Further Doings of Milly-Molly-Mandy

Milly-Molly-Mandy #3

by Joyce Lankester Brisley

Milly-Molly-Mandy lives in a tiny village in the heart of the countryside. She is always busy doing things, and whether she is camping-out with Billy Blunt and little-friend-Susan, or looking after an orphaned hedgehog, there is fun when Milly-Molly-Mandy's around.

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Classics, 20th Century, Chapter Books, Short Stories

Hardcover

First published August 31, 1932

About the author

Joyce Lankester Brisley (6 February 1896 – 1978) was an English writer. She is most noted for writing and illustrating the Milly-Molly-Mandy series, which were first printed in 1925 by the Christian Science Monitor.

The second of three daughters of George Brisley, a pharmacist, of Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex, Brisley's sisters - Ethel Constance, the eldest, and Nina Kennard, the youngest - were also illustrators. They studied art firstly at Hastings School of Art, then, following their parents' divorce in 1912 and the subsequent relocation of the girls and their father to Brixton, at Lambeth School of Art.

All three sisters illustrated postcards for the publisher Alfred Vivian Mansell & Co., with Nina (who also illustrated Elinor Brent-Dyer's Chalet School series) and Ethel becoming quite prolific. Brisley died in September 1978 at the age of 82.

Reviews

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that Milly-Molly-Mandy's adventures focus on everyday pleasures and joys. The result of the stories are very cozy, enjoyable and relatable.

[Harriet Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Milly-Molly-Mandy goes Motoring" has aged hilariously; a personal favourite.

[Neville Ridley-smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

People may think the stories in these books are unrealistically nice. I think, so what? They’re stories that make you inspired about life and doing exciting new things.

Two stories deserve mention.

When MMM gets to go on a picnic in a car and they come across a stranded bus, the scene where everyone is looking at each other wondering what to do and all too embarrassed to make the first move is wonderfully funny. And at one point someone gets tied on to the car with string to keep them safe!

The other is the fun the kids have when they find some rusty old bikes in a shed and they learn to ride in the paddock. The wheels don't even have tyres - they ride them on their rusty rims!

Brisley is also quite the artist. The line drawings are all lovely.

Don’t be afraid to seek it out and read it. A good book is a good book regardless of what ages it’s written for. It’s just that as an adult you can really appreciate the skill of the author all the better.

[Seonaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Izzie is a huge fan of the Milly Molly Mandy stories, gentle and comforting tales with really no conflict but just a feel-good warmth to them. Written in the 1920s and '30s and set in a small village somewhere near the English south coast, the stories follow Milly Molly Mandy and her two friends, little friend Susan and Billy Blunt as they make tree houses, go fishing and sing carols at the blacksmith's forge.

Written with a gentle humour and a delightful sense of equality - MMM and Billy Blunt do everything together, whether fishing for tadpoles or having a dolls' tea party - these are bedtime stories of the old fashioned kind.

[Victoria (hotcocoaandbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't think I would have enjoyed this as much as I did, but I really did.
In this third book, Milly-Molly-Mandy learns a lot of new things and experiences new things. What I love about this book is that she is willing to help others, willing to learn, and also has a sense of adventure. How I see her, is how I wish a lot of children today were like. She decides she wants to learn how to ride a bike, for instance. No training wheels existed back then, she just gets on a bike with friends, takes turns, and after a few days gets the hang of it. What determination. Also, the artwork throughout this book is really beautiful. I always love seeing the pages' contents of art. I feel Milly-Molly-Mandy is a good friend and role model for young girls who might read this. I think I am going to give these books to a friend who has daughters.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love these sweet stories of Milly-Molly-Mandy and her friends and the illustrations are delightful.

This book includes the following stories:
MMM has a tea-party; minds a baby; goes motoring; gets a surprise; goes on an expedition; helps to thatch a roof; writes letters; learns to ride; makes a garden; camps out; keeps house; and goes carol-singing

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sweet one. A few chapters were repeats from previous Milly Molly Mandy books.

[sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful as always, just with a little sexism (explained by it being written in 1932😍😍)

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute stories of how a resourceful little girl entertains herself and helps others. Definitely from another era, though. :)

[Julianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the tiny pictures of Milly Molly Mandy.👩💐

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third collection of Milly-Molly-Mandy stories, and Brisley seems to have become a better writer. MMM also seems a bit older in these stories, but they still demonstrate innocent charm. There are details of the period woven throughout. In one story, the thatch roof is damaged during a storm and they must repair it as the village thatcher is away on another job. In another, MMM is left home alone with her friend Susan and they're left bread and dripping (dripping is what's left in the pan free roasting beef or pork) which they first decide to toast over the fire, and then to fry in a pan. Apparently, MMM is allowed to do these things, but is not allowed to use a bread knife. I'm not quite sure how old she is. I'd guess around eight or so. My favorite story is the one in which she rescues a baby hedgehog, and it ends with a note that it's a true story. But I suspect, give the everdY life tone of her adventures, that many of the stories are based on real events.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Timeless and innocent.

Loved the black and white illustrations.

[Lizzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as good as "more Milly molly mandy" although she does get up to slightly more dangerous activities. Loved the blacksmith banging out the carols.