Books Monthly
December 2025 Volume 26 Number 3 Childrens' Books
December 2025 Volume 26 Number 3 Childrens' Books
GIRLS GONE BY PUBLISHERS - CAR BOOT SALES - CHARITY SHOPS
BOOK OF THE MONTH: Kay Whalley: A Smart Suit and White Gloves
6th November 2025
GGBP are delighted to announce a new edition of Kay Whalley’s Career Stories (written as Kay Clifford), retitled A Smart Suit and White Gloves. For thirty years after the war, the genre of girls’ career books flourished, guiding girls towards the right job while never overlooking the possibility that romance might blossom along the way. Now fascinating as social history as well as very entertaining reads, these books had never been explored until Kay Whalley, the acknowledged expert in the field and a witty and affectionate fan, wrote her book.This new edition, edited by Tig Thomas, covers every career book published in the UK, with extensive illustrations, and a fully revised text, expanding many discussions. It celebrates the well-loved books in the genre as well as discussing lesser-known stories, with girls discovering careers as diverse as timber girl, fashion buyer, and even missionary—not forgetting that essential helpmeet, the Farmer’s Wife. Be warned: under Kay’s guidance, you may find your wants list becomes hugely expanded.
Kay says, “I have always read books. Too many books. ‘Get your nose out of a book and go outside and play’. But I kept reading. Other readers emerged on the Internet. Forces were joined. Kindred spirits. Numbers grew. I read. I wrote. I read more. With encouragement I wrote more. And the result is A Smart Suit and White Gloves.”
This book is in our larger format.
A Smart Suit and White Gloves was published on 6 November 2025. Only Girls Gone By could have brought out this brillliant new book about the proliferation of titles in the middle of the last century guiding young girls towards one of the many career paths that were open to them at the time. I haven't counted the number of book covers and titles covered in this stupendous book, but there are a lot, and it's a joy to look at and read. Fabulous!
1950s Nostalgia Activity Book for Seniors
Rediscover the magic of the 1950s in this entertaining and memory-sparking activity book designed especially for seniors and baby boomers. Whether you lived through the decade or simply love its iconic culture, this book offers the perfect mix of fun, mental stimulation, and nostalgia.Filled with 50 large-print word search puzzles, each themed around beloved aspects of 1950s life—from jukebox hits and classic cars to soda fountains and vintage fashion—this book is more than just a puzzle collection. It’s a journey back in time.
Each puzzle includes:
20 themed words related to 1950s music, movies, slang, fashion, and more
Large-print format for easy reading and solving
Fascinating fun facts and trivia to enrich your experience
Charming vintage-style illustrations that bring each theme to life
Answer key included for stress-free solving
Whether you're enjoying a quiet afternoon or sharing laughs with loved ones, this book makes a thoughtful gift and a joyful experience. Ideal for seniors looking to keep their minds active while reminiscing about the good old days.
Perfect for:
Seniors and retirees
Baby boomers seeking a fun memory refresher
Caregivers or adult children looking for meaningful gifts
Fans of vintage Americana and 1950s culture
Bring home a nostalgic trip through the ’50s that will entertain, uplift, and spark joy.
The Memory Lane Quiz Book
The Memory Lane Quiz Book — A Gift Book of British Nostalgia & TriviaLooking for the perfect birthday gift for someone turning 70, 80 or other milestone or simply someone who loves looking back on their favourite years? This warm, interactive quiz book is a wonderful way to celebrate their life, their knowledge, and their memories.
Inside, you’ll find 300 questions with a total of 1,200 possible answers — a chance for them to recall the people, events, films, food, and stories that made their years so rich. From the 1940s through to the 1980s, this book covers a range of decades alongside special chapters featuring British food, sport, TV, music and royalty - all tailored for a UK readership.
Scattered throughout each section are thoughtful memory “Do You Remember...?” prompts and “Did You Know… ?” to spark conversation and reminiscing.
Whether they choose to enjoy the quizzes on their own, team up with friends or family, or make a game of it at a birthday gathering, there’s something for everyone to appreciate. Every page is written in a clear, uncluttered large print font and all the answers are safely tucked away at the back.
This isn’t just a quiz — it’s a thoughtful, interactive gift, designed to celebrate their past and bring them happiness in the present. There are even spaces at the back for them to write down their own stories, proudest moments, messages for children or grandchildren, and more.
The Ultimate Nostalgia Crossword Puzzle Book
Discover the joy of the past with The Ultimate Nostalgia Crossword Puzzle Book: 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s! This captivating collection of crosswords is designed to transport you back in time, offering a delightful blend of challenging puzzles and fascinating trivia from five unforgettable decades.Relive the magic of the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s through meticulously crafted crosswords that celebrate the best of each era. Whether you're reminiscing about your favorite moments or exploring these iconic times for the first time, this book is perfect for both seasoned puzzlers and newcomers alike.
Why You’ll Love This Book:
Nostalgic Fun: Each puzzle is packed with references to the music, TV shows, fashion, movies, and sports that defined the decades.
Brain-Boosting Puzzles: Stimulate your mind and improve your memory while enjoying hours of entertainment.
Bonus at the end of the book
For All Skill Levels: Whether you're a crossword aficionado or a casual solver, you'll find puzzles that are both enjoyable and challenging.
Perfect for:
Adults and seniors looking to relive their favorite memories.
Puzzle enthusiasts seeking a unique and engaging experience.
Anyone interested in exploring the rich history and culture of the mid to late 20th century.
Take a step back in time and immerse yourself in the past with The Ultimate Nostalgia Crossword Puzzle Book. Add it to your collection today and enjoy a journey through the decades like never before!
The Picture Book of 1950s Television
Do you sometimes find it difficult to engage your loved one with dementia? To help them stay calm in the midst of an emotional reaction? To find activities you can share with them that encourage peaceful interaction?This book can help. It features digitally-restored and color-enhanced images of characters from the best-loved American television shows of the 1950s. Paging through this entertaining book with your loved one is an activity that will capture their attention, engage their mind, and encourage them to relax.
As your loved one turns the pages, they’ll be reminded of the delightful comedy of I Love Lucy, the courtroom drama of Perry Mason, and the wholesome family adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and Father Knows Best. People with dementia often have difficulty with short-term memory, but many of their long-term memories are intact. Your loved one may be inspired to talk about the time they’ve spent watching these classic TV shows with their families.
You’ll find other picture books out there, mostly for kids. But it’s demeaning for seniors to give them books meant for children. And adult photography books are usually large and heavy, and they often include long, frustrating paragraphs of text.
At Sunny Street Books, we design books specifically for seniors with dementia. They’re lightweight yet high-quality, adult in nature, with nothing to distract your loved one from their enjoyment of the photos and the minimal text accompanying them. But our books don’t pander to seniors or those with dementia. People of all ages and abilities buy our books because they’re high-quality, engaging, and interesting.
Families, caregivers, and assisted living staff can share this book with the people they care for. It is also an excellent activity for seniors with Parkinson’s disease or recovering from a stroke. Seniors with eyesight or strength challenges who find it difficult to hold a heavy book or read long paragraphs of text will also enjoy this book.
A Century of Nostalgia Large Print Word Search
The Perfect Word Search Collection for Adults & Seniors—Rediscover the Joy of the Past While Keeping Your Mind Sharp and Your Spirits High!Step back in time with A Century of Nostalgia Word Search, the perfect blend of entertainment and mental stimulation designed especially for seniors. This unique book combines well-crafted word searches with intriguing trivia questions, all set against the backdrop of the 1940s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and all the way to today. Each puzzle is a delightful journey through history, pop culture, TV, movies, cars, sports, and more—topics every senior will love.
Imagine transforming an ordinary afternoon into a fun and challenging adventure that brings back fond memories while giving your brain a workout. With large print and easy-to-read puzzles, this book is perfect for anyone looking to stay sharp, reduce anxiety, and enjoy a healthy dose of nostalgia.
Nostalgia title of the month:
Penny Foolish is the first title in the Penny series, the complete series being:
Penny Foolish (no 1)
Twopence Coloured (no 2)
Threepenny Bit (no 3)
Fourpenny Fair (no 4)
Fivepenny Mystery (no 5)
Crooked Sixpence (no 6) (GGBP 2021)
Girls Gone By Publishers published Crooked Sixpence first, because it is so rare, but people have asked for the whole series, and so here is the first title.
Penny is staying on the Isle of Arran to recover from an illness but she is not happy there, mainly because Elspeth and Kenneth, the minister’s children, with whom she is thrown into daily contact, hardly bother to hide their supreme contempt for her foolishness. She longs for her sister Jill to arrive, but when Jill does unexpectedly join her, demanding immediate concealment from desperate pursuers, her troubles have only just begun …
Jane Shaw’s son, Ian, has written a fascinating introduction about the family history on Arran, illustrated with wonderful photographs. We also have a really good introduction from Samantha Little about the character of Penny.
Penny Foolish will be published on 9 October 2025. This is a simply splendid adventure involving Penny in the first of six books by Jane Shaw (I believe and fervently hope that Girls Gone By will be publishing the other titles) as she battles against thieves and scoundrels in the highlands of Scotland. Superb reading for young teens - I wish I'd known about Jane Shaw when I was a young teen!
Seventeen year old Camilla, pretty and spoilt, has just left school and hopes to spend the summer enjoying herself with Hugh, older than she is, attractive but elusive. Camilla’s father, who finds Hugh unsatisfactory, has other ideas however. He has a friend who runs an hotel near Kandersteg and he arranges for Camilla to go and help him and his family.
Camila arrives in Switzerland full of discontent. She is cold towards the friendly welcome of Anna and Lisa, the Dettlemann daughters who help so efficiently in the hotel, and seem to Camilla rather stuffy. And she is almost immediately at enmity with Sigmund, a young student who is helping during his vacation.
Camila goes off exploring on her own. She is still eager to end her exile and see Hugh. It takes heartache, and unexpected drama at the hotel, to make her change her mind—and the whole of her future.
Jenny Swanson has written a really interesting introduction on Mabel Esther Allan’s Swiss Stories in Context.
The short story we shall be including is ‘The Two Head Girls’ – a school story but not set in Switzerland, as we were unable to find one set in Switzerland which we had not used before.
Signpost to Switzerland was published on 14 October 2025.
This book has just arrived - I will update this page with my review shortly...
About BOOKS MONTHLY: This publication started life as FANTAZONE in December 1998. Within a month publishers were starting to send me review copies, and I changed the name to Books Monthly as the new title reflected the new primary purpose of the magazine. Many people, including Bernard Cornwell and Gyles Brandreth have commented on how much they like the magazine, which this month has morphed into a newsletter, although its premise remains the same - to alert readers to a selected number of newly published books with my reviews when I've managed to persuade a publisher to send me a copy. To the best of my knowledge, Books Monthly is the longest-running book review magazine on the web. I hope you enjoy it in its new format!
contact me at paulenorman1@gmail.com
Penny Foolish is the first title in the Penny series, the complete series being:Penny Foolish (no 1)
Twopence Coloured (no 2)
Threepenny Bit (no 3)
Fourpenny Fair (no 4)
Fivepenny Mystery (no 5)
Crooked Sixpence (no 6) (GGBP 2021)
Girls Gone By Publishers published Crooked Sixpence first, because it is so rare, but people have asked for the whole series, and so here is the first title.
Penny is staying on the Isle of Arran to recover from an illness but she is not happy there, mainly because Elspeth and Kenneth, the minister’s children, with whom she is thrown into daily contact, hardly bother to hide their supreme contempt for her foolishness. She longs for her sister Jill to arrive, but when Jill does unexpectedly join her, demanding immediate concealment from desperate pursuers, her troubles have only just begun …
Jane Shaw’s son, Ian, has written a fascinating introduction about the family history on Arran, illustrated with wonderful photographs. We also have a really good introduction from Samantha Little about the character of Penny.
Penny Foolish will be published on 9 October 2025. This is a simply splendid adventure involving Penny in the first of six books by Jane Shaw (I believe and fervently hope that Girls Gone By will be publishing the other titles) as she battles against thieves and scoundrels in the highlands of Scotland. Superb reading for young teens - I wish I'd known about Jane Shaw when I was a young teen!
Seventeen year old Camilla, pretty and spoilt, has just left school and hopes to spend the summer enjoying herself with Hugh, older than she is, attractive but elusive. Camilla’s father, who finds Hugh unsatisfactory, has other ideas however. He has a friend who runs an hotel near Kandersteg and he arranges for Camilla to go and help him and his family.
Camila arrives in Switzerland full of discontent. She is cold towards the friendly welcome of Anna and Lisa, the Dettlemann daughters who help so efficiently in the hotel, and seem to Camilla rather stuffy. And she is almost immediately at enmity with Sigmund, a young student who is helping during his vacation.
Camila goes off exploring on her own. She is still eager to end her exile and see Hugh. It takes heartache, and unexpected drama at the hotel, to make her change her mind—and the whole of her future.
Jenny Swanson has written a really interesting introduction on Mabel Esther Allan’s Swiss Stories in Context.
The short story we shall be including is ‘The Two Head Girls’ – a school story but not set in Switzerland, as we were unable to find one set in Switzerland which we had not used before.
Signpost to Switzerland was published on 14 October 2025.
This book has just arrived - I will update this page with my review shortly...
About BOOKS MONTHLY: This publication started life as FANTAZONE in December 1998. Within a month publishers were starting to send me review copies, and I changed the name to Books Monthly as the new title reflected the new primary purpose of the magazine. Many people, including Bernard Cornwell and Gyles Brandreth have commented on how much they like the magazine, which this month has morphed into a newsletter, although its premise remains the same - to alert readers to a selected number of newly published books with my reviews when I've managed to persuade a publisher to send me a copy. To the best of my knowledge, Books Monthly is the longest-running book review magazine on the web. I hope you enjoy it in its new format!
contact me at paulenorman1@gmail.com