Brer Rabbit and His Tricks

The Title Page bookshop in Bryn Mawr, PA

"More of Brer Rabbit's Tricks" was recently found at an awesome used bookshop in Bryn Mawr called "The Title Page".  I had a lunch date with my friend, Margaux and we decided to check it out.  We didn't realize that we were walking into quite a treasure trove!  Edward Gorey's illustrations looked familiar when I pulled this green hardback from the children's section.  Sure enough when I got home I found our first copy.

Brer Rabbit stories are always fun to read because he is the consummate clever trickster.  Each time that he outwits that fox or wolf you can't help but laugh.  

Brer Rabbit and His Tricks

and

More of Brer Rabbit's Tricks

Ennis Rees

illustrated by Edward Gorey 1967, 1968

  

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!

Ladies of Fantasy

Not to brag, but we really do have a great personal library.  Picking books for this blog is sometimes overwhelming because there are just so many great books to pick from.

Ladies of Fantasy

I'm sure this wasn't published as a childrens' book, but it does contain two authors, Joan Aiken, and E. Nesbit who are on our children's bookshelves.

Great selection of stories, all spooky and mysterious, by women writers.  There a nice biographical introduction to each of the stories and of course the Edward Gorey dust jacket (ripped and taped as it is) is splendid.

"Searching for Summer" by Joan Aiken is one of my favorites.  Her story is not disturbing or weird, in fact it's quite sweet, but strange nonetheless.

Other books by Joan Aiken:
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
The Moon's Revenge

You read to me, I'll read to you

I shine for the sea, I shine for the land.
I shine for the frogs when they strike up the band
As they sit in the water all in a line.
Now you tell me- for whom do you shine?
                  (from "A Dream About the Man in the Moon")

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You

John Ciardi 1962

drawings by Edward Gorey

This book of ours is falling apart, the pages falling out one by one. But still we managed to sit up in bed last night and read most of the poems. They're funny and profound, kinda like Shel Silverstein. The drawings are by Edward Gorey- and that's what made me pick up this book in the first place.

 

I read this one especially for Henry: