The Bunny Book by Richard Scarry

Richard Scarry, Western Publishing Company, 1965

This book is more informative than anything. Simple descriptions and explanations introduce young readers to the variety of characteristics that make up the bunny. This book appears to have many different cover options, but it's the content I care about. I simply adore this "Rabbits have large families" image.

Young readers will learn that some rabbits have giant ears and some have tiny ones and rabbits can run very fast. The book also focuses in on a few rabbit examples: the snowshoe rabbit turns white in winter and brown in summer, Angora rabbits have soft, cuddly fur. Lop-eared rabbits have long, floppy ears. Then on one page five different breeds are illustrated: Dutch, Chinchilla, Flemish Giant, Vienna Blue, and Cottontail. Ah yes, this is more than just your "Easter bunny" book. Though there is a page dedicated to that too.


There is only one "true to form" busytown looking page with two little bunnies dressed to the nines. "Rabbits like to get all dressed up if they are going to be in a story book." Yeah, you can't beat that!

The Golden Egg Book

The Golden Egg Book by Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrated by Lilian Obligado, Western Publishing Company, 1947

I've managed to pull together a handful of bunny books in time for Easter and trust me, there are more. It turns out that bunnies and rabbits are a great subject for the children's book.

This Little Golden Book is a lovely story about a duck and a bunny. It begins with bunny finding a mysterious egg and wondering what is inside. In his impatience, he pushes it with his foot, rolls the egg down the hill, throws rocks at it and finally gets so worn out from wondering and waiting that he falls asleep.


Of course, a watched egg never hatches but when bunny sleeps, duck emerges. Duck is mystified by this furry thing beside his egg and he tries to rouse it by doing all the same things bunny did to the egg... nudges him with his foot, throws a rock, rolls him down the hill until finally the bunny wakes and the two embrace and no one was ever alone again!

Hippity Hoppity!

Man, I love that outfit. I totally remember it too. Apparently I had a strong connection to my clothes even then. I sort of wish my mom had done something different with my hair. It looks like me and my bro have the same 'do. Nice.

I may be wrong, but I think this is 1979.

Vintage Valentine.

The Children's Page.

Joan Walsh Anglund, illustrator and children's book author
Good Housekeeping Magazine, found here.

Beginning in the late 1970s, Joan Walsh Anglund created a quarterly "Children's Page" in Good Housekeeping magazine. The pages often included paper dolls. It was for that one page that I eagerly read through my mother's Good Housekeeping magazines. Later I would read the novel excerpts, often seeking out the full versions in book forms.

Her images all include children with the small pin dot eyes and minimal features. I am pretty sure I have a book of hers somewhere...

Cranberry Valentine

Wende and Harry Devlin, Simon and Schuster, 1986

While Cranberry Christmas was my first and most beloved of the Cranberryport stories, I have a deep appreciation for all of them. They are books that make me long to visit Maine and seashores and well, eat cranberries.

This holiday story is about how Mr. Whiskers deals with the onslaught of valentines that come his way after a chance remark about how he'd never gotten any in the past. One might think he'd be flattered or glad, but as more and more keep appearing he grows panicky...

"Why me?" asked Mr. Whiskers. Then he reflected, "Why not? I'm the best clam digger in the bog country. I have wonderful whiskers. I sing like a blinking bird."

Seth broke into Mr. Whisker's shining thoughts. "Now, Mr. Whiskers, if some lady gives you a present on this Valentine's Day, you should have a box of chocolates to give in return. A gentleman would."

Mr. Whiskers looked terrified at the idea.

Of course, it's not all as bad as it seems and after dodging some near embarrassment, Mr. Whiskers his true admirers and ends up enjoying the holiday much more than he expected.

Happy New Year!

Holly Hobbie, American Greetings Corp, 1978

To start the year off right, we sometimes need a few words of wisdom reminding us not just how to live but how to live well. Holly Hobbie does just that in her Happy Day Book.

Holly Hobbie is one of my all-time favorite illustrators when I was a child and even more so today with her current books. She has the ability to create the most detailed and delightful illustrations, both nostalgic and modern. It seems right to begin 2009 with an artist who has not faded into the past. And with her work I celebrate old and new. Look for one of her more recent books next week on my "Modern Monday."

click on the blue images to see the pages up close

Look Pa, I'm Doing a Figure Sixteen!

Stan and Jan Berenstain, illustrators, Random House, 1970

The early rhyming Berenstain Bears books have a special place in my heart. When they started mass producing moral tales in the 8 x 8 size I lost some interest. However, I had a few of these Beginner Books and even some large size almanac or encyclopedia type books of theirs.

In this BB book, as in so many of theirs, Papa Bear is prepared to educate his son in the ways of the world. In this book, it's how to use all his fantastic Christmas presents--skis, sled, ice skates. Ahhh... the joys of seeing old Papa Bear's "Great Belly Flop." Of course, his son is wise beyond his years and kindly helps out his pop when he finds himself in a pickle. Is it my imagination or does Mama Bear have a sort of knowing look in her eyes. I can almost hear her patient sigh as her husband bounds out the door with their son in tow!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas morning, 1978

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Corinne Malvern, illustrator Western Publishing Company, 1949

This illustrated version of Clement C. Moore's famous poem is probably the most familiar to me. I love the old fashioned feel to it which is emphasized by the calendar at the beginning which reads 1822. This particular edition of the book still has the Mary Reed stamp of approval on the cover page. THIS is exactly how I picture Santa Claus.

My Advent Calendar

My Aunt Heather made this for me when I was pretty small. I actually think she was my Sunday School teacher one year and that she made these for ALL of the kids. I can't imagine cutting out all those little felt pieces and sewing the pockets and backgrounds. I still have mine after all these years but it is looking a little worse for wear with some discoloration on the white felt, though I still have all 24 items.

I never could figure out what that green pointy thing was. A 4th wise man? A bizarre shepherd? Or maybe a pine tree. I am settling on the tree and I put a little donkey beside it.

I put the baby Jesus in the manger even though I was supposed to wait until tomorrow. I wanted my pics to have the full effect. My favorite day was always the 23rd because that is the one with the hay. For some reason I just love that piece. I may have to create a new advent calendar along these lines for next year with updated felt or fabric pieces.

Thank you, Heather. This was a GREAT gift!

The Golden Give Away

I am one of the most unlucky people I know. If there's a Bingo game on, your odds of winning are improved by having me in the game. And you can forget drawings of any sort. Except this one. I actually got lucky a few weeks ago when I won the Scribbler's Great Monday Give on her site Vintage Books My Kid Loves.

I was THRILLED to get a copy of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. Welcome home. I used to own this one and so looking at the pictures was like greeting old friends. Santa's Toy Shop is a new one for me and the pictures are terrific.

Even the cover of the book just warms my heart! Thank you, Ms. Scribbler. Thank you.

By Barbara Shook Hazen, Adapted from the story by Robert L. May
Pictures by Richard Scarry, Western Publishing Company, 1958
New illustrations copyright, 1976

I love that sort of shameful, glowering look
on Rudolph's face in this one. It's cute, in a sad way.
Boy, reindeer sure can be mean!

This picture is sooooooo Richard Scarry.
Those are Scarry bunnies for certain.
I just love him.

I always thought it was cool how
the reindeer got to help out with the gifts. :)

"I Hate Christmas" -- Oscar the Grouch

Sesame Street, Children's Television Workshop, 1975

I'm listening to this holiday record as I post. The most memorable bit was the Sesame Street version of O. Henry's short story, "The Gift of the Magi." I love how Bert and Ernie give up their prized possessions, a rubber duckie and a paper clip collection, in order to buy thoughtful gifts for one another. In this version Mr. Hooper saves the day.

Also on the album, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" has a new twist and the count sings "All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth." One of my favorite bits has to be Oscar the Grouch song; why is it I always love the melancholy characters best? (Eyeore in the Winnie the Pooh stories is my favorite too!)

The inside cover of the record is pictured below, as is the back of the album with the song list and the credits.

The Christmas Story-- A Golden Book Comparison

Eloise Wilkin, illustrator, Western Publishing Company, 1952

The Christmas Story by Jane Werner is another book illustrated by Eloise Wilkin. My book was published in 1980. I think I came by this book while searching for another. My grandma had a book on the Christmas story that featured cut-out figurines so you could play with it like a paper doll set. I remember longing to take my scissors to the book and her telling me no. And she was right. When she died two years ago some of her books were given to me. The Christmas Manger was one of them. Below are three images from The Christmas Story. I love the vibrant colors on the angel andshepherds and the dreamy quality to all of them.

When I had a chance to inspect Grandma's book a bit closer, I realized it really is the same story just packaged differently. Well, the same story but The Christmas Manger uses much simpler language. The page with Mary sitting alone reads, "Mary was a lovely girl. She lived long ago." Read the text on the Mary image above for comparison.



The Christmas Manger is also by Jane Werner, though with a different illustrator, Steffie Lerch. The book is from 1953 and is published by Simon and Schuster. It even has that Mary Reed, PH.D stamp of approval on the inside cover. I provided the back cover to show how the style of Little Golden Books has changed over the years. If you click on the image you can read the promotional copy which also warns readers to beware of "imitators." :)

An example of how the book is set-up. Here you see an angel ready to be cut-out and assembled in your own manger scene.

This little angel pic might be my favorite illustration in the book.
It's ridiculously sweet.