Booklog Quaint & Curious III

So… the Bumpkins have 13 children, and every Sunday they (have to) go to the beach in a beat up, ill-used jalopy named Hesperus. The kids pile into the car in alphabetical order. This seems important. Soon Hesperus is falling apart, and no longer able to do the hills, so they put a FOR SALE sign on him. For a long time he sits there with people laughing at him. Then Doc Smith comes along…

Hesperus, by Morris Walsh 

This is why we love kids’ books. They restore our faith in happy endings. And the books we loved as children we seem to never forget. This week, we’re taking a look at some our delightful vintage children’s books.

Lassie and the Daring Rescue
A Little Golden Book, and a 1^st printing. Of course, you already know the story. Somebody’s up a creek. Somebody’s down the well. And the last page: a large sign posted on a tree – NO DOGS ALLOWED ON THIS PROPERTY. EXCEPT LASSIE. Published 1956.

 
Walt Disney’s Uncle Remus


Based on the stories by Joel Chandler Harris, this one is a later printing, published 1947. Illustrated by Bob Grant, who did the artwork for a number of the Uncle Remus books. You’ll recognize familiar characters – Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear, Brer Fox. All the usual mischief. And the period jargon – “Wid dat, he prance away, lippity-clippity, laffin’ an laffin’ till he can’t laff any more.”

Here Comes the Jeep

Published 1951 by the Samuel Lowe Company, this charming die-cut board book has movable wheels. Yes, you can drive this book. Enough said.

 
OR…
The Little Fire Engine

Another one from Samuel Lowe, 1953, with a die-cut fire engine on the front board. This tale features a little lesson about bragging, and about teamwork, , and anyway, every little boy loves fire engines, ALWAYS.

 
And since it’s my blog, I get to save my own favorite for last:


The Story of Toby - by Jane Shearer Moore

Published 1950, this is the irresistible tale of a colt who, disappointed by his color, decides to paint himself red. In the end, of course, brown is the happiest color after all. (The eyelashes on this guy will melt your heart.)

These are just a few of the many vintage children’s books we have to offer. We have Raggedy Ann, we have Tasha Tudor, and the occasional early Oz book. And yes, boomers, we have Dick and Jane. Come see us!

Reflections of a Bookstore Cat - Sunshine Edition

Heaven is a sun beam.

Being an indoor cat, you would think that the weather outside doesn't mean that much to me. However, you would be mistaken and I would probably ask that you no longer lump me in with whatever other indoor cats you know. Sunner is the best, (I'm not really sure who came up with the name Summer seeing as it's bright and warm. Must have been a mathematician. Sunner makes much more sense to this cat.)  The windows become the ultimate cat spot for all my watching/napping/sunbathing needs.Also, the floor is lacking the moisture that always follows people's footsteps when they come in on a normal northwestern day. The days get longer, which means more quality window time and more daylight to lounge in. The only drawback is that my internal (eternal?) eating clock gets thrown off, so I have to rely more on my humans to keep track of that.

I also notice that my buddy Dickens is a lot more friendly, maybe we need to get him a sun lamp for the off season. 

 Whatever it may be, the sun always brings out the playful side in me.

Me at my most playful!

  So in honor of it warming up, here are some pictures of some of my buddies cooling down.

What's empty to a human is perfect for a cat

I think he's trying to tell us something

What do you mean I'm hogging all the air?

try to find what doesn't belong in this fridge.....you're right if you said Miller Light.

I think we solved the mice in the water cooler problem.

All right, who's getting in the pool with me? Anyone? Anyone?