Rupert: The Daily Express Annual No. 60 (75th Anniversary Edition)

Book is in excellent condition.

===The Book===Large Rupert annual number 60.'The Express Annual.'Published by Pedigree.Copyright the Express Newspapers.ISBN: 978-1874507468Stories by Ian Robinson.Illustrations by John Harrold.Story colouring by Gina Hart.The Followers of Rupert are thanks for their assistance with selecting the Fun Pages.===The Book in Detail===The book contains five stories:* Rupert and the Fharaoh's Treasure - 20 pages.* Rupert and the Star Gazer - 20 pages.* Rupert and Odmedod's Adventure - 20 pages.* Rupert and the Noisy Firework - 15 pages.* Rupert and the Christmas Tree - 11 pages.The book also has:-Rupert's Fun Pages which include:* Anniversary Colouring Competition* Page of Spot the Difference and to colour* Double page of 50th Anniversary Annual cover to find characters in (answers on following page)* Rupert's Memory Test - 16 images* Page fo Wordsearch* Origami Christmas Tree - by Robert Harbin - the origami man* Paget o make Rupert's toy camera* One page a maze of butterfies* More colouring* Page of make your own Rupert story* Two pages of six Rupert characters to copy and colour* Page of Dot to Dot* Page of answers.Follow Rupert in the Daily Express page.===Cost===Currently can be picked up second hand on Amazon for £1.97.===The Annual Itself======Rupert and the Pharaoh's Treasure===This is an unusual story - Rupert goes on a school trip to London and visits the British Museum with his pals. Rupert then goes time travelling on an adventure to find a stolen necklace. When time travelling he meets up with Holmes, Watson and H.G.Wells.===Rupert and the Star Gazer===This is a far fetched tale about a missing star and how Rupert finds out that stars are actually little candles suspended form hot air balloons. Later when he is back home people can see that there was not a missing star at all - 'but Rupert smiles gently to himself but does not say a word.'===Rupert and Odmedod's Adventure===The story starts with Rupert helping the farmer with old fashioned hay making. and having a wagon ride back to the farm. It is Autumn and the birds have migrated. But Odmedod the scarecrow is lonely, so Rupert suggests taking him on a journey with Sailor Sam. They sail south to see the birds, but are caught in a storm and shipwrecked. However the friendly birds on the island show where their boat was washed up so they arrive home safely.===Rupert and the Noisy Firework===This story starts with bonfire night celebrations - but one firework is so loud it awakens the hibernating hedgehog - and also one of the Imps of Spring - who comes of their tunnels to see what the noise is - but then cannot get back in as the tree door has shut behind him. Rupert helps the Imp ad takes him home for chocolate biscuits and a bed for the night. Later the hedgehog shows them another way into the underground tunnels where the Imps live so that the little lost Imp can return to sleep until Springtime.===Rupert and the Christmas Tree===Rupert and his Dad are off to Nutwood shop to buy a Christmas tree - but there are none there as they are all sick. Bodkin the Professor's servant is also looking for a Christmas tree for an experiment so he takes Rupert on a sledge into the forest beyond the Common to find one. However the Fir King and the Woodland Imps say they cannot dig one up and they have none to spare - as all the pine needles are falling. Rupert goes back to the Professor who has a restorative potion which they try on the trees. Next day is Christmas, and Rupert receives his presents. then Bodkin arrives and they go to see what has happened to the trees. They are now strong and healthy an n the Woodland Imps cut them a large tree and drag it back to Nutwood - but leave and run away as they approach the village. Now the whole village turns out the decorate the tree in the centre of Nutwood and later they will sing carols around it.===My Opinion===This Annual is special in its way as it is the 60th annual for Rupert Bear and also comes out to celerbrate 75 years of Rupert Bear.Actually the only thing I do not like about this annual is its cover. It shows Rupert riding in a chariot with a flying horse - the sky is behind him but it is a pale orangy colour which I have not been too keen on and it does not seem as colourful or cosy as other Rupert covers. At the bottom of the front cover it mentions that it is the 75th Anniversary Edition - and Rupert is also holding three balloons which have '75' on - but to me there is too much sky and not enough Rupert. The image wraps itself round to the back cover but this is likewise this pale orange and shows a building in the clouds - not really to my liking.However this is a large and substantial annual with a good strong and gloss cover. Inside the endpapers always cover two pages and have one large scene - again this time I think they are rather plain - showing lots of sky and smaller figures form the stories - with a tiny Rupert and chums in the distance.Content wise this is a very good annual - it has five stories and loads of puzzles and colouring.The first story about the Pharaoh is unusual for Rupert - he is shown going off on a school trip to London in a quaint old style bus and there are images of the Houses of Parliament and the British Museum. This is an unusual story as Rupert finds a Te Machine, travels back to Edwardian London and meets Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. Rupert also meets H.G.Wells and travels back to is own time in the famous Time Machine - it is quite interesting to have these historical and literary references in the story.The Star Gazer story is the one that is represented on the cover and starts off at the seaside at rocky Bay. Rupert's parents are on the beach - with his dad wearing plus fours. Later it eh story it is unusual for Rupert's dad to get involved as he goes out at night star gazng with Rupert. This is quite a surreal story as it turns out that stars are actually long life candles in little jars supported by hot air balloons - a novel idea!Odmedod's Adventure starts of with lovely old style images of bygone hay-making - with a horse drawing the laden card back to the farm. Later on Rupert and Odmedod the scarecrow go on a sea voyage and are shipwrecked - Rupert looks so funny in his old fashioned life jacket made of cork! One image in this story is a lovely orange sunset.The Fireworks story involves the Imps and their lovely little underground tunnels and home. A lovely make-believe world for children to enter. During the story when someone is reflecting on what has happened it is easily conveyed by means of a type of thought bubble illustration.The last story in the book is a seasonal one and has lovely Christmassy images. Rupert is in the village with his Dad trying to get a Christmas tree, there are none available and Rupert ends up in the snowy woods on another adventure and is shown sledging. Of course when Christmas morning arrives Rupert has is gifts and manages to get a large Christmas tree which the whole of Nutwood decorate together.There are a great many fun pages in this annual, and also lots of colouring pages. I think these extra items are an important element in annuals and provide extra play value for children - it is fun to do the Spot the Difference and Maze puzzles and also to quietly sit and do some colouring. The two page images of the 50th Anniversary annual also provides a good puzzle as there are numerous people from old and new Rupert stories for the children to find and name - some are very well known, others a little more obscure. Never mind if you do not get them all as the names are all given on the following page.The origami Christmas tree is a nice little make and not too complicated - it also compliments the Christmas Tree story.This is a lovely celebration annual with lots of stories and puzzles - the illustrations are bright and colourful and just what you expect from a children's annual.===Star Rating===5 stars.===Would I Recommend?===Yes.===Rupert Followers===This is a fan club for Rupert called the 'Followers of Rupert'which has regular newsletters and articles on Rupert.

Amazing

Obviously not new but in very excellent condition - just a couple of marks on the cover. Well worth what I paid for it.

Excellent

No problems, as advertised.