Janet and John
Encyclopedia
Janet and John are the main characters in a series of reading books for children aged 4–7 years.
In 1949 United Kingdom
publishers James Nisbet and Company licensed them and had them Anglicised by Mabel O'Donnell and Rona Munro, originally from New Zealand
, to make a UK series of four books called Janet and John and they became hugely popular and influential in the teaching of schoolchildren throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Also in 1949 a New Zealand
series of seven books was released by Nisbet and used as a textbook in New Zealand primary schools.
Janet and John were portrayed as average English
children, living a typical middle-class life, and the books consisted of stories that progressively incorporated key words needed in the development of reading skills.
The stories were illustrated by Florence and Margaret Hoopes.
By the 1970s, Janet and John’s straightforward and simple world was seen as being outdated and the books fell out of favour.
In September 2007, Summersdale Publishers reissued the first two Janet and John books, Here We Go and Off to Play, exactly as they were first published in 1949, except with hardcovers as they were primarily intended as nostalgia gifts for those who learned to read with these books.
regularly satirised the series on his BBC Radio 2
show Wake Up To Wogan
by reading out stories clearly based on the premise of the original Janet and John books, but deriving humour through euphemism
and innuendo
. Despite the obvious implied meaning, the stories' true meanings were never discussed, partly due to the morning timeslot of the show when children may be listening.
The author of the stories is a frequent listener and contributor known as 'Mick Sturbs', whose real name is Kevin Joslin. The stories are based around the supposed adventures of newsreader John Marsh
and his wife Janet. Five CDs of the recordings have been made available for the charity Children in Need
and have raised a substantial amount of money. A book of the scripts, 'See John Run', was released in October 2009, again supporting Children in Need. John is portrayed as a simpleton and fop
whose adventures land him in hot water with Janet as they always contain heavy doses of innuendo and often result in Terry, John and Traffic Totty Lynn Bowles
dissolving into uncontrollable laughter.
Rona Munro's daughters were not involved in the rewriting of Janet and John by Star Kids. They were directors of James Nisbet & Co; the company sold the copyright of JJ to Star Kids, and the rewriting was carried out by Star Kids. The daughters' first sight of the rewriting was after publication.
Origin
Originally, these stories were published by Row Peterson and Company as the Alice and Jerry books in the USA.In 1949 United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
publishers James Nisbet and Company licensed them and had them Anglicised by Mabel O'Donnell and Rona Munro, originally from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, to make a UK series of four books called Janet and John and they became hugely popular and influential in the teaching of schoolchildren throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Also in 1949 a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
series of seven books was released by Nisbet and used as a textbook in New Zealand primary schools.
Janet and John were portrayed as average English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
children, living a typical middle-class life, and the books consisted of stories that progressively incorporated key words needed in the development of reading skills.
The stories were illustrated by Florence and Margaret Hoopes.
By the 1970s, Janet and John’s straightforward and simple world was seen as being outdated and the books fell out of favour.
Revival
The series was revamped in 2001 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/1106965.stm by the daughters of Rona Munro and released by publishers StarKids with Janet and John given a totally new appearance. The new series of 33 books featured modern themes, the inclusion of ethnic minority characters and contemporary styles of dress.In September 2007, Summersdale Publishers reissued the first two Janet and John books, Here We Go and Off to Play, exactly as they were first published in 1949, except with hardcovers as they were primarily intended as nostalgia gifts for those who learned to read with these books.
Parodies
The radio and television broadcaster Terry WoganTerry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
regularly satirised the series on his BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
show Wake Up To Wogan
Wake Up to Wogan
Wake Up to Wogan was the most listened to radio show in the United Kingdom and the flagship breakfast programme broadcast on BBC Radio 2. The show was presented by Sir Terry Wogan who fronted WUTW from 4 January 1993; he had previously presented the breakfast show between 1972 and 1984, but the...
by reading out stories clearly based on the premise of the original Janet and John books, but deriving humour through euphemism
Euphemism
A euphemism is the substitution of a mild, inoffensive, relatively uncontroversial phrase for another more frank expression that might offend or otherwise suggest something unpleasant to the audience...
and innuendo
Innuendo
An innuendo is a baseless invention of thoughts or ideas. It can also be a remark or question, typically disparaging , that works obliquely by allusion...
. Despite the obvious implied meaning, the stories' true meanings were never discussed, partly due to the morning timeslot of the show when children may be listening.
The author of the stories is a frequent listener and contributor known as 'Mick Sturbs', whose real name is Kevin Joslin. The stories are based around the supposed adventures of newsreader John Marsh
John Marsh (newsreader)
John Marsh is a freelance newsreader on BBC Radio 2."Boggy", as he has been nicknamed by Terry Wogan, is from Sussex, and was originally a cameraman. However, a radio opportunity came up, and he ended up in BBC Radio 4. In 1982 he transferred to Radio 2. Marsh presented various radio shows, but...
and his wife Janet. Five CDs of the recordings have been made available for the charity Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
and have raised a substantial amount of money. A book of the scripts, 'See John Run', was released in October 2009, again supporting Children in Need. John is portrayed as a simpleton and fop
Fop
Fop became a pejorative term for a foolish man over-concerned with his appearance and clothes in 17th century England. Some of the very many similar alternative terms are: "coxcomb", fribble, "popinjay" , fashion-monger, and "ninny"...
whose adventures land him in hot water with Janet as they always contain heavy doses of innuendo and often result in Terry, John and Traffic Totty Lynn Bowles
Lynn Bowles
Lynn M. Bowles is a British radio traffic reporter and can currently be heard relaying the latest traffic news on a half hourly basis on the BBC Radio 2 morning shows presented by Chris Evans and Ken Bruce.-Early life:...
dissolving into uncontrollable laughter.
Rona Munro's daughters were not involved in the rewriting of Janet and John by Star Kids. They were directors of James Nisbet & Co; the company sold the copyright of JJ to Star Kids, and the rewriting was carried out by Star Kids. The daughters' first sight of the rewriting was after publication.