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Ghosts and a Well
"I read this book in fourth grade (1977). It was paperback and seemed a bit dated. I think the cover had a drawing of a girl sitting on a tree swing looking down. It was part of our teacher's classroom collection - books we could read on rainy days. The reading level was probably about the same as the "Little House" books. It involved a girl who went to live (or visit) in the country with her grandmother or great aunt. The girl may have been orphaned. She discovers ghosts that live on the property. There's also a well that figures heavily into the story. The ghosts live in the well or they fell down the well - something like that. I do not think it was set in the present day. I think it may have been historical, or maybe the ghosts were historical."
Solution: The Ghost in the Swing, by Jane Patton Smith. Steck-Vaughn Co., 1973. ISBN: 0811477525.
Flibberty Jibbet Royal Gelatin Story
"The second was an advertising pamphlet from Royal Gelatin(late 50s?) with the story of "Flibberty Jibbet". As I recall, it was black and showed an illustration of a castle on the front? (I know this sounds
dumb, but I just loved that little story!!) I have watched in vain for years, going through antique stores,
hoping to spot a copy!"
Solution: Flibbity Jibbit and the Key Keeper, published by The Junket Folks. Aunt Book thanks the Dear Niece who sent her this information, and who directed her to a copy of the story that is available online at http://www.junketdesserts.com/flibbity.asp
Boy Helps Two Old Ladies Who Turn Out to be One
"I'm looking for a book that was in my elementary school library back in 1972. It's about a boy who helps two old ladies; one accepts charity, one doesn't. He finds out that they are actually one person, a retired actress who dies in the end and leaves him a fortune. The old lady was always quoting Shakespeare and made him learn it. This made him popular with his English teacher. He kept his helping them a secret and didn't know she was wealthy until the end. Another person I found seems to remember that the boy was playing baseball, or delivering newspapers and accidentally broke her window and worked around her house to pay for it, but continued to do so after the debt was paid. I think the boy's name was Ted and he was in high school. Please help, I've been trying to find this for 20 years!"
Solution: The Ghost of Garina Street, by Lillian S. Freehof. The book was published in 1959. Aunt Book can claim no credit for this solution; the Dear Nephew who sent the original inquiry was able to find the book on his own, and reported his findings to Aunt Book.
Ballerina Cast as a Newspaper Boy
"Hi, I'm trying to figure out if the "Susie" series you describe contains the book I'm looking for. Here's the tiny bit that I remember of the plot: A girl lives in the city, or is living with relatives in the city. She loves ballet. She wants a certain part but doesn't get it for whatever reason or gets injured. At some point she gets cast in a ballet but is cast as a newspaper boy. But she dances the part really well, and is a good actress as well as dancer. At some point she can't dance because she's ill or something, but in the end she gets a part that she really wants. Is this in any of the Susie books? Please help, it's driving me nuts!"
Solution: Jennifer Dances, by Eunice Young Smith. Bobbs-Merrill, 1954. There are five other books in the series: The Jennifer Wish, 1949; The Jennifer Gift, 1950; The Jennifer Prize, 1951; Jennifer is Eleven, 1952; High Heels for Jennifer, 1964.
Birds with Keys for Beaks
"The book was a Weekly Reader book from (I believe) the mid-'70's. It was about birds with keys for beaks and they could open various things with their 'key beaks.'"
Solution: Aunt Book believes that this book is The Ice Cream Cone Coot and Other Rare Birds, by Arnold Lobel. Parents' Magazine Press, 1971. The "rare birds" are made up of household items. In one case,
"Over our heads the Key Cranes are flocking,
Looking for doors that might need unlocking."
Aunt Book is not able to confirm this title with Dear Niece who originally asked for help as she does not have a current e-mail address for her.