One Potato Two Potato

Woolley Jones first appeared in the Woolley Jones stories. Now Amy Cornes Torr has written "One Potato Two Potato" a second book on the exploits of Woolley and his best friend Charlie Carter.
The short stories are set in the English countryside in the 1950's. The first two stories I felt got off to a slow start. They didn't grip me or excite me. But by the third story I was getting into Woolley's enthusiastic schemes, his fearlessness and his ability to have fun. By the end I had got to know Woolley and Charlie and had grown rather fond of them.
They were the sort of boys that anyone would enjoy going out on an adventure with.
They behave like typical school boys getting into mischief on various occasions.
In "The School's New Library" Woolley has a dead spider in a matchbox. He knows someone who hates spiders and thinks it could be fun to frighten them with it. Of course this could spell disaster. Can they dig themselves out of trouble? Will the teachers believe them or will they all be punished? Will one of them get the blame or will they all be punished together? Is anyone innocent?
This reminded me of my childhood when I was digging for worms in the garden with my brothers. They thought it would be quite fun to put one down my back. Somehow I escaped and they never got the chance.
I really enjoyed "Lost in Threap Wood" this had me hooked. When they got lost I began to wonder what would happen to them. Would they get out before dark? It had twists and turns and the right amount of scariness.
I liked the fact they simply would go off and explore. Sometimes they would just go off and meet up with friends to play old fashioned games. They were very competitive too. I had never heard of a whip and top race so it was interesting to find out how it was played. It would probably be considered to dangerous today. But in the 1950's danger, adventure and getting into scrapes was all part of growing up. It also fired your imagination into doing fun, interesting things and help to express your commonsense.
The other thing I love about Woolley and Charlie were their leadership qualities. They didn't follow everyone else or convention. When they decide to become chefs they asked if they could join the cookery class at school. They are not worried that their going to be the only boys in the class and being laughed at. In those days Wood work was for boys and cooking was for girls. That all changed later as when I was at school boys and girls did both.
They believe the best chefs in the world are men and they enjoy good food. The big question is have they got what it takes to be a great chef? Or does their enthusiasm and relaxed easy going attitude make them a recipe for disaster?
Their ideas never stop whether it is a hairdressing business, holding a boxing match were they even invited people to come and watch. Even going to what they call the pictures they come up with a sneaky clever ploy. This involves becoming friends with the projectionist's daughter. There is a bonfire night that reminded me of my own childhood. Then finally a Christmas that involves dressing up, carol singing, charity, paper chains and the fact it is the season of goodwill.
As a child I loved watching Just William and reading the Milly - Molly - Mandy stories. My niece also loved reading the stories. I was a tom boy so One Potato Two Potato is the kind of story I would have enjoyed. Just William and Milly - Molly - Mandy are still enjoyed by children today. So generation after generation can enjoy stories set in the past. Woolley Jones I think will also be enjoyed by children, not to say parents who will be fondly reminded of their own childhoods.
One Potato Two Potato by Amy Cornes Torr will be published by
Stamford House Publishing in March. It is available online or can be order from all good bookshops and stockists.
© Children's Web Magazine 2008