One of my favorite books when I was a kid growing up was the stories told by Jean Ayer in a book entitled “Donald Duck and His Friends”. I spent many hours reading and drawing the illustrations in the book that were from The Walt Disney Studio. Recently I found a copy of this book from 1939 to add to my collection of Children Books. I wonder how many kids still like Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Pluto?
Written by Mary Gilmartin, August 28, 2016
One of my old children’s books, Happy Days with our Friends, is a student’s book that was published by Scott, Foresman and Company in 1954. It’s a Primer in health and personal development geared toward the six-year old. The illustrations on pages 30-31 remind me of when I helped my Mother with the laundry when I was that age. And, yes, we had a washing machine that looked just like that one illustrated in this book.
Written by Mary Gilmartin, November 2, 2015
Among my collection of vintage primers and first readers for children I came across one from 1913 called “Child Life, A First Reader.” Except for a few torn pages mended with tape, now turned brown, and some water stains the book is still in good condition.I really like this old book not only for the writing; but, for the beautifully illustrated drawings. (see illustrations below)
Written by Mary Gilmartin, June 7, 2015
Many of the earliest books for authors dating back before the 1900s are now becoming hard to find, but, fortunately a couple of years ago I found one with interesting illustrations dated 1882.
Will Carleton (1845-1912) born in rural Lenawee County, Hudson, Michigan was an American Poet and probably best known for his poems about rural life. In 1869, he graduated from Hillsdale College and delivered on that occasion the poem, Rifts in the Cloud. His poem “Over the Hill to the Poor House” in 1872 was about developing the plight of the aged and those with indifferent families. This piece captured national attention and catapulted Carleton into literary prominence—a position he was to hold the rest of his life as he continued to write and to lecture from coast to coast.
The above illustration depicts the harvesting of peaches, but it reminds me of the apple orchard on a farm where I grew up.
Written by Mary Gilmartin, May 5, 2015
Today in my vast collection of books I found an interesting 1969 edition by the Weekly Reader Children’s Book Club.
“We Were Tired Of Living In A House” was written by Liesel Moak Skorpen, a German born author, and illustrated by Doris Burn who always wanted to live on an island. I think the illustrations made by Doris Burn are great. Even though I never created a home in a tree or lived in a cave when I was a child, I did spend many hours outdoors creating a magical childhood filled with play and imagination. And, afterwards I always returned to the best place to live and that was “in a house”.
Written by Mary Gilmartin, April 7, 2015
