No Star Nights

 

No Star Nights

Anna Egan Smucker

paintings by Steve Johnson 1989

I had an older friend who grew up in Pittsburgh and described the cloud that hung over the city from all the steel mills.  This book lyrically describes growing up in a town and landscape dominated by the steel factory.  I can't imagine living in a place where I could never see the stars and the sky was always full of smoke.  

Leonce and Lena

Leonce and Lena

George Buchner

retold by Jurg Amann

illustrated by Lisbeth Zwerger 2013

This beautiful picture book by Lisbeth Zwerger retells a curious love story by Georg Buchner from the 1800's.  A prince and princess, both on a quest for freedom and purpose find each other. 

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.  

One Minute Till Bedtime

 Another great find at the thrift store the other day!  I like this modern collection of short poems,  just right for reading before bed or really any time.  Mostly rhyming, sometimes silly, but purely enjoyable, definitely read them out loud.  The simple artwork by Christoph Niemann adds just the right touch.

One Minute Till Bedtime

selected by Kenn Nesbitt

art by Christoph Niemann 2016

This one especially for Madeleine, my hippo loving girl!

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Leyendas Del Caribe

 I just had to share these awesome illustrations by Jose Francisco Aguirre!  Unfortunately I don't know Spanish, so I'm missing out on all the stories.  They seem to be folktales of various Latin American countries.   Published in 1959 they are peak midcentury with Latin flair and just delectable!

Leyendas Del Caribe

Rafael Morales

illustrated by Jose Francisco Aguirre 1959