England: Margaret Shephard?

Subject: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: black walnut
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 10:05 AM

Dear England,

I have been trying to get in touch with the English early childhood songwriter and poet, MARGARET SHEPHARD. She put out one of my favourite early childhood music books, "Music is Childsplay", published by Longman House, Essex.

My internet search by name, title, publisher, illustrator, and on and on, has been mirky ended so far.

I'll give you the information on the book cover, and hope that someone over there might be able to give me a lead....

Title: MUSIC IS CHILDSPLAY (Shared learning activities)

Author: Margaret Shephard

Illustrations: Terry McKenna

Publisher: Longman House, Burnt Mill, Harlow, Essex CM@) 2JE, England and Associated companies throughout the World

ISBN 0-582-02608-3

"The author is Margaret Shephard, who studied at the Royal Academy of Music. She has presented BBC Radio music programmes for the under-fives, started Music with Mum groups in Oxford, and was the music consultant within the Campaign for Parents as Complementary Educators in Oxford."

Thanks for your help in the hunt for Margaret!

~black walnut (Canada)

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 10:09 AM

Have you tried contacting Longman House or the BBC?

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: black walnut
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 10:51 AM

I can't find a Longman website, but I have the old address I gave above. I will try writing there, but I am wondering if it is up to date, or if Longman Essex still exists?

No link with BBC and Shephard yet, on the internet, at any rate.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 10:54 AM

Longman House can be contacted via their website: http://www.longman.co.uk/

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: black walnut
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 11:21 AM

You're a doll! I wonder why I couldn't find that through Google?

~b.w.

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: black walnut
Date: 20 Jun 02 - 11:51 AM

(Oh yes I do know....I was trying to find Shephard through Longman House, but it's a merged company now.)

~b.w.

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: black walnut
Date: 22 Jun 02 - 02:49 PM

Back once again, in case anybody in England needs someone to hunt for this weekend. I'm quite eager to get in touch with Margaret Shephard, for copyright reasons.

I have been in touch with the publisher, my librarian, and others for help, to no avail thus far.

Thank you, England!!! And by the way if any of you happens to be familiar with the above-mentioned Music with Mum classes, there might be a lead to be had there, in this, The Case of the Missing Songwriter...

~b.w.

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: Noreen
Date: 23 Jun 02 - 06:58 PM

Did you get a reply from the publisher? And what was the date of publication of the book?

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: black walnut
Date: 25 Jun 02 - 08:18 AM

Yes I did, Noreen. I found out that Longman House has been taken over by another company, though, so at this point I have contacted several representatives and so far they tell me that they don't have the book listed within their sections of the business.

The book 'Music is Childsplay' was published in 1987.

I have just found out that another person published Shephard's material...someone named Sheena Roberts. If I can locate Roberts, I may be able to locate Shephard. Sheena Robert's book, 'Playsongs' (1987, reprinted 1993), came with an accompanying tape with songs performed by Sandra Kerr and Leon Rosselson.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: black walnut
Date: 23 Feb 07 - 10:56 PM

I'm going to ask this again...in case someone here knows or has an address for Margaret Shephard. I would love to be able to write or phone her. Please, anyone?

~b.w.

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: black walnut
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 03:11 PM

Found! Snoopy dance...

~b.w.

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 04:15 PM

There is a copy of "Music is Child's Play" available for $15 pluss a few bucks shipping at


http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=256134110&searchurl=isbn%3D0582026083%26nsa%3D1

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 04:23 PM

To reach Sheena Roberts

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: black walnut
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 04:43 PM

Thanks Peace. I used both of these books very often during my 17 years of teaching early childhood music.

~b.w.

Subject: RE: ENGLAND: Margaret Shephard?
From: Peace
Date: 13 Mar 07 - 04:51 PM

More than welcome. Sheena Roberts has written some others, too. One it seems was released as late as 2004/5.

http://www.amazon.ca/We-All-Go-Traveling-Audio/dp/1841484105