Gus Goes to School (aka Gus Was a Real Dumb Ghost) by Jane Thayer

If you go to a thrift store often to find a book, more than likely you've come across this next book.  It was very popular back in the 80s and 90s.  I know that I owned this classic (with the newer title, not with the original) and I can remember reading it many times.

So let's get on with this classic and I'm pretty sure it's going to bring back many memories from your childhood.  I mean, really, who didn't read this book?

Gus Goes to School (Original title: Gus Was a Real Dumb Ghost) by Jane Thayer   (1982)

Gus Goes to School was part of the Weekly Reader Children's Book Club

All three of the above books are the same.  The Gus Was a Real Dumb Ghost was the original title but I'm sure was changed to not be so offensive to others or maybe to not say the word "dumb" in a child's book title.  Right now, I have the hardcover of the Gus Goes to School, which by the way was given to my son by his grandmother since she kept it from my husband's childhood days.

I also have the paperback copy and the hardcover copy of the original title.

  So what's this book about?  Well, Gus goes to school......  okay, more info?  Gus spends all of his time haunting an old house, turned museum.  When he writes his autobiography and sends it into a publisher, he is embarrassed when it's returned to him with with all the mistakes pointed out to him.  He makes the brave decision to go to school to learn more.

 Another great classic that has a good moral to it.  You go to school to LEARN.  Otherwise, you spell things wrong and you are embarrassed.  But Gus realizes that going to school isn't an easy task.  It takes focus, attention and patience to learn.  Something every kid goes through and I really feel they can relate to this book.

(the above picture is the copyright for my hardcover book of the original title.  It has the full printing line but does not say First Edition.  I'm hoping someone will tell me if this is the First Edition or not)

During my child reading days, I had no idea that this book belonged to a series.  The Gus the Ghost Series.

In fact, there are 8 books, and this book was printed 20 years after the first one.  I started with this story since it's the most popular and many individuals will recognize it.  I do have a few of the others, but I'm patiently waiting to receive the ones I don't have.

Also, Jane Thayer is a pen name.  Her real name was Catherin Woolley and sadly passed away in 2005.  She left behind a great legacy that I'm sure children will love for many decades to come.

WHERE TO BUY:

Definitely add this book to your collection.  It's a sentimental book for many and the story will have a lasting effect for your child especially if they have a hard time focusing at school.

Thriftbooks.com - $3.59 plus .99 cents for shipping.  If you purchase $10 or more, you receive free shipping PLUS their new rewards program is great.  For every $50 you spend on your account, you will get a $5 code

Amazon.com - $.01 plus $3.99 shipping USED.  This is the cheapest if you plan to buy this book alone.  If you want to purchase the book with the original title, it will cost you more but it is available on their website.

Click below to purchase

Gus Was A Real Dumb Ghost by: Jane Thayer $3.59

                                                                   

King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood

When I initially started looking for children's books (I was about 6 months pregnant with my first), there was one book that I really, REALLY wanted but could not figure out the name of it.  I knew that I loved the story as a child, I looked forward to reading time because of this book, but I just could not remember anything except for one image.

Here is that image that I had in my head:

I just remembered a page boy going up the stairs and that it had to do something with him helping a king.  

So, my only option was just to google "page boy king children's book"

Lo, and behold......the book showed up instantly.  I guess there are not many books out there about a page boy and a king for children.

So here is one of my childhood favorites.  One that I desperately wanted to own but didn't, but thank goodness to school libraries so I could indulge.

King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by Audrey Wood   (1985)

Caldecot Honor Book

 The story is very simple but incredibly imaginative.  The king is in the bathtub and refuses to get out!  As an adult, I can now understand why he didn't want to get out.  I probably take 20 minute showers just because that is my only time I get to myself.  But this king, while refusing to get out, prefers to conduct all of his business (now don't think dirty) in that tub.  From eating to planning out war, he just won't leave that tub despite his loyal servant's suggestions.

 Now, let me talk about the greatest thing about this book.  I absolutely LOVE the illustrations.  Don Wood is fantastic.  He's an artist....he IS an artist.

Look at these details and the life of the pages.  They seem real without looking too real.  I love it, did I mention that?

Don & Audrey Wood are an absolutely amazing team.  They are husband and wife and have collaborated on about 20 books.  I commend them for making unique, beautiful children's books that I'm sure my kids will love.  You will definitely see more of these two in other posts since I have other stories by them.

This is a great book and a MUST HAVE for your child's library or at least to check out at the library.  I actually have two copies of this book.  I bought one from Thriftbooks.com cause I just couldn't wait for a thrift store find and another copy that I did find at the thrift store a few months ago that was an early printing with a dust jacket.  You can't pass that up.

WHERE TO BUY?

Thriftbooks.com - $3.59 with .99 cent shipping USED.  If you order $10 or more, you get free shipping which makes this the cheapest option

Amazon.com - .01 cents with $3.99 shipping USED.  This is the best price if you want to purchase the book alone.  You can also purchased new for $13.94 for hardcover and $7.99 in paperback.

Click below to purchase this classic!!
                                                                   

King Bidgood's in the Bathtub by: Audrey Wood $3.59

A My Name is Annabel by Michaela Muntean (Sesame Street Book Club)

Being a kid of the 80's, I was very much into Sesame Street.  But I'm sure the kids from the 90s, 00s and even today were and are into them, too.  But it's the 80's kids that know exactly what I'm talking about when I say SESAME STREET BOOK CLUB.

For those of you who don't know them or maybe want more info, let me explain:

Before Internet, before email, before video games were more than just a joystick, and most of all, before Amazon.....there was the Sesame Street book club..... and also an outside world but I'm not here to judge.

These books were only available via mail-in and there are about 60 titles available.  Since they are all out of print, thrift stores and online stores are the best place to retrieve them.

But let me tell you, these are well written.  These aren't the books that have one word on each page and basic square and circle illustrations.  These books had thought put into them.  They will teach your kid the basics that they need to know for ages about 2-6 years old.  I remember reading these books and grabbing some vocabulary skills from them.  But your child can also learn math/counting, colors, alphabet, how to deal with life changes and more!

Many you can find in the thrift store for about .50 - $2 but there are some titles I'm still having a hard time finding and might have to resort to getting them online.  Right now I have about 44 of the 60...so I'm getting there.

By the way, you'd think that most of the stories would be about Elmo, it isn't.  During the times these were published, Grover was the most popular muppet.

A My Name is Annabel by Michaela Muntean

This is a great book in regards to teaching your kid the alphabet.  I love how it integrates people's names in order to teach this.  I mean, kids go around, learning other kid's names.  Why not incorporate that with that each kid's name begins with a different letter?  Plus, each page is filled with items beginning with that letter so your kid can point out each one for even more fun.

These books are easy to tell if you have a first printing.  Go to the very last page of the book before you hit the cover.  You will see an alphabet line.  If it starts with A, congrats, you have a first printing.  If it starts with B, it's a second printing, and so on.  Just make sure it's actually printed in the early 1980's.  They did a reprint in later years of these books that have a crazy border around the cover.  

Seriously....I'm being serious.  These books you NEED to add to your child's collection.  They are a must have.

This book in particular you might find at a thrift store, but to be honest, I've only seen it once in 3 years and it's this copy right here.  But you can find it for a great, cheap price (about $4.00 used) on my favorite sites, Amazon and Thriftbooks.  Click the links below to purchase and make your child's library an even greater one:

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

When I first learned to read, it was about the late 80's. So you can only imagine how many books my little boys own that are from that era. I've purchased every book that I can remember reading during that time and hopefully I can find more. There was one book that stuck out in my mind and I HAD to get it. At first, I couldn't find this book in the thrift store. I guess it's not something people let go of so easily, which is understandable. So I had to give in and purchase a new paperback version. But that's not what you are going to see here. Why? Because I finally found a used hardcover version at the thrift store for .50 cents. I did find one other paperback a couple years ago (after I purchased the new one) but I gave it away to a friend who had a son that's only 5 weeks older than my boy. She remembered the book, too, from her early years and needed it just as much as I needed it.

So here is one of my most memorable stories from my childhood:

 The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

This was a former library book from Texas.  

Don't know why they got rid of it.  It's a great copy.  Plus I love how libraries protect the dust cover by covering it with a clear wrap.  

If you haven't read this story....I feel for you.  It's wonderful!  Maybe the Big Bad Wolf isn't so bad after all, according to him.  While trying to find a cup of sugar so he can bake his grandmother a cake, he takes off in search of the ingredient.  On the way, he comes across three very rude pigs who refuse to help out this poor wolf.  Now, I do have to say, despite the wolf being nice, he's definitely not a vegan, so don't expect him to refuse free pork.  

I really wish I would have kept my copy from when it first came out.  I know my mother bought me a copy not too long after it was published.  

This is why you don't sell your kids favorite books at yard sales.  My mom sold each of my books at yard sales or gave it to thrift stores when I was about 13.  And now, I would have loved to give those copies to my boys.  

In a previous post, I told you how you can tell if you have a First Edition/First Printing.  You can view that Here.  

So, no where on the above copyright page does it say First Edition (some publishers don't even announce that, so you have to pay close attention).  But you can tell it's not a First Edition by it saying "First published in 1989 by Viking Penguin"  This edition was published only by Viking.  

The printing line is available on this book.  As you see, it says 37 39 40 38 36.  The lowest number is the printing lot for this book which would mean, in this edition, it's the 36th printing.

WHERE TO BUY:

You could possibly find this book at a local thrift store; if you are willing to take the time to search, and I mean a lot of time.  The last 3 years, I've found this book in 6 different thrift stores maybe about 5 times.  

But you can get this book for very cheap at Amazon; $4.00 with shipping for used, $6.00 for a new paperback, or around $11.00 for a new hardcover.

Or you can get it the cheapest at Thriftbooks ($3.59) if you order $10 or more for books so you can get the free shipping.  Otherwise, it's .99 cents shipping for each book.  Plus, when you reach $50 all together on all the orders you've placed, they will give you a $5 gift card.  I always take this route when I'm interested in multiple books.

Here are the links if you are interested in purchasing from any of these dealers:

                                                                   

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by: Jon Scieszka $3.59