Magical childhood in the country
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This delightful book brings vividly alive a magical summer holiday on Exmoor, at a time when children could be free to be children, and safe to create their own adventures with their ponies in the glorious unspoilt countryside of Exmoor before the War. It is hard to believe that it was written by schoolgirls, but its charm is that it is written by children for children, with that fresh eye which only a young person could bring to the dialogue and the wonderful ideas.At that time many of our local lanes were still untarmacked, and you could buy provisions from farms, build log cabins and rafts, and cook and sleep in the open air. There was far more wildlife about too. What a wonderful dream of childhood adventures, which many of us would have given anything to have! And how much better for children to be outside all day in the fresh air, exploring and given the freedom to take risks, than sitting in front of TV sets or computer games. Have we really advanced so much? We have lost this sort of childhood for ever in our overcrowded, traffic filled country, sadly. And we are in danger of losing the kindness and the good manners which come naturally to these children. What a delightful book - read it, cherish it, give it to any child who loves horses and adventure!
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Magical childern's books
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My dad first suggested I give these a go when I was about 12. Well, 13 years later I still haven't put them down. Written by children, about children, and for children in the 1930s (when paper itself was scarce) the three books in the series detail the lives of six young children on holiday in Dartmoor. They all ride ponies and have believable, fantastic adventures like making a raft and sailing it down the river (The Oxus) to the Aral Sea. Similar to Swllows and Amazons but less stiff and much funnier. The best trilogy for children and adults with well-crafted characters, believable adventures plus the mystery of Maurice...
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