"A Child's Garden of Verses" by Robert Louis Stevenson. This book has never gone out of print since its original publication in 1885.
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| front cover, illustration by Willy Pogany, 1915 |
As a child, I knew, and loved, "Treasure Island." As a grownup child, I've discovered another treasure -- Stevenson's bitter-sweet tender poetry.
The vintage illustrations are stunning. It's wonderful and a bit eerie to find kids of today stare at you from the page. Clothes change, nothing else does. This boy looks so much like my son:
Give a gift. To someone, or yourself. To a little child, or a grownup one. Get this book.
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| title page detail, illustration by Margaret Tarrant, n.d. |
The classic illustrated edition conceived and collected by Cooper Edens and published by Chronicle Books is beyond beautiful. Everything about it--the dust jacket, binding, paper--heirloom quality.
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| p.67 detail, illustration by Jessie Willcox Smith, 1905 |
The vintage illustrations are stunning. It's wonderful and a bit eerie to find kids of today stare at you from the page. Clothes change, nothing else does. This boy looks so much like my son:
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| p.77 detail, illustration by Florence Edith Storer, 1909 |
Give a gift. To someone, or yourself. To a little child, or a grownup one. Get this book.
"Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing Ever a child can do!"
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| back cover, illustration by Maria L. Kirk, 1919 |
Live for the Love of it,
Sasha A. Palmer (aka Happy)
He was my favorite childhood poet!What a gorgeous book! I own the version illustrated by Thomas Kincade and inside the front cover-flap is this Chinese proverb; a book is like a garden carried in a pocket.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall reading these in Russian. There must be a translation, though. Just missed it somehow when growing up.
DeleteThank you for the proverb :)
Have you seen this wonderful lullaby book:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/The-Babys-Bedtime-Book-Chorao/dp/0525441492
I've been singing these lullabies to Little Miss for nap time :)
"A collection of bedtime poems that can be read in one sitting and will so soothe as to preclude further requests" -- love this testimonial from Parents' Choice, written by a sleep-deprived parent, no doubt :)
DeleteNo, Jules, haven't seen this one, thank you very much for the tip. Little Miss is a lucky girl indeed.