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By: Barbara Fisher,
on 9/26/2016
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March House Books Blog
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We've all heard the expression never judge a book by its cover but what about never judge a suitcase until you see what's inside?
I'm sure you've seen lost luggage auctions on TV (like storage wars only with suitcases). It's where you bid on a case with no clue to the contents. Occasionally someone finds a laptop or jewellery, but more often than not it's a pile of dirty laundry. Personally, I've never wanted to go through someone else's lost luggage and sincerely hope nobody ever goes through mine. That, however, didn't stop me buying this case with very little knowledge of the contents.
It wasn't at a lost luggage auction but at a flea market or The Giant Shepton Flea Market to be more precise. I had an inkling of what might be inside because I saw someone open the case and take out this little book; She took a quick flick through the pages before throwing it back in the case and walking away. I have a soft spot for flip books from the 1940s and 1950s and was quick to take her place. As I started rummaging through the case the stall holder said, "You can have that for a fiver (US$6.26) if you want it." I assumed he was referring to the book but when I queried it, he said, "No for the lot love, case and all." I mumbled "Yes OK," and he bagged the entire thing before I got as much as a second glance at what I was buying.
Although small, the suitcase is heavy, so the only sensible thing was to take it to the car. Once there, I couldn’t resist taking a peek inside. Imagine my delight at finding not one but eight flip books along with several story books by Racey Helps and Enid Blyton, a sweet story about Humpty Dumpty, one called Merry-go-round, a Vistascreen 3D viewer with slides and other bits and pieces. Time was getting on and anxious not to miss out on any treasures waiting to be found I decided to leave further investigations until I got home. In hindsight, I should have quizzed the seller about the origins of the suitcase. Did he buy it from an auction, a house clearance, did he know the previous owner, or was it his?
The case has seen better days, but the contents are joyous. I'm sure everything belonged to the same little boy. His name is in most of the books and in some instances so is his address. His name and address are also on a label inside the case but this time written in a different hand, possibly by an adult. I have an image of a little lad of around eight years old stashing his favourite books and bits and pieces inside his case, but I wonder why someone added his address. Maybe the family were moving home, or perhaps the little boy was going to stay with family or friends.
After a few days, the case and its contents began to trouble me. Obviously, I’m thrilled to have it in my care, but I’m also sad for the little boy and his lost treasures. Where is he now? Is he alive or dead? Why did he part with his case? I will probably never know, but I have learnt a little more about him. Looking through the books I discovered not one but two addresses, one in Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, and one in Alton, Hampshire. Using the age of the books as a guide, I concluded he and I must be of a similar age.
I have a subscription to FindMyPast so it was fairly simple to find a record of his birth, which turned out to be 1949. He was born in Surrey, England, and spent part of his childhood in Alton, Hampshire, places I know well. He later moved to Poole, Dorset and married there in 1973. I can find no trace of him after 2003, but that may be my very amateurish attempts at searching. He is a year younger than me so if he is alive he is 67 now. I still don’t know why he parted with the case, but I feel an affinity with him and his childhood because mine was probably fairly similar. Between the ages of five and twenty one, I lived just 15 minutes or 6.3 miles from Alton, Hampshire. Without knowing it, he and I were near neighbours. We may even have seen or spoken to one another. 
Thinking about it now I have to assume the stall holder acquired the case from an auction or house clearance. I have no evidence of that, just a hunch, plus the seller didn't look as if he was in his sixties. I suppose the case could have belonged to his father? It's sad to think of someone's cherished possessions given so little regard or value, but I'm thrilled to have them and will do my best to be a good custodian of the memories contained in a battered case.My post next week will include a giveaway for followers of this blog. Be sure to call back and don’t forget to follow.
Kids may not believe it, but children’s authors were once children ourselves. Most of us started reading as soon as we could, discovering a love for books that would carry us well into adulthood. I was an avid reader from a young age, often turning to books the way today’s kids turn to their smartphones or iPads.
While I can’t remember very many of my earlier books, here are some books that made a lasting impact on me.
The Rescuers (Little Golden Book)
I think everyone my age grew up on Little Golden Books. I know I read quite a few of them but one I distinctly remember was The Rescuers, which turns out to be Disney’s watered-down version of a true classic, The Rescuers by Margery Sharp. Disney took that classic and turned it into a movie, complete with merchandising and several tie-in books.
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
If you grew up in the 70s or early 80s, you probably read this one. It’s still considered the ultimate coming-of-age story for girls. As an adult, all I remember from this book was that her father cut his finger on the lawnmower and that she was obsessed with getting her period.
The Cat Ate My Gymsuit by Paula Danziger
I remember reading more than one of Paula Danziger’s books, but I related to this one as someone who never felt thin enough.
Escape to Witch Mountain by Alexander Key
Two kids have special powers. What kid wouldn’t be fascinated with that? This book was already a movie by the time I read the book, but I didn’t see the movie until later.
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
I read several of Lois Duncan’s books, but this is the one I remember best. A group of kids take their English teacher to the woods to teach him a lesson. Things go horribly wrong.
I’m Christy by Maud Johnson
I read a crazy number of books in middle school, but this is one that stuck with me. I’m Christy was the first in a series. I only read the second one to figure out what happened (SPOILER ALERT) after her boyfriend died at the end of the first one. If that ending hadn’t been tacked on, I wouldn’t have remembered it. (Also, I remember it because a boy in band class was always teasing me, asking why I was reading a book called “Jim Christy.”)
There are so many others, but these are the books that I remember most vividly. I think that means the authors did something right! I’d love to see what your commenters say were their favorite books as kids.
Stephanie Faris knew she wanted to be an author from a very young age. In fact, her mother often told her to stop reading so much and go outside and play with the other kids. After graduating from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in broadcast journalism, she somehow found herself working in information technology. But she never stopped writing.
Stephanie is the Simon & Schuster author of 30 Days of No Gossip and 25 Roses. When she isn’t crafting fiction, she writes for a variety of online websites on the topics of business, technology, and her favorite subject of all—fashion. She lives in Nashville with her husband, a sales executive.
Piper Morgan
By Stephanie Faris
When Piper Morgan has to move to a new town, she is sad to leave behind her friends, but excited for a new adventure. She is determined to have fun, be brave and find new friends.
In Piper Morgan Joins the Circus, Piper learns her mom’s new job will be with the Big Top Circus. She can’t wait to learn all about life under the big top, see all the cool animals, and meet the Little Explorers, the other kids who travel with the show. She’s even more excited to learn that she gets to be a part of the Little Explorers and help them end each show with a routine to get the audience on their feet and dancing along!
In Piper Morgan in Charge, Piper’s mom takes a job in the local elementary school principal’s office. Piper is excited for a new school and new friends—and is thrilled when she is made an “office helper.” But there is one girl who seems determined to prove she is a better helper—and she just so happens to be the principal’s daughter. Can Piper figure out how to handle being the new girl in town once more?
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Thanks so much Stephanie. I love the cute photo of you! Many of your favourite books are new to me. I’ve read The rescuers by Margery Sharp and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume but none of the others.
Like Stephanie, I would be interested to know which books you treasure from your childhood. Have you read any / all of the ones featured here?
Tale - A fictitious or true narrative or story, especially one that is imaginatively recounted: ‘a delightful children’s tale’ ‘tales of witches and warlocks’
Definition from the English Oxford dictionary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of stories written for young wizards and witches. They were popular bedtime stories for centuries, with the result that The Wizard and the Hopping Pot and The Fountain of Fair Fortune were as familiar to many of the students at Hogwarts as Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty are to Muggles.
In 2007, one of only seven original handwritten copies was offered for auction through Sotheby’s selling for £1.95 million. Sadly, I don’t have one of the handwritten editions, but I do have a first printed edition which I’m offering together with an original catalogue from the Sotheby’s auction. FIND IT HERE The shelves at March House Books have lots of other tales to tell, here are just a few of them;
Uncle's Tales Published by Thomas Nelson c1928. A collection of eight tales including The Fairy Muffin Man by Phyllis Megroz with illustrations by A. H. Watson and Tommy and the gingerbread by Evelyn Hardy with illustrations by Honor C Appleton. Colour frontis and approximately thirty seven black-and-white pictures by various illustrators including Florence Mary Anderson. FIND IT HERE
Grandad's Tales : Favourite Stories and Rhymes written by Eddie Clarke with illustrations by Vin Mifsud.
A treasure chest full of delightful tales. First story My Magic Yellow Chair, other stories Include Giant Mountain and Queenie the Collie.
Sleeping Beauty & Other Favourite Fairy Tales selected by Angela Carter and illustrated by Michael Foreman. London Victor Gollancz 1991. Several tales including Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, Bluebeard, Donkey-skin and Cinderella. FIND IT HERE
Tales of Babar told by Enid Blyton. Methuen Modern Classics Series. First published in September 1942 this a second edition 1945. Tales of Babar told by Enid Blyton with black-and-white illustrations by Olive F. Openshaw. The life-story of Babar the most lovable of elephants. Editors note - Enemy Action during the War reduced to ashes a large proportion of those delightfully coloured sheets in which the genius of Jean de Brunhoff, and the skill of the colour-printer had combined to immortalize his career. However, Babar is not easy to blitz. In the Babar story-book, he returns triumphant and with a full-length biography by Miss Enid Blyton. This volume comprises the first half of the Babar story-book with three stories - the story of Babar, Babar's travels and Babar the King. FIND IT HERE
Old Fashioned Tales selected by E. V. Lucas and illustrated by F. D. Bedford. Published by Wells Gardner Darton & Co Ltd c1905. Compilation including the Inquisitive girl, the Robbers Cave, the Misses, the Sea Voyage, the Changeling and the Oyster Patties. FIND IT HERE
Enid Blyton's Treasury of Tales; Four books in slipcase. The stories are Hoo Hoo's party, My nut I think, What no cheese and the wizard's needle each illustrated by Rene Cloke.
Tales from the Story-Teller's House by Thornton W. Burgess Published by John Lane The Bodley Head in 1937. Sixteen stories including the Joy of the Beautiful Pine, It Really Happened, the Old House, Cold Toes and a new tail, Mrs. Possum's big Pocket and Fussy Folk. Eight full-page colour illustrations by Lemuel Palmer. FIND IT HERE
I hope you've enjoyed these tall tales. Please click on the links for further details or browse the stock at March House Books to see what other delights you might uncover...
Robert Atkinson Westall was born on 7 October 1929 in North Shields, Northumberland, England. He spent his working life teaching art in secondary schools, writing only in his spare time. However, on retiring at the age of 55, he devoted himself to his writing, dying at the age of 63 in 1993.
His first published book The Machine Gunners (1975) won him the Carnegie Medal, and he went on to win many more awards, including the Smarties Book Prize for Blitzcat and the Guardian Award for The Kingdom by the Sea.
The boxed set I'm sharing here features seven of his books;
The Machine Gunners
The Watch House
Fathom Five
The cats of Seroster
A Time of Fire
Stormsearch
Blitzcat
Plot summaries are as printed on the books.
Chas McGill has the second-best collection of war souvenirs in Garmouth, and he desperately wants it to be the best. When he finds a crashed German bomber in the woods with its shiny black machine gun still intact, he grabs his chance. While the police search frantically for the missing gun, Chas and h is friends build a secret fortress...Alone and unhappy in Garmouth, Anne knows the shadows are following her. Spirits of long-dead sailors who won't rest. And from behind its empty windows, the Watch House is watching...Chas McGill has set out to prove that there really is a German spy in wartime Garmouth, sending information to enemy U-Boats. But what started as a bet with his best friend Cem soon goes far beyond a game. Chas's obsessive search for the elusive spy leads him to the most terrible decision of his life...It takes just a few seconds for the German bomber to drop its deadly explosives and disappear into the clouds. But those seconds change Sonny's life for ever. His father leaves home, rage and grief at what has happened driving him to seek revenge on the enemy. Left behind with only his grandparents to look after him, Sonny finds himself pursuing his own dramatic and intensely personal confrontation with the Germans...
The Cats of Seroster; Among the marshes and swamps of medieveal Europe, Cam carried the message that had cost the blacksmith his life. And with it, the blood-stained knife that would never leave his side. When Cam finally reached the Seroster's town, the old Duke was dead - and the great, golden cats were waiting... Blitzcat: She led the way to safety, out of the blazing hell of blitzed Coventry. People touched her for luck; feared her as an omen of disaster. Wherever she went, she changed lives...
Stormsearch; When Tim finds an old model ship washed up on the beach after a magnificent summer storm, he knows he's stumbled upon something special. The tiny vessel has a hidden cargo - a mysterious secret from the past that Tim must try to solve. The boat's lonely journey has lasted over a hundred years - and only Tim can finish its perilous story...The Best of Westall Seven books in slipcase; find it HERE
In other news - this little chap visited our garden last week
We were absolutely delighted. We've lived here for seven years, and although we see squirrels while out walking this is the first one that has paid us a visit. He was quite happy to have his photo taken but didn't stay for long. Having seen no wild life in the garden we've now had a visit from a rabbit, a squirrel a couple of snakes and last year we made room for a wasp nest. It was fascinating to watch the nest grow, and the wasps were no trouble at all. The snakes, on the other hand, were a bit troublesome; they had a habit of hissing at us whenever we tried to dig the garden. I rather hope they don’t come back this year.
Wasp nest 2014
The nest was made from a substance similar to paper that the insects produce by chewing wood into a pulp and sticking it together with saliva. They were busy with the nest through the summer but by the autumn, they were all gone and the nest slowly fell apart.
The Royal Horticultural Society's annual flower show held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea is almost over for another year. We didn't go this time, but we enjoyed the coverage on TV. Yesterday one of the presenters remarked on the huge numbers of visitors despite the inclement weather. I had to smile because earlier in the day I was leafing through "This is London" by M. Sasek and come across this picture;
This is London
But don't worry, most of the time it looks like this;
The Tower of London
St. Paul's Cathedral
The Houses of Parliament
The book features many other famous buildings, but my favourite illustrations are of the people - like this one of The Guards.
or this group of school children
I also like the glimpses of 'old London'
like this famous shop ~
and these Elizabethan houses in High Holborn
The New York Times Book Review, October 18, 1959, perfectly sums up this quirky book.
There are not many words in Miroslav Sasek's This is London, but those few are most memorable...
The colour is magnificent and uninhibited, the draughtsmanship brilliant but unobtrusive (one gradually realizes that these bold, stylized drawings are minutely accurate as well as true in general impression). The humour is characteristic and pervasive but always subordinate. The jokes are all pointed. Miroslav Sasek has drawn the visitor's London from foggy arrival to rainy departure. His book is a series of impressions, unrelated, one would think, but they add up to a remarkably complete picture of the modern city. The words and pictures are closely integrated; each has it terse style and humour.
M. Sasek ~ Universe Publishing ~ Originally Published in 1959 ~ New Updated Version 2004
find it HERE
While the Janet and John and Dick and Jane books are probably the primers most of us remember, there were several other, widely used school books that taught thousands of us to read. One such series was the 'reading for meaning' books written by Paul McKee.
Dr. Paul McKee (October 1898 - November 1974) was a university professor, an author of children's books, and was regarded as one of the most eminent scholars in his field. McKee earned a doctorate at the University of Iowa before joining the faculty at the University of Northern Colorado.
Wikipedia
Pictured are four books from the Reading for Meaning series, Book 1 Tip, Book 2 Tip and Mitten, Book 3 With Peter and Susan and Book 4 Up and Away. The ribbon tied books are from The Beacon Reading Series. For information and prices of these and other early readers and school text books, please visit March House Books
I wonder how many of you remember your first day at primary school or kindergarten. I have vivid memories of mine. There were no pre-schools or nurseries in the 1950s so my first day was also the first time I’d spent any time away from home. This was going to be a big day! I knew that because dad took the morning off work even though it was the busiest time of the year for a farmer. Mum dressed up in her Sunday best, and made sure I was wearing clean socks and knickers! When we arrived at the school dad declined to get out of the car even though he was wearing his ‘good’ suit. So it was left to mum to half drag, half carry me through the double doors of a terrifyingly large building.
Once inside we were met by a scary looking woman who quickly ushered mum out with the words “come along mother time to leave". I decided there and then that this thing called school wasn't for me, but a firm grip on my shoulder prevented my escape! I don’t think I've ever felt quite as lost as I did in those first few hours, but it wasn't long before I was into the swing of things. I loved sitting at my desk pencil in hand busy ‘doing sums’ or sitting on the floor with the other children listening to the teacher reading stories. I soon began to recognise the simple words in the Janet and John books and the Beacon Readers, but I don’t have any recollection of actually learning to read. Do you remember your first day at school or the first book you read?
The Beacon Reading Series background design courtesy of our little granddaughter Lilly.
Lilly will be three in May so no school just yet,
but her big sister Zoe started at kindy (nursery school) earlier this year. Just two days a week at the moment, here she is on her first morning happy and excited to be going.
This photo makes me smile, the frozen backpack is almost as big as Zoe.
Just to round things off, this is me with my dad and my older brother and sister. I’m not sure of the date, but I would guess September 1953 just before the start of the new school year and my first term. My brother and sister are quite a bit older than me so by the time I started at primary school they had already moved on to seniors.
Thanks for looking.
I hope you enjoy this quick preview. If you would like to ask a question or need further information about any of the featured books, please click on the 'email me' link in the right-hand column.
Noah's Ark published by Valentine & Sons undated but c1921. All kinds of well known and not so well known creatures are depicted including a Quadda, Caracal, Puma, Ounce, Phalanger, Ratel, Albatross, Secretary bird, Cavy, Cassowary, Margay, Ichneumon, Mangue, Sasyure and so on.
Strangely, none of the animals are in pairs.
Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp published by Faber & Faber, London 1981. The story of Aladdin and his lamp brought to life with amazing full colour illustrations by the brilliant Errol le Cain.
The Church Mouse by Graham Oakley published by Macmillan Books in 1977. The story begins in the Anglican Church of Saint John, Worthlethorpe where Sampson the cat and Arthur the mouse live a quiet and happy life. Sampson has listened to so many sermons about the meek being blessed that he has grown quite docile and treats Arthur just like his brother. Although enjoying Sampson's company Arthur is a little lonely and with the approval of the parson invites the rest of the town's mice population to move to the church. It's agreed that in exchange for a little cheese, the mice will do a few odd jobs, like polishing the congregation's shoes and picking up the confetti after weddings...
The Amazing Adventures of Two Boots written by Ross Lyntonwith illustrations by Brenda Sheldon published by Collins in 1948. An imaginative tale of two boots who discover they can walk about by themselves. The boots are in great demand by all sorts of people, from message boys to policemen, but one person is too wily for them. This is the owner of a circus; a cruel man called Boiler Brown, who manages to catch the boots and force them to perform in his show.
Mr. Happy at the Seaside - A Mr. Men Word Book by Roger Hargreaves produced by Thurman Publishing in 1979. Our son grew up with the Mr. Men books so this holds lots of happy memories for us.
Three of the ever popular Little Grey Rabbit Books
Gobbliwinks of Nonsense Land written by Leslie M Oyler with illustrations by Savile Lumley published by The Shoe Lane Publishing Company undated but c1927. Pamela and Hugh are playing in the garden when they notice a sign pointing to Nonsense Land. Pamela finds it very funny because nurse is always telling her to stop talking nonsense! The children follow the sign and it’s not long before they find three more signs pointing the way to Absurd Nonsense, Stuff and Nonsense and Utter Nonsense...
We've been enjoying lots of lovely spring sunshine over the last few days. The blackbirds are busy feeding their new brood, and the butterflies are basking on the rockery. Spring has definitely arrived in this part of England. I hope you are all enjoying some nice weather whatever the season.
Packing book orders is all part of the day at March House Books. You might think it’s not a particularly rewarding thing to do, but I don’t agree. I'm not sending ‘just’ a book I'm sending a parcel of memories as these letters from customers clearly show;
Hi Barbara, I used to read this story when I was a little girl, at my Grandparents house in Shoreham-by-Sea. I've been searching for a copy for a couple of years, and now finally I can share one of my memories with my little boy!
Hello Barbara, talk about nostalgia! I chose this book as I was seven years old at Christmas 1957 when Annuals came out. I had the Jack and Jill comic until I progressed to Bunty and Judy. There are a couple of stories in the book I remember vividly so I must have read this before. That was the idea, but don't ask me what I ate yesterday!!
Hi Barbara, thank you for the delivery of my book it was packaged beautifully and arrived within days. It was a book that my 70 year old dad had as a boy and has been looking for ever since so we were very happy!
Just to let you know that the book arrived this morning. It is intended as a present for an elderly friend who has sought this treasured story from her past for a long time. I know she will be delighted with this lovely edition!
Thank you to everyone who takes the time to write, email or phone, the sharing of memories is such a joy.
Packing books also gives me plenty of thinking time and what could be nicer than thinking about where the books are going. Something I find surprising is how often a book title appears to suit its new home.
As in the case of The Old woman and her pig now residing at Home Farm
and this to Sunrise Cottage!
Where else would I send Merry England but to The Manor House?
Can you guess where I sent this?
Why to Longbrook Street, of course!
It's true, and it happens over and over again. Just in the last couple of weeks I've sent The Woodland Gospels to Church Lodge, The Wicked Tricks of Till Owlyglass to The Old Malt House and The Adventures of the Wishing Chair (Climb aboard for a marvellous adventure) to Mount Street.
It would be nice to think these two newly listed books might end up at Warren Halt and Windsor Castle!
I live at Old Station Gardens so this is perfect for me.
What title is perfect for you either because it has something in common with your name or where you live or just because you love it?
Newly listed books will be found at March House Books
Sometimes simple things are the best. Like scrambled eggs and butter toast,
a tomato sandwich or a cup of soup, simply designed illustrations can be just what is needed. But simple is a misnomer here. While the illustrations below may look simple, a lot of time, planning and expertise went into the final product.
Henri's Walk to Paris by Saul Bass
From Sparkle And Spin by Paul Rand
I Can Count by Dick Bruna
From Monsieur Bussy, The Celebrated Hamster,
Illustrated by Annick Delhumeau
From I Want to Be a Coal Miner
Little Oleg by Margaret and John Court
A Cat Can't Count by Blossom Budney, illustrated by William Wondriska
space alphabet by Irene Zacks, pictures by Peter P. Plasencia
This post also appears on my group writing blog, Route 19 Writers.
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| Illustration by Arthur Rackham for Wagner, Richard (translated by Margaret Amour) (1911). Siegfried and the Twilight of the Gods. London: William Heinemann, New York: Doubleday. Public domain image obtained through Wikimedia Commons via Haukurth |
Over the years, children's books have battled many dragons: censorship; competition from TV, video games, the internet, etc.; slashed library and school book budgets; changes in bookselling; changes in publishing. Oh! And horrid picture books by celebrities.
They sometimes emerge from these battles a bit singed or bloodied, but emerge they do.
Then a few years ago, another threat quietly crept into the children's book world and threatened catastrophe, especially for libraries and fans of vintage books. In 2008, in the wake of recalls of popular toys (made in China) for high lead levels, Congress nearly unanimously passed a law intended to protect children: the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). This law, among other things, required that ALL children's products aimed at kids 12 and under be tested and certified to be (basically) lead-free. Lead is a known neurotoxin and children are especially vulnerable.
Sounds like a good idea, right? Well, the devil is in the details, and unfortunately the law failed (among other flaws) to exempt zillions of products that pose no significant threat to children. Like books. Which have NEVER been implicated in a single case of lead poisoning.
Not only did the law require expensive testing of each of the components of new books (which would have driven up the cost with no increased benefit to kids), it was retroactive, requiring testing and certification of previously published books. Here's why this was terrible for libraries and used books:
- Testing is terrifically expensive (and hard to obtain) and libraries and used sellers were required to test every children's book in their collections or for sale.
- The mandated testing is destructive testing - which means after submitting a book for testing, the library or bookstore would no longer have the book to circulate or sell.
To make things even worse, the Consumer Product Safety Commission discovered that a handful of children's books published before 1984 contained lead in excess of the new stringent limits. In some colors. On some pages. Never mind that a child would have to
eat hundreds of books before raising his blood lead level noticeably, the law was inflexible, and the CPSC banned the sale or distribution to children of books printed before 1984.
Fearing lawsuits, some libraries and many used sellers did remove older books from their shelves. But the reason your local library may not have a nearly empty children's department is that the CPSC has issued a variety of stays of enforcement and temporary exemptions (plus there are bunch of feisty and renegade librarians out there) - but all these stays and exemptions were set to expire at the end of this year. And every attempt to amend the law or repeal it has failed.
Until this week!
Here's the start of the
0 Comments on Children's Books Spared from Lead Law's Axe! Hooray! as of 1/1/1900
Where Did I Come From?
written by Peter Mayle
Illustrated by Arthur Robins
Designed by Paul Walter
Lyle Stuart, 1973
I had this book when I was little. Is it actually how I learned where babies come from? Probably not, but that doesn't mean it didn't teach me a thing or two about the mechanics. Still in print after 38 years, if you're looking for a book to show your little one about the birds and the bees, there is no other. At least, no other that tells the story with such wit and candor and awesomely silly illustrations of naked people. I can't think of a better way to introduce your child to all those things you are probably too embarrassed to talk about.
This book is all about you.
We wrote it because we thought you'd like to know exactly where you came from, and how it all happened.
The blurb on the back of my 1979 printing from Dr. Spock reads: I give this book top grades for humanness and honesty. Some parents will find that its humorousness helps them over the embarrassment. Others may be offended.
Needless to say, my son hasn't yet had the honor of perusing these pages, but I do keep it handy for when the day finally arrives. Everything is confronted here. The facts of life uncensored. Describing the "you know what" as a sneeze... It feels a bit like this, but much better. Ha! Slang names for body parts. Eggs and their buddies the sperm. Breast feeding. Nothing is left to chance and all the mystery is wiped away. (Visit my tumblr site for an uncensored scan.) Eighty thumbs up. A classic.
(Gotta love these end pages.)
3 Comments on "Where Did I Come From?", last added: 1/26/2011
So true Jil, simple is sometimes the best option. Making something look simple is often the difficult part. Love the blog.
Thanks Craig, I always appreciate your comments.
I agree with you! A cover illustration must be...incisive! I love these vintage covers!