Desperately seeking 'Farmer Junkle'.

April 6, 2009 8:16 AM

Please help me find a 1970s children's book called something like 'Farmer Junkle'.

My wife has fond memories of a favourite kids' book her father read to her in the mid-1970s.

She recalls it was entitled 'Farmer Junkle' but, despite endless google searches (including spelling variations such as Junkell, Juncle, etc) I can't find any trace of it.

Did this book ever exist and, if so, where can I buy a copy?

We're just about to have our first child and I'd love to track a copy down to surprise her.

Thanks a lot.

posted by Blackwatch to media & arts (5 comments total)

Does she remember anything about the plot or illustrations?
posted by ryanshepard at 8:52 AM on April 6

She remembers is as something like:

"Farmer Junkle went out in the morning to feed his animals."

"The cows went moo, moo. The sheep went baa, baa."

That sort of thing. Very simple.

She recalls it was a Ladybird book but I can't find any trace of it online.

Thanks.
posted by Blackwatch at 12:21 AM on April 7

All of the Ladybird titles available in the 70s with "farm" or "farmer" in the title that I've been able to identify so far:

The Farmer
The Farm
Hannibal on the Farm
Fun at the Farm

One of their books set on a farm, In Green Pastures with Uncle Mac, features characters named Jingle and Jangle, but I've struck out on "Junkle" and variants. I don't have any way to browse the text of these books, though.

Other pre-1980 Ladybird titles set on farms:

The Inquisitive Harvest Mouse
The Conceited Lamb
Beaky the Greedy Duck
Ned the Lonely Donkey
Cocky the Lazy Rooster

This guy looks like he might be able to provide the answer if none of these fit the bill.
posted by ryanshepard at 10:11 AM on April 7

Did you ever find the book?
posted by ryanshepard at 11:25 AM on April 22

Still no luck finding this book. I'm beginning to wonder if it was all a childhood dream - but she insists it was read to hear often!

Thanks.
posted by Blackwatch at 4:30 AM on April 28