The childrens bookshelves

Some of my old loves are on these shelves:



Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates
The Jungle Book
Kim
Hitty: Her First Hundred Years
The Scottish Chiefs
Kidnapped

After childhood, (the first one) I've added Charles Dickens and Nathaniel Hawthorne childrens stories and Booth Tarkington's Penrod books.

Are those the original editions from your childhood or copies you've bought since then?

I have a bunch of tattered and loved children's books on my shelves. Some are originals, some I've bought to replace the ones I had and lost, or the ones I wanted since I was young (first childhood, as you say). :)

Most are the originals from childhood, but collected again later from my parents house. I was 2nd of 11 children, and most of our books were shared. When I left for college, I took no books, and later when I set up housekeeping, I had to wrestle my own books - like my Heidi, away from the sisters. (my brothers didn't care) As we all dispersed, and then my parents broke up housekeeping, I rescued more.

The most important childrens books for us was a set of volumes that came as a bonus with the set of encyclopedias. Eight beautifully bound and embossed red books called Book Trails. I was the first to have babies, so my mom allowed me to take the set, but I was required to pass them on to the next sister. That was the first instance of actively seeking a replacement. The local book dealer found a set which had never even been cracked open. You could tell. Since then I've found another set for my daughter, but her children don't value them in the same way - too much competition.

Most of what I see in the children's sections of B&N or used bookstores is junk as far as I'm concerned. Apparently there were series of books that were written about babysitting, etc.

There are/were so many really good meaty books for kids that it seems a shame that they'd be fed pablum like some of the stuff I have seen.

I have a few of my original books from my childhood, but many I have had to "replace". I'd love to get a copy of the My Book House series and the Picturesque Tale of Progress, which we had as children. I have three volumes of the former, but not the entire set (somehow they were in with my stuff when I moved out, and were therefore not "lost"). I've seen them for sale online, but usually are too expensive for me to afford.

Yes, I've picked up a couple of the My Book House volumes at our annual book sale. They're good. I see the other is edited by the same person, and I've already had them on my wishlist.
Which My Book House do you need. I could probably be pursuaded to part with mine, as they aren't sentimental. I have 2, 3, 4.

Mine are the newer bindings with subtitles - (2) Story Time, (3) Up One Pair of Stairs, (4) Through the Gate.

Hmmm. Looking at the series page, it looks like there were maybe two versions issued, as the numbering varies for the subtitiles. Probably need some clarification and clean-up.

Here's how I organized the Book Trails sets:
http://www.librarything.com/series/Book+Trails

I've seen the same issue with scholastic sets published over a long time period, sometimes bound differently in different decades.

Let me think on that lovely offer you made, 2wonderY.

I know that in the newer editions, they changed the illustrations, and I sort of want the original illustrations.

I'm picky, I know...

Addendum: here is an example of the change in illustrations:

http://childscapes.com/bookpages/bookhouse2.html

The older version was the one my father had, and that I'd like to have, some day. His was the red version, from 1927 or 1928. You can see the editions listed in my library.

Since I'm not familiar enough with My Book house, I went looking for more info, anf I found a pretty good description of the variations on this page:
http://logan.com/harriett/most-anthologies.html

as well as lots of other cover information for old childrens books.

Also this:
http://tulsatinystuff.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-bookhouse.html

and most important for finding the particular set wanted:
http://www.oldchildrensbooks.com/catalogues-lists/topic-lists/my-book-house-book...

I know what you mean about wanting the original editions. Both sets of pictures are charming in their own way, but memory is memory.

Nice sites, thank you.

It figures, my father's set was red, which is quite rare. Oh well.

I'd probably settle for a set that had the same illustrations, from before the 1934 printings.

Here are my finds of the last year:

Silver Chief: Dog of the North by Jack O'Brien



This is the first book of a series, which also includes Silver Chief to the Rescue and The Return of Silver Chief.



The illustrations are by Kurt Wiese, and are marvelous! There are black and white sketches throughout and some color plates as well:



While the illustrations help, I love the books mainly for the stories. I used to read these a lot when I was a child, borrowing them from the public library. For years I looked for them at every used bookstore I came to, but to no avail.

Enter abebooks, last year...I found the editions I wanted for very reasonable prices!

That's very nice!

I just finished listening to The Children of Green Knowe by L. M. Boston. I thought the family stories went on a bit long, but Tolly's experiences within the property were pretty nice. I love that he had to be rowed to the house, and the periodic flooding which is so accepted by the residents. His bedroom, with it's great shadows, and the birds who spend the night, and the wooden mouse who sometimes seems to wriggle in his pocket...
But mostly, I love the way he bonds with his great granny, and the fun they have together, and how solicitous they are of each other. That's the granny I want to be.

I loved the Green Knowe books, and read them over and over again when I was a child. I still have my old paperback copies of them all, but I would replace them with hardcovers if I could find them. I like their gentle, magical quality.

Doing a search for background on a new title, I stumbled across this website concerning lots and lots of childrens old series:
http://c.web.umkc.edu/crossonm/aaaa_masterlist.htm

Does anyone know who Mary Crosson is? The name sounds familiar to me.

It does sound familiar, but I'm not getting much off of Google or Amazon...

I recently discovered Rumer Godden's children's books. Little Plum, Miss Happiness and Miss Flower, and Mouse House are my favorites, so far. Certain editions have really lovely illustrations.

I also recently acquired The Happy Hollisters and the Sea Turtle Mystery. Think Series: Hardy Boys, Series: Nancy Drew, Series: Bobbsey Twins.

I want to read some Arthur Ramsome someday.

For recently published children's books, I like Series: Penderwicks and Series: The Mysterious Benedict Society. Hmm. I don't think I am referencing Series properly. I'll have to look up how to do it properly using Touchstones.

#12, #13. I think of the Series: Green Knowe books, Stranger at Green Knowe is my favorite. Hardback copies of the series seem to be, well, hard to come by :-). The good news is that they do seem to keep printing them.

#14, #15. She sounds familiar to me, too; but I don't believe that I've read her and can't think of anything about her at all.

Some old favorites that I'm passing on to my grandchildren

The Enormous Egg
Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek

Wasn't there one about a golden egg laying chicken from that time period?

I recently recalled a story from my childhood, and with bookel's assistance, found the title: Blitz.



Through abebooks.com I found an original book club edition from 1961, dust cover intact if a little flaky. Now that I have a copy, I plan to reread it shortly. :)

I just indulged myself and bought some children's books - some for my little (both under 4) nieces and some for the "junior readers" library where I vacation every summer. I am totally kicking myself for not checking here first before I ordered any of them.

When my 3 1/2 year old niece brought out her story book when she was visiting me, it was a Disney Princess story book. I just ordered Just So Stories and the Complete Winnie the Pooh for her. I am so very proud of myself for not jumping up and down and saying "No, no, no!!" to the Disney book.

I looked at this thread to see if this is where I should post this and kicked myself AGAIN for not adding L M Boston to the library books. I did get Four-story Mistake, The Railway Children, Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill, Caddie Woodlawn and Theater Shoes. Oh well, I'll bring Stranger at Green Knowe when I go next summer.

I, too, loved the Green Knowe books as a child.

My most treasured childhood books are a set of the Narnia books in paperback, which I love not only for being read aloud to me and my sisters by my father year after year, but also for the lovely covers.

Here's an image of one (not my actual book, just the same cover):

I agree that covers are important, at least to me.

When I am browsing online for an old favorite, I have been known to contact the seller to see what the cover looks like.

Looking for the right thread to share my newest illustrator love and I see Helcura has already posted one of her covers >20 Helcura:.

I ordered a couple of Margaret Greaves titles sight unseen because I thought she was an illustrator. It turns out she wrote the text for a variety of excellent British illustrators. I just got The Naming and discovered Pauline Baynes. Wow! You may be familiar with her work without knowing it, as she's illustrated some biggies - Narnia and MiddleEarth significantly.
My book is a retelling of Adam in the Garden of Eden, and the colors and composition are LUSH! Her mythological and religious work most impress me.

Here's what shows up on Pinterest.

I love Pauline Baynes' illustrations of Narnia. I had a map of Middle Earth hanging on my wall for a while, and I recall she was the artist that drew it.

Your Pinterest link isn't working... :(

huh, it still works for me...

Maybe it doesn't work for me because I'm not a Pinterest member?

Never mind, it's working now. I got a "page not working" sort of error message before...

Here is the endpaper art for The Naming.

Ooh!!!!!

>26 2wonderY:
Wow! That's awesome.

Not as colourful, but still good:



Endpaper illustration by Robert Lawson in The Sword in the Stone.

Ooh! Ooh! I remember that!

I must have read an older edition...

Addendum: I wonder if that is the same Robert Lawson who wrote and illustrated the Rabbit Hill books?

>26 2wonderY:, 28: Both of those are wonderful. I love how vivid the forest is in #26, almost like a Mediaeval tapestry.

I love Robert Larson, too.

Should we start a thread just for endpapers?

fuzzi: Yep. Same Robert Larson.

Yes, Ruth! Please start one!

I'm on my iPad, which limits me a bit, or I'd do it.

Did someone in this group recently mention Elizabeth Enright?

Whoever it was, I want to thank you!

I've begun listening to The Saturdays, and I am charmed.

I've also got the print book on order so that I can go back and savor the best bits.

> 34 I think Elizabeth Enright got mentioned in another thread.

I loved The Four Story Mistake as a child (the kids in the book had a lot of fun together and who wouldn't want to move into an old house and find a secret room?) and was delighted to make its reacquaintance with my daughter.

>34 2wonderY:, >35 SilverKitty: I know that have mentioned her. I am pretty sure others have, too. The melendy quartet is my favorite of hers - that I've read. It was brought to my attention in this group that there at least one of hers that I haven't read.

I picked up some lovely TBSL children's books at this sale: New York Review of Books 50 books for 50% off.
Hickory
The Little Woman Wanted Noise
Wolf Story

I love the silver skates, I still read my old childhood books, they never seem to wear me out.
would love to know if anyone here likes Roald Dahl

Of course, Dahl was amazing! His adult stories are really something, too. :)

>38 cathy456: My adult son recommended The Witches, which I'd never read, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

39> but I find that it is better not to read more than one or two at a time.

>41 MarthaJeanne: Hah, understandable :P

Something reminded me this morning of Madeleine L'Engle and I thought I'd bring her up here. I'm sure you've all read at least A Wrinkle in Time, but I'd like to suggest the Austin family series, beginning with Meet the Austins. (Huh! The site is acting wonky this morning.)

The Austins are not magical or supranatural like the Murrys; but their talent also runs in the ability to keep a strong and loving family. Later in her writings, the characters from both series and their offspring do meet in various circumstances. The series diagrams get pretty complex and knotty.

Here is a blogger after our own hearts:

http://storybookwoods.typepad.com/storybook_woods/old_childrens_books/

>43 2wonderY: I've not read Madeleine L'Engle, I don't think. :sigh:

>45 fuzzi: Oh dear, that is another must for you. I predict you will love A Wrinkle in Time. Also, she wrote some wonderful nonfiction as well. Two-Part Invention: The Story of a Marriage was a terrific read, whether I agreed with everything or not.

>46 MrsLee: I have received some terrific recommendations from fellow LT'ers, and I'll check out Ms. L'Engle, sometime. Soon. I hope.

Loranne has started a thread asking about the first book you remember reading. Someone's answer reminded me of a favorite of mine, Uncle Wiggily on the Farm.

(I'm guessing the little old lady next door gave it to me. I used to sneak over to her dilapidated back porch in her overgrown, jungle-y yard and play with the kittens of the feral cats she fed.)

Anyway, as I googled to check on the spelling, I read the Wikipedia article on the books.

I best remember the crazy nonsense endings to each chapter, but reading the character names again warms my heart.

The primary one is Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy. Other regulars were Sammie and Susie Littletail (Uncle Wiggily's young nephew and niece); Lulu, Alice, and Jimmie Wibblewobble (duck children); Dr. Possum (local physician); Uncle Butter (goat); Charlie and Arabella Chick; Jackie and Peetie Bow-Wow; Billie and Johnnie Bushytail (squirrel boys); Joie, Tommie, and Kittie Kat; Jennie Chipmunk; Munchie Trot (pony boy); Dottie and Willie Lambkin; Neddie and Beckie Stubtail (friendly bear cubs).

The villains were equally delightful. The Pipsisewah, Skeezicks, the Bazumpus, the Crozokus, and the Scuttlemagoon. The Woozy Wolf, Bushy Bear, Skillery Skallery Alligator and the fierce Bobcat.

Sigh. I do believe I'll go dig out my copy and read some to the grands.

Back to Madeline...The Summer of the Great-Grandmother is another of her adult non-fiction books; a very gentle read.

I'll post it here because the series appears to have been marketed as children's books.

Emma Speed Sampson is a Kentucky author. Frances Boyd Calhoun wrote the first Miss Minerva book, and then Sampson inherited the story and wrote 11 more.

fuzzi you seem to own the original Miss Minerva and William Green Hill.

My book, Miss Minerva's Neighbors, comes 6th. Miss Minerva has adopted her nephew, Billy, married her employer, Major Joseph Estes, and their daughter, Josephine, is 12.

The Garners have always lived on one side of the Estes. On the other side is a nicely wild lot with a tiny decrepit house. It sometimes is rented out, but mostly stays empty and Miss Minerva can keep her milk cow there.

Till one day the man who inherited the lot moves in with 7 children. He has towed an old streetcar in for a boys bunkhouse. They are a very interesting family, but Miss Minerva takes offense and forbids the children to socialize. The character drawing is nicely done. Miss M's temperament can be found in people we all know well.

Mr. Price (Pops) is an artist and illustrator and has fascinating theories of child rearing. The two oldest are his own, and the other five have been folded in as orphans. They are a lively fun-loving group. There is a bit of fun where they seem to have lost a day on their trip down, and they work hard at recovering it. It is torture for the other children to have to ignore them.

Of course you know that in the end, all will be well. In the meantime, you learn a bit about a few of the black characters. Billy gets a letter from Wilkes Booth Lincoln, a friend who has gone out to act in Hollywood films. He discusses the limited roles available to a black actor and his financial decision to stay with the major studio rather than join an all black company.

So it goes a bit beyond stereotypes. there is reference to 'the plantation' and at least one other of the books is set there. This is small town Tennessee, by the way.

The books are pretty obscure, but I hope to find and read the others some day.

>50 2wonderY: yes, I do own that book, though I've not yet read it! I could have sworn someone here sent me a copy, but I have it as coming from the local used book store.

Just added to my library this week:







Plus more on the way...love Ebay!

I've read a number of the books in the Famous Horse Stories series, but not by these three authors, yet.

Other authors in the series that I am familiar with are Glenn Balch (big fan here!), Thomas C. Hinkle, and Rutherford Montgomery.

I was thumbing through my copy of Mother Goose Picture Book, enjoying the saturated colors and illustrations by Berta and Elmer Hader, when I noticed the page where it says "This book belongs to: Arthur Cecil Chandler, Jr. and John Davis Chandler. So I thought to google the names. And found them both! Both have notations and bio data at FindAGrave. John Davis even has a Wikipedia page -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Davis_Chandler

as he was a Hollywood actor. Arthur Cecil was an ophthalmologist.

>53 2wonderY: that is great! I had a similar situation this year but the previous owner of my recent purchase is still alive. When I contacted her, she not only replied, but said she hoped I enjoyed it.

I shared the cover of another Mother Goose book on another thread, but that got me trying to clean up the author page, Pat Paris. Her versions of MG seem to be used over and over. The pop-up versions seem to be split into half a dozen tomes; which makes sense. Pop-up books are fragile enough without being over-sized.

I thought I'd share an image or two of what to expect inside.







Sadly, I'm not finding any biographical material. She's one of those obscure (female) laborers who made classic work.

The images all come from the British bookstore, Stella & Rose's. I might send them a note inquiring.

Ah, here are some zoom in pictures of my edition:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mother-Goose-Pop-Up-Hallmark-Childrens-Edition-...

>55 2wonderY: delightful! It's a mystery how any copies have survived due to the fragile nature of popup books.

I haven't spent so much time with my books in decades.

I discover I have at least three copies of Heidi, one of my childhood first books, given to me by my Nana on my eighth birthday. I may start a thread on the various illustrators. I have Jessie Wilcox Smith, Clara M. Burd and William Sharp.

I think my favorite of the three is Burd. Her illustrations have that color saturation that I love from early 20th century.

Or I may examine my other children's classics to see if I have more Burd illustrations.

>57 2wonderY: looking forward to it!

Time to bump 😁