In the second part of her autobiography, Miss Read fondly recalls the three years she spent in a village school. Miss Read was seven years old when her family moved from South London to a small village in Kent. It wasn't far in distance, but it was a vastly different experience for a child who up until then had only known the noise of London and a large school with large classes. Miss Read must have been an introvert. She hated London, and she was intimidated by the large school experience. The small school and village life suited her perfectly. The long walk to and from school, shared with a handful of friends, gave her an opportunity to observe the plants and wildlife that graced the neighborhood. At just about 100 pages with plentiful illustrations, this book is a quick read. It's perfect for reading on a rainy day or while rocking on the porch on a lazy summer day. ( )

Here Miss Read tells the story of her schooldays at Chelsfield, Kent, between 1921 and 1924. Idyllic and happy days they were, described with loving care just short of sentimentality. ( )