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This blog features the art in vintage children's picture books. It is for picture book lovers of all ages but is geared toward adults. Information is included on the artist/author. All types of illustrative medium will be included such as watercolor, woodcuts, scratchboard, pen & ink, collage, textiles, acrylics, etc. This blog is for people who enjoy the art in children's picture books, as well as the wonderful stories.
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Today's vintage children's book, The Nest Book, is from 1968 and was written by Kathleen N. Daly and illustrated by Jan Pfloog. Pfloog, (who I don't have any info on at this time) had some serious illustrating skills. It's puzzling to me how information on someone who illustrated many children's books cannot be found on the internet!
The Nest Book
By Kathleen N. Daly
Pictures by Jan Pfloog
Golden Press, New York, 1968
Today's vintage children's book Bring in the Pumpkins was originally titled Hard Scrabble Harvest. I think the first title more accurately depicts the story of
a farmer and his wife who struggle to protect their crops from birds and beasts, as they plant, raise and harvest their crops.
Nice composition on the title pages!
I like all the patterns and repetitions in Ipcar's illustrations.
Bring in the Pumpkins
Written and Illustrated by Dahlov Ipcar
Today's vintage children's book Bring in the Pumpkins was originally titled Hard Scrabble Harvest. I think the first title more accurately depicts the story of
a farmer and his wife who struggle to protect their crops from birds and beasts, as they plant, raise and harvest their crops.
Nice composition on the title pages!
I like all the patterns and repetitions in Ipcar's illustrations.
Bring in the Pumpkins
Written and Illustrated by Dahlov Ipcar
I feel like a curmudgeon for saying this, but what is happening with girl's toys and play costumes? Everything is pink, glitter and bling. I understand many little girls of a certain age love the color pink and go through a princess stage. But it looks to me like a rather disproportionate number of girls toys are promoting limited ideals for girls: be a princess, rock star or a celebrity.
Where is this all going? I don't know. It would take up too much time and space on this post and I'm sure you don't want to read it. But I do like books like this one illustrated by Jack Keats - How Animals Sleep. It's interesting and real life. There. Off my podium. Nuff said.
How Animals Sleep
By Millicent Selsam
Illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats
Scholastic Book Services, 1962
I feel like a curmudgeon for saying this, but what is happening with girl's toys and play costumes? Everything is pink, glitter and bling. I understand many little girls of a certain age love the color pink and go through a princess stage. But it looks to me like a rather disproportionate number of girls toys are promoting limited ideals for girls: be a princess, rock star or a celebrity.
Where is this all going? I don't know. It would take up too much time and space on this post and I'm sure you don't want to read it. But I do like books like this one illustrated by Jack Keats - How Animals Sleep. It's interesting and real life. There. Off my podium. Nuff said.
How Animals Sleep
By Millicent Selsam
Illustrated by Ezra Jack Keats
Scholastic Book Services, 1962
Today's vintage children's books is Once A Mouse..., illustrated in woodcuts by Marcia Brown. Once A Mouse is an old fable from India about a mouse rescuedby a hermit with magical powers. The moral is about greed and where that can get you...
Once A Mouse...
A Fable Cut in Wood
By Marcia Brown
Charles Scribner's Sons, 1961
Today's vintage children's books is Once A Mouse..., illustrated in woodcuts by Marcia Brown. Once A Mouse is an old fable from India about a mouse rescuedby a hermit with magical powers. The moral is about greed and where that can get you...
Once A Mouse...
A Fable Cut in Wood
By Marcia Brown
Charles Scribner's Sons, 1961
Rumpelstiltskin
Retold By Edith H. Tarcov
Pictures by Edward Gorey
Scholastic Books, 1973
Rumpelstiltskin
Retold By Edith H. Tarcov
Pictures by Edward Gorey
Scholastic Books, 1973
I'm a big fan of Textile art in children's picture books. These type of illustrations comprise a small percentage of children's books, which makes them even more special.
One artist who does this type of work is Clare Beaton. Beaton, who says she has always had a love of Folk Art, handstitches her illustrations. She works with felt and vintage buttons, trims and fabrics to create her textile art.
It seems redundant to say so, but make sure to click on the pictures so you can see them full size. I size the images larger so you can see all the detail and appreciate the details.
Awhile back I did a post back on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs illustrated by Textile artist Belinda Downes. This is one of my favorite illustrations in the book, love that curving row of beds!
Salley Mavor's unique talent and skill is immediately evident the first time you
open one of her many books. I enjoy looking at this book, it is a pleasure and
inspiration, just so well done.
Jeannie Baker's Polar is another book I blogged about with textile art illustrations. I think the sweet charm of this book would be especially appealing to little children. Her work has evolved and changed much since this book.
On another note, I haven't posted as much lately, due to working and personal matters. I hope to change this before too long and settle into a routine with more regular posting. So please bear with me, I'm not giving up the ship, just on a bit of a detour!
I'm a big fan of Textile art in children's picture books. These type of illustrations comprise a small percentage of children's books, which makes them even more special.
One artist who does this type of work is Clare Beaton. Beaton, who says she has always had a love of Folk Art, handstitches her illustrations. She works with felt and vintage buttons, trims and fabrics to create her textile art.
It seems redundant to say so, but make sure to click on the pictures so you can see them full size. I size the images larger so you can see all the detail and appreciate the details.
Awhile back I did a post back on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs illustrated by Textile artist Belinda Downes. This is one of my favorite illustrations in the book, love that curving row of beds!
Salley Mavor's unique talent and skill is immediately evident the first time you
open one of her many books. I enjoy looking at this book, it is a pleasure and
inspiration, just so well done.
Jeannie Baker's Polar is another book I blogged about with textile art illustrations. I think the sweet charm of this book would be especially appealing to little children. Her work has evolved and changed much since this book.
On another note, I haven't posted as much lately, due to working and personal matters. I hope to change this before too long and settle into a routine with more regular posting. So please bear with me, I'm not giving up the ship, just on a bit of a detour!
I'm turning once again to my trusty Childcraft Library which is chock full of great vintage illustrations from many beloved illustrators of the past.
The combination of photograph and illustration is kitschy and sweet. I have to say as the mother of four that I don't recall many photographic moments like this lol. Illustration by Eloise Wilken and photo from Tell City Chair Company.
This one isn't too hard to guess. Pen and ink work by Garth Williams with his distinctive gentle animals and characters.
This one I wouldn't have guessed. My first thought was Feodor Rojankovsky as the illustrator, but it's not. Anyone care to guess?
I also wouldn't have been able to guess this one, though I love his work. The illustrator is Nicolas Mordvinoff.
Illustrator is Eraldo Carugati - anyone familiar with this artist?
Artwork by Hope Taylor from Highway, Byway and City Rhymes
Art by Vladimir Bobri
Wonderful illustration by Maurice Sendak
The distinctive work of Virginia Lee Burton
Illustrator Ezra Jack Keats
The Little Land
When at home alone I sit,
And am very tired of it,
I have just to shut my eyes
To go sailing through the skies--
To go sailing far way
To the pleasant Land of Play.
By Robert Louis Stevenson
To view images from the above posts on Pinterest, go here.
Childcraft
The How and Why Library
Volume 1, Poems and Rhymes
Field Enterprises Educational Corporation
1972 Edition
I'm turning once again to my trusty Childcraft Library which is chock full of great vintage illustrations from many beloved illustrators of the past.
The combination of photograph and illustration is kitschy and sweet. I have to say as the mother of four that I don't recall many photographic moments like this lol. Illustration by Eloise Wilken and photo from Tell City Chair Company.
This one isn't too hard to guess. Pen and ink work by Garth Williams with his distinctive gentle animals and characters.
This one I wouldn't have guessed. My first thought was Feodor Rojankovsky as the illustrator, but it's not. Anyone care to guess?
I also wouldn't have been able to guess this one, though I love his work. The illustrator is Nicolas Mordvinoff.
Illustrator is Eraldo Carugati - anyone familiar with this artist?
Artwork by Hope Taylor from Highway, Byway and City Rhymes
Art by Vladimir Bobri
Wonderful illustration by Maurice Sendak
The distinctive work of Virginia Lee Burton
Illustrator Ezra Jack Keats
The Little Land
When at home alone I sit,
And am very tired of it,
I have just to shut my eyes
To go sailing through the skies--
To go sailing far way
To the pleasant Land of Play.
By Robert Louis Stevenson
To view images from the above posts on Pinterest, go here.
Childcraft
The How and Why Library
Volume 1, Poems and Rhymes
Field Enterprises Educational Corporation
1972 Edition
This past winter I went on a reading jag. One of the books I read was by Nathaniel Philbrick called Revenge of the Whale. Although this book was adapted for young people from In The Heart of The Sea, A New York Times Best Seller, and longer version of the book. I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone younger than 13, some of the subject matter is very gruesome.
Revenge of the Whale is a true story about one of the most well known maritime disasters of the 19th century - the sinking of the Whaleship Essex by an enraged sperm whale in 1821. It was this horrific event that inspired Herman Melville to write Moby-Dick.
I've never read Moby Dick, but have seen it in movie form, one with actor Gregory Peck and the other with William Hurt. (Seeing photos from the two different movies makes me want to watch them again.)
I think my interest in whaling days sparked when I posted a book here called Whaling Days, written by Carol Carrick and illustrated by David Frampon.
I hope to rescan this book, was having trouble with my scanner at the time and the images are a little washed out. To view this post click here.
Beneath the Sea, illustrated by Rockwell Kent
Whales are truly majestic creatures.
To view links to the above photos and more images of Whales, Whalers and Whaling Art, go to my pinterest page.
This past winter I went on a reading jag. One of the books I read was by Nathaniel Philbrick called Revenge of the Whale. Although this book was adapted for young people from In The Heart of The Sea, A New York Times Best Seller, and longer version of the book. I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone younger than 13, some of the subject matter is very gruesome.
Revenge of the Whale is a true story about one of the most well known maritime disasters of the 19th century - the sinking of the Whaleship Essex by an enraged sperm whale in 1821. It was this horrific event that inspired Herman Melville to write Moby-Dick.
I've never read Moby Dick, but have seen it in movie form, one with actor Gregory Peck and the other with William Hurt. (Seeing photos from the two different movies makes me want to watch them again.)
I think my interest in whaling days sparked when I posted a book here called Whaling Days, written by Carol Carrick and illustrated by David Frampon.
I hope to rescan this book, was having trouble with my scanner at the time and the images are a little washed out. To view this post click here.
Beneath the Sea, illustrated by Rockwell Kent
Whales are truly majestic creatures.
To view links to the above photos and more images of Whales, Whalers and Whaling Art, go to my pinterest page. 
Love these vintage ABC cards illustrated by Brian Wildsmith, one of my all time favorite scores at a rummage sale! To see the rest of the set go to my Brian Wildsmith Pinterest Board.
Love these vintage ABC cards illustrated by Brian Wildsmith, one of my all time favorite scores at a rummage sale! To see the rest of the set go to my Brian Wildsmith Pinterest Board.
What is one of the coolest bridges in the world? It would have to be the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang, Vietnam. Recently unveiled, this bridge spans 1864 feet and not only looks like a dragon, it breathes fire and spouts water for special occasions. More than 2500 LED lights illuminate the dragon bridge at night.
The Dragon Bridge was built to commemorate the 38th anniversary of the capture of Da Nang by North Vietnamese during the final days of the Vietnam War and is a wonder to behold.
The perfect bridge to write about in a children's picture book!
What is one of the coolest bridges in the world? It would have to be the Dragon Bridge in Da Nang, Vietnam. Recently unveiled, this bridge spans 1864 feet and not only looks like a dragon, it breathes fire and spouts water for special occasions. More than 2500 LED lights illuminate the dragon bridge at night.
The Dragon Bridge was built to commemorate the 38th anniversary of the capture of Da Nang by North Vietnamese during the final days of the Vietnam War and is a wonder to behold.
The perfect bridge to write about in a children's picture book!
My Dear Readers,
I've been blogging since May 2010 and have enjoyed sharing my passion: the art and artists of vintage children's books, with you. The time has come to try and earn a bit of income from The Art of Children's Picture Books, as I can no longer justify the time without doing so.
My first affiliation is with ModCloth. I really like their fresh and modern take on vintage inspired clothing, shoes and accessories.. Recently some of their dresses have been on The Carrie Diaries, a spinoff of Sex and the City (which I loved!).
ModCloth also has a blog you can follow, The ModCloth Blog and a Style Gallery where you can upload outfit photos, view and share photos and shop different looks.
My Dear Readers,
I've been blogging since May 2010 and have enjoyed sharing my passion: the art and artists of vintage children's books, with you. The time has come to try and earn a bit of income from The Art of Children's Picture Books, as I can no longer justify the time without doing so.
My first affiliation is with ModCloth. I really like their fresh and modern take on vintage inspired clothing, shoes and accessories.. Recently some of their dresses have been on The Carrie Diaries, a spinoff of Sex and the City (which I loved!).
ModCloth also has a blog you can follow, The ModCloth Blog and a Style Gallery where you can upload outfit photos, view and share photos and shop different looks. 
The last week has been eventful, well kind of. Last Sunday I cooked Easter dinner for 18. Monday I rested. Tuesday I quit smoking. Wednesday I got sick. Since then I've been sleeping and laying around, turning into a blob. I'm starting to get bored, which I'll take as a sign of getting better. And for once getting sick was a blessing, it helped with the first few difficult days of nicotine withdrawl.
In The Quitting Deal written by Tobi Tobias and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, mother and daughter both have habits to quit. They make a deal to quit together and to help each other.
Holy Cow! How many vintage children's books do you see with a mother smoking while nursing, not to mention with other children and pets?! This
book is from 1975, but even so...
Trina Schart Hyman was influenced by the Brandywine era of artists such as Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac. You can see this influence in her work, but she was also very contemporary and didn't shy away from illustrations that other's might not find acceptable.
Mother and daughter test several ideas: the holding hands cure, the talking cure, the candy cure, the comforting cure, the penny cure, the food cure and the next to last cure.
What I like about this book (besides the fact that Trina Schart Hyman illustrated it) is how the family lovingly supports each other. No blame, no guilt, no anger.
They understand for a person to truly quit an addiction, they need to do it on their own.
We don't get the requisite happy ending in this book either. Just a strong message of hope and support.
The Quitting Deal
By Tobi Tobias
Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
The Viking Press, 1975
To read about Trina Schart Hyman:
The last week has been eventful, well kind of. Last Sunday I cooked Easter dinner for 18. Monday I rested. Tuesday I quit smoking. Wednesday I got sick. Since then I've been sleeping and laying around, turning into a blob. I'm starting to get bored, which I'll take as a sign of getting better. And for once getting sick was a blessing, it helped with the first few difficult days of nicotine withdrawl.
In The Quitting Deal written by Tobi Tobias and illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, mother and daughter both have habits to quit. They make a deal to quit together and to help each other.
Holy Cow! How many vintage children's books do you see with a mother smoking while nursing, not to mention with other children and pets?! This
book is from 1975, but even so...
Trina Schart Hyman was influenced by the Brandywine era of artists such as Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac. You can see this influence in her work, but she was also very contemporary and didn't shy away from illustrations that other's might not find acceptable.
Mother and daughter test several ideas: the holding hands cure, the talking cure, the candy cure, the comforting cure, the penny cure, the food cure and the next to last cure.
What I like about this book (besides the fact that Trina Schart Hyman illustrated it) is how the family lovingly supports each other. No blame, no guilt, no anger.
They understand for a person to truly quit an addiction, they need to do it on their own.
We don't get the requisite happy ending in this book either. Just a strong message of hope and support.
The Quitting Deal
By Tobi Tobias
Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
The Viking Press, 1975
To read about Trina Schart Hyman:
Here we are with part two of the first edition of The Wonderful Wizard of OZ. The resource for these images is The Library of Congress in the Digitized Print Materials from The Rare Book and Special Collections Room. Anyone can access this book and many others. The images are also available in high quality and can be printed out. That means you can print out a book in its entirety to read, use as a resource or even print out an illustration to frame. Nice!
W.W. Denslow's seahorse signature was famous. Incidentally, L. Frank Baum and Denslow had a disagreement over copyright issues, ending their work arrangement and Denslow did not illustrate any more of the Wizard of OZ books.
The Wonderful Wizard of OZ
Written by L. Frank Baum
Illustrated by W.W. Denslow
Published 1900 by G.M. Hill Co.
Here we are with part two of the first edition of The Wonderful Wizard of OZ. The resource for these images is The Library of Congress in the Digitized Print Materials from The Rare Book and Special Collections Room. Anyone can access this book and many others. The images are also available in high quality and can be printed out. That means you can print out a book in its entirety to read, use as a resource or even print out an illustration to frame. Nice!
W.W. Denslow's seahorse signature was famous. Incidentally, L. Frank Baum and Denslow had a disagreement over copyright issues, ending their work arrangement and Denslow did not illustrate any more of the Wizard of OZ books.
The Wonderful Wizard of OZ
Written by L. Frank Baum
Illustrated by W.W. Denslow
Published 1900 by G.M. Hill Co.
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