Literature Threads

Happy Birthday, Julie Andrews Edwards!

Julie Andrews Edwards celebrated a birthday on October 1st. Tina shares her favorite literary works of the beloved Julie Andrews! Enjoy!

“The world is full of magical places, and the library has always been one of them for me. A library can be that special place for our children.”

~Julie Andrews Edwards

Most of us easily recognize Julie Andrews from her soaring voice in musicals like Mary Poppins, Cinderella, and The Sound of Music. Or, for those on the younger end of things, from her stint as Grandmere in the two movies of The Princess Diaries. What many people don’t know is that Julie Andrews is also an author of chapter books, poetry anthologies, early readers, and picture books. Many of them are co-authored with her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton. (Note: she has published under a variety of names – Julie Andrews, Julie Andrews Edwards, Julie Edwards, etc., so if you are interested in a particular book click on the links below to get to the right book easily).

If you are looking for a superb read-aloud to share with your kids this fall, here are a few of my favorites:

For Girls ~ If you have an elementary to tween-aged daughter, you should definitely pick up a copy of Julie’s first book, Mandy. I don’t remember how old I was when I first read this book, but I do remember absolutely loving it. It is a bittersweet story of an orphan girl who dreams of having her own special garden. In time, her dream comes alive, but at a high cost due to the untruths she has to tell to keep the garden a secret. The book ends well, but not without  hard lessons for Mandy to learn about herself, true friendship and sharing beauty with others.

We did this book for our Mother-Daughter Book Club several years ago and everyone went home with a freshly potted flower set in a pot they decorated themselves. I’m pretty sure none of the flowers are still alive, but we all enjoy the memories of sharing that book together.

For Families ~ One of my all-time favorite memories with my kids is laughing at the crazy antics of the Splintercat in The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles. We were reading on our front porch to take advantage of the winter sunshine. Anyone walking by would have thought we’d lost our minds because we were all doubled-over, trying to catch our breath from laughing so hard and so long. A book that makes us all laugh is a gift in any season, but especially in the year 2020!

This book doesn’t fit any one genre—  it’s part fantasy, part sibling adventure, part crazy humor. The main characters are three siblings, making it an ideal read for families with kids spread across ages and genders. If you need to add some laughter to your reading time this fall, make sure to check this one out!

Poetry ~ Many quality poetry collections exist out there and Julie Andrews adds to the splendor with a few of her own. We own her Collection of Poems, Songs, and Lullabies and I love bringing it out for a poetry teatime or when I want my kids to have some fun practicing reading aloud with expression. I particularly love this collection because of its beautiful watercolor illustrations. (Even the endpapers are gorgeous!)

If you’ve had a rough day and need some quiet and loveliness, sit down with a cup of tea and spend a few minutes perusing the sections on All Things Bright and Beautiful or Sea-Fever. If you need a little pick-me-up check out the humorous poems in the Laughing Song or Talk to the Animals sections. Our copy came with a CD where Julie and her daughter, Emma, read some of their favorite selections aloud. It’s perfect as a bedtime listen for little ones or when your little ones have ramped up the noise and you want to settle them down a bit. 

If you are looking for picture books, Andrews has a Very Fairy Princess series that looks like it should delight little misses, as well as an early reader series about a cute little dump truck for boys. (I haven’t read either so if someone reading this has, we’d love your feedback on them!)

So, Happy Birthday and Do-Re-Mi to Julie Andrews Edwards in this month of October. Gather her books for quality family read- alouds or snuggle up on the couch on a Friday night to watch Julie as Mary or Maria! 

In the hope of threading stories, threading lives,

Tina

P.S. For some Literature Foodie Fun, read this article from Taste of Home featuring A Few of Julie Andrews’ Favorite Foods. (Stephanie perused the list and for a simple and festive addition to your reading, savor a bowl of raspberries or steep some raspberry tea. Julie Andrews’ childhood home boasted an orchard full of raspberry bushes that she fondly remembers snacking from.)

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