Topsy and Tim
Topsy and Tim is a series of children's books written by Jean Adamson and Gareth Adamson about twins and their adventures. Topsy and Tim's parents later adopted a sister (Tansy) and brother (Teddy) for the twins. They were first published in 1960 and were relaunched in new editions in February 2003.[1]
Since 1960 more than 130 Topsy and Tim titles have been published with sales of more than 21 million.
Origin
In an interview with The Guardian,[2] Jean Adamson said that she and her future husband had been trained as book illustrators at Goldsmiths College. They decided to get married and quit their jobs in order to write and illustrate their own children's books. Their approach was shaped by a visit to a children's bookshop in Newcastle where they realised that there were few books depicting actual contemporary children. Jean Adamson explained that books were also influenced by the post-war mood:
- At that time, not so terribly long after the end of the war, England was just waking up, bright colours were coming in, there was a lovely optimistic feeling in the air. So I said ‘why don’t we do books with real live little children in, with the little adventures and so on that they have in the house?’[3]
Television series
The books have been adapted into a 60 episode, 1-season, 5 minute animated television series narrated by Roger Blake in 1984 to 1989 by Cosgrove Hall for Thames Television and was shown on ITV. But like Jamie and the Magic Torch, the characters did not move their mouths and the series was later sold to Video Collection International in 1994.
A 2013 live-action series was made for CBeebies. The episodes are 11 minutes long. It is currently airing, still producing episodes, and has had 2 seasons so far.
Books
- Topsy and Tim’s ABC Book
- Topsy and Tim’s Counting Book
- Topsy and Tim’s Monday Book
- Topsy and Tim’s Tuesday Book
- Topsy and Tim’s Wednesday Book
- Topsy and Tim’s Thursday Book
- Topsy and Tim’s Friday Book
- Topsy and Tim’s Saturday Book
- Topsy and Tim’s Sunday Book
- Topsy and Tim go in an Aeroplane
- Topsy and Tim Meet the Babysitter
- Topsy and Tim at the Bank
- Topsy and Tim have a Barbecue
- Topsy and Tim in Belgium (1974)
- Topsy and Tim’s Birthday Party
- Topsy and Tim at the Biscuit Factory (1987)
- Topsy and Tim's Bonfire Night
- Topsy and Tim's New Brother (1975)
- Topsy and Tim go Camping (1977)
- Topsy and Tim’s Caravan Holiday (1979)
- Topsy and Tim's Chocolate Cook Book (1983)
- Topsy and Tim at the Circus (1977)
- Topsy and Tim’s Coach Journey (1986)
- Topsy and Tim can Cook
- Topsy and Tim Cross the Channel (1974)
- Topsy and Tim go to the Dentist
- Topsy and Tim go to the Doctor
- Topsy and Tim Help the Dustmen (1982)
- Topsy and Tim have their Eyes Tested
- Topsy and Tim at the Fairground
- Topsy and Tim at the Farm
- Topsy and Tim in the Farmyard
- Topsy and Tim at the Fire Station
- Topsy and Tim go Fishing
- Topsy and Tim's Foggy Day (1962)
- Topsy and Tim at the Football Match
- Topsy and Tim’s New Friends
- Topsy and Tim’s Games Book
- Topsy and Tim’s Garden
- Topsy and Tim in the Gym
- Topsy and Tim at the Hairdressers
- Topsy and Tim go Hill Walking
- Topsy and Tim go on Holiday
- Topsy and Tim go to Holland
- Topsy and Tim Learn to Horse Ride
- Topsy and Tim go to Hospital
- Topsy and Tim at the Jumble Sale
- Topsy and Tim in the Kitchen
- Topsy and Tim at the Library
- Topsy and Tim Meet the Monsters
- Topsy and Tim’s Motorway Games / Car Games
- Topsy and Tim Move House
- Topsy and Tim can make Music
- Topsy and Tim’s Music Book
- Topsy and Tim's Paddling Pool
- Topsy and Tim’s New Playground
- Topsy and Tim at the Pantomime
- Topsy and Tim can play Party Games
- Topsy and Tim can Look after Pets
- Topsy and Tim’s Pet Show
- Topsy and Tim’s Pets
- Topsy and Tim’s Picnic
- Topsy and Tim’s Playing Rhymes
- Topsy and Tim Visit the Police Station
- Topsy and Tim go Pony Trekking
- Topsy and Tim at the Post Office
- Topsy and Tim can Print in Colour
- Topsy and Tim go to Prison
- Topsy and Tim Choose a Puppy
- Topsy and Tim Ride their Bikes
- Topsy and Tim take no Risks
- Topsy and Tim at the Safari Park
- Topsy and Tim go Safely
- Topsy and Tim at School
- Topsy and Tim go to School
- Topsy and Tim’s School Outing
- Topsy and Tim’s School Play
- Topsy and Tim’s New School
- Topsy and Tim at the Seaside
- Topsy and Tim’s New Shoes
- Topsy and Tim go Shopping
- Topsy and Tim go Sailing
- Topsy and Tim can Sing and Play
- Topsy and Tim's Snowy Day
- Topsy and Tim’s Sports Day
- Topsy and Tim at the Supermarket
- Topsy and Tim Learn to Swim
- Topsy and Tim Tell the Time
- Topsy and Tim Visit theTower of London
- Topsy and Tim’s Train Journey (1978)
- Topsy and Tim at the TV Studio
- Topsy and Tim at the Vet
- Topsy and Tim at the Wedding (1976)
- Topsy and Tim’s Word Book
- Topsy and Tim at the Zoo
References
- ↑ BBC News:Relaunch for Topsy and Tim
- ↑ Michelle Pauli, Linda Nylind and Pascal Wyse (2010) 'Jean Adamson: Living with Topsy and Tim' The Guardian online audio slideshow. 2 November. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audioslideshow/2010/oct/28/topsy-tim-jean-adamson
- ↑ Michelle Pauli, Linda Nylind and Pascal Wyse (2010) 'Jean Adamson: Living with Topsy and Tim' The Guardian online audio slideshow. 2 November. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audioslideshow/2010/oct/28/topsy-tim-jean-adamson