302: The Tree-Warming (Part 1)

Blinky and his mother discover a leaf thief as they prepare their home for a tree-warming party! 

Blinky Bill and Nutsy was first published in 1937, and as such it contains material that might be outdated, inaccurate or offensive, as well as material that would now be considered quite dark for children’s fiction. Aside from language that Madame Magpie is personally uncomfortable using, the text has been left as it was originally published. There is some cheeky language in this episode:

• “It’s far too long,” Blinky interrupted. “You’ll sign yourself like this”—picking up a twig he scratched on the tree:
   SPLODGE, ASS [spoken aloud as 'Splodge comma A-S-S']
  Splodge examined it closely.
  “You don’t mean to be rude or clever do you?” he asked uncomfortably.
  “Of course not!” Blinky replied. “Can’t you see that’s short for assistant?”

Madame Magpie’s Bedtime Stories will always be available to stream for free, but if you’d like to support the podcast, you can do so via Patreon at patreon.com/MadameMagpie. For $3/month, Patreon members can download episodes for offline listening. 

Blinky Bill was written and illustrated by Dorothy Wall, first published by Angus & Robertson in 1933. Sound effects are from Zapsplat, Epidemic Sound, Pixabay, Soundly and Dylan Barfield. 

All images are made by Josh Dykgraaf using Dorothy Wall's original illustrations. Madame Magpie is a creation of Alix Roberts. Narration and character voices by Alix Roberts.

Madame Magpie’s Bedtime Stories are recorded and edited by Alix Roberts (aka Madame Magpie) on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Bunarong Peoples of the Kulin nation. Madame Magpie acknowledges the rich and extensive history of storytelling among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and pays her respects to past and present elders of all nations.