Basho and the Fox

A fanciful original story about the great Japanese poet Basho.  (Basho's haiku's are wonderful and make perfect little poems to slip into letters and pockets and lunchboxes.)  

This story has Basho challenged by a fox and given three chances to write a great haiku.  The ending is cute (and it's fun seeing a fox wearing a kimono!)

Basho and the Fox 

Jim Myers

illustrated by Oki S. Han 2000

I also happen to be reading this collection of his travel writing and it's wonderful!

"The moon and the sun are eternal travelers.  Even the years wander on.  A lifetime adrift in a boat, or in old age leading a tired horse into the years, every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home."

-Basho

 

Naughty Soap Song

 Too cute!  This came from The Illustrated Treasurey of Children's Literature (1955)   

The Golden Songbook

 Vintage song book with the most darling illustrations.  Classic collection of all the old favorites with music and lyrics.

The Golden Songbook

Katharine Tyler Wessells

illustrated by Gertrude Elliott 1945

Look at this cute little detail on the cover!  It fooled me at first!

Wonderful end pages!

(Sometimes I sing this little ditty when I suggest we put water on for tea.)

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Hedgerow

Hedgerow

 John T. White

illustrated by Eric Thomas 1980

I forget how this one made it into our collection, but I had fun pulling it out and reading it recently.

"As an historical record and as a nature reserve, there is little dispute that the hedgerow provides the best possible statement of the balance which exists between the work of man and his natural environment. "  -John T. White

Full of the history of the hedgerow and all of the natural plants and trees and animals and birds that inhabit it.  The pictures and text take us through the centuries and seasons. Medieval peasants used the hedgerow for food, fuel and medicine.  The Tudor era saw the landscape changed to titled landowners and the Victorian times had private land divided and developed further.  All of this affected how the hedgerow was grown, maintained, and what biodiversity existed.  Really fascinating!  There is so much good information here about history and plants and animals you almost forget just how beautiful and informative the accompanying pictures are.  

Crow Moon, Worm Moon

Crow Moon, Worm Moon

James Skofield

illustrated by Joyce Powzyk

Winter just gave way to Spring here in our northern hemisphere.  James Skofield's poems are part magic and part nature (how often those two go hand in hand!). 

The Lord's Prayer Heidi Holder

 Another beautiful rendition of The Lord's Prayer with detailed symbolic illustrations by Heidi Holder.  

The Lord's Prayer
illustrated by Heidi Holder 2004

The Lord's Prayer

 A stunning version of the Lord's Prayer by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire from 1934.  The pages and cover have beautiful gold accents that my photos just don't quite capture.

The Lord's Prayer 

pictures by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire 1934

 

(Lovely end pages!)