Clotilda
Jack Kent ~ Random House, 1969
Jack Kent week continues... Originally published as a small black and white with a three-color hardback cover, I'm posting my fancy 1980 edition, full-color paperback because, well, the colors pop. And we are all about popping colors in this house.
"Nobody wants a fairy godmother nowadays," said Clotilda. She sat down on a daisy to feel sorry for herself in comfort. Tommy and Betty were picking flowers. "There's a bug on this one!" said Tommy. "I'm not a bug!" said Clotilda. "I'm a fairy godmother!" "You're a bug!" insisted Tommy. "Don't be rude," Betty scolded. "I don't believe in fairy godmothers!" said Tommy.
Ah yes, there's the rub. When Clotilda tells Tommy she doesn't believe in little boys who don't believe in fairy godmothers, he challenges her to do some magic and all hell breaks loose. When she changes a polliwog into a frog, Tommy says it would have done that anyway. When she turns a caterpillar into a butterfly, again, he claims the bug was already headed in that direction. So, she changes Tommy into a donkey, because... he was kinda becoming a jackass anyways. Betty and the fairy godmother become friends and she grants her three wishes. Of course, Betty opts to change Tommy back. And when Betty wishes to grow up to be a nice lady like her mother, of course, Tommy chimes in, "She would have done that anyway." 
The final wish is a lived-happily-ever-after moment for all, but... it's possible they would have done that anyway. :) Adorable book. Would be the perfect gift to give the godmother of a girl or vice versa. Of course, my son flips over the boy-turned-donkey part. Can you blame him?
Also by:
Jack Kent's Twelve Days of Christmas
I Was Walking Down the Road
The Grown-Up Day
The Fox and the Crow
The Biggest Shadow in the Zoo
The Animobile Book
Jack Kent's Book of Nursery Tales
Dooly and the Snortsnoot
Mr. Meebles
Cindy Lou and the Witch's Dog
The Blah
Jack Kent's Valentine Sticker Book
The Bremen-town Musicians
Round Robin
Just Only John
Fly Away Home
Fat Cat
Piggy Bank Gonzales
Socks for Supper
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5 comments:
I.
hate.
y...*sigh*
Okay, I don't hate anything.
BUT, ANOTHER one I don't have! Arrrrgh! You are lucky when it comes to finding these (or you're at least willing to shell out the extra cash for them).
Actually, until I started working on the surprise for tomorrow, I'd never bought one anywhere other than at a thrift shop or used book store...
Ohmygod, I (or really, my parents) have this book! I used to read it as a kid!! This makes me want to look for it now.
Burgin, Thank you so much for your wonderful post sharing Jack Kent's sweet book, Clotilda. It's one of my childhood favorites.
I was in the process of writing a post about lost childhood classics and am so glad I came across your blog in the process.
I decided to add a place in my post for other children's book fans to share their favorites and wanted to invite you to attach a link to your entire blog. It would be a tremendous asset to the "cause".
Kindly,
Jenn/Rook No. 17
This is one of my favourite books. I used to read it to my children. My daughter found it online and sent to US to get it for me. I read it to all my classes and they love it as much as I do!
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