Words and Pictures: Series 3 (Henry Woolf)
Series 3 (Henry Woolf) of the BBC Schools TV series Words and Pictures was shown in the 1970s & 1980s, covering English for Primary pupils.
Henry Woolf runs the Words and Pictures bookshop with his animated assistant Charlie. He tells us about his activities and children visit the shop to discover the books. Henry reads us a story each week, usually by picking up the physical book from his shelves, and animations or illustrations with words on screen for viewing groups to read out loud.
A magic pencil in the form of a traditional drawn animation shows how to form a different letter or digraph each week.
Titles & Theme Music
Episode List
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mighty Monsters | 22 Sep 1975 |
| 2. | Greedy Old Nan | 24 Sep 1975 |
| 3. | Will You Help Me? | 6 Oct 1975 |
| 4. | Mr Bumble's Invention | 8 Oct 1975 |
| 5. | Pigs and Pumpkins | 20 Oct 1975 |
| 6. | Wizards and Witches | 22 Oct 1975 |
| 7. | Magic | 10 Nov 1975 |
| 8. | Monkey Tricks | 12 Nov 1975 |
| 9. | Up and Down and Around | 24 Nov 1975 |
| 10. | Fat Fairy | 26 Nov 1975 |
| 11. | The Elephant and the Bad Baby | 12 Jan 1976 |
| 12. | Terrible Tiger | 14 Jan 1976 |
| 13. | Rabbits and Rockets | 26 Jan 1976 |
| 14. | Happy Horse | 28 Jan 1976 |
| 15. | The Lion Who Wished | 9 Feb 1976 |
| 16. | The Cat Who Forgot | 11 Feb 1976 |
| 17. | Giddy Goose | 1 Mar 1976 |
| 18. | Trog and His Axe (1976) | 3 Mar 1976 |
| 19. | Trog and the Dog (1976) | 15 Mar 1976 |
| 20. | What Is It? (1976) | 17 Mar 1976 |
| 21. | Growly Bear | 26 Apr 1976 |
| 22. | Trog Makes a Trap (1976) | 28 Apr 1976 |
| 23. | Sing a Song (1976) | 10 May 1976 |
| 24. | Trip Trap | 12 May 1976 |
| 25. | The Mouse and the Winds | 24 May 1976 |
| 26. | Mrs Mopple's Washing Line | 26 May 1976 |
| 27. | The Sun Shone | 14 Jun 1976 |
| 28. | The Wonderful Cake | 16 Jun 1976 |
Episode Guide
1. Mighty Monsters
- Story: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
- A mighty monster introduces the initial consonant M.
- Letter: m
First broadcast: Monday 22nd September 1975, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 24th September 1980, 10:12am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1248J
2. Greedy Old Nan
- Story: The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord
- Greedy Old Nan by Elizabeth Goldacre.
- A dancing dog represents the letter D.
- Letter: d
First broadcast: Wednesday 24th September 1975, 11:23am on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 1st October 1980, 10:12am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1249D
3. Will You Help Me?
- Story: The Cat, The Frog and the Little Red Hen (traditional)
- Incomplete drawings of the animals are shown, to help viewers complete sentences.
- A kissing kangaroo represents the letter K.
- Letter: k
First broadcast: Monday 6th October 1975, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 8th October 1980, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1250X
4. Mr Bumble's Invention
- Story: It's Got Wheels by Jennifer Courtney
- Some children bring their go kart into the bookshop and Henry tells a story about when it broke down.
- Charlie sings The wheels on the bus go round and round
- A vanishing van represents the letter V.
- Letter: v
First broadcast: Wednesday 8th October 1975, 11:23am on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 15th October 1980, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1251R
5. Pigs and Pumpkins
- Story: The Hallowe'en Pumpkin by Pamela Oldfield
- The song Witches of Hallowe'en (woo-oo!)
- A pink pig represents the letter P.
- Letter: p
First broadcast: Monday 20th October 1975, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 29th October 1980, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1252K
6. Wizards and Witches
- Story: The Wizard of Wallaby by Jack Kent
- The song Witches of Hallowe'en again.
- Letter: w
First broadcast: Wednesday 22nd October 1975, 11:23am on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 5th November 1980, 10:12am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1253E
7. Magic
- Story: The Caliph Stork. The story was traditional and told using an animated film rather than a story book, so teachers were asked to set up a class story book. I believe the film was an edited version of the 1954 shadow puppet film The Caliph Stork by Lotte Reiniger, which is available on the DVD "Lotte Reiniger: The Fairy Tale Films". Buy from Amazon
- The song The witch and the wizard, with picture cues of all the creatures from the story shown on screen.
- Seven soldiers represent the letter S.
- Letter: s
First broadcast: Monday 10th November 1975, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 12th November 1980, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1254Y
8. Monkey Tricks
- Story: Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
- The story is told in an animated film, and viewers can read the pedlar's speech in the story from his speech bubbles.
- A quiet queen represents the letter Q, and a noisy nurse is the mnemonic for the letter N.
- Charlie sings a song called Just like me by Ian Humphris.
- n / q
First broadcast: Wednesday 12th November 1975, 11:23am on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 19th November 1980, 10:12am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1255S
9. Up and Down and Around
- Story: Pear-shaped Hill by Irving A. Leitner
- There is a poem about Little Miss Price who rode with her mice over the ice, and the story is also told in rhyme, giving viewers the chance to anticipate the rhyming words.
- There is the song The grand old Duke of York
- Jack and Jill jumping on pogo sticks represent the letter J.
- Letter: j
First broadcast: Monday 24th November 1975, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 26th November 1980, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1256L
10. Fat Fairy
- Story: How Santa Claus had a long and difficult journey delivering his presents by Fernando Krahn
- We hear about a shopping expedition and read items from the screen.
- A fat fairy represents the letter F
- The Shopping song by Ian Humphris revises several of the initial consonants introduced this term.
- Letter: f
First broadcast: Wednesday 26th November 1975, 11:23am on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 3rd December 1980, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1257F
11. The Elephant and the Bad Baby
- Story: The Elephant and the Bad Baby by Elfrida Vipont& Raymond Briggs
- A bouncing ball represents the letter B
- There is a picture quiz about words beginning with B.
- Letter: b
First broadcast: Monday 12th January 1976, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 21st January 1981, 10:12am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1258A
12. Terrible Tiger
- Story: Terrible Tiger (from 'The Anita Hewett Animal Story Book') by Anita Hewett
- Viewers have to guess the names of objects shown in silhouette, all of which start with the letter T.
- Letter: t
First broadcast: Wednesday 14th January 1976, 11:23am on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 28th January 1981, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1259T
13. Rabbits and Rockets
- Story: Mr Rabbit and the Lovely Present by Charlotte Zolotow& Maurice Sendak
- There is a missing word game where viewers have to guess the words beginning with R based on picture cues.
- A red rocket represents the letter R, and the poem What is pink? by C. Rossetti is heard, from The Young Puffin Book of Verse.
- Letter: r
First broadcast: Monday 26th January 1976, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 4th February 1981, 10:12am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1260N
14. Happy Horse
- Story: The Door That Would Not Open by Boswell Taylor
- There is the Opposites song by Ian Humphris - "When he comes out, then she comes in. Some legs are fat, some legs are thin".
- A happy horse represents the letter H.
- Letter: h
First broadcast: Wednesday 28th January 1976, 11:23am on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 11th February 1981, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1261H
15. The Lion Who Wished
- Story: Lord Rex: The Lion Who Wished by David McKee
- A lazy lion represents the letter L.
- Letter: l
First broadcast: Monday 9th February 1976, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 25th February 1981, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1262B
16. The Cat Who Forgot
- Story: Mog the Forgetful Cat by Judith Kerr
- A cool cat represents the letter c, and there is the poem Cats by Eleanor Farjeon, from The Young Puffin Book of Verse.
- Letter: c
First broadcast: Wednesday 11th February 1976, 11:23am on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 4th March 1981, 10:12am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1263W
17. Giddy Goose
- Story: Chicken Licken (from 'The Pancake') by James Fassett
- A giddy goose represents the letter G, and the song is The fox went out on a chilly night.
- Letter: g
First broadcast: Monday 1st March 1976, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 11th March 1981, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1264P
18. Trog and His Axe (1976)
- Story: Trog and His Axe by Ben Butterworth
- Charlie sings the song Chicken and chips by Ian Humphris - "We eat them all day, never throw them away, we all like chicken and chips". His other favourite foods include cherries, chocolate and chewing gum, and he eats them all with chips.
- Digraph: ch
First broadcast: Wednesday 3rd March 1976, 11:23am on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 18th March 1981, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1265J
19. Trog and the Dog (1976)
- Story: Trog and the Dog by Ben Butterworth
- There is film of a sheepdog rounding up sheep.
- Digraph: sh
First broadcast: Monday 15th March 1976, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 25th March 1981, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1266D
20. What Is It? (1976)
- Story: What is It? (from 'Jacko and Delilah') by Doreen Coates& Simon Stern
- The song is I'm a brave, brave mouse, performed by Elizabeth Bennett and Fred Harris.
First broadcast: Wednesday 17th March 1976, 11:23am on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 1st April 1981, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1267X
21. Growly Bear
- Story: The Large and Growly Bear by Gertrude Crampton
- With the Tramping in the snow song.
- Digraph: ow
First broadcast: Monday 26th April 1976, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 6th May 1981, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1268R
22. Trog Makes a Trap (1976)
- Story: Trog Makes a Trap by Ben Butterworth
- The Tramping in the snow song again, performed by Ian Humphris and Stanley Riley.
- Digraph: gr
First broadcast: Wednesday 28th April 1976, 11:23am on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 13th May 1981, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1269K
23. Sing a Song (1976)
- Story: Sing a Song by Boswell Taylor
- Another book: Good-night Owl by Pat Hutchins
- Digraph: cr
First broadcast: Monday 10th May 1976, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 20th May 1981, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1270E
24. Trip Trap
- Story: The Three Billy Goats Gruff (from 'The Faber Book of Nursery Stories') by Barbara Ireson
- Digraph: tr
First broadcast: Wednesday 12th May 1976, 11:23am on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 3rd June 1981, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1271Y
25. The Mouse and the Winds
- Story: The Mouse and the Four Winds (from 'Mouse Tales') by Arnold Lobel
- The song I'm a Brave, Brave Mouse performed by Ian Humphris and Fred Harris - "for danger I'm prepared and I'm never, never scared".
First broadcast: Monday 24th May 1976, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 10th June 1981, 10:12am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1272S
26. Mrs Mopple's Washing Line
- Story: Mrs Mopple's Washing Line by Anita Hewett
- Pink Pig by Charlotte Hough.
- There may also have been the song Mary wore her red dress.
First broadcast: Wednesday 26th May 1976, 11:23am on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 17th June 1981, 10:12am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1273L
27. The Sun Shone
- Story: The Sun Shone All The Time by Boswell Taylor
- The story is told in an animated film, and there is the song Goodnight Mr Sun.
First broadcast: Monday 14th June 1976, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 24th June 1981, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1274F
28. The Wonderful Cake
- Story: Granny Blake and Her Wonderful Cake (from 'The Faber Book of Nursery Stories') by Barbara Oliver Carleton
- Also covering rhyming 'magic e' words.
- Digraph: bl
First broadcast: Wednesday 16th June 1976, 11:23am on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 1st July 1981, 10:12am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1275A
Broadcasts
| Year | Term | Day | Time | Channel | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975-76 | Autumn 1975, Spring & Summer 1976 | Mon | 14:01 | BBC1 | Fortnightly, each week's episode repeated the following week at the same time Rpt of ep27 on Tue 10:00 due too Wimbledon coverage on Mon |
| Wed | 11:23 | BBC1 | Fortnightly, each week's episode repeated the following week at the same time | ||
| 1976-77 | Autumn 1976, Spring & Summer 1977 | Mon | 14:01 | BBC1 | Ep28 shown on BBC2 due to Wimbledon coverage on BBC1 |
| Wed | 11:23 | BBC1 | Repeat Rpt of ep22 shown Tue 11:40 due to royal coverage on Wed | ||
| 1978-79 | Autumn 1978, Spring & Summer 1979 | Mon | 14:01 | BBC1 | Ep22 only shown in the Wed rpt slot due to May Bank Holiday on Mon 7th May; Ep28 shown on BBC2 due to Wimbledon coverage on BBC1 |
| Wed | 11:23 | BBC1 | Repeat Shown on BBC2 on 1st Nov due to State Opening of Parliament on BBC1 | ||
| 1980-81 | Autumn 1980, Spring & Summer 1981 | Mon | 14:01 | BBC1 | Ep21 only shown in the Wed rpt slot due to May Bank Holiday on Mon 4th May; Ep27 & 28 shown on BBC2 due to Wimbledon coverage on BBC1 |
| Wed | 10:12 | BBC1 | Repeat |
The repeat pattern was like that of Sam on Boffs' Island in the first year - two episodes in a week repeated in the same slots the following week. This was changed after the first year to a more traditional pattern of one episode per week repeated later in the week, in response to requests from teachers.
Credits
| Presenter | Henry Woolf |
| With | Charles O'Rourke as Charlie |
| Music | Ian Humphris & Paddy Kingsland |
| Singers | Ian Humphris & Mari Griffith |
| Animation | Bura & Hardwick Gil Potter |
| Puppets | Alan Platt |
| Graphics | Peter Jones |
| Designers | include Charles Lawrence, William Noble |
| Reading consultant | Elizabeth Goodacre |
| Director | Juliet Miller |
| Producer | Moyra Gambleton |
Resources
There were teacher's notes available.
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