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Paddy Gets Into Mischief
Molly Brett writes and illustrates a charming story about Paddy Badger who was a little bit rebellious until his mother, Mrs Bossy Badger sorts him out. But she does not do so until after he has been in all sorts of mischief.
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
24 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
22 people want to read
About the author
Molly Brett
45 books11 followersMolly (Mary Elizabeth) Brett was an English illustrator and children's author. She grew up in Surrey, Great Britain, [Croydon Registration District] surrounded by animals and nature.
Her mother, Mary Gould Brett, was a respected animal painter who encouraged her daughter to paint from life, and this is reflected in Molly's gift for making her animals look thoroughly naturalistic while giving them human characteristics and activities.
Molly began her art training with a correspondence course in illustration, followed by formal instruction at Press Art School and the Guildford Art School. It was at Guildford that she met Margaret Tarrant (also destined to attain substantial fame as an illustrator), who soon became a close friend and lived with her in Cornwall.
She began her career by illustrating weekly papers for children. One of her earliest commissions was to illustrate stories by Enid Blyton.
Inspired by this, she went on to write and illustrate 21 books of her own for the Medici Society of London, with whom she was associated for 60 years. Medici has published over 500 of her paintings as postcards, greeting cards and prints.
Molly Brett's work has enchanted generations of children with its beautifully drawn details, subtle colours and magical atmosphere. Her work follows in the tradition of other twentieth-century "dressed animal" illustrators such as Beatrix Potter, Margaret Tempest, Racey Helps, and others.
Footnote: The actual date of Molly Brett's death is uncertain but she died in the second quarter of 1990 so April 1 has been included for completeness.
Her mother, Mary Gould Brett, was a respected animal painter who encouraged her daughter to paint from life, and this is reflected in Molly's gift for making her animals look thoroughly naturalistic while giving them human characteristics and activities.
Molly began her art training with a correspondence course in illustration, followed by formal instruction at Press Art School and the Guildford Art School. It was at Guildford that she met Margaret Tarrant (also destined to attain substantial fame as an illustrator), who soon became a close friend and lived with her in Cornwall.
She began her career by illustrating weekly papers for children. One of her earliest commissions was to illustrate stories by Enid Blyton.
Inspired by this, she went on to write and illustrate 21 books of her own for the Medici Society of London, with whom she was associated for 60 years. Medici has published over 500 of her paintings as postcards, greeting cards and prints.
Molly Brett's work has enchanted generations of children with its beautifully drawn details, subtle colours and magical atmosphere. Her work follows in the tradition of other twentieth-century "dressed animal" illustrators such as Beatrix Potter, Margaret Tempest, Racey Helps, and others.
Footnote: The actual date of Molly Brett's death is uncertain but she died in the second quarter of 1990 so April 1 has been included for completeness.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 19, 2019
Paddy lived at home in a house called 'The Sett' with his mother, Mrs Bossy Badger, and father, the latter who would take his son out into the country to show him birds building nests, where the bumble bees kept their honey and how to find wild strawberries and mushrooms. In addition Mr Badger helped Mrs Badger to keep the countryside tidy because they lived in an area that was known as a Beauty Spot.
But Mr Badger was not in Mrs Badger's good books because he was always smoking a pipe and blowing smoke all over the place that made his wife sneeze. Mrs Bossy was so annoyed that she threw his pipe into a nearby stream but Mr Badger made himself another larger pipe and stuffed it full of dry leaves instead of tobacco. And so as not to annoy Mrs Bossy any more he took off for a Nature Reserve where he could smoke his pipe in peace.
After Mr Badger's departure, Mrs Bossy became even more bossy about tidying up and she ordered all the neighbouring animals to assist in the operation. But Paddy did not do so, he went away to play with the squirrels. When the autumn arrived, Mrs Bossy and her posse had to sweep up all the fallen leaves but Paddy went picking blackberries instead and never helped at all.
In spring Mrs Bossy organised spring cleaning - no Paddy to help again - and in summer when visitors crowded the Beauty Spot some untidy folk left litter lying around, although in fairness, lots was put into litter bins. Mrs Bossy's team put that to rights, picked up the rubbish and filled the litter bins to the brim. They were ready to be taken away the next day.
One night a bin was knocked over and the rubbish was scattered around so it had to be re-tidied, with no help from Paddy, who spent the time doing balancing tricks with an empty bottle. The next day an artist arrived to paint the Beauty Spot scene but before he could finish it began to rain so he scraped all his remaining paint into the litter bin and retired.
That night, with the rabbits listening for the litter bin to be knocked over so they could dash out and catch the culprit, they heard a loud bump. Sure enough the litter bin was on its side but as they ran out it rushed straight at them as though it was going to attack them. The rabbits all fled back to their own holes in fright.
The following morning a little bird spotted coloured footprints leading from the litter bin and he followed them to discover that they ended on Mrs Bossy's doorstep. This fact was reported to all the animals who became suspicious and went to see Mrs Bossy, demanding to see Paddy. She told them that Paddy was ill with what looked like the measles, as he was very spotty.
Dr Owl was sent for and he quickly noticed that the spots on Paddy's face were blue and red. 'He's really very poorly,' said Mrs Bossy while Paddy hid under the bedclothes. 'Nonsense,' said Dr Owl, 'that's not measles but paint from the litter bin.' Paddy had been exposed and he felt very ashamed. Mrs Bossy was crestfallen as she felt that Paddy had let the family down.
But Paddy did realise that Mrs Bossy was missing her husband so the following morning he set off to the Nature Reserve to get his father to return home. He met all kinds of problems as he wandered off in search of his father but a puff of smoke eventually directed him to him. It was just as well that it did for his father had set the dry leaves on which he was sitting on fire. Paddy went to the rescue and in a dramatic return home, floating on a log down the river, the couple eventually arrived safely.
A delighted Mrs Bossy was waiting and all the animals were pleased to see Mr Badger back home. Mrs Bossy then organised a Welcome Home party, which all the animals attended and Mr Badger vowed never to smoke again while Paddy turned over a new leaf and was helpful to all the animals and his mother.
And at Christmas thereafter Paddy swept everybody's doorstep and paths clear of snow and always left a parcel of goodies for Mrs Bossy But he was not all sweetness and light for he did still like to be a little mischievous (I understand that very well) and the occasional snowball would be thrown here and there!
Molly Brett not only tells this lovely tale with feeling she provides some absolutely fabulous illustrations; her portrayal of all the little animals is particularly delightful.
But Mr Badger was not in Mrs Badger's good books because he was always smoking a pipe and blowing smoke all over the place that made his wife sneeze. Mrs Bossy was so annoyed that she threw his pipe into a nearby stream but Mr Badger made himself another larger pipe and stuffed it full of dry leaves instead of tobacco. And so as not to annoy Mrs Bossy any more he took off for a Nature Reserve where he could smoke his pipe in peace.
After Mr Badger's departure, Mrs Bossy became even more bossy about tidying up and she ordered all the neighbouring animals to assist in the operation. But Paddy did not do so, he went away to play with the squirrels. When the autumn arrived, Mrs Bossy and her posse had to sweep up all the fallen leaves but Paddy went picking blackberries instead and never helped at all.
In spring Mrs Bossy organised spring cleaning - no Paddy to help again - and in summer when visitors crowded the Beauty Spot some untidy folk left litter lying around, although in fairness, lots was put into litter bins. Mrs Bossy's team put that to rights, picked up the rubbish and filled the litter bins to the brim. They were ready to be taken away the next day.
One night a bin was knocked over and the rubbish was scattered around so it had to be re-tidied, with no help from Paddy, who spent the time doing balancing tricks with an empty bottle. The next day an artist arrived to paint the Beauty Spot scene but before he could finish it began to rain so he scraped all his remaining paint into the litter bin and retired.
That night, with the rabbits listening for the litter bin to be knocked over so they could dash out and catch the culprit, they heard a loud bump. Sure enough the litter bin was on its side but as they ran out it rushed straight at them as though it was going to attack them. The rabbits all fled back to their own holes in fright.
The following morning a little bird spotted coloured footprints leading from the litter bin and he followed them to discover that they ended on Mrs Bossy's doorstep. This fact was reported to all the animals who became suspicious and went to see Mrs Bossy, demanding to see Paddy. She told them that Paddy was ill with what looked like the measles, as he was very spotty.
Dr Owl was sent for and he quickly noticed that the spots on Paddy's face were blue and red. 'He's really very poorly,' said Mrs Bossy while Paddy hid under the bedclothes. 'Nonsense,' said Dr Owl, 'that's not measles but paint from the litter bin.' Paddy had been exposed and he felt very ashamed. Mrs Bossy was crestfallen as she felt that Paddy had let the family down.
But Paddy did realise that Mrs Bossy was missing her husband so the following morning he set off to the Nature Reserve to get his father to return home. He met all kinds of problems as he wandered off in search of his father but a puff of smoke eventually directed him to him. It was just as well that it did for his father had set the dry leaves on which he was sitting on fire. Paddy went to the rescue and in a dramatic return home, floating on a log down the river, the couple eventually arrived safely.
A delighted Mrs Bossy was waiting and all the animals were pleased to see Mr Badger back home. Mrs Bossy then organised a Welcome Home party, which all the animals attended and Mr Badger vowed never to smoke again while Paddy turned over a new leaf and was helpful to all the animals and his mother.
And at Christmas thereafter Paddy swept everybody's doorstep and paths clear of snow and always left a parcel of goodies for Mrs Bossy But he was not all sweetness and light for he did still like to be a little mischievous (I understand that very well) and the occasional snowball would be thrown here and there!
Molly Brett not only tells this lovely tale with feeling she provides some absolutely fabulous illustrations; her portrayal of all the little animals is particularly delightful.
Displaying 1 of 1 review