| This was a book about a little boy who became
friends with a phoenix who loved ice cream (pistachio, I think), and took
the boy to meet all kinds of strange creatures (including griffons, if
I remember correctly). At the end of the book, the phoenix builds a pyre,
which the boy tries to stop. He is unsuccessful, and a new phoenix arises
to be the boy's friend. It's possible that this is The Phoenix and the
Carpet by Edith Nesbitt, but I haven't been able to find a copy to
check.
The correct title is David and the Phoenix
it was written by Edward Ormondroyd who also authored several other
excellent children's books. It was published in 1957 or 1958. It was a
monthly selection of the Weekly Reader Book Club. The cover was yellow
with a black phoenix embossed on it. It was also published in paperback
and hard cover library edition. It is the favorite book of every child
who I have spoken to who read it. There is a rumor that a movie of the
book is being made.
T41 Time Travel Again!
So glad to find this site. I remember a book
that I used to check out from the library over & over in the late 60's,
early 70'. It was about two children & their father (I think), a widower,
who live in an old victorian type house. The children discover theycan
go thru the door of the grandfather's clock & travel back 100 years
to the same town & house. The father goes with them & falls in
love with a woman & they eventually stay in the past. Thanks for any
help!
T41 Time Travel Again!
I think the person is thinking of TIME
AT THE TOP by Edward Ormondroyd. A girl who lives in NYC
unknowingly helps a fairy in disguise and is granted "3". (If this part
doesn't ring a bell, don't worry. It's a minor part right in the beginning)
Turns out the "3" is three trips into the past. She takes the elevator
in her building to the top, but when the door opens, she finds herself
in a Victorian house in the past. The two children in the house (a brother
and sister, I believe) take her in. They are worried their widowed mother
is going to marry a slimy suitor. The girl returns to her own time, and
brings back her widowed father, who ends up marrying the children's mother.
Edward Ormondroyd, David and the Phoenix.
'David and the Phoenix was my favorite book too, from over 45 years ago.
I remembered it many years later and hoped I could find the book when I
was visiting home and did.Rereading it as an adult evoked that same magical
feeling I had as a child. |
I was just searching around for links to add
to a web site featuring a children's book titled Flight of Fantasy,
when I found your delightful site. Interestingly enough, you had a request
for a book titled David and the Phoenix. Flight of Fanatasy
is a gentle and loving reworking of the same story. All of the original
chapters and most of the original text are intact, with some added material
and just a tiny bit of polishing. This story was the new author's favorite
childhood book (he's a childhood friend of mine). He sought out Edmond
Ormondroyd and received the author's blessing to produce this new version
(the original had fallen into the public domain). The book now includes
several full color illustrations and is available in hardback. I hope that
this information is of some use to you and your clientle. Please take a
look at several chapters
and illustrations online.
I just read that David and the Phoenix
is out of print. I know that there are some others who would also desire
to read it, and I would like to know how to get this book back in print.
Thank you for your time.
I remember what I considered to be a series of
books, perhaps 5 or 6, about the adventures of David and Phoenix
and the last book detailed the Phoenix building a pyre and emerging as
a new bird with no memory of David. I was always under the assumption
that Edmond Ormondroyd was the author of all of them since they all had
David in them. Would like to locate the rest of the books.
Thank you.
My mother used to read this book to my six siblings
and I at bedtime. it was our favourite and her 67th birthday is coming
up. We would all like to sign it and tell her how much we enjoyed
her reading to us and how this has extended to a life long love of books
and reading. My brother "David" who is now 39 years of age and works
for the forestry still likes to pretend it was about him.
Edward Ormondroyd, David and the Phoenix.
I am so glad that there are so many fans of this wonderful book out there.
In my circle of friends, I am the only one who ever heard of it.
I have often thought over the years that it needed to be reprinted since
it is such a classic. I am glad someone did it. I also thought
it needed well done sequels. Is Ormondroyd still alive? Sounds
like he is at least as of the time of reprinting.
David and the Phoenix. The person
who thought it was a series of books may have thought that because
many schools (like mine) read it in installments, in class. |
