What Mary Jo Shared

Happy Father's Day!

What Mary Jo Shared

Janice May Udry

pictures by Eleanor Mill 1966

I really like this old Scholastic book about a shy little girl who wants to pick something special to share with her class.  It's cute because she decides to bring her dad in and all of the other children are excited to ask him questions and hear about his own stories of being a little boy. 

A Tale of Tails

A Tale of Tails

Garth Williams 1992

Garth Williams is at it again with this adorable book about tails.  All of his creatures are so cute!

Once There Was a Tree

Once There Was a Tree

Natalia Romanova

pictures by Gennady Spirin 1983

I was recently having a discussion with my friend Margaux about the kinds of art in picture books that thrill us.  (Although we are drawn to different styles, we do have some overlapping tastes- as our children's libraries can attest.)  I really love intricate and detailed drawings.  I'm not a huge fan of abstract or impressionist art.  I like when there are a million details and things to look at.  Gennady Spirin's pictures fit that bill.  His dark and moody paintings are rich with texture and detail.  They compliment this story about what is left of a tree that died in the forest and the different creatures that come to use it and claim it as their own.

A tree belongs to all, because it grows from the earth that is home for all.  

Count Your Way Through Russia

 I always pick up Russian or Latin books when I see them at the thrift store for my oldest daughter (who has a degree in both languages and is teaching Latin now).  It's actually amazing how many I've found over the years.  This one has fun colorful illustrations and teaches how to count.

Count Your Way Through Russia

Jim Haskins

illustrations by Vera Mednikov 1987

Magic Secrets

 I guess you kinda have to be a vintage children's illustrator nerd to really appreciate Talivaldis Stubis.  He was a graphic designer and illustrator and we have a few of his books from the 1960's.  I'm not sure how well the magic tricks in this book would actually work, but I just love it for Stubis' work!

Magic Secrets

Rose Wyler and Gerald Ames

pictures by Talivaldis Stubis 1967

  

Frank Baber's Mother Goose

 

Frank Baber's Mother Goose

illustrated by Frank Faber 1976

Just another Mother Goose from our collection.  This one with illustrations from the 1970's.

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Mary Lee Donovan

illustrated by Brizida Magro 2022

 What an adorable way to tell your child how much you love them!  Brizida Magro illustrates a variety of terms of endearment from around the world.  (I love that "Crevette" is small shrimp and used to refer to toddlers in French!)