Words and Pictures: Series 4 (Henry Woolf)
Series 4 of the BBC Schools TV series Words and Pictures was shown in the 1970s & 1980s, covering English for Primary pupils.
A second year of programmes set at the Words and Pictures bookshop, with the shopkeeper Henry Woolf and his little animated assistant Charlie, who read from books while also talking about their subjects and introducing animations including a 'magic pencil' showing how to draw letters, songs and opportunities to try reading from the screen including filling in the blanks. Children are seeing playing games and joining in.
Titles & Theme Music
Episode List
* - A Lost Button was first shown as a Preview programme on Friday 29th April 1977 at 11:30am on BBC1.
Episode Guide
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1977)
- Story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- Different kinds of fruit, days of the week and numbers can be read from the screen.
- The song Five red apples.
- Letter: s
First broadcast: Monday 19th September 1977, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 23rd September 1981, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1503D
2. A List (1977)
- Story: A List (from 'Frog and Toad Together') by Arnold Lobel
- The song Five little frogs by Ian Humphris - "one leaned over and he fell down".
- Letter: j
First broadcast: Monday 26th September 1977, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 30th September 1981, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1504X
3. A Lost Button
- Story: A Lost Button (from 'Frog and Toad are Friends') by Arnold Lobel
- A picture quiz based on items in the story, and the Button song.
- Letter: b
First broadcast: Friday 29th April 1977, 11:30am on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 7th October 1981, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1505R
4. The King's Birthday (1977)
- Story: Just in Time for the King's Birthday by E.B. Chance
- A kicking king represents the letter K.
- The King's birthday song by Ian Humphris - "You take straw and I'll take hay, this cheese is for the king's birthday".
- Letter: k
First broadcast: Monday 10th October 1977, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 14th October 1981, 11:00am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1506K
5. The Removal Men
- Story: Bob and Ben are Busy Men by Alan Blackwood
- Charlie sings The van song.
- Letter: v
First broadcast: Monday 17th October 1977, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 28th October 1981, 11:00am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1507E
6. Meg and Mog
- Story: Meg and Mog by Helen Nicoll
- The cool cat represents the letter C
- We hear the Witch Song by Dave and Toni Arthur - "a witch wears a tall black hat, a witch has a big black cat".
- Letter: c
First broadcast: Monday 24th October 1977, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 4th November 1981, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1508Y
7. Wicked Wolf (1977)
- Story: Shirley Sharpeyes by Frances Knowles& Brian Thompson
- Children in the bookshop play "What's the time Mr Wolf?"
- Charlie sings I'm a little teapot.
- A wicked wolf represents the letter W.
- Letter: w
First broadcast: Monday 7th November 1977, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 11th November 1981, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1509S
8. The Journey (1977)
- Story: The Journey (from 'Mouse Tales') by Arnold Lobel
- A film sequence showing running, rowing, riding and other means of transport revises words from the story.
- The letter R is represented by a rocket
- There is the song The mouse walked round the farm by Wally Daly and Jim Parker - "he had lots to think about, so the mouse walked round the farm".
- Letter: r
First broadcast: Monday 14th November 1977, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 18th November 1981, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESBG174J
9. Mr Gumpy's Outing
- Story: Mr Grumpy's Outing by John Burningham
- The song The mouse walked round the farm is repeated
- A goat represents the letter G.
- Letter: g
First broadcast: Monday 21st November 1977, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 25th November 1981, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1511F
10. The Christmas Tree Fairy
- Story: The Christmas Tree Fairy by Elizabeth Goodacre (unpublished)
- There is a Christmas tree in the bookshop containing "fairy lights and tinsel, a painted paper fan, coloured balls and silver bells, a jolly snowman," and even more.
- The fat fairy represents the letter F.
- There is the poem Advice to a child by Eleanor Farjeon, from Tell me a Story chosen by Eileen Colwell.
- Letter: f
First broadcast: Monday 28th November 1977, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 2nd December 1981, 11:00am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1512A
11. Tony and His Friends
- Story: Tony and His Friends by Ken Wagner
- The lazy lion represents the letter L again.
- Letter: l
First broadcast: Monday 9th January 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 13th January 1982, 11:00am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1513T
12. Big Dog... Little Dog (1978)
- Story: Big Dog... Little Dog by P.D. Eastman
- A dancing dog represents the letter D.
- Letter: d
First broadcast: Monday 16th January 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 20th January 1982, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1514N
13. Meg on the Moon
- Story: Meg on the Moon by Helen Nicoll
- There are two songs, Five little monkeys and The man in the moon by Ian Humphris - "Have you seen the man in the moon? I hope he's going to come out soon".
- Letter: m
First broadcast: Monday 23rd January 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 27th January 1982, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1515H
14. The Magic Fish (1978)
- Story: The Magic Fish by Freya Littledale (from traditional)
- A quiet queen represents the letter Q.
- Letter: q
First broadcast: Monday 30th January 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 3rd February 1982, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1516B
15. A New Home for Snow Ball
- Story: A New Home for Snow Ball by Joan Bowden
- Charlie sings If you're happy
- A happy horse represents the letter H.
- Letter: h
First broadcast: Monday 6th February 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 10th February 1982, 11:00am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1517W
16. Thomas the Tiger Teacher
- Story: Thomas the Tiger Teacher by Robert Froman& Ronald Fritz
- The song is Tiger, tiger
- A tiger represents the letter T.
- Letter: t
First broadcast: Monday 13th February 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 24th February 1982, 11:00am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1518P
17. Too Much Noise
- Story: Too Much Noise by Ann McGovern
- A noisy nurse represents the letter N.
- Letter: n
First broadcast: Monday 20th February 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 3rd March 1982, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1519J
18. Tale of the Turnip
- Story: The Tale of the Turnip (traditional)
- Charlie performs One potato, two potato by Peter Charlton & Paul Reader - "one potato, two potato, three potato, four"
- There is also the Tale of the turnip song.
- Letter: p
First broadcast: Monday 27th February 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 10th March 1982, 11:00am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1520D
19. Who Took the Farmer's Hat?
- Story: Who Took the Farmer's Hat? by Joan L. Nodset
- Charlie sings Ten little brown birds, a traditional song with music by Ian Humphris - "two little brown birds sitting on a tree, along came another one and that made three".
- Digraph: br
First broadcast: Monday 6th March 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 17th March 1982, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1521X
20. The Letter
- Story: The Letter (from 'Frog and Toad are Friends') by Arnold Lobel
- The song is Five little frogs, with words and music by Ian Humphris.
- Digraph: fr
First broadcast: Monday 13th March 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 24th March 1982, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1522R
21. I am Better than You! (1978)
- Story: I am Better Than You! by Robert Lopshire
- Digraph: fl
First broadcast: Monday 17th April 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 28th April 1982, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1523K
22. The Little Boy's Secret
- Story: The Little Boy's Secret (from 'The Book of Giant Stories') by David L. Harrison
- There is a game of "what's that in your pocket?"
First broadcast: Monday 24th April 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 5th May 1982, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1524E
23. My Uncle Charlie
- Story: My Uncle Charlie by Marjorie Darke
- Charlie sings My ship sailed from China.
- Digraph: ch
First broadcast: Wednesday 3rd May 1978, 11:23am on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 12th May 1982, 11:00am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1525Y
24. Frog and Toad Together
- Story: Cookies (from 'Frog and Toad Together') by Arnold Lobel
- a-e
First broadcast: Monday 8th May 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 19th May 1982, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1526S
25. The Monkey and the Crocodile
- Story: The Monkey and the Crocodile by Paul Galdone
- The song is Five little monkeys again, a traditional song with music by Elizabeth Bennett.
- Digraph: cr
First broadcast: Monday 15th May 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 26th May 1982, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1527L
26. Questions, Questions
- Story: Why are There More Questions Than Answers, Grandad? by Kenneth Mahood
- Henry and Charlie talk about question words such as 'what', 'where' and 'when', and tell each other riddles and jokes.
First broadcast: Monday 22nd May 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 9th June 1982, 11:00am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1528F
27. When Willy Went to the Wedding
- Story: When Willy Went to the Wedding by Judith Kerr
- Looking at possessive apostrophes, and the song All smile please!
First broadcast: Monday 5th June 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1
Last broadcast: Wednesday 16th June 1982, 11:00am on BBC1
BBC programme number: ESB1529A
28. The Runaway Roller Skate
- Story: The Runaway Roller-Skate by John Vernon Lord
- Playing games with rhyming words
- Another book: Five Little Mice on the Kitchen Floor' (from 'One-Eyed Jack and Other Rhymes') by Barbara Ireson
First broadcast: Monday 12th June 1978, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 23rd June 1982, 11:00am on BBC1 BBC programme number: ESB1530T
Broadcasts
| Year | Term | Day | Time | Channel | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977-78 | Autumn 1977, Spring & Summer 1978 | Mon | 14:01 | BBC1 | Ep23 only shown in the Wed rpt slot due to May Bank Holiday (the very first in most of the UK) on Mon 1st May |
| Wed | 11:23 | BBC1 | Repeat | ||
| 1979-80 | Autumn 1979, Spring & Summer 1980 | Mon | 14:01 | BBC1 | Ep23 only shown in the Wed rpt slot due to May Bank Holiday on Mon 5th May |
| Wed | 10:12 | BBC1 | Repeat | ||
| 1981-82 | Autumn 1981, Spring & Summer 1982 | Mon | 14:01 | BBC1 | Ep22 only shown in the Wed rpt slot due to May Bank Holiday on Mon 3rd May; Ep28 shown on BBC2 due to Wimbledon coverage on BBC1 |
| Wed | 11:00 | BBC1 | Repeat Ep6 shown on BBC2 on 4th Nov due to State Opening of Parliament on BBC1 |
Credits
| Presenter | Henry Woolf |
| With | Charles O'Rourke as Charlie |
| Music | Ian Humphris |
| Animation | Bura & Hardwick |
| Reading consultant | Elizabeth Goodacre |
| Producer | Moyra Gambleton |
Resources
There were teacher's notes available.
Picture book cover thumbnails on this page are borrowed from Amazon UK.
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