Time at the Top

I met my favorite children's book author in September 1999.

Edward Ormondroyd was born in 1925, and served two years on a destroyer escort at the Battles of Okinawa and Iwo Jima during World War II. He then attended the University of California at Berkeley and earned a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master's degree in Library Science. From 1957 to 1985, he published twelve children's books, the third of which was my favorite as a child, "Time at the Top."

The story is about a young girl, Susan Shaw, and her father in the 1960s, who live in the same apartment building as the Author. Susan assists an old woman having difficulty with her groceries and is awarded three trips "to the top," which she discovers to be three rides in the building's elevator to the top floor -- and beyond -- into a widow's and her children's financially imperiled home in 1881. Susan makes friends with the children and they successfully conspire to save the home and chase away the villain. Susan and her father disappear for good, presumably into 1881. The Author and Reader are led to believe that all ends well with the fortuitous discovery of Susan's diary and a very old family photo, including Susan and her father, and the widow and her children, and a new-born infant, Susan's new sibling.

When I read the book, I was about as old as Susan was. Even then, I read a great deal of science fiction novels and especially enjoyed time travel stories. A few years later I was browsing the books at the front of the children's section and discovered a sequel to "Time at the Top," called "All in Good Time," where all did not end as neatly as had been assumed, and in this book, the Author has a significant role in bringing about a satisfactory conclusion that goes a bit beyond the original story's ending.

Edward's literary career enjoyed a resurgence in 1999 when "Time at the Top" was made into a movie. In 2000, his very first book, "David and the Phoenix" was republished for the first time again in many years, and then in 2002 as an unabridged recorded audio book featuring Edward as narrator. "Time at the Top" was republished in 2003. I have recommended Edward Ormondroyd's books to my friends who have children.

In 1999, I traveled with my sister Jennifer on a fantastic road trip throughout Northeast America, and on our way westward from Pennsylvania to Niagara Falls, we had the opportunity to drop by the Ormondroyds' house. I had looked them up and contacted them well in advance of leaving Tallahassee, and we were expected.

Edward was playing the piano when we arrived. His wife Joan greeted us warmly when she opened the door, and proudly showed us through the home that Edward had designed and partially built. Many of the walls were and probably still are lined with full dark wood bookshelves. It is a spacious home with a duck pond in front, and although Edward and Joan are the only residents, they have many neighbor friends and their grown children and families visit with them often. 

Jennifer and I visited with Edward and Joan for a couple of hours before departing on our way. Joan surreptitiously returned two books to me that I had sent ahead for inscription by Edward, and Jennifer was surprised and very appreciative of the books a year later at her wedding. 

Edward and I exchange Christmas cards every year.

Edward Ormondroyd and Mitch, September 1999 -- photo by Jennifer