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Brambly Hedge #1-4
The Four Seasons of Brambly Hedge
The Brambly Hedge books are a modern publishing phenomenon. The first four little books, published in 1980, have now been reprinted more than twenty times, and sales are in the millions.
Jill Barklem chose the original small format herself: it seemed to suit her miniature community of self-sufficient mice. But her ability to visualize the detail of Brambly Hedge deserves a closer look, and for this reason the original pictures have now been re-organized to a larger size. At last Brambly Hedge can be enjoyed in all its detail, displaying Jill Barklem's artistic talent to the full.
The Four Season of Brambly Hedge begins with a twenty-page "conversation" with Jill Barklem, illustrated with her early sketches and notebooks. This fascinating material has never been published before: it traces the origins and development of Brambly Hedge and reveals the artist's total commitment to her vision.
Jill Barklem chose the original small format herself: it seemed to suit her miniature community of self-sufficient mice. But her ability to visualize the detail of Brambly Hedge deserves a closer look, and for this reason the original pictures have now been re-organized to a larger size. At last Brambly Hedge can be enjoyed in all its detail, displaying Jill Barklem's artistic talent to the full.
The Four Season of Brambly Hedge begins with a twenty-page "conversation" with Jill Barklem, illustrated with her early sketches and notebooks. This fascinating material has never been published before: it traces the origins and development of Brambly Hedge and reveals the artist's total commitment to her vision.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1988
7 people are currently reading
688 people want to read
About the author
Jill Barklem
141 books260 followersJill 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
December 11, 2015
The Four Seasons of Brambly Hedge was one of my favorite books when I was little. Those little mice were the cutest thing ever, their adventures were always dreamy and the illustrations were phenomenal.
The story follows the life of a few families through a whole year. It is divided into different seasons, so we have 4 parts: Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. My favorites were Autumn and Spring, yes I must admit I am a Spring baby through and through.
The four stories were originally published separately, but here's an introduction of the author about the origins and developments of the stories.
Jill Barklem packs so many tiny and wonderful details in each beautifully illustrated page, every child (count me in too) will get lost in the pictures over and over again. I never fail to be inspired by the sweet little stories and delightful artwork. It really is beautiful.
As I said above, we follow the activities of the Brambly Hedge community of field mice through the seasons. Small and big events happen, someone gets lost, there's a wedding, they create a winter ball with ice skating. And a great deal of food is involved.
If you didn't know, I am a big (like, real big) lover of food.
They carefully make the most amazing courses and joyfully eat fantastic meals. It's wonderful and I was in love. I don’t think I’d realized how much I imprinted on the visual style and artistic themes until I saw them again as an adult. The rich yet soft colors! The light and shadow! The natural themes! The ornate and intricate detail-filled pictures! The cutaway views of houses built into trees and stumps! The food!
Take a look at these illustrations.. It's dreamy, isn't it? This book had the power to make me wander with my imagination with those little mice. I was one of them and their adventures and life happenings were truly the best.
I HIGHLY recommend you to read this short and sweet book, even the separated stories are great, but together they're perfect. I assure you you won't regret it. It is also a perfect children's gift, but I am sure the adults would love a throw back from the past.
Read it okay? Pretty please?
The story follows the life of a few families through a whole year. It is divided into different seasons, so we have 4 parts: Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. My favorites were Autumn and Spring, yes I must admit I am a Spring baby through and through.
The four stories were originally published separately, but here's an introduction of the author about the origins and developments of the stories.
Jill Barklem packs so many tiny and wonderful details in each beautifully illustrated page, every child (count me in too) will get lost in the pictures over and over again. I never fail to be inspired by the sweet little stories and delightful artwork. It really is beautiful.
As I said above, we follow the activities of the Brambly Hedge community of field mice through the seasons. Small and big events happen, someone gets lost, there's a wedding, they create a winter ball with ice skating. And a great deal of food is involved.
If you didn't know, I am a big (like, real big) lover of food.
They carefully make the most amazing courses and joyfully eat fantastic meals. It's wonderful and I was in love. I don’t think I’d realized how much I imprinted on the visual style and artistic themes until I saw them again as an adult. The rich yet soft colors! The light and shadow! The natural themes! The ornate and intricate detail-filled pictures! The cutaway views of houses built into trees and stumps! The food!
Take a look at these illustrations.. It's dreamy, isn't it? This book had the power to make me wander with my imagination with those little mice. I was one of them and their adventures and life happenings were truly the best.
I HIGHLY recommend you to read this short and sweet book, even the separated stories are great, but together they're perfect. I assure you you won't regret it. It is also a perfect children's gift, but I am sure the adults would love a throw back from the past.
Read it okay? Pretty please?
April 20, 2021
I'm embarrassed to admit that all I could think while reading these stories is, "This is the most British thing I've ever encountered."
December 6, 2025
This is a children's classic amongst children's classics - and I didn't know about it until recently. Sure, I knew stories about little mice and other forest dwellers and always loved how cute they were, but I had no idea they were all based on THIS.
Brambley Hedge is a place near a stream, forest, and field. Brambles, rose bushes, apple trees - a village of adorable little mice navigate it all. We readers get to accompany them through the 4 seasons as they celebrate the return of long sunny days in spring, relax in the summer heat, try no to get lost and "haunted" the autumnal forest, and dance during an opulent winter ice ball.
What makes this book even more special are the very colourful illustrations that are almost insanely detailed. There are so many interesting little things to be discovered in every since image! From the food storage in a tree stump to each of the houses of the various mouse families or the carious places they spend their time, the author was incredibly talented and I don't know if I loved the details or the colour pallette she used more.
Here are some examples:
Extremely pretty, right?
The stories themselves are short and sweet, too.
Brambley Hedge is a place near a stream, forest, and field. Brambles, rose bushes, apple trees - a village of adorable little mice navigate it all. We readers get to accompany them through the 4 seasons as they celebrate the return of long sunny days in spring, relax in the summer heat, try no to get lost and "haunted" the autumnal forest, and dance during an opulent winter ice ball.
What makes this book even more special are the very colourful illustrations that are almost insanely detailed. There are so many interesting little things to be discovered in every since image! From the food storage in a tree stump to each of the houses of the various mouse families or the carious places they spend their time, the author was incredibly talented and I don't know if I loved the details or the colour pallette she used more.
Here are some examples:
Extremely pretty, right?
The stories themselves are short and sweet, too.
November 13, 2025
Oh, to live in brambly hedge throughout all the seasons.
The blooming rosy spring, filled with primroses, birthday parties, and mice children bouncing on beds in the golden morning.
The haze of midday summer heat with weddings on a barge and buttercups growing large.
The bracken and berries of autumn where a little mouse gets lost in the curtains of twilight and her pa whisks her home, safe in lantern light.
The winter, cool and frosty with giant logs on the fire and a glittering ice ballroom, wherein mice dance with tail coats flying and paws stamping, all through night till the dawn's light.
The blooming rosy spring, filled with primroses, birthday parties, and mice children bouncing on beds in the golden morning.
The haze of midday summer heat with weddings on a barge and buttercups growing large.
The bracken and berries of autumn where a little mouse gets lost in the curtains of twilight and her pa whisks her home, safe in lantern light.
The winter, cool and frosty with giant logs on the fire and a glittering ice ballroom, wherein mice dance with tail coats flying and paws stamping, all through night till the dawn's light.
April 7, 2021
Four seasons of cute mice in the English countryside that definitely evoke childhood dreams and fancies.
Five stars for the lovely watercolor illustrations.
Five stars for the lovely watercolor illustrations.
March 25, 2017
Boscodirovo is my childhood.
I've been wanting to read it again for years and yesterday I finally sat down and lost myself in its pages for one splendid hour. Familiarity, memories, pure happiness.
I smiled and smiled and smiled and felt so at peace!
It has a special meaning for me but this story could reach anyone's heart. Just give it the chance to enchant you and take you back to a time where everything was kind and simple and beautiful.
I've been wanting to read it again for years and yesterday I finally sat down and lost myself in its pages for one splendid hour. Familiarity, memories, pure happiness.
I smiled and smiled and smiled and felt so at peace!
It has a special meaning for me but this story could reach anyone's heart. Just give it the chance to enchant you and take you back to a time where everything was kind and simple and beautiful.
July 20, 2018
I nearly peed my pants with excitement when I received this gorgeous book as a seventh birthday gift from my parents. I only have to open it now decades later to be transported back to childhood coziness and comfort. Imaginative and exquisitely illustrated. An absolute delight!
August 19, 2025
a childhood fav, i love the illustrations and i would not mind being a little mouse living in this world
October 17, 2023
It is not enough for me to read about Brambly Hedge, I want to live there, drink hot teas by the fireside, go to weddings in the meadows, attend balls, bake all sorts of stuff and snuggle in a blanket as snow fall outside my oak tree.
July 15, 2024
Now this is what I call a childrens' story book.
It has almost everything it needs, and misses nothing a good story needs.
It has colourful language, with many adjectives, warm-hearted characters whose life is on the other hand extraordinary and on the other hand just so ordinary that stories have a touching surface for kids, and adults too.
Four stories it has have same kind of vibe throughout, but also differ from eachother so they don't get boring for the reader.
Main cast stays the same, but main character changes, the last story doesn't even have a main character.
The last story "The Winter of Brambly Hedge" is a desciptive narrative about how the characters spend their "Christmas"/"Mid-winter's Day".
The stories aren't long, whole collage is just 144 pages, and it has around 25 pages firstly about the writer, so if you want, you can skip that part.
The illustrator also liked to do big pictures,
which took a whole page.
(Favourites were cross-section-pictures about mice's three houses)
I can say, that if you haven't read, or you haven't heard these yet, you are missing out on something good
It has almost everything it needs, and misses nothing a good story needs.
It has colourful language, with many adjectives, warm-hearted characters whose life is on the other hand extraordinary and on the other hand just so ordinary that stories have a touching surface for kids, and adults too.
Four stories it has have same kind of vibe throughout, but also differ from eachother so they don't get boring for the reader.
Main cast stays the same, but main character changes, the last story doesn't even have a main character.
The last story "The Winter of Brambly Hedge" is a desciptive narrative about how the characters spend their "Christmas"/"Mid-winter's Day".
The stories aren't long, whole collage is just 144 pages, and it has around 25 pages firstly about the writer, so if you want, you can skip that part.
The illustrator also liked to do big pictures,
which took a whole page.
(Favourites were cross-section-pictures about mice's three houses)
I can say, that if you haven't read, or you haven't heard these yet, you are missing out on something good
March 25, 2023
These are the GENTLEST children's stories ever! They are very peaceful and perfect for bedtime reading. I can just imagine reading them out loud in a calm, quiet voice and my kids falling asleep. The plots are simple—a birthday picnic, a snow day—making them a great choice for the very young. (Older kids may be like "nothing ever happened in this book" because the stories are THAT basic.)
These tales chronicle the lives of a community of mice who live in Brambly Hedge. Their village resembles a traditional English parish, with the manor house and the common homes surrounding it. The mice are very proper and civilized.
I played the audiobook for my boys here and there over the past few months, and our version has four stories that correspond to each of the four seasons, so they'd be fun to revisit at those times of year.
These tales chronicle the lives of a community of mice who live in Brambly Hedge. Their village resembles a traditional English parish, with the manor house and the common homes surrounding it. The mice are very proper and civilized.
I played the audiobook for my boys here and there over the past few months, and our version has four stories that correspond to each of the four seasons, so they'd be fun to revisit at those times of year.
March 26, 2023
Charming. Quaint. Cute illustrations. I’ll save this to read with future grandkids!
May 4, 2023
Brilliant books from my childhood, listened on audio in bed to help me sleep
August 7, 2023
These are sweet imaginative stories, they will long be loved by my girls.
April 4, 2024
☕
FAVORITE QUOTE? “When tea was over, the grown-ups snoozed under the bluebells, while the young mice played hide-and-seek in the primroses.”
📚 This is a [children's literature picture book, children's classic, British literature] book originally printed as little picture books in 1980 by Jill Barklem. The books were enlarged in later years to showcase her amazing illustrations.
WHAT’S TO LOVE? Somehow I’ve never set my eyes on what appears to be a nostalgic children’s classic for many.
The first twenty-ish pages are an interview-style conversation with the author. I wasn’t planning to spend time reading that section, but I had to keep reading.
I always enjoyed being close to nature and one of my favourite pastimes was to retire to a patch of wild grass under a chestnut tree at the end of our garden when I used to observe the busy lives of tiny red spiders as they sped about in and out of the stems; concoct bluebell glue, make scent from rose petals and play house with my cloth doll Joan. I liked to draw and paint there too.
The author shares about the inner world she created as a child. The story about what she envisioned during Sunday sermons was so interesting that I read that part to my husband (haha). She also goes on to explain how her health as a teen changed the trajectory of her future.
So fascinating!
This lovely library edition showcases stories of a sweet community of mice in the English countryside during all four seasons. I originally only planned to read the ‘Spring Story,' but couldn’t stop reading when it was over.
In the spring story, neighbors from Crabapple Cottage, the Old Oak Palace, Elderberry Lodge, and the tangly Hawthorne Trees (all of these are lovely names for the mice homes) gathered together to do something sweet for young Wilfred’s birthday.
Charming!
The stories and illustrations feel familiar to the whimsical Beatrix Potter/Tasha Tudor/Jan Brett style that I adore.
I just wish I could travel there myself to sip tea under the trees, go to fancy balls, taste the yummy baked goods, and stroll along the meadows.
CAUSE FOR PAUSE? Absolutely no complaints.
CONSIDER READING IF… you or yours need a perfectly peaceful bedtime story or cottagecore-y Spring read to calm your soul.
MY RATING 🌟🌟🌟🌟
☕📚
FAVORITE QUOTE? “When tea was over, the grown-ups snoozed under the bluebells, while the young mice played hide-and-seek in the primroses.”
📚 This is a [children's literature picture book, children's classic, British literature] book originally printed as little picture books in 1980 by Jill Barklem. The books were enlarged in later years to showcase her amazing illustrations.
WHAT’S TO LOVE? Somehow I’ve never set my eyes on what appears to be a nostalgic children’s classic for many.
The first twenty-ish pages are an interview-style conversation with the author. I wasn’t planning to spend time reading that section, but I had to keep reading.
I always enjoyed being close to nature and one of my favourite pastimes was to retire to a patch of wild grass under a chestnut tree at the end of our garden when I used to observe the busy lives of tiny red spiders as they sped about in and out of the stems; concoct bluebell glue, make scent from rose petals and play house with my cloth doll Joan. I liked to draw and paint there too.
The author shares about the inner world she created as a child. The story about what she envisioned during Sunday sermons was so interesting that I read that part to my husband (haha). She also goes on to explain how her health as a teen changed the trajectory of her future.
So fascinating!
This lovely library edition showcases stories of a sweet community of mice in the English countryside during all four seasons. I originally only planned to read the ‘Spring Story,' but couldn’t stop reading when it was over.
In the spring story, neighbors from Crabapple Cottage, the Old Oak Palace, Elderberry Lodge, and the tangly Hawthorne Trees (all of these are lovely names for the mice homes) gathered together to do something sweet for young Wilfred’s birthday.
Charming!
The stories and illustrations feel familiar to the whimsical Beatrix Potter/Tasha Tudor/Jan Brett style that I adore.
I just wish I could travel there myself to sip tea under the trees, go to fancy balls, taste the yummy baked goods, and stroll along the meadows.
CAUSE FOR PAUSE? Absolutely no complaints.
CONSIDER READING IF… you or yours need a perfectly peaceful bedtime story or cottagecore-y Spring read to calm your soul.
MY RATING 🌟🌟🌟🌟
☕📚
March 6, 2022
"It was the most beautiful morning. The spring sunshine crept into every cottage along Brambly Hedge, and the little windows in the trees were opened wide."
What do you do when the world around you goes to shit and you're scared and all in all losing faith in humanity? You pick up cute old childhood favorite books about sweet animals and their adorable lives. The Four Seasons of Brambly Hedge is a collection of four tales about the mice of Brambly Hedge: the first follows a birthday feast in Spring, the second a wedding in Summer, the third the adventures of a little mouse who lets lost in Autumn and the fourth a winter celebration.
This book is hella wholesome and cute. I had a blast reading it. It amused me how the mice are constantly finding reasons to party, and it was just adorbs how excitedly the mice band together to celebrate, have fun and help each other. The best thing about this book is definitely the beautiful art by Barklem. The illustrations are so intricate, detailed, cute and I could spend hours looking at them. I love the way she drew her characters, their outfits and their homes in the trees.
This was such a cute read. If you want to read something that will take you mind off of your reality or whatever it is you may want to avoid thinking about, I'd highly recommend this book. Or even if you just want to have a good old time with a kid's book, pick this up. I would happily read the other stories about these mice if I ever get my hands on them.
What do you do when the world around you goes to shit and you're scared and all in all losing faith in humanity? You pick up cute old childhood favorite books about sweet animals and their adorable lives. The Four Seasons of Brambly Hedge is a collection of four tales about the mice of Brambly Hedge: the first follows a birthday feast in Spring, the second a wedding in Summer, the third the adventures of a little mouse who lets lost in Autumn and the fourth a winter celebration.
This book is hella wholesome and cute. I had a blast reading it. It amused me how the mice are constantly finding reasons to party, and it was just adorbs how excitedly the mice band together to celebrate, have fun and help each other. The best thing about this book is definitely the beautiful art by Barklem. The illustrations are so intricate, detailed, cute and I could spend hours looking at them. I love the way she drew her characters, their outfits and their homes in the trees.
This was such a cute read. If you want to read something that will take you mind off of your reality or whatever it is you may want to avoid thinking about, I'd highly recommend this book. Or even if you just want to have a good old time with a kid's book, pick this up. I would happily read the other stories about these mice if I ever get my hands on them.
February 17, 2020
Det är något speciellt med engelska landsbygdsbarnböcker med mycket bilder och antropomorfiska smådjur. Det är hemtrevligt och mysigt på ett sätt som gör en rent avundsjuk på de små liven.
Barklem lyckas verkligen skapa något underbart på sin lilla Björnbärsstig. Den för tankarna till böcker som Det susar i säven, Flodbåden och Sagan om Pelle Kanin. Men samtidigt är det så uppenbart något som är helt och hållet hennes eget!
Barklem lyckas verkligen skapa något underbart på sin lilla Björnbärsstig. Den för tankarna till böcker som Det susar i säven, Flodbåden och Sagan om Pelle Kanin. Men samtidigt är det så uppenbart något som är helt och hållet hennes eget!
February 20, 2024
I loved this with all of my heart and more!
My mental health has been terrible at the minute, so I wanted to resort to a book that gave me comfort. This book did exactly that. I want to be a tiny little field mouse, and I want to live in Brambly Hedge. I would be a little mouse librarian. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and so detailed! This book felt like a warm hug. A very easy 5 stars
My mental health has been terrible at the minute, so I wanted to resort to a book that gave me comfort. This book did exactly that. I want to be a tiny little field mouse, and I want to live in Brambly Hedge. I would be a little mouse librarian. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and so detailed! This book felt like a warm hug. A very easy 5 stars
December 30, 2024
Wurden mir zur Geburt meines Kindes geschenkt und sie haben mich jetzt durch das 1. Lebensjahr begleitet. Die Zeichnungen sind urgemütlich und lösen direkt Kindheitsgefühle in mir aus. Ich würde Geld dafür bezahlen, eine dieser Mäuse im Brombeerhag zu sein!
February 17, 2020
Otroligt detaljrik och vacker bok.
February 3, 2021
These are magical. My kids and I hope there is a real place like this in heaven we can shrink and visit.
October 25, 2025
I am a happy girl in whatever this "Hobbit/Peter Rabbit/ English Countryside" genre is.
December 12, 2024
Un de mes livres jeunesse préférés ! Les histoires sont toutes mimis, mais que dire des dessins, de la précision et du souci du détail... un classique britannique juste immanquable ✨️
Read
June 1, 2024Instead of rating, I'm going to just recommend this to anyone who wishes they could live in Brambly Hedge :)
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It's always interesting to go through the books read to you when you were a kid. What was it that you were actually taught and what can you learn from that now?
Here, I learn that Jill Barklem was an illustrator who created a world of her own to escape her horrible train commutes to work. It was a world inspired by the countryside she grew up in; a world where a community values all of its members and the nature they live in, where they share the work and the food and delight in both.
It's as harmless a fantasy as they come, but it sounds like exactly the kind of thing this world needs more. Nothing much happens, but it's beautifully illustrated.
I'm glad this (very, very, very English) book was read to me, and I was saddened to find out that Mrs Barklem had recently passed.
---
It's always interesting to go through the books read to you when you were a kid. What was it that you were actually taught and what can you learn from that now?
Here, I learn that Jill Barklem was an illustrator who created a world of her own to escape her horrible train commutes to work. It was a world inspired by the countryside she grew up in; a world where a community values all of its members and the nature they live in, where they share the work and the food and delight in both.
It's as harmless a fantasy as they come, but it sounds like exactly the kind of thing this world needs more. Nothing much happens, but it's beautifully illustrated.
I'm glad this (very, very, very English) book was read to me, and I was saddened to find out that Mrs Barklem had recently passed.
September 16, 2025
I read these with my children and they were delightful.
March 2, 2024
the brambly hedge stories are an integral part of my personality, as they were the very books that motivated me to teach myself to read at the age of four. i owe the world to this precious little piece of literature💗🌷🐁
July 6, 2021
cutest, coziest, and most wholesome children's story collection I've ever read! I fell in love with the illustrations.. I think it's become a new favorite! 🥺
January 1, 2022
Bộ sách gồm 4 tập: Chuyện khi xuân sang, Chuyện khi hạ tới, Chuyện khi thu đến và Chuyện khi đồng về. Mình là đứa rất ám ảnh về chuột nhưng cuốn sách này đáng yêu quá, nét vẽ cũng không làm mình sợ hãi.
Một cộng đồng chuột sống với nhau với tổ chức xã hội và sự phân công lao động, ai cũng có nhiệm vụ riêng. Họ yêu thương, giúp đỡ nhau khi khó khăn, quan tâm nhau những điều nhỏ nhặt, mang đến cho nhau những điều bất ngờ nhỏ bé trong cuộc sống. Một cộng đồng đáng mơ ước đấy chứ!
Những món ăn không rõ công thức, không chắc về mùi vị nhưng xem đến đâu là phát thèm đến đó, muốn lăn vào bếp ngay. Nào là bánh quy hoa anh thảo, bánh mì mứt dâu dại, bánh hạt phỉ nướng, thạch béo ngậy vị việt quất, trà bạc hà, xúp rau cải xoong lạnh, salad bồ công anh tươi, kem mật ong, thạch bọt sữa, kẹo đường đánh bông, cà phê hạt dẻ, xúp hạt dẻ, bánh bông lan, bánh tuyết áp chảo, bánh mì nướng bơ, trà lá mâm xôi, cà phê hạt sồi, rượu mùi mâm xôi nóng...
Một cộng đồng "biết sống", biết lao động và cũng biết tận hưởng cuộc sống, trân trọng những điều nhỏ bé, gần gũi và tôn trọng thiên nhiên. Ông Apple chắp tay cầu nguyện: "Vì nhận được những thức ăn thơm ngon nhường vậy trên đồng xanh, chúng tôi xin tỏ lòng biết ơn vô ngần." Còn cụ chuột Eyebright khi cử hành lễ cưới cho cô Poppy và chú Dusty bên bờ suối đã nói: "Nhân danh hoa cỏ ngoài kia, thảo nguyên chốn này và biết bao tinh tú trời cao, cùng những dòng suối đổ ra biển khơi, cũng như sự bí ẩn vĩ đại đã thổi luồng sinh khí vào vạn vật, ta tuyên bố hai con đã trở thành vợ chồng." Đây là đoạn mình thích nhất ấy.
Ở bìa mỗi tập là chiếc bản đồ để người đọc dễ hình dung hơn về những địa danh được nhắc đến, nhưng mình vẫn đắm chìm trong niềm thích thú của phút giây tưởng tượng về một miền dâu dại, với Hốc Cây Dự Trữ, Lâu Đài Sồi Già, Túp lều Cây Cơm Cháy, Cây trăn cổ thụ, bụi táo gai rậm rạp, Xưởng Chế Biến Sữa, Nhà máy bột mì, Cánh Rừng Tít Tắp hay Đại Sảnh Giá Băng...
Rất nhiều từ láy được sử dụng trong bản dịch này, các bài thơ được dịch ra tiếng Việt không gượng gạo và mình cảm nhận được cái đẹp của ngôn ngữ qua 4 tập sách. Truyện dán nhãn dành cho 6 tuổi + nhưng 30 tuổi rồi vẫn mê mẩn bộ sách này đây.
"À ơi ria, móng ngủ ngoan
Đủ đầy bánh ngọt thạch ngon trong nhà
Đêm nay mộng đẹp hiền hòa
Bình mình sớm dậy đã là ngày mai" - đoạn này là lời ru của mẹ Daisy với cô bé chuột Primrose vào cái đêm cổ được tìm thấy sau khi đi lạc vào rừng.
Một cộng đồng chuột sống với nhau với tổ chức xã hội và sự phân công lao động, ai cũng có nhiệm vụ riêng. Họ yêu thương, giúp đỡ nhau khi khó khăn, quan tâm nhau những điều nhỏ nhặt, mang đến cho nhau những điều bất ngờ nhỏ bé trong cuộc sống. Một cộng đồng đáng mơ ước đấy chứ!
Những món ăn không rõ công thức, không chắc về mùi vị nhưng xem đến đâu là phát thèm đến đó, muốn lăn vào bếp ngay. Nào là bánh quy hoa anh thảo, bánh mì mứt dâu dại, bánh hạt phỉ nướng, thạch béo ngậy vị việt quất, trà bạc hà, xúp rau cải xoong lạnh, salad bồ công anh tươi, kem mật ong, thạch bọt sữa, kẹo đường đánh bông, cà phê hạt dẻ, xúp hạt dẻ, bánh bông lan, bánh tuyết áp chảo, bánh mì nướng bơ, trà lá mâm xôi, cà phê hạt sồi, rượu mùi mâm xôi nóng...
Một cộng đồng "biết sống", biết lao động và cũng biết tận hưởng cuộc sống, trân trọng những điều nhỏ bé, gần gũi và tôn trọng thiên nhiên. Ông Apple chắp tay cầu nguyện: "Vì nhận được những thức ăn thơm ngon nhường vậy trên đồng xanh, chúng tôi xin tỏ lòng biết ơn vô ngần." Còn cụ chuột Eyebright khi cử hành lễ cưới cho cô Poppy và chú Dusty bên bờ suối đã nói: "Nhân danh hoa cỏ ngoài kia, thảo nguyên chốn này và biết bao tinh tú trời cao, cùng những dòng suối đổ ra biển khơi, cũng như sự bí ẩn vĩ đại đã thổi luồng sinh khí vào vạn vật, ta tuyên bố hai con đã trở thành vợ chồng." Đây là đoạn mình thích nhất ấy.
Ở bìa mỗi tập là chiếc bản đồ để người đọc dễ hình dung hơn về những địa danh được nhắc đến, nhưng mình vẫn đắm chìm trong niềm thích thú của phút giây tưởng tượng về một miền dâu dại, với Hốc Cây Dự Trữ, Lâu Đài Sồi Già, Túp lều Cây Cơm Cháy, Cây trăn cổ thụ, bụi táo gai rậm rạp, Xưởng Chế Biến Sữa, Nhà máy bột mì, Cánh Rừng Tít Tắp hay Đại Sảnh Giá Băng...
Rất nhiều từ láy được sử dụng trong bản dịch này, các bài thơ được dịch ra tiếng Việt không gượng gạo và mình cảm nhận được cái đẹp của ngôn ngữ qua 4 tập sách. Truyện dán nhãn dành cho 6 tuổi + nhưng 30 tuổi rồi vẫn mê mẩn bộ sách này đây.
"À ơi ria, móng ngủ ngoan
Đủ đầy bánh ngọt thạch ngon trong nhà
Đêm nay mộng đẹp hiền hòa
Bình mình sớm dậy đã là ngày mai" - đoạn này là lời ru của mẹ Daisy với cô bé chuột Primrose vào cái đêm cổ được tìm thấy sau khi đi lạc vào rừng.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2023
Иллюстратор - это много значит.
Не смогла пройти мимо, хочется высказаться о книге)
И так, книжка детская, прям детская. Я как-то сейчас плохо понимаю, что читают маленькие дети, потому что моя племянница меня пугает своим не желанием читать, а ей уже 5 лет. Она меня даже пугает тем, что она книжки не любит рассматривать. Я в пять тоже была не из великих читателей, но я не могла оторваться от картинок, я придумывала свои истории глядя на них, а она понимаете идет под девизом "дура, зато красивая." И это пугает, потому что надо быть очень, очень-очень красивой, чтобы этот девиз работал. Я люблю племянницу и надеюсь на лучшее (хоть в чем-то). Так что в три года она со мной читала Маршака, в четыре со мной читала принесенные мной в подарок книжки от Компасгида, а вот в пять лет, "Дюймовочку" с удивительными рисунками она проигнорировала от слова совсем. Что-то я отвлеклась, я к тому, что мне, кажется, эту книжку надо до пяти лет читать, она слишком простая в сюжетном плане, но может, если у вас вот такой же ребенок ловящий крокодилов, то может и до шести в самостоятельное чтение ее отнести.
Иллюстрации удивительные, что в принципе и понятно, потому что эта книжка от иллюстратора, то есть я думаю в начале были иллюстрации, а потом уже все оформилось в какой-то сюжет. И это не плохо, потому что прочитал часть и сиди рассматривай. Почти мультик, в каждой картинке детали, какие-то с мелкими деталями, долго рассматривать, какие-то большие, но деталей меньше, чтобы успокоить взгляд, но не менее красивые.
Я вот очень люблю подобные иллюстрации, когда все как настоящее и можно зависнуть рассматривая) А еще все нарисовано красиво, а не квадратами. Бывают такие книжки, которые специально оформляются рисунками проще, даже порой шаблонными, ну вот как из картофеля вырезать и несколько кар пропечатать. И я даю им право на жизнь, потому что это дополнительно интерес ребенка к творчеству, но я люблю мелкие детальки и реалистичность, мне тогда все более сказочным кажется и от этого я верю в истории)
Сюжетная составляющая, как я говорила не сильна, но она про дружбу, про взаимовыручку, что тоже очень важно. И на ранних порах может быть и важнее отдельных уроков с примерами.
Так что дорогие мамы и папы, обратите внимание на эту красоту. Она удивительная и главное, ее не жалко в бумаге купить, она красивая)
Не смогла пройти мимо, хочется высказаться о книге)
И так, книжка детская, прям детская. Я как-то сейчас плохо понимаю, что читают маленькие дети, потому что моя племянница меня пугает своим не желанием читать, а ей уже 5 лет. Она меня даже пугает тем, что она книжки не любит рассматривать. Я в пять тоже была не из великих читателей, но я не могла оторваться от картинок, я придумывала свои истории глядя на них, а она понимаете идет под девизом "дура, зато красивая." И это пугает, потому что надо быть очень, очень-очень красивой, чтобы этот девиз работал. Я люблю племянницу и надеюсь на лучшее (хоть в чем-то). Так что в три года она со мной читала Маршака, в четыре со мной читала принесенные мной в подарок книжки от Компасгида, а вот в пять лет, "Дюймовочку" с удивительными рисунками она проигнорировала от слова совсем. Что-то я отвлеклась, я к тому, что мне, кажется, эту книжку надо до пяти лет читать, она слишком простая в сюжетном плане, но может, если у вас вот такой же ребенок ловящий крокодилов, то может и до шести в самостоятельное чтение ее отнести.
Иллюстрации удивительные, что в принципе и понятно, потому что эта книжка от иллюстратора, то есть я думаю в начале были иллюстрации, а потом уже все оформилось в какой-то сюжет. И это не плохо, потому что прочитал часть и сиди рассматривай. Почти мультик, в каждой картинке детали, какие-то с мелкими деталями, долго рассматривать, какие-то большие, но деталей меньше, чтобы успокоить взгляд, но не менее красивые.
Я вот очень люблю подобные иллюстрации, когда все как настоящее и можно зависнуть рассматривая) А еще все нарисовано красиво, а не квадратами. Бывают такие книжки, которые специально оформляются рисунками проще, даже порой шаблонными, ну вот как из картофеля вырезать и несколько кар пропечатать. И я даю им право на жизнь, потому что это дополнительно интерес ребенка к творчеству, но я люблю мелкие детальки и реалистичность, мне тогда все более сказочным кажется и от этого я верю в истории)
Сюжетная составляющая, как я говорила не сильна, но она про дружбу, про взаимовыручку, что тоже очень важно. И на ранних порах может быть и важнее отдельных уроков с примерами.
Так что дорогие мамы и папы, обратите внимание на эту красоту. Она удивительная и главное, ее не жалко в бумаге купить, она красивая)
June 23, 2024
I love Brambly Hedge. I’ve read it myself, I’ve read it to my little brother, I’ve read it to my kid. Way before I decided I wanted to be a hobbit, I wanted to be a mouse and live in a hollow tree. Or in a tree stump. Or in a small, comfy nest woven from hay. Or... Look, baking, cooking, making jam, and eating all the delish things? What is there NOT to love!!
The book starts with a short interview slash foreword where Jill Barklem talks about her inner world and how she constructs the stories. I would’ve loved to read a lot more of that but since this is a children’s book, it’s understandable that the foreword isn’t that exhaustive.
The stories themselves are heartwarming, gentle, and cute. They’re also extremely conservative (strict gender roles) and mirror a kind of community that no longer exists but that only lives in fond memories that don’t really reflect reality. The pictures are just as gorgeous as I remembered, and I spent one lovely evening just looking through them, tracking all the stuff she’s managed to cram in, and how cozy it all seems.
Now, I'm just gonna headcanon the elderly weaver sisters as an old lesbian couple…
The book starts with a short interview slash foreword where Jill Barklem talks about her inner world and how she constructs the stories. I would’ve loved to read a lot more of that but since this is a children’s book, it’s understandable that the foreword isn’t that exhaustive.
The stories themselves are heartwarming, gentle, and cute. They’re also extremely conservative (strict gender roles) and mirror a kind of community that no longer exists but that only lives in fond memories that don’t really reflect reality. The pictures are just as gorgeous as I remembered, and I spent one lovely evening just looking through them, tracking all the stuff she’s managed to cram in, and how cozy it all seems.
Now, I'm just gonna headcanon the elderly weaver sisters as an old lesbian couple…
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