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| photo source - OldChildrensBooks.com |
If you're looking for a favorite children's book that is out of print, I've got some great resources for you:
OLD CHILDRENS BOOKS.COM - An online source, they stock more than 10,000 scarce, collectible and out-of-print books, for readers, teachers and collectors.
A second excellent resource is LOGANBERRY BOOKS - you can search for a book from your childhood that you might not even remember the title of! 
You can also do an "Advanced Search" through ABE BOOKS.
Describing a Book:
-Basic Information:
The latest possible year of publication, i. e. before (date).
Your estimate as to the range of possible publication dates.
Picture book or children's novel
Source: Library? School? An older family book?
The latest possible year of publication, i. e. before (date).
Your estimate as to the range of possible publication dates.
Picture book or children's novel
Source: Library? School? An older family book?
- Anything at all you remember about the book:
Title,
Author,
Illustrator,
Binding,
Size,
Phrases or refrains,
Bits of plot.
Title,
Author,
Illustrator,
Binding,
Size,
Phrases or refrains,
Bits of plot.
-Illustrations: the quickest way to ID, the hardest quality to describe.
Color?
Separate plates or in text?
Style?
Other illustrators the pictures call to mind?
Color?
Separate plates or in text?
Style?
Other illustrators the pictures call to mind?
Choose your search words carefully:
Unusual words really help: wallaby works better than bear as a search word.
Names which could be spelled in various ways are hard to search; Peatie Peety Petey Peetie Peaty
Words which could be hyphenated or not also take time, especially with older books which may follow different conventions: dog house, dog-house, doghouse
Avoid abbreviations, they could be spelled out or not: Dr/Doctor. Mr./Mister Co./Company Inc./
Avoid possessives, although sometimes it doesn't matter.
Unusual words really help: wallaby works better than bear as a search word.
Names which could be spelled in various ways are hard to search; Peatie Peety Petey Peetie Peaty
Words which could be hyphenated or not also take time, especially with older books which may follow different conventions: dog house, dog-house, doghouse
Avoid abbreviations, they could be spelled out or not: Dr/Doctor. Mr./Mister Co./Company Inc./
Avoid possessives, although sometimes it doesn't matter.
There is also a group on Goodreads in which one can post what is remembered about a book and others will attempt to assist in finding the title.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that! Great tip - thanks. :)
DeleteGreat tips!
ReplyDeleteRuby Lane is a good place to look if you are in the market for rare and vintage books. They even have some first editions and some over 100 years old. The prices start at about $10 and go up from there. It just depends on how rare the books are and what condition they are in. This one looks interesting! Who knew Frances Hodgson Burnett (author of The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, Little Lord Fauntleroy) wrote a book of saints' stories for children! http://www.rubylane.com/item/299630-1257n/Little-Saint-Elizabeth-Other-Stories
ReplyDeleteOooo - can't wait to look into this. Thank you! :)
DeleteLoganberry books. I want to go there!
ReplyDelete