Tasha Tudor - First Poems of Childhood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a book of poetry with beautiful artwork by Tasha Tudor.  She lived from 1915-2008 and illustrated almost 100 books.  I especially love the poem 'Baby' by George MacDonald here - so beautiful!  Do you have any favourite books of poetry that you read with your kids?

Linking to The Children's Bookshelf

A Child's Garden of Verses - Illustrated by Ruth Ruhman

 

 

 

 

I lovelovelove these illustrations by Ruth Ruhman. This book is one I salvaged from my grandmother's attic.  It is pretty beaten up - scribbled on, missing some pages, and the remaining pages are a bit loose.  I really like A Child's Garden of Verses and I would like to collect some more editions of it by different illustrators - I have my eye on the one by Gyo Fujikawa- I have quite a few of her books but not that one yet- and the one by the Provensens, for example.  I framed a page from this book that is so cute and reminds me of my daughters, and I also made a decoupage frame that included some pics from this book.

Linking to Cozy Book Hop

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod- and other Nursery Rhymes

 

 

 

 

 

I love the Wynken, Blynken, and Nod poem - so beautiful and soothing for bedtime.  Bedtime routines haven't been very peaceful and soothing around here lately though... when my husband is on the night shift, I need to put both girls to bed by myself.  As I'm trying to read a few books with my 5 year old, my 17 month old now likes to try to sit on the book we're reading, grab it and turn the pages, fight with her sister over my lap, etc.  So then I try to get her interested in some toys to distract her... but then the 5 year old wants to play with the toys too!  We've been reading a lot of Dr. Seuss books lately as 5 year old is about to become a 6 year old and we're having a Seuss birthday party this coming weekend.

This video is introduced by Walt Disney, talking about the author of 'Wynken, Blynken, and Nod', Eugene Field.  

Remember "Silly Symphonies"?  So fun!  This next video is Disney's "Silly Symphonies" version of Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

Linking to The Children's Bookshelf

The World of Eric Carle - Part 2

These are some pics from Eric Carle's 'Animals Animals'.  Such a cool book full of poems and artwork.  Look at the first poem - butterflies in the snow - yes that would be a wonderful sight!  We also have Lewis Carroll's 'How Doth the Little Crocodile', and I love this Giraffe poem - 'Because.  Because, because, that's why!' The last picture here is of some pages from The Very Hungry Caterpillar that I mod-podged onto a canvas to put on the walls of my daughter's room.  I love this cheery sun and peaceful moon.

Enjoy this video of Eric Carle discussing his most famous book and his illustration style.

It is a dream of mine to go to this place - The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.  It opened 10 years ago.  The Museum has a collection of more than 10,000 picture book illustrations, 3 art galleries, an art studio, a theatre, educational programs, etc.  It hosts storytimes, art classes, classes for educators, lectures, musicals, and rotating exhibits about different illustrators and book characters - right now there are some about Ezra Jack Keats and Maisy Mouse.  HOW COOL IS THIS PLACE???!!  If I lived in Massachusetts I would totally go there all the time with my kids and if I was still teaching you know I would totally be rocking the class field trips there every year!

Linking to Cozy Book Hop at Reading List
and Kid Lit Blog Hop #2

Silly Willy Nilly Old Bear

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful words from A.A. Milne's When We Were Very Young (yep, some inspiration for my blog title there) and When We Were Six.  My daughter will be turning 6 soon...can't believe it.  A sweet Golden Shape book of Winnie the Pooh here too.  I'm also including a video of Robin the Frog from the Muppet Show singing 'Halfway Down the Stairs', from When We Were Very Young.

I'm linking to Kid Lit Blog Hop #1  at Mother Daughter Book Reviews and Cozy Book Hop

Childcraft - Poems and Rhymes

This  is amazing!  Childcraft is an anthology that was originally created in the 1930's by the publishers of the World Book Encyclopedia.  Some of the other volumes of Childcraft include Stories and Fables, Children Everywhere, World and Space, About Animals, How Things Work, What People Do, Holidays and Customs, Make and Do, etc.  My volume of Poems and Rhymes is a 1975 edition.  It is fantastic to have these beautiful poems, photos, and illustrations all in one place.  Gyo Fujikawa illustrated the 'Trees' poem, Ezra Jack Keats did the gorgeous second-last picture here, and Alice and Martin Provensen did the last one for 'The Owl and the Pussycat'.  So fun!

Linking to The Children's Bookshelf