The two main characters were Biff and Chips - the nicknames of the Robinson twins, aka Barbara and David. I am not sure why Hunt chose Barbara - it was hardly a popular name even in the 1980s - less than 1 in 2000 girls. No wonder she opted for a nickname.
But it is a reasonably good reading scheme, and many children like the adventures, so want to read the books.
There is a plethora of supportive materials to go with the basic story books, and I know many schools are still using this stuff 30 years on.
It is interesting to see that in the past 30 years B&C have not really changed that much. Contrast them with the Ladybird "Janet and John" reading scheme. which ran from the 50s to the 70s and desperately tried to modernise itself [and failed!]
And does anyone remember the Billy Blue Hat Series? [I really didn't get on with them!]
My experience on Saturday at the Fete On The Field was that most children love storytelling - and enjoy trying out new words. Kindles and Tablets and Laptops and DVDs are useful - but to hold a book and turn the pages and enjoy the words and pictures is a great experience for boys and girls.
So I am very grateful to Roderick Hunt, and Roger Hargreaves [Mr Men] and Mick Inkpen [Kipper- the dog] Nick Butterworth [Percy Park-keeper] Julia Donaldson [Gruffalo] etc etc etc who have done so much to help really young children love books and reading.
Do you [or your children or grandchildren] have a favourite Early Years author, or book series?
I'm, so old I remember Janet and John! (and the Terry Wogan version was hilarious). The two eldest had the Blue Hats - very weird I always thought but oddly I have no memory of what the youngest had to learn, will have to ask her.
ReplyDeleteLaura loved learning to read with Biff and Chip. After reading the books we would hunt for the bone that was always on the floor with other bits and pieces on one page or another.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with Janet and John.
Carolx
We used the Oxford Reading Tree, and it was a great favourite. But secretly, I did like the Ladybird readers!
ReplyDeleteWords cannot express how much I love Biff and Chip x
ReplyDeleteI never knew that Biff, Chips and Kipper were nicknames (although what parents would call their children Kipper, or Biff!) We used this scheme a lot. In my first school we used the Billly Blue Hat series - I never really liked them very much. I can't remember what scheme I learned to read on but I have a vague memory of books higher up the scheme "The silver book" or the "gold book" - HAH! I think it may have been "Through the Rainbow"
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the comments. I have just remembered Letterland [and the Kicking King] which I thought was superb - the Ruth Miskin Literacy Scheme which I hated because the earliest story books were poorly edited and had errors in them!
ReplyDeleteI remember Billy Blue Hat and Roger Red Hat but the BEST reading series of all was the Hidden People series with Tim and the Hidden People and the cats Sebastian and Tobias! I LOVED them!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of this one Kezzie !
ReplyDeleteMy girls grew up with Biff and Chip, I remember Janet and John, but my favourite children's author remains Shirley Hughes - I just love her books about Alfie and the others x
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