Vintage Collectible Art - in Books!

The "hunt" is the best part of the BOOKISH business I share with my daughter at The Brick Basement in Fullerton, CA.  (Hopefully I'll be able to sell some of our finds online - more on that in the near future).

I'm especially excited about some books I found recently from the set  BEST IN CHILDREN'S BOOKS, because they are from my own childhood - my mom read aloud to us from the books in the set we had growing up.  Our volumes didn't have the book covers, so it's doubly fun to see the books with their original covers intact!

The 42 volume set, published between 1957 and 1961 by Nelson Doubleday.  Each volume highlighted a mix of classics, original new stories, poetry, and non-fiction from many notable authors.  They also showcased art from some of the better know illustrators and artists of that time.

Here are a few favorite illustrations from the books I have:

Hans Christian Andersen's The Steadfast Tin Soldier
illustrated by Idellete Bordigoni (from volume #37)

Margery Williams' The Velveteen Rabbit
illustrated by Maruice Sendak (from volume #35)

Volume #33 (1960) was full of vintage treasures:

Favorite Mother Goose Rhymes
illustrated by Adrienne Adams

Sophocles the Hyena by Jim Moran
illustrated by Andy Warhol (yes, you read that correctly)

A Dime's Worth for Free by Marion Holland
illustrated by Richard Scarry

Volume #31 (1960) is especially poignant, because of some very collectible art by the late Maurice Sendak that I'll show you in my next post;  but I'll end today's with these illustrations by the Petershams...

The Picnic Basket by Margery Clark
illustrated by Maud and Miska Petersham

Not to be missed:  Volumes 1 and 18, with artwork by the D'Aulaires; Volume 20, with Jean de Brunhoff's Babar; Volume 40 has Dorothy and Oz by L. Frank Baum, with illustrations by Richard Scarry; and other volumes throughout the series that include art by Leonard Weisgard, Don Freeman, Paul Galdone, Barbara Cooney, and Peter Spier, to name a few.
Go here for a complete list of the 42 volumes and their author/illustrators.

FAVORITE LITERARY FATHERS

Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance. 

~Ruth E. Renkel 

Hop On Pop (Dr. Seuss)

As a follow-up to my Mother's Day "Most Memorable Literary Mothers", here are my Favorite Literary Fathers from children's literature...

My Top 10, in no particular order:

Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)

I just had to post this wonderful photo of Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch
from the film Adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird [source]

"Atticus, he was real nice" 

"Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them." 

"Papa" from Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me (Eric Carle)

But no matter how much she stretched, she could not touch the moon.
"Papa", said Monica to her father, "please get the moon for me."

 "Here", said Papa to Monica.  "I have the Moon for you."

Charles Ingalls, "Pa", from the Little House books (Laura Ingalls Wilder)

Art by Helen Sewell, 1940 - source

"It can't beat us!" Pa said. 

"Can't it, Pa?" Laura asked stupidly. 

"No," said Pa. "It's got to quit sometime and we don't. It can't lick us. 
We won't give up." 

Then Laura felt a warmth inside her. It was very small but it was strong. It was steady, like a tiny light in the dark, and it burned very low but no winds could make it flicker because it would not give up.

King Babar, Father of triplets! from Babar and His Children (Jean de Brunhoff)

Babar was peacefully fishing and thought the children were playing. As he hears this desperate cry for help, he understands that something serious must have happened. He stands up and trumpets angrily when he sees the horrible crocodile...

Now everyone is asleep. Babar and Celeste will go to bed too. They are gradually calming down after all these exciting events.

"Truly it is not easy to bring up a family," sighs Babar. "But how nice the babies are! I wouldn't know how to get along without them anymore."

The Daddy from Knuffle Bunny (Mo Willems)

"Trixie and her daddy went down the street, through the park, past the school, and into the laundromat...But on the way home, Trixie realized something..."

Mr. Weasley, from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (J.K. Rowling)

source

Ron: "Yeah, Dad's crazy about everything to do with Muggles; our shed's full of Muggle stuff. He takes it apart, puts spells on it, and puts it back together again. If he raided our house he'd have to put himself under arrest. It drives Mum mad." 

Frank B. Gilbreth Sr, "Dad", in Cheaper by the Dozen (Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey)

"Dad took moving pictures of us children washing dishes, so that he could figure out how we could reduce our motions and thus hurry through the task. Irregular jobs, such as painting the back porch or removing a stump from the front lawn, were awarded on a low-bid basis. Each child who wanted extra pocket money submitted a sealed bid saying what he would do the job for. The lowest bidder got the contract." 

Mr. Moody -"Father"- from Little Britches, Father and I Were Ranchers (Ralph Moody)

"I wish I knew how Father was able to say things so as to make you remember every word of it. If I could remember everything the way I remember the things Father told me, maybe I could be as smart a man as he was." (read my post about this wonderful book here.)

Captain Crewe, "Papa", from A Little Princess (Frances Hodgson Burnett)

Illustration by Ethel Franklin Betts

Then he went with Sara into her little sitting-room and they bade each other good-by. Sara sat on his knee and held the lapels of his coat in her small hands, and looked long and hard at his face. 

 “Are you learning me by heart, little Sara,” he said, stroking her hair. 

 “No,” she answered. “I know you by heart. You are inside my heart.” 

And they put their arms round each other and kissed as if they would never let each other go. 

Mr. Penderwick from The Penderwicks Series (Jeanne Birdsall)

“...even a tiny bit of deceit is dishonorable when it's used for selfish or cowardly reasons." 

 - Mr. Penderwick”

"HAPPY FATHERS DAY!", and thanks again to all my Facebook followers for your wonderful recommendations!

It was so hard to pick my Top 10 Literary Dads - here are a few more fathers that I had to give an "Honorable Mention" to:
Lavrans Bjorgulfsson, Kristin Lavransdatter's father (trilogy by Sigrid Undset).  Was there ever a more long suffering father? If you've not read this series, set in medieval Norway, put it on your summer reading list! (YA-Adult Fiction)

Mr. March, "Father" from Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) Because of the war, he's an "absentee father" for much of the book, adored by his wife and daughters;

Carson Drew,"Dad", from the Nancy Drew series - a widower and respected lawyer - he often enlists Nancy's sleuthing help with his cases.
Mr. Bennet, from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice - his style is a bit sarcastic and passive aggressive, but seriously, considering he had to manage a household of five girls and one ridiculous wife, he did pretty well, don't you think?

These Dads might make next year's list:
William, the imperfect father from Danny the Champion of the World (Roald Dahl) - I can't personally recommend this book until I've read it (not sure how I missed it, since my oldest son is a huge fan of anything by Mr. Dahl!).  It was nominated by My Book Corner. You can read an interesting and comprehensive review of the book here by Mari Ness at tor.com.
Moominpappa (The Moomin Dad) from Tove Jansson's Moomin series.  I have got to get my hands on these books - have had them recommended so many times!

My Real Life Dad:
This post is dedicated to my own father, who passed away ago barely one year ago.  You can read my tribute to him, here.  An author, editor, musician, and priest, he was first of all a devoted husband to my mom and a loving dad to me and my five siblings.  A list of his books can be found here on Amazon.

Third Day - 3 French Hens and 3 French Books

Noel comes from the French phrase "les bonnes nouvelles", 
translated "Good News", and refers to the Gospel.

On the Third Day of Christmas, my True Love Gave to Me

    Three French Hens...

My daughter and her husband lived in France for nine months, and they brought home the gastronomy of that culture to share with us.  Highlighting our Christmas dinner this year was a capon - which admittedly is not a hen, but a rooster - quite delectably roasted by my son-in-law...

accompanied by brussels sprouts, tartiflette (french scalloped potatoes with Camembert and bacon), and good old American "stuffing".

Our table, ready for Christmas Dinner

After-Christmas-dinner-silver-and-crystal-washed-and-dried by my husband!

Three French Books:

1. BABAR AND FATHER CHRISTMAS (BABAR ET LE PÈRE NOËL) by Jean de Brunhoff. King Babar's children in Celesteville hear of the wonderful Father Christmas who brings toys to all the children in Man Country on Christmas Eve. The children write a letter to Father Christmas in the hopes of inviting him to Celesteville but when their letter goes astray, King Babar goes into Man Country to search for him personally...

2. ADELE & SIMON by Barbara McClintock. Adele cautions her brother not to lose anything on their way home from school...well, you can guess what happens! Gorgeous illustrations of neighborhoods and landmarks bring to life a simple story, set in early 20th century Paris. Not to be missed! (Note: with careful searching each of Simon's lost items can be found!)

3. MIRETTE ON THE HIGH WIRE by Emily Arnold McCully. Mirette was always fascinated by the strange and interesting people who stayed in her mother's boarding house. But no one excited her as much as Bellini, who walks the clothesline with the grace and ease of a bird. Mirette on the High Wire is a great book to explore fear and bravery. First, the definition of bravery is presented in different ways throughout the book. Mirette and Bellini perform dangerous and potentially scary acts by walking the high wire. Mirette has no fear of the wire, and Bellini does, even though he has done it many times. So, this questions whether bravery is the absence of fear or the over-coming of fear. (1993 Caldecott Medal Winner)

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD: FRANCE

Greeting: Joyeux Noel ("Joyous Christmas!") Noel comes from the phrase "les bonnes nouvelles", translated "Good News", and refers to the Gospel.
St. Nicholas Tradition: Saint Nicolas on December 6, and gift-giver, Père Noël ("Father Christmas"), who comes at Christmas.
Highlighted Custom: La bûche de Noël (Yule log cake)

In eastern and northern France, the Christmas season begins on December 6, la fête de Saint Nicolas, (the Feast of St. Nicholas) is one the most important holidays of the Christmas season. Children are given gifts of this day, instead of on December 25.

source

Bakeries offer spiced gingerbread cookies and mannala, brioche shaped like the good saint.. In school, children learn St. Nicolas songs and poems.  They also draw and paint St. Nicolas pictures and crafts. Saint Nicolas visits nursery schools, giving children chocolates and sometimes even a little present.

Nearly every home in France displays a Navity creche (manger scene), which is filled with little clay figures called santons or "little saints." Living crèches in the form of plays and puppet shows based on the Nativity are commonly performed to teach the important ideas of Christianity and the Christmas celebration.

source

On Christmas Eve in southern France, children put their shoes in front of the fireplace (this is done on December 6 in the northern areas), in the hopes that Père Noël , "Father Christmas", will fill them with gifts.  In some regions there's also Père Fouettard, who gives out spankings to bad children (sort of the equivalent of Santa Claus giving coal to the naughty).

A couple of French-inspired picture books:

Babar and Father Christmas, by Jean de Brunhoff. King Babar's children in Celesteville hear of the wonderful Father Christmas who brings toys to all the children in Man Country on Christmas Eve. The children write a letter to Father Christmas in the hopes of inviting him to Celesteville but when their letter goes astray, King Babar goes into Man Country to search for him personally...

The Clown of God, by Tomie dePaola. Many, many years ago, in Sorrento there lived a boy named Giovanni who had no mother and no father. He dressed in rags and begged for his food and slept in doorways. But he was happy, and he could do something wonderful. He could juggle. This is how the French legend begins. Your heart will be warmed with the miracle at the end of the story as Giovanni does his last performance before a statue of Our Lady and the Christ Child. Author-illustrator Tomie dePaola has done an excellent job, retelling this old story as close to its original version as possible.

Although fewer and fewer French attend la Messe de Minuit (the Midnight Mass) on Christmas Eve, it is still an important part of Christmas for many families.The Mass is followed by a huge feast, called le Réveillon (from the verb réveiller, to "wake up" or to "revive"). Le Réveillon is a symbolic awakening to the meaning of Christ's birth and is the culinary high point of the season, which may be enjoyed at home or in a restaurant or café that is open all night. Each region in France has its own traditional Christmas menu, with dishes like goose, chicken, capon, turkey stuffed with chestnuts, oysters, and boudin blanc. 

A yule log-shaped cake called the buche de Nol, (Christmas Log) is served as dessert after le Reveillon. In Southern France, a real yule log is still burned in people's homes from Christmas Eve until New Years Day. A long time ago, part of the log was used to make the wedge for the plough as good luck for the coming harvest.

The Christmas season ends on Fête des Rois (Feast of the Magi), January 6.  Galette des Rois (or "Three Kings Cake") is a round cake which is cut into pieces and distributed by a child, known as le petit roi or l'enfant soleil, hiding under the table. Whoever finds la fève - the charm hidden inside - is King or Queen and can choose a partner. That child receives a couronne (crown). The other children say “Vive le roi (ou reine)!"

Source for St. Nicholas information: www.stnicholascenter.org

BABAR AND OTHER ELEPHANTS

Our youngest son, Jonathan, went through a period from about ages 3 to 6 when he was completely fascinated and obsessed with elephants.  I think it was Colonel Hathi's Marching Song from  DISNEY'S JUNGLE BOOK movie that started the whole thing.  Jonathan had stuffed elephant toys and little plastic figurines. Every time we went to the library, he had to pick out an "elephant book".  For his fifth birthday, we even went to our local zoo where he could actually ride on the back of an elephant with his friends!

From Babar to DUMBO, elephants have long interested children. When Jonathan was in his "elephant stage", we learned about the differences between Asiatic and African breeds:  Among other things, African elephants have huge ears, very wrinkled skin, and no humps or dents on their heads.  Asiatic elephants have smaller ears, smoother skin, and humped structures on the tops of their heads, with dents on their foreheads.  We learned all this from visits to the zoo and Jonny's library books!  Here are some that were his favorites:

BUT NO ELEPHANTS by Jerry Smath. Endearing picture book about Grandma "Tildy", who loves all animals, "but NO elephants".  A salesman comes and sells her a bunch of pets, but she won't take the elephant.  After seeing him left out and all alone in the snow, she finally lets him inside and becomes very angry because the elephant eats all their food! In the end, he takes Grandma Tildy and the other pets to a "warm and sunny place".  (Or as 3-year-old Jonny used to say, "Gwamma Tiewdy went to a wom and sunny pwace".)

POLITE ELEPHANT by Richard Scarry.  "Everyone likes a polite elephant".

LITTLE GRAY ONE by Jan Wahl (illustrations by Frane Lessac)  This beautiful picture book, with bright folk-art-like gouaches, is about a day in the life of a Mother African Elephant and her "Little Gray One".  Your child will learn with the little elephant how elephants pick fruit, take a bath, stay cool from the sun, and relieve an itch.  Very soothing text, but exciting, vibrant illustrations.

ELEPHANTS: A BOOK FOR CHILDREN, by Steve Bloom.  Facts and beautiful photographs of elephants.  Any elephant-obsessed child would love this book!

THE SAGGY BAGGY ELEPHANT (Little Golden Book) by K. Jackson and B. Jackson (illustrations by Gustaf Tenggren)  The Saggy Baggy Elephant learns that there is beauty in differences. You just have to see them in other creatures. When he learns that he looks like an elephant, and dances his way into the jungle, being saggy and baggy isn't a problem anymore.

UNCLE ELEPHANT by Arnold Lobel. While his mother and father are away, a little elephant goes to visit his uncle. And what a time they have! Uncle Elephant makes wishes come true, tells amazing stories, and trumpets the dawn. The visit is perfect, except for one thing:  it ends much too soon.

HORTON HEARS A WHO by Dr. Suess (Past blog post)

THE STORY OF BABAR by Jean De Brunhoff.  "If you love elephants, you will love Babar and Celeste," writes A. A. Milne in his preface to "The Story of Babar". "And if you have never loved elephants, you will love them now."
The first adventures of the enduring, endearing elephant, Babar, was written in 1931 by French writer Jean de Brunhoff (1899-1937). Since then, it has been translated into at least 12 languages. Some pretty amazing things happen to this little elephant in the course of his first book: Babar loses his mother to a hunter, wanders into the city, gets a new wardrobe, becomes the hit of high society, marries his cousin Céleste (totally acceptable in contemporary Elephantine society), and is crowned King of the Elephants.  There's a whole series of these great stories!

THE JUNGLE BOOK by Rudyard Kipling.  Your children will love the stories of Mowgli, Rikki Tikki Tavi and more. (ages 8 and up)