I once had a book in the 1950's, title unknown, but it had a series of
short stories in it.  They were stories of ghosts, goblins, fantasies.
 The first story was about a ventriloquest, riding on a train, a
"talking lollipop on the train and I believe, a little boy.  There was
also a story later in the book about a little girl and a goblin who
eventually turns into a little boy.  I would like to know the name of
the book and if there's any chance of finding it somewhere out there
to buy?  Thanks for your help.

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 18 Dec 2002 02:21 PST

Hi atlas007,
After searching for this book, I have located only one which fits the
date and description you gave. However, there are no reviews on this
book, meaning no mention of the stories you described. What I do have
are a few titles of the stories in this book. Do any of these sound
familiar?
"The Screaming Ghost of Saratoga" 
"Ocean-Born Mary" 
"The Lavender Evening Dress"

This book contains 21 stories in 146 pages with illustrations. Let me
know if you believe this is the book you are looking for. Thanks!
Best regards,
rainbow~

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Clarification of Question by atlas007-ga on 18 Dec 2002 07:51 PST

Hi Rainbow,
     Unfortunatley, they don't sound familiar, it was so long ago and
I was so young, but the first story might have been called, "The
Talking Lollipop".  I'm just not sure.  There was the story about the
goblin boy and perhaps another story about goblins in it as well. 
Those are the only two stories that seemed to have made an impression
on me.  Please keep trying if you can.  Thanks so much.

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Clarification of Question by atlas007-ga on 18 Dec 2002 07:54 PST

Rainbow,

Another clarification:  The first story was about a boy who was riding
on a train.  There was a ventriloquest on board who made it sound, to
the boy, like the lollipop was talking to him.  That's the best I can
do. Thanks again.

Atlas007

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Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 18 Dec 2002 07:58 PST

Hi atlas007,
Thanks for the clarification. At least I now know which book it *isn't* :)
I'll keep looking for you and let you know of my progress.
Best regards,
rainbow~

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Clarification of Question by atlas007-ga on 18 Dec 2002 08:10 PST

Hi Rainbow,

If you can get this one, I'll have a tip in it for you.  Promise.

This is just put down as a possible lead, but the types of stories you
mention sound a little like the kind of thing Enid Blyton used to put
in her stories for younger children.

Thanks, but no cigar on this one yet.  I checked out a web page with
Enid Blyton and it didn't have the book.  Thanks for a good try.

You're in luck! Not only do I have the answer, but you don't have to
pay me the money because I'm not an official Google Answers
Researcher. (I'd like to be, but they've been refusing to take new
people since last year.)

I thought I remembered your book as one my dad had from his childhood
collection, and I sent him the question. Here's his response:

>I have the book here, and I remember it from my childhood.  The title
is
>"Lots of Stories".  The cover picture is of a boy with an open book
and
>around his head are several bubbles, each with a picture from one of
the
>stories in the book.  The first story is indeed of the boy and the
>ventriloquist on the train; other stories do include the goblin who
>becomes a boy at the end.

>Both the front and back cover are attached to the book only with
masking
>tape, and all the pages from the beginning through page 14 are
missing.
>(Page 15 is the last page of the ventriloquist story.)  

>HOWEVER, I did a search for that title on bookfinder.com.  The book
by
>Rowena Bennett has 11 matches, and from the descriptions there of the
>book, this is DEFINITELY the book that this person is looking for!

All The Best,
Ravuri-ga

Eureka...I think that you've got it.  I thank you for ending many
years of searching bookstores and such.  I'm going to see if I can
obtain a copy of the book.  It was a very dear part of my childhood. 
I think that Ravuri-ga should be signed up immediately by Google as a
researcher.  This researcher has earned it.  Thanks so much for your
help.  Atlas007

To Ravuri-ga:  Again much thanks to you and to those at Google who
have worked so hard to find my book.  I have gone by your information,
went to Bookfinder.com and I just placed an order for the book.  It is
amazing that such a network out there exists.  When I would be on
vacation, I would go to any antique bookstore that I could find in
order to obtain that book with no luck.  Cape Cod, the New Jersey
Shore, California, anywhere that I went and for years I had no luck. 
With Google Answer and with the help of this aspiring researcher,
Ravuri-ga, I have what I've sought for many years.  My prayers and
thanks go out to you. You don't know how much this means to me. 
Thanks very much. Atlas007

atlas007,
I'm happy you can finally get the book you were searching for for so long. 
Happy holidays!
rainbow~

Thanks Rainbow...Your effort is much appreciated.  Merry Christmas.  Atlas007