Tales from the Arabian Nights

Tales from the Arabian Nights

told by Margaret Soifer and Irwin Shapiro

illustrated by Gustaf Tenggren 1957

Look at these glorious pages by Gustaf Tenggren!   He's another Golden Age Illustrator that I greedily collect.  Since most of our books are found at thrift stores and flea markets and used bookshops, his books are buried treasure indeed!

The Lively Little Rabbit

 A Little Golden Book that I couldn't pass up at the thrift store because of the illustrator Gustaf Tenggren.  Best known as an illustrator for Disney during it's Golden Age, his distinctive art always catches my eye.  

The Lively Little Rabbit

Ariane

illustrations by Gustaf Tenggren 1943

In this story a lively little rabbit likes to run and play with his brothers and sisters.  But there is a weasel who would like nothing better than to have a rabbit for breakfast.  After the Lively Little Rabbit gets chased from his home and ends up lost, he meets a wise squirrel and owl who not only help him to get home again but figure out a way to teach that weasel a lesson once and for all!  (I think their plan inspired something similar in the movie "A Bug's Life".)

Snow White (Disney Version)

Fresh off our trip to Disney World I pulled out these books of the Disney version of Snow White.  Gustaf Tenggren was an incredible artist who worked for Walt Disney in the 1930's.  His style was Arthur Rackham-ish and he illustrated a Swedish collection of children's tales in the footsteps of John Bauer.

Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

retold by Cynthia Rylant 2009

pictures by Gustaf Tenggren

 Whether you are a Disney lover or not, the artistic quality of that first animated movie just can't be denied.  Here's a nice journey through how the movie was made in 1938.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and the Making of the Classic Film

Richard Hollis and Brian Sibley 1994

Lingering on our shelves was this hardback Disney's Book Club edition.  I don't know why but the illustrator is not mentioned.  This is too bad because it's obviously the spectacular Sheilah Beckett.  Her pictures have a wonderfully distinctive style.  Our collection of her books is always growing.

Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

illustrated by Sheilah Beckett

Here's a couple shots of the Seven Dwarfs Mine ride at Disney World.  I was pretty enamored with the lanterns!