Prudence and the Crow

@prudenceandthecrow

The UK-based vintage paperback book subscription box and online bookshop. Find our subscriptions and books for sale at - and shop our art prints and stationery at !

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Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· 6d

Just seven months after moving Crow and I *finally* got to signing up for the local library! It has been YEARS since I had a non-uni library card, and there is a whole type of reading I have missed this whole time. Exhibit A: my first two loans:

The Blanket Cats, by Kiyoshi Shigematsu, in paperback

The Full Moon Coffee Shop, by Mai Mochizuki, also in paperback

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· 16d

6. Galloped through a couple more of the Slough House books whilst working on the allotment; nearly finished reading Crow The Two Towers; I am reading European Journey by Philip Gibbs (pictured), a lengthy travelogue of 1934 Europe, which is fascinating.

My hand holding the red vintage hardback European Journey, by Phillip Gibbs

The frontispiece of European Journey, being the narrative of a journey in France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Germany and the Saar in the spring and summer of 1934 with an authentic record of the ideas, hopes and fears in the minds of common folk and expressed in wayside conversation

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Jul 5

Just starting to make my way into a gorgeous stack of 1960s Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction that my wife bought me for my birthday!

Five SFF magazines, the top one is April 1967, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, featuring Dawn "a new novelet by Roger Zelazny", cover illustration by Gray Morrow.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Jun 12

Yesterday we had the wonderful pleasure of not only visiting @mrbsemporium.bsky.social - one of the finest bookshops in the world - but taking Prudence herself to see her name on the lovely reading bench in the children's book room. She had a great time, of course, and added lots to her #tbr list!

Prudence, a large, soft, orange teddy bear in a smart white dress with a navy blue bow, is sat on a purple bench on a round floral cushion. She is smiling proudly at a little brass plaque which states "Prudence and the Crow: The Vintage Paperback Subscription Box Service".

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· May 3

Get your British Fantasy Award votes in by midnight Sunday 3rd May at forms.gle/BtaVimzvYGgT...

The British Fantasy Awards I've Voted! graphic, contains same text and link as the post

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Feb 16

Oh, go on then (I have at least five copies of this, including my grandmother's beautiful little 1930's one, but I figured I could read this one in the bath...) 💙📚

A copy of the film tie-in edition of Wuthering Heights open on a white duvet and red blanket

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Jan 24

If, like us, you have long-loved the book covers and illustration in the films of Wes Anderson, might I so highly recommend the exhibition at London's Design Museum: Crow and I had a wonderful time seeing these and many more up close! (Not to mention all the glorious costumes...) 💙📚

Shelly and the Secret Universe - Nan Chapin

Disappearance of the 6th Grade - Burris & Burris

The Return of Auntie Lorraine - Miriam Weaver

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 24

It's the final day of #patcadvent 2025: Judith Kerr's marvellous Mog. Mog's Christmas, to be precise, from 1976. We hope you enjoyed this year's advent. That's it from us for 2025. It's time for us to take our long winter's nap. Wishing you the warmest of Yuletide wishes and onwards to 2026!

Naughty cat Mog dashing off with colourful paper chains wrapped around her!

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 23

Merry Jólabókaflóðið to all who celebrate! My present from Crow is one I've been so excited to read, and it's vast! #christmaseveeve #newbooks

Tom's Crossing by Mark Z. Danielewski, a huge grey hardback American edition

Fortum & Mason's Christmas Chocolates in a fancy little box and a pint of peppermint tea

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 23

Day twenty-three of the Prudence and the Crow advent is The Tomten written by Viktor Rydberg in 1881 and turned into prose by Astrid Lindgren in 1961, illustrated by Kitty Crowther.

A friendly-looking tomt with a long white beard, red hat and green tunic is petting a good dog on the nose as he enters a festively-decorated house.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 22

It's Day 22 of #patcadvent. A merry Winter Solstice to you! Today we celebrate the shortest day of the year with Karin Celestine's The Lightbringers. Prudence gave me this beautiful book a few years ago which follows little creatures in their quest to return the light. #needlefelting

A beautiful needle-felted scene with a fieldmouse, weasel and badger carrying lanterns through a little woodland trail.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 21

Today's #patcadvent is Father Christmas by Raymond Briggs, the only creation of his that did not leave me with lasting trauma 😆 This is quite a gentle story about how Father Christmas delivers everybody's gifts before going home and wishing everybody "Happy Blooming Christmas!"

A red-faced Father Christmas with full white beard, a sack of presents over his shoulder, a flask visible in his satchel!

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 20

Day 20 of #patcadvent is The Jolly Christmas Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg. Husband and wife, Allan and Janet, produced several children's classics over the years including The Jolly Postman (for he is Jolly all year round) and Each Peach Pear Plum which I love but Prudence is frightened of. ~C

The Jolly Postman, in a snowy scene, above the text, "A book in a book!" says the Gingerbread Boy, "What a simply delicious surprise!" (But if only he knew, he's in one too - That really would open his eyes.) Then...a bucket of tea for the Postman. And four and twenty mince pies.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 19

Day 19 of #patcadvent is Maya Angelou's Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem, illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher from 2010. "Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers, look heavenward and speak the word aloud. Peace.” - Maya Angelou

A close-up of a group of people with happy faces holding candles, dressed in colourful winter wear, singing together.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 19

Yesterday's #patcadvent - C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and here, the Witch from the BBC TV version so beloved by us both (and fully available on YouTube).

The White Witch, with a piercing stare, sits, a menacing figure, dressed in furs, with a sharp white crown on her head.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 17

Today's #patcadvent sees Babar the Elephant and a dog called Duck having a bit of an altercation with some snowball wielding gnomes (not to be confused with elves) just outside the Bohemian town of Prjmnestwe which, as everybody knows, is the home of Father Christmas, right?

Babar, on skis, in a snowscape, beholding a group of elves who are in disarray...

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 16

Day 16 of #patcadvent is from Beatrix Potter. There's only one Christmas Beatrix Potter story (The Tailor of Gloucester) but she painted and drew many, many Christmas pictures, most of which appeared on Christmas cards for her friends and family. Here's some bunnies playing a festive game!

At least six bunnies, maybe more, are running about engaged in a game. One has a neat red and gold blindfold about its eyes.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 14

Today's #patcadvent is On Christmas Eve, a wordless book illustrated by Peter Collington. The Christmas tree angels are gathering candles so they can make a landing strip for Santa so he doesn't miss the little girl. This book was very special to me as a child; I'm not sure how well known it is? ~C

A close-up illustration of a Christmas tree decorated with lots of little angels holding candles in various stances. Very sweet, detailed style.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 13

Day thirteen of the Prudence and the Crow advent is The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper, a book Prudence and I recently re-read. Full of dark and ancient things, this makes for a marvellous Yuletide read... #patcadvent

A stylised illustration of a group of children huddled in an archway, seemingly under attack from a flock of crows during a snowstorm.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 12

Day 12 of #patcadvent is Petunia's Christmas written and illustrated by Roger Duvoisin. Originally published in 1952, Petunia is a slightly unhinged goose whose object of affection, Charles the gander, is destined for the farmer's Christmas table. Don't worry though - this story has a happy ending.

A happy-looking goose is hanging a little angel on a string of Christmas decorations.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 11

Day eleven of the Prudence and the Crow advent is The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Published in 1962, this book has a wonderful original style to it, boldly mixing watercolours with collage. Words and illustration by Ezra Jack Keats. #patcadvent

A watercolour of a small child in pyjamas (made of collaged patterned paper) sits in a fluffy bed looking out of the window at a snowy scene.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 10

Day 10 of the Prudence and the Crow advent is The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken, illustrated here by Rohan Eason. Crow was genuinely scared of this one when she was small! I'm still quite bothered by these hungry wolf faces...

A black and white drawing: the excited faces of three hungry-looking, stylised wolves in the foreground; two girls in the distance on a snow-covered hill take each other's hands and run!

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 8

Here, in a cosy evening edition for Day 9 of #patcadvent, the tiny child characters of Wind in the Willows have come to carol sing at Mole's house. It is a delightful scene, and Crow has been telling me at length how absolutely adorable it is in the TV series.

Adorable tiny woodland creatures are clustered in front of Mole and Ratty, stood in the doorway of Mole End.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 7

Day 7 of #patcadvent is Noggin the Nog by Oliver Postgate & Peter Firmin. The animated tv series began in 1959, with books: 1965-77. 'Listen to me and I will tell you the story of Noggin the Nog, as it was told in the days of old by the men of the Northlands, as they sat by their great log fires…'

Noggin the Nog, resplendent in golden crown, holds court in a grand stone hall.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 6

Day 6, #patcadvent winter-y, seasonal-ish read is Soonchild, by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Alexis Deacon. It's a very peculiar, different piece of storytelling, audience unclear, which leaves you with a fair bit to reflect on. The illustrations make this quite the experience 💙📚

A hardback copy of Soonchild, with a soft pencil illustration of a polar bear on the cover. In the photograph, our smooth polar bear figurine is positioned next to the book, as if looking curiously at a portrait of himself.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 5

Day 5 of #patcadvent is Shirley Hughes' Snow in the Garden: A First Book of Christmas. I have to admit to not having heard of this lovely anthology of winter stories, poems, recipies and crafts until this year. Published in 2018, every page is decorated with Shirley Hughes' beautiful illustrations.

A small girl in a red coat smiles at a little robin on a branch. She's stood in a snowy woodland scene.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 4

Day 4 of #patcadvent is Lotta's Christmas Surprise by Astrid Lindgren. Lotta saves Christmas with the aid of her tenaciousness and ever-present toy pig, Bamsen 🐖🎄 Tragically out of print in its English translation so if you see a copy be sure to snap it up! Illustration by Ilon Wilkland. 💙📚

A little girl in a blue woollen hat and red jacket pulls a Christmas tree determinedly on a rope. Her beloved stuffed pig, Bamsen, is having a ride on the tree.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 3

Day 3 of #patcadvent is Waiting for Christmas by Monica Greenfield. Published in 1996, Waiting for Christmas follows the gentle adventures of two children as they decorate the tree, visit relatives and generally look forward to Christmas Day. Illustration by Jan Spivey Gilchrist.

Two small children look happily at each other over a beautifully-decorated gingerbread house.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 2

Merry #patcadvent Day 2! Moving westwards for this beautiful illustration, often used as a cover, by Edward Ardizzone, for Dylan Thomas' A Child's Christmas in Wales. If you've not heard Thomas reading it himself, very much recommend tinyurl.com/achildschris... where you can hear this in full.

A delicate colour illustration of a little girl in a blue coat and red hat walking down a snowy hill towards a street of houses.

Prudence and the Crow@prudenceandthecrow· Dec 1

Welcome once again to Prudence and the Crow Advent! Follow along (or mute!) with the hashtag #patcadvent We begin with John Masefield's The Box of Delights - an intensely wintery tale. Perhaps you remember the (frankly a bit scary) '80s BBC adaptation? Illustration: Sara Ogilvie 💙📚