad to relatives. They decide to write to his sister Cora who lives in California and end up going there for 6 months when the stars align! Rachel the eldest is a talented dancer who studies at Madame Fidolia's Academy, Tim is a budding pianist and Jane doesn't seem to have any talent apart from being reasonably quick at lessons. It is Jane who surprises them all in California.
I found this book as gripping and comforting as ever. I love the way all of the children learn about hard work in California and how Jane learned many lessons and had some glory for a change. Again we get to catch up with Fossils and Posy does some of her naughty imitations. Some of the characters are hilariously drawn. Maurice and Mrs Tuesday and Aunt Cora are particularly vivid. I loved David and Bella too. Reading about sunny California in cold January was a nice escape although of course things aren't great there at the moment with the fires. I noticed bits of history more this time around. Especially the weird rule about not being able to exchange pounds for dollers and how plentiful everything was in America compared to Britain as we still had rationing.
A wonderful book about travelling to a different country and how unexpected things can happen to the least likely people and be the making of them. Streatfeild does family stories with a bit of showbiz thrown in so well.
The Winters have had a bad time as John has been very ill since he had a car accident and he hasn't been able to work since so they have been poor. Britain is also still recovering from World War Two and his wife Bee is feeling pretty low about things until the doctor suggests going abroad to relatives. They decide to write to his sister Cora who lives in California and end up going there for 6 months when the stars align! Rachel the eldest is a talented dancer who studies at Madame Fidolia's Academy, Tim is a budding pianist and Jane doesn't seem to have any talent apart from being reasonably quick at lessons. It is Jane who surprises them all in California.
I found this book as gripping and comforting as ever. I love the way all of the children learn about hard work in California and how Jane learned many lessons and had some glory for a change. Again we get to catch up with Fossils and Posy does some of her naughty imitations. Some of the characters are hilariously drawn. Maurice and Mrs Tuesday and Aunt Cora are particularly vivid. I loved David and Bella too. Reading about sunny California in cold January was a nice escape although of course things aren't great there at the moment with the fires. I noticed bits of history more this time around. Especially the weird rule about not being able to exchange pounds for dollers and how plentiful everything was in America compared to Britain as we still had rationing.
A wonderful book about travelling to a different country and how unexpected things can happen to the least likely people and be the making of them. Streatfeild does family stories with a bit of showbiz thrown in so well.
November 6, 2015
I like the Winter family (even truculent Jane), and I love reading about their adventurous journey to Hollywood (they travel across America in a train! I am so jealous). It's one of NS's best stories, and we get to meet Sylvia, Nana, Pauline and Posy again, and hear about what Petrova is up to. My Puffin edition is also illustrated by Shirley Hughes, just line drawings of course, but beautifully done.
The descriptions of film-making are fascinating - but so are the descriptions of America, and family life on both sides of the Atlantic - it's a very absorbing book! The characterisation is, as usual, spot on, and NS captures exactly what siblings say to each other, how they feel and what they do.
As an adult reader, I am slightly miffed that nobody called Peaseblossom moved in to make my life easier after I had my first baby. But I still enjoy the story. Wall to wall sunshine from the moment they arrive, for a start. What's not to like?
The descriptions of film-making are fascinating - but so are the descriptions of America, and family life on both sides of the Atlantic - it's a very absorbing book! The characterisation is, as usual, spot on, and NS captures exactly what siblings say to each other, how they feel and what they do.
As an adult reader, I am slightly miffed that nobody called Peaseblossom moved in to make my life easier after I had my first baby. But I still enjoy the story. Wall to wall sunshine from the moment they arrive, for a start. What's not to like?
September 11, 2025
Noel Streatfeild was one of my favorite authors growing up. This was the first time I've reread The Painted Garden (AKA Movie Shoes) since childhood, and I didn't find it as enjoyable as I remembered. I loved the parts about the English family traveling by liner across the Atlantic, experiencing culture shock in New York City, and especially traveling across the continent by train to California (where the father is recovering his health in the home of his sister who married an American). Basically, I found that everyone, author included, was really unfair to Jane, the plain middle child who is eclipsed by her attractive and talented siblings. I found myself giving her a high functioning autism diagnosis as I read, which made the lack of emotional support she gets feel even more unfair.
May 20, 2011
I've read this book so many times, the cover has fallen off, and the pages are yellowed from being outdoors and traveling across England when I was in elementary school. But it's fantastic. It's a brilliant portrayal of life for young children in England during the war coming to California, and then trying to adapt. Noel Streatfeild is a wonderful storyteller, and The Painted Garden is, in my opinion, her best. It's the perfect step back in time.
I had to buy this in London, at a book shop that only sold out of print books by English authors, but if you can get your hand on this, you should definitely read it!
I had to buy this in London, at a book shop that only sold out of print books by English authors, but if you can get your hand on this, you should definitely read it!
April 3, 2016
I read Streatfeild for her marvellously eccentric style and her authentic-feeling child's-eye view and sometimes, like this one, because her books are total time capsules. (The bit where the children get told they're now foreigners is priceless. Also the bits where they experience ice cream sodas and strawberry milk for the first time. The world has moved ON.)
Um, avoid if you dislike one-dimensional portraits of non-white or non-English speaking people - that is, I do dislike but I can skate over in things first published in 1949.
Also [whispers] I'm fairly sure Peaseblossom is butch.
Um, avoid if you dislike one-dimensional portraits of non-white or non-English speaking people - that is, I do dislike but I can skate over in things first published in 1949.
Also [whispers] I'm fairly sure Peaseblossom is butch.
May 14, 2008
I wanted to love this one more than I did, since it is partly about the making of a movie version of The Secret garden. However, it is a victim of Streatfeild's writing - the principle child in the story is such a wretched little brat (and there doesn't seem to be an epiphany parallel to Mary's) that it makes this one less fun to reread than some of her others. That being said, I was still glad I read it.
Want to Read
July 7, 2010bought for Mom on ebay, $3.38+shipping. Also, this is not the correct edition.
Title: The Painted Garden: A Story of a Holiday in Hollywood (Puffin Books)
Author: Noel Streatfield
Publisher: Puffin Books
Binding: Paperback
Publisher Date: 29/01/1976
Item Condition: used-good
ISBN No: 0140301577
SKU No: W3-L1-R072A-04915
Title: The Painted Garden: A Story of a Holiday in Hollywood (Puffin Books)
Author: Noel Streatfield
Publisher: Puffin Books
Binding: Paperback
Publisher Date: 29/01/1976
Item Condition: used-good
ISBN No: 0140301577
SKU No: W3-L1-R072A-04915
June 2, 2015
A beautifully written book about life in California and working in a movie (as a child actor) in the early 1950s. I love how Noel makes the characters imperfect but understandable, never a caricature, and how none of them is forced to become "nice" so there can be a "happy ending." This would make a great Miyazaki movie.
July 18, 2016
Not as good as Ballet Shoes, and yet, I found the story of the children very compelling. The narrative is very similar to Ballet Shoes, but played out against the backdrop of Englishness in the USA. I enjoyed seeing the country described through English eyes. Having Posy turn up was especially nice.
January 24, 2012
It was recommended to me by Goodreads as Movie shoes, then Marineke recommended this as a book by the same author, but it´s the same book! So now I want to read all the other `shoe` books as well. I think this is the series Meg Ryan is explaining about at the Fox bookstore in ´You´ve got mail`?
April 29, 2009
Loved it of course, but was also easily annoyed by it - Jane was such a brat!
October 10, 2012
This book is very good, plus one of the most deformed books in my library. Noel Streatfield is a writer I would recommend!
April 21, 2018
Interesting and very enjoyable. Now I really want to read Ballet Shoes.
February 6, 2024
The Painted Garden is typical Noel Streatfeild. It's very engaging, especially at the beginning where it introduces the Winter family, John, Bee, Rachel, Jane and Tim. If these names are a bit run-of-the-mill for Streatfeild, don't worry, Peaseblossom the family friend/organiser/helper, and Chewing-Gum the pet dog are there to inject a little offbeat naming. Rachel and Tim Winter are talented (naturally), with Rachel anticipating a career in dance, and Tim in piano. Jane is a bit of a blip in the Streatfeild universe. She seems to have no particular artistic talent, and is grumpy, pushy, outspoken and - shock, horror - plain! John Winter is seemingly deep in some kind of depression which prevents him from earning a living as a writer, and everyone, especially wife, Bee, worries endlessly about him. Fortunately he has a sister in California who the entire family (sans Chewing-Gum) goes to stay with for 6 months to give John a chance to recover. The story is very entertaining as it describes their ship-board journey to the US and their establishment in Aunt Cora's household. From there it becomes a bit tedious as the talented Winters (Rachel and Tim) manoeuvre and manipulate (politely, of course) the various adults around them into facilitating dance lessons and the delivery of a piano. Meanwhile, Jane simply follows a lost dog on the beach and almost literally falls into the arms of a movie director who immediately recognises her as the perfect child to play "Mary" in his soon to be shot movie of The Secret Garden. Never-mind that she has no acting experience and no interest. What I liked most is that the children are entirely human - for the first half of the book, they are constantly sniping and fighting; they are jealous of each other, and more than a little selfish. Streatfeild did not create perfect, likeable children and it does make the book more true to life. Once Jane is signed up to act in the movie, however, it gets bogged down in the difficulties the child actors in the movie have in simply getting along. I did skip a bit here, as the plot seemed to lose its way. All in all, it is a very readable book, but although it has many things in common with Ballet Shoes, White Boots and other of Streatfeild's work, the writing seemed less focused and more in need of a good edit.
January 3, 2023
Rereading for the first time in probably 25 years, it was a pleasant surprise to uncover so much nuance within this novel. Whilst relocating to the sun for reasons of health is a common trope, the premise for the family's move to California from post-war England feels unusual for the time, especially through such a sympathetic lens
Children in this era of literature are often tedious but in emulating The Secret Garden's Mary Lennox, Streatfeild offers a wonderfully truculent heroine in aspiring professional dog walker Jane, who prefers animals to most people. Flawed but relatable (though perhaps only to us who were equally 'difficult' children...), she lives in the shadow of two talented siblings, motivated by a combination of hoping to finally prove herself but also a believable element of jealousy towards her sister and brother who until now have received the majority of positive attention.
The exploits of the siblings are less interesting, but include a welcome return to the Fossil sisters a decade after the events of Ballet Shoes.
In some places this book is sadly of its time and whilst Streatfeild continues to be more compassionate than many of her contemporaries, some of the depictions of black servants are misguided.
Children in this era of literature are often tedious but in emulating The Secret Garden's Mary Lennox, Streatfeild offers a wonderfully truculent heroine in aspiring professional dog walker Jane, who prefers animals to most people. Flawed but relatable (though perhaps only to us who were equally 'difficult' children...), she lives in the shadow of two talented siblings, motivated by a combination of hoping to finally prove herself but also a believable element of jealousy towards her sister and brother who until now have received the majority of positive attention.
The exploits of the siblings are less interesting, but include a welcome return to the Fossil sisters a decade after the events of Ballet Shoes.
In some places this book is sadly of its time and whilst Streatfeild continues to be more compassionate than many of her contemporaries, some of the depictions of black servants are misguided.
July 26, 2025
a comfort reread, although there are things here that aren't in fact comforting, mainly the horror of Peaseblossom, ex girls sports captain, whose ideas about child rearing don't exactly march in step with my own, and also how insensitive everyone is about Jane. I would be a cranky mess too if I were her. One can't help but speculating why Peaseblossom has given up everything to take over the children from their mother (a school friend) --a romantic crush? a desire to have children she can boss around like she did at school? a desperate desire not to be alone? but there is nothing in the text to support any particular hypothesis...
In any event, I enjoy many things about how the kids' lives play out in California. Reading it as a child, of course I was thrilled to see grown up Posy and Pauline; now the surprise of that is of course gone and the book falling apart from re-reading it, but it still served its comfort read purpose nicely.
In any event, I enjoy many things about how the kids' lives play out in California. Reading it as a child, of course I was thrilled to see grown up Posy and Pauline; now the surprise of that is of course gone and the book falling apart from re-reading it, but it still served its comfort read purpose nicely.
February 19, 2022
I was bought this novel as a Christmas present in 1976. It was actually this very edition. I love the cover as it continues the picture on the reverse. I really enjoyed it then and so I have again.
It is the story of a child playing the part of Mary in a film of The Secret Garden which is my favourite children's book.
I had also forgotten that this pictured edition has beautiful illustrations by Shirley Hughes.
I won't do a review of the story as there are plenty of those to read.
The family travel to America on board The Mauretania and as a child I wasn't really wondering about that but this time I wanted to place when it might have been written rather than when this edition was published.
As usual it is Noel Streatfeild at her best.
If you like stories about theatre and dancing then this is one for you.
It is the story of a child playing the part of Mary in a film of The Secret Garden which is my favourite children's book.
I had also forgotten that this pictured edition has beautiful illustrations by Shirley Hughes.
I won't do a review of the story as there are plenty of those to read.
The family travel to America on board The Mauretania and as a child I wasn't really wondering about that but this time I wanted to place when it might have been written rather than when this edition was published.
As usual it is Noel Streatfeild at her best.
If you like stories about theatre and dancing then this is one for you.
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December 23, 2024I have read Movie Shoes many time and decided to read the British edition. I expected to see lorries changed to trucks and British spellings changed to American ones. I was delighted to see all the additional material that was not in Movie Shoes such as the train ride from New York to California through Chicago. The characters were more fully developed in the longer work and it was delightful.
January 4, 2026
While The Painted Garden is a childhood favourite that I loved revisiting, it was disappointing to have to get out my old copy having picked up Movie Shoes thinking it would be the same book with a Shoes title, not an abridged version of the story. Even if there hadn't been particular bits I remembered that had been cut, I would have picked up on oddities when things were referred to despite the initial mention not being included, so that brought the rating down
April 23, 2019
A long-time childhood favourite. Nice to reread it again. One of the things I like most is that Jane is recognised as plain and no one tries to convince her that she’s actually beautiful: there’s a line about how not everyone can be beautiful or talented, but everyone can be kind. Quite refreshing in today’s “everyone is special” era.
January 29, 2021
Really lovely world and character building. Delightful to see New York and LA through an English lens in the 1940s. Unfortunately, since it was written in the 1940s, it has some very well-intentioned but extremely problematic depictions of Black and Italian characters. So I wouldn’t give it to a kid to read to themselves; would be ok if you read it with them and discussed.
January 19, 2022
The depictions & descriptions & dialogue of the two persons of colour in the book are very 1949 (them being minor characters of a rich woman's housekeeper and a train porter). If you can forgive it being of its time in that area, its good to find out what happened to the characters from Ballet Shoes. I read a 1963 copy, so the language may have been updated in the more recent publications.
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