The New Golden Encyclopedia

The New Golden Encyclopedia

Dorothy A. Bennet

illustrated by Cornelius DeWitt 1964

Cornelius DeWitt illustrations in this vintage Golden Book encyclopedia are just fantastic.  This is why I collect vintage picture books!  Some of the style reminds me a bit of the Mexican artist Miguel Covarrubias (who's work I just love!).  Even though the information in these old encyclopedias can be outdated, they are still a really fun way to learn and explore, especially when the pictures, like these are so engaging.

 

This World of Ours

 I got to hold my sister's brand new baby and go to an antique mart with my mom (where I found this book!).  If that isn't a great weekend, I don't know what is!

I thought this would be more of a story book or musings about nature, but it's in fact a kind of science book teaching about weather and how soil is made and mountains and the air around us.  It's a thicker Little Golden Book with more pages, but all the better because that means more illustrations by Eloise Wilkin!

This World of Ours

Jane Werner Watson

pictures by Eloise Wilkin 1959

The Jungle Book

No way was I going to pass up this illustrated Jungle Book at the thrift store!  Part of the Golden Press midcentury era of children's books, they are wonderful to find second hand.

The Jungle Book

Rudyard Kipling

illustrations by Tibor Gergely 1963

The familiar Disney story is here, with Mowgli and his adopted wolf family and friends, but I highly recommend reading Kipling's original treatment, it's so much richer and enjoyable.  

A Child's First Book of Poems

A Child's First Book of Poems

pictures by Cyndy Szekeres 1981

Cyndy Szekeres is a illustrator from my childhood.  She makes pictures of sweet furry animals, cozy homes, flowers, children and homey things.  I was pleased to see more than a few Aileen Fisher poems in this collection too.

Lovely endpages!

Have you ever seen a cuter fox?!

And look at this formal fellow!

I thought this illustration was particularly cute to include the drawing hand of the artist.