Timbuctoo

This article is about the children's book series. For the city in Mali, see Timbuktu. For other uses of Timbuctoo or Timbuktu, see Timbuktu (disambiguation).

File:Timbuctoo oink.jpg

Original 1978 edition of "Oink". Other characters and books in the series had a similar appearance.

Timbuctoo is a series of 26 children's books, written and illustrated by Roger Hargreaves, better known for his Mr Men series. It was published from 1978–79. The books tell the stories of a group of animals, each of whom is named after the sound that their particular animal makes. An animated series (produced by Flicks Films for Cosgrove Hall Films) of Timbuctoo was shown on CITV, ARBC and CBBC in the mid-90s, narrated by Ronnie Corbett.

Books

The original set of 25 books named after their main character were published in 1978 and 1979, along with two Timbuctoo Annuals. A further set of story books was published in 1979. In 1997 some books were reprinted with new illustrations to accompany the television show, along with a new character, Bray.

1978

• Buzz (a bee)
• Chirp (a bird)
• Hiss (a snake)
• Meow (a cat)
• Moo (a cow)
• Neigh (a horse)
• Oink (a pig)
• Roar (a lion)
• Snap (a crocodile)
• Squeak (a mouse)
• Trumpet (an elephant)
• Woof (a dog)

Four of the books (Woof, Trumpet, Buzz and Oink) were republished in 1993.

1979

• Baa (a sheep)
• Bleat (a goat)
• Chatter (a monkey)
• Cluck (a chicken)
• Croak (a frog)
• Grizzle (a bear)
• Growl (a tiger)
• Honk (a seal)
• Hoot (an owl)
• Puff (a panda)
• Quack (a duck)
• Sniff (a rabbit)
• Squawk (a parrot)
• An Apple for Oink
• Hiss and the Storm
• Moo's Fancy Hats
• Neigh Moves House
• Roar's Day of Mistakes
• Snap's Big Surprise
• Trumpet's Trunk
• Buzz Loses his Zip

There was also a set of 'Timbuctoo Shape Books' released, including Oink, Neigh, Squeak, Trumpet, Cluck and Puff

1997

• Bray (a donkey)

Bray was released as an addition to the reprint of all the previous stories in the original set, which were printed, with new illustrations, to accompany the TV series.

Television

In 1997 the TV show ran for two series; the first later released on VHS as Neigh Finds a New Home and Other Stories, and Series 2 released as Woof has Forgotten How to Bark and Other Stories.

Series 1

• Neigh Finds a New Home
• Honk Goes Swimming
• Snap Learns a New Game
• Cluck Gets a Letter
• Moo Has a Birthday Party
• Chirp Learns to Fly
• Croak Learns to Swim
• Oink and the Big Apple
• Squeak Has a Big Day Out
• Bleat Takes the Ball by the Horns
• Grizzle Gets the Giggles
• Hoot Slips Up at Question Time
• Meow Goes Fishing

Series 2

• Woof Has Forgotten How to Bark
• Hiss is Hopping Mad
• Chatter and His Long Tail
• Puff Buys Some Paint
• Roar Sets Out to Frighten Timbuctoo
• Trumpet Goes to the Seaside
• Quack Dreams of a New Beak
• Buzz is a Very Busy Bee
• Growl Has a Fright
• Baa Goes Shopping
• Sniff Runs Out of Carrots
• Bray Sleeps Through Christmas
• Squawk Joins the Choir

External links

• Timbuctoo character and episode list at Toonhound
• Timbuctoo at LibraryThing