Ameliaranne Keeps School by Constance Ward, Illustrated by S.B. Pearse, 1940
This sweet series of books was published between 1920 and 1950, and features the kind and resourceful Ameliaranne Stiggins. Ameliaranne is often left in charge of her five younger siblings while her mother is at work as a washerwoman. Needless to say, things rarely go smoothly, but Ameliaranne always manages to work things out.
The series is slightly unusual because all the books were illustrated by Susan Pearse, but the stories were written by around eight different authors. One of the writers was Eleanor Farjeon, who contributed Ameliaranne's Prize Package and Ameliaranne's Washing Day.
The books were republished as Picture Lions in the 70s, but even the reprints can be hard to find. The first edition hardbacks can get up into the hundreds 😬🤑
Do you remember Ameliaranne?