Men and Gods

 

Men and Gods

Rex Warner 

illustrated by Edward Gorey 2008

Score at the thrift store!  I'm living with two Latin scholars so we're always drawn to classical myths and history.  Not too many of Gorey's illustrations, but the ones included are just what we like!

Nothing At All

This was a new find for me, although we are are certainly familiar with (and love) Wanda Gag's "Millions of Cats".  Here is an adorable tale about three puppies, one of which is invisible, and how they all end up together with a little girl and boy. 

Nothing At All

Wanda Gag

A Child's Garden of Verses illustrated by Tony Brice

A Child's Garden of Verses

Robert Louis Stevenson

illustrated by Tony Brice

These little vintage copies are such a treasure!

Music for the End of Time

Music for the End of Time

Jen Bryant 2005

illustrated by Beth Peck

 Lemony Snicket mentions this story and music in his new book Poison for Breakfast (a fantastic read!).  I immediately called to mind this picture book that ended up on our shelves somewhere along the way.  It wasn't the illustrations that drew me to it, but the true story of Olivier Messiaen, a musician who wrote the piece "Quartet for the End of Time" and performed it as a prisoner of war.  I hate to admit it, but when Charlotte and I listened to the piece after reading the story, we were a little disappointed.  Musically we both didn't care for it!  But the story of his composition is very moving.

Whisperings and Other Things

Whisperings and Other Things

Dahlov Ipcar 1967

This is why I stop at the book section at the thrift store and think 'Let me just take a look..."  I found this lovely collection of Ipcar's light poems with her wonderful illustrations.

The Houdini Box

The Houdini Box

Brian Selznick 2001

A fun imagining of a boy obsessed with magic and inspired by Harry Houdini. 

 

Women's Work Scientific illustration

 If you are a fan of scientific illustration (especially of the antique, natural sciences variety) then these are wonderful references to track down.  Though these aren't "children books", they are a nice supplement to learning about art and science and especially the history of women in these fields.

 Orra White Hitchock created incredible large charts and instructional designs for the classroom and illustrated the work of her geologist and professor husband.  I absolutely love her almost modern-looking graphic designs of geography.

This catalogue is from the Linda Hall Library in Kansas City and contains a wonderful assortment of women illustrators, including Maria Merian.  Being an artist was an acceptable vocation for women of a certain time period.  But it's also neat to see how they were just as interested in the traditionally masculine discipline of observing nature and carrying out experiments and dissections.  And once again I am enamored with the juxtaposition of art and the science and how complimentary they are to each other.