Julie Andrews

I LOVED this book as a kid. And then, as often happens, I completely forgot about it until a few months ago when someone casually mentioned it on a podcast. So I tracked down a copy (this is when I learned that Julie Andrews wrote it, and I'm still recovering from the realization that Julie Andrews was even more steeply rooted in my childhood than I thought) and really enjoyed revisiting it. All I remembered about this book was all the gardening and keeping house at a secret cottage in the woods, which was my favorite part to revisit, too.… (more)

I don’t often read memoirs, but wanted something light today. It wasn’t as light as I had hoped. Perhaps a children’s book is more what I was in the mood for. This book includes enough names of people to fill a small dictionary. I was impressed that she remembered so many people. Many of them only made a cameo appearance.

In the latter half of the book I skim read it. The parts I read with greatest interest were her vocal training, and how she grew for future roles through some of the grueling experiences of being on stage eight times a week.… (more)

Ben, Tom and Lindy Potter are ordinary children. They lead ordinary lives - until they meet the brilliant Professor Savant. He tells them all about the Whangdoodles, the wise and magical creatures who once lived on earth but then disappeared to another land, and were forgotten forever.

Except by Professor Savant and the three children, who are determined to visit Whangdoodleland, where the last of the really great Whangdoodles rules over his kingdom of fantastic creatures. Getting there isn't easy. The children must look "beyond" the ordinary, and see things in a completely different way. It's hard and dangerous work, and sometimes it seems that they'll never reach the Whangdoodle's castle. But little by little the children learn that with a bit of imagination, "anything" is possible.… (more)