Monday, March 18, 2024

Wild and Tame Animals

Wild and Tame Animals
Dahlov Ipcar

 This is a reprint of a vintage book and aren't Dahlov Ipcar's illustrations splendid!  (I'm particularly fond of the orange and brown and saffron color palate.)   All about tame and wild animals and man's relationship with them.

Wonderful endpages!

I love love love vintage interior illustrations.



Look at this handsome feline fellow!





Saturday, March 16, 2024

The Little Prince

 The Little Prince is one of those books that everyone should have in their house and re-read from time to time.  Antoine de Saint-Exupery is a wonderful writer and I highly recommend his other non-children books.  Claudia Bordin lends her take on the story with her modern illustrations in a large picture-book way.  Everything about them is wonderful.

The Little Prince
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
illustrations by Claudio Bordin 2022












Friday, March 15, 2024

Mitsumasa Anno

 Mitsumasa Anno was a prolific illustrator.  He made the kinds of books that we always liked to check out of the library because you could take your time looking at them.  We have four of Anno's country books- China, Italy, Spain, and Denmark.  Wordless except for the scene descriptions in the back, they invite careful viewing.  I'm convinced that I see something new each time I look at a page!

Anno's China
Anno's Italy
Anno's Spain
Anno's Denmark
Mitsumasa Anno 2013













Thursday, March 14, 2024

Grandfather Todd of Old Cape Cod

"Grandfather Todd was very old.  He had been born on Cape Cod a long, long time ago.  He was so old that he could recall the clipper ships that used to sail from wharves of the old Cape scores of years ago.  So old, indeed, that he could tell tales of the big four-master schooners which cruised the world over, and of the whaling ships and fishing fleets which braved the storms at sea, but brought in their precious cargoes to the safe, snug harbors on Cape Cod Bay."

Grandfather Todd of Old Cape Cod
Joseph E. Hanson
illustrated by Jean Porter 1959

On old fashioned sort of book with cozy stories about Grandfather Todd and his grandchildren Gregg and Kate.  He has bright blue eyes and a big white beard.  He is the sort of grandfather who makes paintings come alive and goes fishing with a rod only fitted with a piece of bread to feed the fish, and plays an old violin for the birds.  What makes the stories so lovely are the patient descriptions of the countryside and animals, of mealtime and pony rides, and just a winking sort of magic.








Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy

Hairy Maclary
from Donaldson's Dairy
Lynley Dodd 1983

 Now that we are a dog family I am delighting in all the dog picture books!  Lynley Dodd has a series of Hairy Maclary books that follow the rhyming adventures of a scruffy little Scottish terrier.  In this first one we meet Hairy Maclary (from the Donaldson's Dairy) and a gathering group of his dog friends.  I love all the names and breeds ("Bottomley Potts covered in spots", and "Muffin McLay like a bundle of hay").  The pictures are very cute!






Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Hurray For Bobo

Hurray for Bobo
Joan Savage
illustrated by Berta Schwartz 1947

 This is an interesting find with very nice illustrations.  Diversity tends to be hard to come by in vintage books, but this one embraces a story about inclusion.  Bobo wants to play with the other boys but they won't let him because he doesn't know how to play baseball.  Even when Bobo practices with Janie, and Tommy suggests giving them a chance, Red refuses to include them.  It's not until Bobo brings something unique and interesting to share with the other kids that even Red decides to strike a deal.  Imagine their surprise when Bobo, Janie and Rusty (her dog) show them what they can do!















I just love the back cover!