Jam Tomorrow

by Monica Redlich, Jack Matthew (Illustrator)

The absent-minded rector, his three children plus two Canadian cousins make up the family whose motto is Jam Tomorrow.

Genres: Childrens

206 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1947

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a delight, a warm and charming story originally published in the UK in 1937, about a family (a "poor" family, but not so poor that they don't send their children to boarding school as a matter of course) living in an old rambling rectory that floods regularly. There are so many things in this story that I liked: the arrival of two cousins from Canada who are at first resented but then fit right when it's discovered that they share a penchant for quoting Alice In Wonderland; the decision of the children to take on all the housework and cooking when the servant leaves; the plan to send the local gossips into a flutter by rehearsing a violent play in front of the drawing room window in full view of the street; the excitement of a flood forcing the family to live a make-shift life upstairs while the house below is all awash. This is a relatively recent favorite of mine that didn't lose its charm on a second reading.

[Avril · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently reading my way through all the early Puffin Story Books that I can find and this one, first published in 1937 and printed as a Puffin in 1947, is a delight. As a minister I am always interested in stories of vicarage families; and despite ministering in a different denomination, almost 80 years' later, on the other side of the world, I recognise the demands made by parishioners on the priest and family. I also appreciated the introduction of two Canadian cousins, Rory and Anne, who give an outsiders' perspective on the English class system; as an Australian I find the whole thing as bizarre as the Canadians do. But the thing that amused me most was the fact that when the lazy and rude maid-of-all-work, Lola, leaves without notice, it apparently takes all five of the children to replace her and there is constant concern that allowing them to cook and so housework is "treating you all very badly and making you work like slaves". If that's the case, no wonder the poor solitary maid/cook was rude and 'lazy'!

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delight from start to finish. The sort of book you don't want to end. The only melancholy thought I had was what lay ahead for these children in the very near future as the book was first published in 1937 - there is only one brief mention of the anxious state the outside world was in at this time.

[DocNora · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I saw this book I knew I had to have it...something called to me.. It is very rare and there were 3 copies on eBay, 2 priced at £40 & £60 and the other in a vintage puffin job lot. Ofcourse I grabbed the job lot as I have thing for vintage puffins bringing back memories of my book filled childhood as they do and I'm so glad I did!

This is an utterly adorable book.....the cosy kind that that can only be a product of it's time! It paints a beguiling picture of a vanished England I long for every waking moment..The girls make their own clothes, the children give an antique doll house a spring clean and they live with their widowed father in a 17th century Rectory all crooked wooden floors and hidden staircases and the visiting Bishop is delightful, and people still get invited to Tennis parties...i made it last 5 days and I so wanted it never to end!!!

[CLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful story - review to come

[Carolyn Mcghee]

I re-read this delightful book many times as a child, now I can't find it, and yet someone has read it in the last year.

[Judy Davies]

So long ago when I read this but memories & the title have stuck with me although the book was lost long ago