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A Spoonful of Sugar by Brenda Ashford
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A Spoonful of Sugar

A Nanny's Story

A Nanny's Story

A Nanny's Story

By Brenda Ashford

By Brenda Ashford

By Brenda Ashford

By Brenda Ashford

By Brenda Ashford
Read by Jean Gilpin

By Brenda Ashford
Read by Jean Gilpin

Best Seller
Paperback $20.00

Feb 11, 2014 | ISBN 9780307951298

Ebook $9.99

Apr 02, 2013 | ISBN 9780385536424

Audiobook Download $25.00

Apr 02, 2013 | 729 Minutes

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    A Spoonful of Sugar by Brenda Ashford
    Paperback $20.00
    Feb 11, 2014 | ISBN 9780307951298

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    • $20.00

      Feb 11, 2014 | ISBN 9780307951298

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • Apr 02, 2013 | ISBN 9780385536424

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    • Apr 02, 2013 | ISBN 9780385362429

      729 Minutes

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    About A Spoonful of Sugar

    Brenda Ashford was a real-life Mary Poppins. Caring for over one hundred children during her lifetime as a nanny, her charges ranged from the pampered sons and daughters of grand estates or the tough offspring of WWII evacuees in London’s East End. Now, in A Spoonful of Sugar, Britain’s longest-serving nanny shares her endearing, amusing, and sometimes downright bizarre experiences turning generations of children into successful adults.
     
    Nanny Brenda says:

    “All mothers are quite brilliant in my eyes and nine times out of ten don’t realize the sacrifices they undertake or the powerful contributions they make.”

    “Little folk deserve a childhood that’s full of fun. It’s the single most valuable lesson in my eyes.”

    “Everyone knows you simply can’t retire from love. Children leave you; you don’t leave children. That’s the natural order of things.”

    “I have puzzled many times over the ingredients for a perfect recipe for a happy home. It needs to be a place with parents who worship their offspring. Throw in some stability, a dash of routine, and respect.”

    About A Spoonful of Sugar

    Brenda Ashford is the quintessential British nanny. Prim and proper, gentle and kind, she seems to have stepped straight out of Mary Poppins. For more than six decades Nanny Brenda swaddled, diapered, dressed, played with, sang to, cooked for, and looked after more than one hundred children. From the pampered sons and daughters of lords ensconced in their grand estates to the children of tough war evacuees in London’s East End, Brenda has taught countless little ones to be happy, healthy, and thoroughly well bred. In this delightful memoir, Brenda shares her endearing, amusing, and sometimes downright bizarre experiences turning generations of children into successful adults.

    From the moment Brenda first held her baby brother David she was hooked. She became a second mother to him, changing his nappies, reading him stories, and giving him all the love her warm heart contained. Knowing a career caring for children was her calling in life, Brenda attended London’s prestigious Norland College, famous for producing top-notch nannies. It was a sign of privilege and good taste for the children of the well-to-do to be seen being pushed in their Silver Cross prams by Norland nannies, who were recognizable by their crisp, starched black uniforms with white bib collars, and their flowing black capes lined with red silk. And what skills were these trainees tested on daily? Lullaby singing, storytelling, pram shining, bed making, all forms of sewing, cooking simple meals, and dispensing first aid—including knowing the best way to help the medicine go down.

    In A Spoonful of Sugar, Brenda recalls her years at Norland and her experiences during the war (after all, even if bombs are dropping, there’s no reason to let standards slip), and recounts in lovely detail a life devoted to the care of other people’s children.

    Sprinkled throughout with pearls of wisdom (you can never give children too much love, and you should learn how to sew a button, for goodness’ sake), this delightful memoir from Britain’s oldest living nanny is practically perfect in every way.

    About A Spoonful of Sugar

    Brenda Ashford is the quintessential British nanny. Prim and proper, gentle and kind, she seems to have stepped straight out of Mary Poppins. For more than six decades Nanny Brenda swaddled, diapered, dressed, played with, sang to, cooked for, and looked after more than one hundred children. From the pampered sons and daughters of lords ensconced in their grand estates to the children of tough war evacuees in London’s East End, Brenda has taught countless little ones to be happy, healthy, and thoroughly well bred. In this delightful memoir, Brenda shares her endearing, amusing, and sometimes downright bizarre experiences turning generations of children into successful adults.

    From the moment Brenda first held her baby brother David she was hooked. She became a second mother to him, changing his nappies, reading him stories, and giving him all the love her warm heart contained. Knowing a career caring for children was her calling in life, Brenda attended London’s prestigious Norland College, famous for producing top-notch nannies. It was a sign of privilege and good taste for the children of the well-to-do to be seen being pushed in their Silver Cross prams by Norland nannies, who were recognizable by their crisp, starched black uniforms with white bib collars, and their flowing black capes lined with red silk. And what skills were these trainees tested on daily? Lullaby singing, storytelling, pram shining, bed making, all forms of sewing, cooking simple meals, and dispensing first aid—including knowing the best way to help the medicine go down.

    In A Spoonful of Sugar, Brenda recalls her years at Norland and her experiences during the war (after all, even if bombs are dropping, there’s no reason to let standards slip), and recounts in lovely detail a life devoted to the care of other people’s children.

    Sprinkled throughout with pearls of wisdom (you can never give children too much love, and you should learn how to sew a button, for goodness’ sake), this delightful memoir from Britain’s oldest living nanny is practically perfect in every way.

    Listen to a sample from A Spoonful of Sugar

    About Brenda Ashford

    Brenda Ashford is a graduate of Norland College, a world-famous institute for British nannies. For sixty-two years, she cared for more than one hundred children, making her Britain’s longest-serving nanny. She lives outside London.

    About Brenda Ashford

    Brenda Ashford is a graduate of Norland College, a world-famous institute for British nannies. For sixty-two years, she cared for more than one hundred children, making her Britain’s longest-serving nanny. She lives outside London.

    About Brenda Ashford

    Brenda Ashford is a graduate of Norland College, a world-famous institute for British nannies. For sixty-two years, she cared for more than one hundred children, making her Britain’s longest-serving nanny. She lives outside London.

    Product Details

    Category: Biography & Memoir | Parenting

    Paperback | $20.00
    Published by Anchor
    Feb 11, 2014 | 384 Pages | 5-3/16 x 8 | ISBN 9780307951298

    Category: Biography & Memoir | Parenting

    Ebook | $9.99
    Published by Anchor
    Apr 02, 2013 | 320 Pages | 6-1/8 x 9-1/4 | ISBN 9780385536424

    Category: Biography & Memoir | Parenting | Audiobooks

    Audiobook Download | $25.00
    Published by Random House Audio
    Apr 02, 2013 | 729 Minutes | ISBN 9780385362429

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    Praise

    “For anglophiles and Downton Abbey fans, a memoir of 62 years of nannying.”
    –The New York Times

    “Ashford presents a delightful compilation of memories, child care tips and insights from a radically different time and place. . . .  A snapping good story by a true British treasure.” –Kirkus Reviews

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