Dazzle Ships

 Even Chris was taken with this book and the true story it tells of the ships that were painted with dazzling designs during World War I.  It was a crazy idea born out of desperation to stop the deadly German U-boat attacks that were crippling Britain.  It's a fascinating story that combines history and art and warfare and ships and gives the reader the desire to learn more.  There's a timeline, actual photographs and an informative author and illustrator's note in the back pages.  It was also fun to learn the role that women artists played in painting the ships those outrageous designs.  

Dazzle Ships

Chris Barton

illustrated by Victo Ngai 2017

Special Delivery

Special Delivery

Valjean McLenighan

illustrated by Richard Brown 1980

As a child of the 80's, Sesame Street (and the Muppets) were an important part of my little life!  These Sesame Street books were published as a whole collection and I remember having them in my elementary school and the church preschool rooms.  They're not anything groundbreaking, but the nostalgic pleasure of them can't be underestimated!  I've hung on to this one because it features Prairie Dawn as a delivery girl and aside from children's books, sending letters and packages through the mail is a great passion of mine!  The story is classic silly Sesame street, showcasing various modes of transportation as Prairie Dawn manages to get a "very important" package from Ernie to Bert.

Cities

 The graphics in this book are just wonderful!  I especially loved the Tokyo page having actually been to that city last summer.  Books like this with little tidbits of information are always popular in our house.

Cities

Manon Bucciarelli 

translated by Josephine Murray 2025

The New Golden Encyclopedia

The New Golden Encyclopedia

Dorothy A. Bennet

illustrated by Cornelius DeWitt 1964

Cornelius DeWitt illustrations in this vintage Golden Book encyclopedia are just fantastic.  This is why I collect vintage picture books!  Some of the style reminds me a bit of the Mexican artist Miguel Covarrubias (who's work I just love!).  Even though the information in these old encyclopedias can be outdated, they are still a really fun way to learn and explore, especially when the pictures, like these are so engaging.

 

What If?

What If?

Helen and Henry Tanous

Pictures by J.P. Miller 1951

A nice little showcase of some Disney artists from the 1950's.  J.P. Miller's work has shown up often in Little Golden Books including one of my favorites, "Doctor Squash".