In this blog post, I am going to cover all four books from "The Children in the Bush" series by Ruth Dallas.
Title: The Children in the Bush
Page count: 93
Published: 1972
Publisher: Methuen
Language: English
Author: Ruth Dallas
From the dust jacket: "The children in the Bush are Sophie, Robbie, Helen and Jean, living in the New Zealand bush country about 80 years ago. Mother is away nursing and, left alone, the children are sure they can care for themselves. They meet with adventures, both pleasant and alarming, and the most dramatic of these brings them a dog of their own. But will Mother let them keep it? The stories, which are full of gaiety and rich in atmosphere, have been handed down in Ruth Dallas's own family, and their freshness and vigour are perfectly captured in the illustrations."
Title: The Wild Boy in the Bush
ISBN: 9780416082906, 0416082904
Page count: 92
Published: 1971
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Methuen
Language: English
Author: Ruth Dallas
Illustrator: Peter Campbell
From the dust jacket: "... This time the brother and sisters discover a limestone cave and the bones of an extinct moa bird. The cave is ideal for a playhouse, but it is already lived in by Barney, the 'wild boy' whom the children befriend and help to find a new home. The episodes have strength and immediacy which brings the unusual background vividly to life and which will provide many hours of satisfying storytelling."
Title: The Big Flood in the Bush
ISBN: 041667240X
Page count: 90
Published: 1975
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Methuen
Language: English
Author: Ruth Dallas
Illustrator: Peter Campbell
From the dust jacket: "Exploring the creek in Robbie's homemade boat is an adventure for Jean, Robbie, Sophie and Helen. But when a thunderstorm makes the creek overflowed its banks, the children, with Mother away nursing a sick neighbour, find themselves involved in dramatic real-life events. Unable to get to school, they have to do their day-to-day chores, collecting the eggs and milking the cow, in spite of the floods. Then the Bain family, whose home is flooded, move in and the little house is full with twelve people until the water rises to the front doorstep and they all have to move..."
Title: Holiday Time in the Bush
ISBN: 0416234801, 0456030506
Page count: 86
Published: 1983
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Methuen
Language: English
Author: Ruth Dallas
Illustrator: Gary Hebley
From the dust jacket: "The Bush children are back. This time it is summer in New Zealand and Jean, Robbie, Sophie and Helen are on holiday. Mother can't get used to Christmas coming in mid-summer but the children enjoy themselves like children the world over. A pet show, a visit from their friend Barney, the 'wild boy', a picnic by the sea provide much excitement ... and then there is the fire that nearly ruins their Christmas! This is Ruth Dallas's fourth book of stories about the Bush Children. Set in the 1890s the stories are fresh and alive and their charm will delight young readers."
Okay, that's the summary. Each book is told from the perspective of the youngest member of the family, Jean. There are four children and their father has died. The mother is a nurse who is often away earning enough to provide for them all. The parents are first-generation settlers, so they cleared the land and built the house. The stories are simple, delightful and very easy to read. Here is an example of a page.
But do not let the simplicity make you put the books aside for young readers only. The stories are wonderful and they would make a great family read-aloud. I read the books myself very quickly (an hour or two each) and loved every moment. Ruth Dallas has really proven that when writing, less is more!
I'm not sure, but I think the stories were written for a more international audience, ie, British children. The books are set in New Zealand, there is bush, moa bones, a cave, a sawmill, and ferns, but there are no details about the birds or plants. The family take a trip to the seaside (very British if you ask me) and much is made of the "summery" Christmas. I could be wrong, but only the fourth book was printed in Great Britain and Auckland. The other three were all printed in England only. I am finding that many New Zealand children's authors had their books printed overseas.
While the children do not have a father, father figures do exist in the story as neighbours, shopkeepers, etc. My favourite is their silent and stern neighbour Mr Collins. The children are afraid of him, but he proves himself to be the most faithful and useful neighbour in times of need.
The other issue in the stories is their mother is away nursing sick people for days at a time. The children are left to look after themselves. The eldest daughter, Sophie has left school and stays at home. She has taken on the role of 'mother' while their mother is away. The children all take turns at chores to keep the household running. Despite the hardship, you see the children learning responsibility and kindness towards one another.
Elsie Locke highly recommended these stories and so do I. If you can find copies, snap them up and treasure them. My dream is to see them released all together in one volume so families can enjoy them again. They are wonderful books.