The First Snow

It finally happened, the weather we've been waiting for.  Thanks to our cat who tripped the radio alarm at 6 this morning, we were up before the light.  We woke to several inches of snow frosting over the yard and trees and cars. 

So Charlotte and I made a pot of tea (the rest of the house was still dark and sleeping) and we sat in the living room watching the milky sky lighten outside the window.  (Charlotte is feeling much better, by the way, though still fighting sniffles).  By 8:30am Madeleine and Henry were up donning snow pants and boots.  We played out front for a bit and then pulled out the sleds to use in our neighbor's driveway (they're away for the winter).

The First Snow

David Christiana 2001 

Now the house is cozy warm, the snow things are drying and I'm making crepes with ham and cheese and carmelized onions. At naptime we read this book which has interesting water color illustrations. It's a story about when Mother Nature was a little girl and she hated the cold and winter weather. So she convinced Summer to stay and Winter had to find a way to gently usher in his season. In the end he makes a blanket of the finest crystals- the first snow.

A Child's Garden of Verses illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa

I'm home today with a feverish little girl (poor Charlotte).  She's in her fuzzy robe laying on the couch while I feed her toast and warm cups of honey and lemon. 

It's pretty cold outside this morning, so it's just as well that we're snuggled up, taking it easy.  I pulled out our Gyo Fujikawa illustrated version of A Child's Garden of Verses.  I think every house should have a copy of these poems by Robert Louis Stevenson.  They're so classic and wonderful.  I think they'll make for nice soft, cozy reading to Charlotte today.  And as I've mentioned before, Ms. Fujikawa's artwork is some of my favorite.

A Child's Garden of Verses

Robert Louis Stevenson

illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa  1957

For Charlotte who is "sick and lay abed."

The Kitten Who Thought He Was a Mouse

A very cute little storybook Charlotte picked out to read yesterday.  We love love love the pictures by Garth Williams.  Every time Charlotte would see the kitten she would squeal, "ooooooh, he's so cute!"

The Kitten Who Thought He Was a Mouse

Mirjam Norton

illustrated by Garth Williams 1951

ABC Dreams

I don't think you can ever have too many ABC books, especially when they are as wonderful as this one, which was recently given to us by our friend Margaux (of Peg and Awl).

ABC Dreams

Kim Krans

Poor Charlotte just doesn't have a knack for her ABC's yet (Madeleine was well on her way to reading by this age) but she tries so hard and wants to learn her letters. We read this book three times yesterday. Each page has a large over-sized alphabet letter and the surrounding black and white illustrations correspond with that letter. It's almost like a scavenger hunt matching the pictures with their starting sounds. Beautiful illustrations on a sparse background make it a nice graphic art book not just for those of us still learning our alphabet.

And check out Kim's website:  http://www.thewildunknown.com/

Heidi

Heidi

adapted by Florence Hayes

illustrated by Erika Weihs 1946

We have several copies of Heidi. Some are the original story, some are abridged picture-book versions. We just happed to pick this one up to read and Charlotte loved it. It's a shorter version with great vintage pictures. It's not quite in chapter form so we read a couple pages at bedtime and naptime. I think Charlotte loves the character of Heidi (who wouldn't!?) and keeps asking questions about her. 

I remember reading Heidi when I was little and I loved best her bed in the hayloft with the window and the murmuring of fir trees.

The other night when we finished the book we watched the old Heidi movie.  Charlotte looks so much like Shirley Temple with her curly hair and dimples!

Little Miss Late

Little Miss Late

Roger Hargreaves 2008

My sister gave me this book for Christmas. Yes, she knows me so well!  We all love the Mr. Men books. My mother-in-law has a big collection of them from when Chris was a little boy and they lived in England (the author is English). Henry always asked for them and Charlotte loves picking one out for me to read. The drawings are so simple and I think the stories can be sort of odd sometimes, but everyone loves them.

This one, about Little Miss Late is so perfect for me. Thanks for the great present, Abigail.   And my apologies to all the Little Miss Neats who have had to wait, and wait, and wait for me!

Dean Books

The Wonderful Story of Cinderella

illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone 1979

(When I was little this was my favorite picture of Cinderella.)

I've had this Cinderella book since I was a child (I had even written my name in it).  I loved the illustrations, but was never able to find out who the illustrator was.  Through the years I've stumbled upon two more "Dean Board Books".

 Then at the thrift store I struck the jackpot with this large volume of fairy tales.  It turns out the illustrators were twin sisters, Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone, who worked exclusively together.  Their mother was an artist and costume designer, which makes sense because one of the things I love most about these pictures are the clothes and costumes.  I'm feeling that compulsion to start collecting all their books!

A Book of Fairy Tales

illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone

(Madeleine spotted this page and had to read the story.  She loves cats, especially when they're dressed 17th century!)

If anyone has anymore information about these books or the illustrators I'd love to hear it.  Here's a site with some more info and pictures.