Album of Dogs

Album of Dogs

Marguerite Henry

illustrated by Wesley Dennis 1970

 I never knew I was a dog person until we got our golden-doodle Molly!  I have always loved Rosie and our past cats, S'more, Gingersnap and Marshmallow (he was the greatest of cats!) and of course Benji our bunny, but there is just something about a dog!  This album of dogs has the best pictures and Marguerite Henry (of all those classic horse stories) provides the text.  There's history about each breed told in a fun storybook way.

O Ye Jigs and Juleps!

O Ye Jigs and Juleps!

Virginia Cary Hudson

 This collection of sweet and humorous stories was written when Virginia Cary Hudson was 10 years old in 1904 and then published in 1962.   They are silly and charming and have a hint of Eloise to them.  There is some outdated language and sentiments that as a modern reader it's hard not to notice and be sensitive to.  But the stories (partly true and embellished) are pure childhood glee- playing baptism in the neighbor's rain barrel or recommended etiquette in church ("Never punch people in church, or giggle or cross your legs).  The book is filled with the kind of funny observations that children make, "Strolling is walking slow and easy like getting married.  I guess walking slow getting married is because it gives you time to maybe change your mind."   There's a cast of characters from the Bishop to Mrs. Harris and her fancy kin, all harkening back to that simpler era.

Poetry for Young People Edna St. Vincent Millay

 This is a great series to collect to introduce children to some famous poets.  (Edna St.Vincent Millay being one of my favorites!)

Poetry for Young People

Edna St. Vincent Millay

edited by Frances Schoonmaker

illustrated by Mike Bryce 1999

Other Poetry for Young People

William Carlos Williams

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