I grew up on a diet of Dan Dare, Rupert the Bear and Mr Crabtree. They all had one thing in common, comic strip presentation over 'proper' words for when the comic had been devoured and digested.

Crabtree was highly readable by us young folk, and it was inspiring, it has stood the test of time. I would present Crabtree to my Grandchildren but, with respect to Crabtree and Bernard Venables, somethings have moved on.

Does anyone know of a modern 'Crabtree'. Not just something that will inform, e.g. John Wilson, but something that will captivate a youngster of today as Crabtree did for kids of 50 years ago.

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The Syndicate parts 1,2 & 3?

I personally think this thread would inspire a Wordbending friend of yours to hammer away at his keyboads.

Depends on the age - if of primary school age try "Water Matters"

see

www.gone-fishing.info/viewarticle.php?aid=24 -

[ 15. March 2005, 06:45 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

Yep, petrol in the fire extinguisher

Peter,

I wonder if it would be useful to get them interested in nature and the countryside in general, as an initial starting point?

I think the book that inspired me most as a youngster was BB's 'Little Grey Men' (Carnegie prize winner.) The great thing about this book was that fishing was introduced during the compelling story (About the adventures of the last Gnomes left living in England.) as a part of the whole concept of the outdoor life. For me it fired up an eternal interest in angling and all things 'countryside'.

I don't suppose this book would satisfy todays youngsters, but perhaps there are comparible books available in todays market?

Peter is right.I have read some great angling books but nothing has stuck in my mind like Mr Crabtree.Get a couple of anglers of that generation together and they will remember all the stories,tips,cliches and even the inspiring drawings.

We all wanted to be Peter.......err well maybe not on those winter days piking wearing those short trousers

Fishing Gnomes! Slodger you thought I doubted you about the Pike Gags.Well I definately dont believe you that BB wrote a book about Ray Walton and Gord Burton

i must say last year i realy did enjoy reading, the aged but still brilliant, Carp Fever by Kevin Mad,docks, i realy liked it.

[ 15. March 2005, 07:37 PM: Message edited by: carping_mad ]

I see no reason why modern children would not be equally captivated by Mr. Crabtree. Problem is we look at the problem from a greater height than they do and with adult (???) perspective,the same comic book characters are still popular today that I grew up with 50 years ago and my almost 2 year old grand daughter is Winnie the Pooh and Thomas the Tank crazy, in a couple of years I will be reading her stories from Mr. Crabtree. I reckon parents (and grandparents) are largely responsible for more/bigger/better/best attitude we see today, we all try to give better than we had instead of being more sensible so, Peter, I am sure Mr. Crabtree will be just as enthralling, given the right story teller, as it was when we were lads.

The child in question already enjoys angling. He is seven years old and asks to be taken!!

Crabtree is magic, but he advocates gaffs and gags for pike, stuffing big chub and using spuds as bait for carp! The information is dated, the magic is eternal.

BB is magic, but not sure its for a youngster of today.

I have a copy of Anglers Mail's Coarse Fishing Year, pretty much what I have in mind. But I'm loath to part with it!! Covers most things, things like poles and bivvies, things unknown to Mr Crabtree.

My question really relates to what is newly available today.

Vagabond, what are you like!!