The Enid Blyton Society

I recently got a copy of The Mary Mouse Cook Book (above), not having known of its existence before. It dates from 1974, was published by Hodder Causton Limited and has bright, cheerful Tony Linsell illustrations (plus some in black and white) like the reprints of the Mary Mouse stories from the same era:

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/book ... cmarymouse" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

However, it's a larger size than the storybooks - about the size of an annual - with 46 pages. Enid Blyton isn't mentioned anywhere and neither is the compiler of the recipes, but various characters from the books are referred to in comments like "These are Whiskers Mouse's favourite biscuits" (Nut Nibbles) or "Melia, Pip and Roundy always like Mary Mouse to cook this when they have been out in the snow" (Noodle Savoury Munch).

The book is a blast from the past as all weights are in pounds and ounces, dimensions of baking tins are in inches and electric oven temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit (gas marks are also given, of course). There are twenty-one simple recipes and they're written in child-friendly language, e.g. "Stir them [the rice krispies] into the mixture really properly so that they are completely coated with the marshmallow mixture" or "Then break both the eggs into a cup and beat them together with a fork until you can't tell which was the white part and which was the yolk." The Marshmallow Krispies sound fun to make (the recipe involves melting marshmallows in a pan) so I might well make them. I'd have loved to have this book when I was little and I'm sure my own children would have loved it too.

Thank you, Anita. Did you buy it from a bookshop or online market?

I bought it from an Amazon seller for just over £3 including postage, though I think there are a number of other copies available online. I came across it quite by chance when I was wondering what else Tony Linsell had illustrated. My sister was given one of the Mary Mouse books when she was little, and I always liked the pictures.

By the way, here's the cover that is missing from the Cave, Tony:

https://pictures.abebooks.com/LOST_AND_ ... 367885.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Already added, thanks! I have also saved an image of the Cook Book but I am not sure where I am going to put it - I am already struggling as to where to put Jolly Good Food!

Tony Summerfield wrote:I am already struggling as to where to put Jolly Good Food!

In your tummy!

I suppose the cookery books could go in Recreation: Novelty, though it's not ideal.

That cookery book sounds great! I also like the illustrations by Tony Linsell, though I wasn't familiar with him when I was a child, and indeed I had never heard of Mary Mouse until I saw her featured in 'The Dossier'. I have some of the original books, and some later paperback style ones, but none of those illustrated by Tony Linsell.

There's one illustrated (and signed) by Tony Linsell on eBay, which I've seen listed a few times -

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hurrah-for-M ... SwuZlZwnt3

I've got one Mary Mouse book illustrated by Tony Linsell (besides the cookery book) but unfortunately I can't find it! I've also got a few of the Ravette paperbacks but none of the original strip books.

That does look delightful, Anita! I never encountered Mary Mouse in either the Tony Linsell illustrated version or the original — I don't think I'd ever heard of her before finding the EBS. The 1970s books look like just the sort of thing I would have loved when I was little!

The recipes sound lots of fun, too — do let us know how they work out if you make any of them, won't you?

I quite like his illustration style now, but its interesting that I don't think I would have liked them at all as a child and would have thought them 'babyish'. They remind me of the type of illustrations in 'Smiffy' books and Meg and Mog etc - and I always felt they were 'just for kids' even when I was 4 or 5.

I assume you mean "Miffy", Rob...

Lol - yeah - don't know where 'Smiffy' came from!

From Citizen Smith perhaps?

The pared-down look of the Miffy illustrations really appeals to me. I remember my daughter being fascinated by the minimalism (and bold colours) of Miffy's house - just one chair, one small table, one plate, one cup, a couple of outfits... We used to laugh that Miffy's friends would have to bring their own chairs and cups if they came to visit her!

It's strange that as an adult I appreciate them much more than I did as a child. Probably why I'm mystified as to why children like those modern Famous Five covers! I was very much into the more detailed style of illustration as a child.