Spring Story

Brambly Hedge #1

by Jill Barklem

The mice of Brambly Hedge are in high spirits! Fair weather and blossoms along the hedgerow have coaxed the mice out of their snug tree-stump homes, and they're eager for sunny day adventures, with old friends and new.In Spring Story, Mr. Apple takes advantage of an idyllic spring day to plan a surprise birthday party for a cranky little mouse who fears he's been forgotten.

These gentle, sweetly mischievous books will enchant anyone who's ever been charmed by the world of Beatrix Potter.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Animals, Classics, Middle Grade

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Jill Barklem (1951-November 15, 2017) was a British writer and illustrator of children's books. Her most famous work is the Brambly Hedge series.

After an accident when she was thirteen, Jill was unable to take part in PE or games at school and instead developed her talent for drawing and art. On leaving school, she studied illustration at St Martin's in London. She became a full-time illustrator. She spent five years on research before she started to write her first stories about the mice of Brambly Hedge.

Reviews

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reminded of these books whilst watching Miranda Mills blog on YouTube today so I had to pick it up. Very sweet story with wonderful illustrations. No wonder these were childhood favourites.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only recently heard about the Brambly Hedge books and had to check them out. This was even more lovely and charming than I thought it would be. I have always been fascinated by little creatures living inside walls, trees etc. ever since I was a young girl and so this was exactly up my alley. I love all the illustrations full of the tiniest details. The cutaway view of Crabapple Cottage is my favorite. I want to live inside that picture.

I am going to track down all the rest of the Brambly Hedge books!

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my firth Brambly Hedge book and my last of the four seasons books. As usual with these books, it’s the intricate and beautiful illustrations that make the book so special. For the first time I did get a chuckle from the story: re the specific presents Wilfred got from his birthday, and I did find the story somewhat interesting given that it included a birthday, a birthday cake, and a picnic. The food pictures in this book, and the other books in this series, are enough to whet my appetite.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love visiting Brambly Hedge!!! :-) Spring story is lovely and perfect for the season--you'll encounter lots of pretty flowers and delectable meadow-foods as a picnic gets underway for birthday-boy Wilfred. Although I don't find Barklem's stories to be especially riveting or blessed with a unique "voice," they are sweet and charming in their simplicity and kids will love the adorable woodland names of the characters. What really wins me over with Barklem is the artwork. So much detail, so very cozy!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the story here isn't anything overly amazing (a surprise birthday party) I simply love all the illustrations!

We get to see how the different creatures/families in Brambly Hedge prepare for the birthday (and they are all so cute and sweet and thoughtful) and I loved pouring over all the various houses and rooms and how they fit into the different shaped trees, etc. So beautiful and so enchanting for those of us who love "little things fitting into the world".

The story is sweet, too (I like that everyone in the town works together), but it's definitely the illustrations that won me over!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

"On the other side of the stream, across the field... amongst the tangled roots and stems," lies the close-knit community of Brambly Hedge, a cooperative society of rural mice, contentedly living in their snug tree-trunk homes, and pooling their resources into endeavors like the Store Stump, where all their food is kept safe. The Spring morning on which out story begins sees young Wilfred Toadflax up bright and early, excited at the prospect of his birthday. Unbeknownst to him, the kind residents of Brambly Hedge - led by Mr. Apple, the storekeeper, and the illustrious Lord Woodmouse - have planned a picnic surprise for him...

Originally published in 1980, and reprinted a number of times since then, Spring Story is the first of Jill Barklem's four seasonal picture-books about Brambly Hedge, all brought out the same year. It serves as a lovely introduction to this tiny, enchanted world, as it takes the reader into a variety of homes in the hedge, as well as the Store Stump, and establishes the fact that this is a community which likes to celebrate together! The illustrations are simply darling, with just the sort of intricate interiors that children love to pore over, studying every detail. I can't recall exactly when I first encountered these books - I wasn't a child, alas, so I missed out - but they have certainly become a personal favorite! I'm reminded of Brian Jacques' series of murine fantasies, beginning with Redwall , and wonder if he was at all influenced by these lovely little books...

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another sweet party was held by the Brambly mice to celebrate Wilfred’s birthday! I just love this community of mice. 🍎 🎂 🐭

[itselv:#&309;]

الرسومات مليئة بالتفاصيل المُبهرة، من أظرف ما رأت عيناي!

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think Beatrix Potter all in Mouse World. More colorful and intricate drawings, but just as sweet and warm.

[Bridget Deputy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is charming and the illustrations are a feast for the eyes!!

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm, family-centred story about a little mouse's birthday. I love the community spirit of the Brambly Hedge mice; they all help each other and love planning nice surprises for each other--and carrying them out! The illustrations are wonderful, and of course the birthday feast plays a large role. A friend of mine remarked that they are very 1980s, like something out of a Marks and Spencer's foodhall ad; maybe they were, to her, but there's a deep love of the countryside and a simpler, gentler time there that is a great comfort-read at the end of the day.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the sweetest things I've ever read in my life. What could be more lovely than living in Brambly Hedge and going on a picnic and falling asleep under the bluebells.

[Milen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐

[Aran🍁☕️📖 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un rincón acogedor en el corazón del bosque. Este libro es una joya que celebra la belleza de lo cotidiano y el calor de la vida en comunidad. En el Seto de las Zarzas, los pequeños ratones viven entre raíces y flores, trabajando con esmero, cuidando la naturaleza y celebrando cada estación con alegría.

Con ilustraciones delicadas y una historia que transmite ternura, este Cuento de primavera es un homenaje a la amistad, la tradición y la magia de los pequeños momentos compartidos. Ideal para leer con calma, taza de té en mano 🌷🫖

Perfecto para quienes aman los detalles, la naturaleza y los libros que reconfortan el alma :)

[Peppiina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fuck with this so hard <3

[Ashley Shoemaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging story and beautiful illustrations. We immediately ordered the whole Brambly Hedge collection for purchase.

[the reading teacup | ~☕️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

the perfect way to greet spring 🫂🌸✨

[Hannah Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean, those illustrations!

[Crystal Marcos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any child who enjoys intricate details and miniatures will enjoy this book. A sweet story about a mouse named Wilfred. It is Wilfred's birthday and the close-knit mouse community has a surprise for him.

The story made me smile and imagine. It even made me giggle. I wish I had found this book when I was a child so I could have read it to my sister who absolutely would have adored this book.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very sad to learn that the author of these books has passed away and decided to revisit the Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter story collection. I originally read these some years ago when my children were small. The illustrations are exquisite and reminiscent of my childhood roaming the countryside of England. The stories are heart-warming and enjoyable.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would also like to snooze under the bluebells when the tea is over, thank you very much.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please see: books I bought for my children that are actually for me

[Cécile · Rating 5 out of 5]

zo ontzettend lief en mooie illustraties

[Katie Hurse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I the intended reading level for this children’s book? No. Did I love reading it all the same? Indeed. I think Jill Barklem was inside my brain when she dreamt up this secret world of English country mice and the watercolor illustrations of my dreams. I can’t wait to read to Ollie!

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing short of delightful! I could spend hours looking at the pictures 🥰

[oliviasbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the cute "Spring Story", which introduced me to cleverly hidden miniature worlds in our forests, so much as a kid that I ignored the fact that the book was given to my younger sister by her godmother. I deliberately magicked her into believing it was "our" book and then gradually shifted it into my personal shelf - where it still lives today.

I fondly remember making Brambly-Hedge-inspired window decorations, creating my first own audiobook at the age of seven by reading the story to my cassette recorder and experimenting with water colors to recreate the characters for my bedroom wall.

Therefore I have been extremely delighted today to find a Freshome.com feed in my inbox that featured a real, tangible Brambly-Hedge-Doll-House by Maddie Brindley:


(Source and more pictures: http://freshome.com/2012/11/28/miniat...)

Isn't it perfect?

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book we've read in the Brambly Hedge series by Jill Barklem. While we enjoyed the story, I think the series will take awhile to grow on me. Still, with eight stories in the series (from what I can tell), I think we'll give another of the books a shot. They remind me strongly ofBeatrix Potter's work and have a distinctively English flavour.

This book was chosen as one of the selections for the May 2011 Spring-time themed books at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books group here at Goodreads. I'm glad that this book was a selection as I might not have read it otherwise.

[Jaclyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was small my mum would buy me books as a surprise and hide them in the house. This set of the seasons at Brambly Hedge we’re tucked up with the towels in the linen closet when I got home from school one day in 1993 for no reason at all and I remember scaling the up the shelves to claim them so the star rating 🌟 for me is wrapped up with the nostalgia but I love them. I love the provincial settings and the laid back slow pace of a world where the big event is an afternoon picnic with bottles of elderberry something something tied to reeds in the river to keep them cool. I’m such a rubbish cook but every time I reread these little editions (as I sometimes do as a little pallet cleanser between books) I’m oft to believe with all my little being that I was put on this earth to climb mulberry trees and make preserves with little material lids and live in a larder.

[gloriabluestocking · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful. Especially as a read-aloud.

[Susannah Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stories in this collection are charming. I read them a thousand times over to my daughter when she was little and we spent hours poring over the illustrations. Utterly beautiful.