Pete and Johnny to the Rescue

Pete and Johnny to the Rescue

Jorgen Clevin 1974

Interactive books are always fun.  This one has lots of things to look for and questions to answer as you read along.  There's even little stoplights on the pages to remind you to stop and answer the questions!   Pete the elephant goes to school while his friend Johnny stays home and takes care of their house on 14 Flower Street.  But as soon as school ends, Pete knows he has to get a job.  He wants to help people so Pete and Johnny start a Rescue Squad.  Soon they are performing all sorts of helpful tasks around their town.

Elephant end pages!

Baby, Come Out!

Baby, Come Out!
Fran Manushkin
illustrated by Ronald Himler 1972

 This book was in the waiting room at the Birth Center where I had my babies.  It might look odd but it's ultimately a sweet depiction of a pregnant woman and her family eagerly awaiting the birth of her baby.  The baby is content to stay right where she is while her mother goes about her day taking walks and painting.  Her older siblings and grandparents try to entice her out but it's not until her father shows her all the love that is awaiting her that she decides to arrive.  

There's No Such Place As Far Away

There's No Such Place As Far Away

Richard Bach

illustrated by Ron Wegen 1979

 There is a lot of odd "self realization' and metaphysical philosophies (or 1970's mumbo jumbo) in this book, but somehow the pictures, with their detailed bird's eye view and perspective made this one a keeper!

What's in the Dark

What's in the Dark

Carl Memling

pictures by John E. Johnson 1971

 If you have a little one ready for bed, this might be just the book to get them to sleep.  Here the dark is not scary or ominous, it just is the dark.  And here are all the things that are in the dark, like, "The pants you wore today, your shoes, your socks, your T-shirt"  or "Your crayons in a jumbled pile, the new ones, used ones, broken ones- they're in the dark."

"In the dark" is the repetitive refrain and it lends a soft, soothing, almost lullaby-like quality to the text.  I could see this being read with a low and quiet voice while children snuggle under their covers and look at the deep blues and teals and purples of the illustrations. 

Love these 70's endpages!

I just love this artwork!

Frank Baber's Mother Goose

 

Frank Baber's Mother Goose

illustrated by Frank Faber 1976

Just another Mother Goose from our collection.  This one with illustrations from the 1970's.

The Tree House Mystery

The Tree House Mystery

Carol Beach York

illustrated by Reisie Loette 1973

 There's something so warm and nostalgic about these vintage Weekly Reader books.  Just the size, and pictures, and feel of the paper is comfortingly familiar to me!  I completely identify with the parents in this story who have always wanted to move to the country.  Roger isn't so sure about leaving their city home and his best friend, but their new property has woods and a creek and even a tree house!