Maria Krüger

 

Maria Krüger's 'Karolcia' first published in 1959. It is a chapter book with fabulous ink drawings scattered through it. Karolcia is an eight-year-old girl who finds a magical blue bead that fulfils her every wish. The girl and her friend Peter use the bead to spread happiness to other people.

Juliet Kepes II

 

'Five Little Monkey Business' by Juliet Kepes published in 1965, This is a joyous book of fun, the illustrations a mix of colour and black and white spreads are full of energy and great characterful studies of animals. It follows the mischief of five little monkeys causing trouble and then getting into a situation where they need help from those other animals that they have upset.

Helen Borten III

 

Helen Borten's 'Copy Cat', originally published in1962, and republished in 2016 by Flying Eye Books. Helen was born in Philadephia, PA in 1930. She attended the Philadephia Museum College of Art for four years. She is a free lance artist and illustrator of 12 children's books, 'Copy Cat' was her sixth, She lives in New York City. 

Copy Cat tells the story of Algernon Longwhisker the Third, a dissatisfied cat who tries to live up to his illustrious forebears by imitating every other animal on the farm. After failing to make a good rooster,  sheep, squirrel, bird, or tree, Copycat that to be loved, he just has to be himself.

Alice and Martin Provensen V

I am back in a terrible habit of collecting children's books, terrible for my bank, but good for you as you get to see the results of my hoarding. Possibly it is good for me to as it means I am ready to leap into projects I have been brewing. I have to say as time goes on these old picture books are vanishing and it is good to document them. Alice and Martin Provensen are favourites and I bought a couple of historic stories they had illustrated recently, starting with one about Robert Louis Stevenson's Atlantic crossing called 'The Voyage of the Ludgate Hill' by Nancy Willard. published in 1987.

The illustrations are painterly but also strangely flat and seem to reflect the stiffness of Victorian society whilst being full of humour.

Barbara Jones II

 

Almost ten years after it's reprint by Little Toller, I now have a copy of 'Twit and Howlet and the Balloon by Barbara Jones', so I can share many more of the wonderful pen drawings.

While the family argue about the colour on the TV little Twit and Howlet are inspired to build a hot air balloon, and after raiding the library for instructions and then the attic and store they manage to utilised a disused cat trap as a basket and make a patchwork balloon.

Then they set off on a great balloon race. . .

and win!

On they're return with the trophy their family are still arguing about the TV picture, in these times it is a reminder of what can be achieved when you remove yourself from distractions.