Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Leyendas Del Caribe

 I just had to share these awesome illustrations by Jose Francisco Aguirre!  Unfortunately I don't know Spanish, so I'm missing out on all the stories.  They seem to be folktales of various Latin American countries.   Published in 1959 they are peak midcentury with Latin flair and just delectable!

Leyendas Del Caribe
Rafael Morales
illustrated by Jose Francisco Aguirre 1959













Monday, November 18, 2024

ABC and You and Me

ABC and You and Me
Corinna Luyken 2023

Great body book about movement and the ABC's.  The best part is how diverse the illustrations are, showing people of all ages, shapes, sizes, abilities, and colors.  The rhyming words and pictures inspire interaction and sharp eyes will notice the appropriate objects for each letter in the picture (there's a handy key in the back pages).  I'm pretty sure most bodies can't contort into the shapes illustrated, but how fun to try! 














Saturday, November 16, 2024

Edna St. Vincent Millay's Poems Selected for Young People

Edna St. Vincent Millay's Poems
Selected for Young People

drawings by J. Paget-Fredericks 1951

A wonderful collection for children from one of my favorite poets!  













Friday, November 15, 2024

The Midnight Horse

 A little bit spooky, a little bit mysterious, Sid Fleischman's chapter book is short but full of atmosphere.  When an orphaned boy must visit his sinister uncle, he steps into a corrupt plot affecting the townsfolk.  He has the opportunity to save the day and is aided by a mysterious magician.  I liked that the "magic" was a bit ambiguous and that there was a fine happy ending.

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The Midnight Horse
Sid Fleischman
illustrated by Peter Sis 1992









Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Grandpa's Ghost Stories

 Something a little ghoulish, something a little silly, something a little scary just for Halloween.  Included is a wonderful introduction about Jim Flora, a popular graphic artist with a unique style.  He illustrated many album and magazine covers.  Bold, whimsical, outlandish and often bizarre, I think his artwork is incredible! 

Grandpa's Ghost Stories
James Flora 1978

On a dark and stormy night a grandfather tells his grandson a series of stories about skeletons, witches and ghosts. Each one leading into the next more horrible adventure.  Surely they couldn't be true?!