The collection of 'Eloise' books, written by Kay Thompson and illistrated by Hillary Knight are funny, clever and beautifully written. It seems that not enough children were lucky enough to enjoy these classics. Set in about 1949, They hysterically tell a story about the adventures of a little and very naughty girl named Eloise who lives at the Plaza getting up to mischief with her pet tortoise called Skiperdee and Pug names Weenie. Unfortunately I, unlike Eloise do not have a mother who 'knows Coco Chanel' nor do I experience the delights of Miami, Paris and Moscow on a regular basis. Sadly I am unable to attend weddings that I am not invited to or spy on debutantees as they dance in the terrace room. Instead, on my bookshelf sits the collection: Eloise at the Plaza, Eloise in Paris, Eloise at christmas time, Eloise in Moscow, Absolutely essential: Eloise and Eloise: guide to Life. It is very rarely that you find a book that entertains both children and adults, as a young child I often had 'Eloise' read to me by my father and it was clear that he enjoyed reading the story as much as I enjoyed listening to it. In 1999 Simon & Schuster published a new edition of the original 'The Essential Eloise, the classic Eloise story with a 16 page scrap book full of never seen before pictures and memorabilia. So for all those of you who are unfamiliar with the 'Eloise' collection, no matter how young and fresh you are or old and wrinkly, I really recommend an escape to Eloise's world, with the constant 'oh my lords' and 'for Lords sake' these books will have you smiling endlessly.
