Thursday 28 February 2013

The Children's Zoo

Having recently visited the Adelaide Zoo I thought it might be fun to do a post on all kinds of animal books. A lot has been written and spoken about the more obvious animal characters such as those portrayed by Beatrix Potter or Alison Uttley, but what of the less well known ones. 

Catherine Porter in Collecting modern books states: Initially used mainly as moral emblems, animals come alive to children and can easily and memorably be given different attributes. Animals, whether realistic or anthropomorphised (the act of giving the characteristics of humans to an animal, a God or an inanimate thing) in a natural or make-believe setting, bring home the sense of wonder and variety in the world, two of the most important factors in determining the children’s literature that rises above the norm and proves to be timeless.

I could not have put it better myself!

Children's Zoo with pictures by V. Junek published in 1961. Very pretty book featuring twenty different animals, including hippopotami, giraffes, monkeys and lions, each short descriptive paragraph is accompanied by a full-page colour illustration.

Feed the animals by H. A. Rey published in 1960. With transforming pages (life the flap to reveal the animal underneath).   Told in rhyme - Harry the keeper is ready to bring a bag which is tied at the top with a string. Now WHAT's in the bag, and for WHOM will it be? Just open the flap, and then you will see. Animal lore and disorder by James Riddell published in 1950. Turn over the flaps to join the top half of an animal with the bottom half of another. This produces some weird and wacky animals with strange names like cophant, cog and elemel!

Pookie by Ivy Wallace, published in 1955. Pookie is no ordinary rabbit - Pookie is a little white furry rabbit, with soft floppity ears, big blue eyes, and Wings! Nice early copy. Pookie is now sold, thank you for your interest.  Squire rabbit's adventures by Mary Warden, published in 1946. The Babar Frieze by Laurent de Brunhoff, 1981. The ever-popular Babar and his friends and family appear in this colourful set of friezes, perfect for the nursery.

Ameliaranne at the zoo by by K. L. Thompson 1st edition, 1936. The pretty illustrations are by Susan B. Pearse. One of a series of books published between 1920 and 1950. This is an unusual series as it involves eight different authors working with a single illustrator. Ameliaranne is the oldest daughter of Mrs Stiggins who also has five other children. I assume there must be a Mr. Stiggins but he is not mentioned in any of the books. In this story Ameliaranne looks after the neighbours' pets while they are away on holiday. After a few weeks she has enough money to take her brothers and sisters on a visit to a real zoo.

Battle of the beasts written and illustrated by Diz Wallis published in 1993. Beautifully illustrated story based on the Grimms' tale, the willow wren and the bear.

Billy Monkey a true tale of a Capuchin monkey by Rose Fyleman 1st edition, 1936. Illustrated by Cecil Leslie.  Here come the lions by Alice E Goudey. 1st edition, 1964. Two stories about a family of lions.  Oworo by Rene Guillot published in 1959. The story of Oworo the chimpanzee from his birth on the Ivory Coast.  The illustration in the background is from the little folk’s picture natural history, 1902. It's in damaged condition but is much too beautiful to throw away so it's another that's found a home on my shelves! 

The panda carts were a big hit with Zoe and Lilly. We are always sad when we fly home and leave our family in Australia, but the memories are very special.    

When we went to the Zoo we saw a gnu,
an elk and a whelk and a wild emu.

We saw a hare, and a bear in his lair, 
and a seal have a meal on a high-backed chair.

We saw a snake that was hardly awake,
and a lion eat meat they'd forgotten to bake.

We saw a coon and a baby baboon. 
The giraffe made us laugh all afternoon!

We saw a crab and a long-tailed dab,
and we all went home in a taxi-cab.
Jessie Pope

I've read lots of animal books – Rudyard Kipling’s the jungle book, Anna Sewell’s black beauty and The Incredible Journey, by Scottish author Sheila Burnford, are three I've enjoyed.. What about you – do you enjoy animal stories? 


All the books featured here are now sold, thank you for looking.

Update July 2016: March House books closed on my retirement in 2015, but I do still blog here at March of Time Books and always appreciate your visit. 

Friday 22 February 2013

Mabel Lucie Attwell postcards from my collection

"Never mind the weather love."

This is one of my favourite Mabel Lucie Attwell postcards. I'm not sure why it appeals so much. Maybe it’s just the cheeky look on the children’s faces or the fact they are sitting under a brolly even though the sun appears to be shining.

I also love the message on the card; Dear Master Christopher, I wonder if this is you and Sheila under the umbrella. I hope you are enjoying this beautiful weather. Have you had your Granny to stay with you yet? Lots of love, from Old Nannie xxx. 
Posted on 30th August, 1929. 

This one makes me smile. I just love their happy faces and the fact they are laughing so much they can only manage to say O, Help!  

Valentine's "Attwell" series number A614 not posted and not dated.

Make us good for goodness gracious sake.

This one is poignant, sweet and funny!  Published by Valentine & Son's number 2889. Not dated but probably 1950s.

If you enjoy Mabel Lucie Attwell's artwork you might like these previous posts, please remember don't forget and Manty a fairy tale

Thanks so much for calling in, I hope you are enjoying the postcards. 



Saturday 16 February 2013

Spreading some brightness today

I'm taking part in the Let's Spread Some Brightness blogospread to celebrate Love & Courage. Bloggers everywhere are invited to share their recollections or wishes on 'Spreading Brightness.' Come show us some love, check out Claudine's picture ebook that started this blogospread and download a small gift from her here!


* Your post doesn't have to be in writing. If there's a particular poem/song/picture/Art/quote that has brought Brightness into your world, please feel very free to share.



En's grandma is losing her hold on clear thoughts and memories. It is a scary and lonely place. So En sails out to bring Brightness from their past and releases them to relight Grandma's world. Will Grandma remember them?


What a lovely idea, now for a little bit of brightness courtesy of Pinterest...


 Cottage Light Studio via Pinterest

Don't forget to visit Claudine's blog to download your gift, and if you can spread a little brightness today, please do.



Wednesday 13 February 2013

Aesop's Fables; Signed limited edition with superb illustrations by E. J. Detmold.

Number 238 of a limited edition of only 750 copies signed and numbered by Edward J. Detmold. 
Published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1909.

Aesop's Fables illustrations by E. J. Detmold.
The vain jackdaw
Jupiter determined, it is said, to create a sovereign over the birds, and made proclamation that, on a certain day, they should all present themselves before him, when he would himself choose the most beautiful among them to be king. The Jackdaw, knowing his own ugliness, searched through the woods and fields, and collected the feathers which had fallen from the wings of his companions, and stuck them in all parts of his body. When the appointed day arrived, and the birds had assembled before Jupiter, the Jackdaw also made his appearance in his many-feathered finery. On Jupiter proposing to make him king, on account of the beauty of his plumage, the birds indignantly protested, and each plucking from him his own feathers, the Jackdaw was again nothing but a Jackdaw.

Aesop's Fables E. J. Detmold.
The ants and the grasshopper
The Ants were employing a fine winter's day in drying grain collected in the summer time. A Grasshopper, perishing with famine, passed by and earnestly begged for a little food. The Ants inquired of him: "Why did you not treasure up food during the summer?" He replied: "I had not leisure; I passed the days in singing." They then said: "If you were foolish enough to sing all the summer, you must dance supperless to bed in the winter.

Aesop's Fables E. J. Detmold
The she-goats and their beards
The she-goats having obtained by request from Jupiter the favour of a beard, the He-goats sorely displeased, made complaint that the females equalled them in dignity.  “Suffer them,” said Jupiter, “to enjoy an empty honour, and to assume the badge of your nobler sex, so long as they are not your equals in strength or courage.” It matters little if those who are inferior to us in merit should be like us in outside appearances.

Aesop's Fables E. J. Detmold
The grasshopper and the owl
An owl, accustomed to feed at night and to sleep during the day, was greatly disturbed by the noise of a Grasshopper and earnestly besought her to stop chirping. The Grasshopper refused to desist, and chirped louder and louder the more the Owl entreated.

Aesop's Fables E. J. Detmold
The hare and the tortoise
A hare one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the Tortoise. The latter, laughing, said: Though you be swift as the wind, I will beat you in a race. The Hare, deeming her assertion to be simply impossible, assented to the proposal; and they agreed that the Fox should choose the course, and fix the goal. On the day appointed for the race, they started together. The Tortoise never for a moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to the end of the course. The Hare, trusting to his native swiftness, cared little about the race, and lying down by the wayside, fell fast asleep. At last waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the Tortoise had reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing after her fatigue.

Aesop's Fables E. J. Detmold
The oxen and the axle-trees
A heavy wagon was being dragged along a country lane by a team of Oxen. The Axle-trees groaned and creaked terribly; whereupon the Oxen, turning round, thus addressed the wheels: "Hullo there! Why do you make so much noise? We bear all the labour, and we, not you, ought to cry out."

Aesop's Fables E. J. Detmold
The town mouse and the country mouse
Now you must know that a town mouse once upon a time went on a visit to his cousin in the country. He was rough and ready, this cousin, but he loved his town friend and made him heartily welcome. Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all he had to offer, but he offered them freely. The town mouse rather turned up his long nose at this country fare, and said, "I cannot understand, cousin, how you can put up with such poor food as this, but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country; come you with me and I will show you how to live. When you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever have stood a country life."

Aesop's Fables E. J. Detmold
The goat and the ass
A man once kept a Goat and an Ass. The Goat, envying the Ass on account of his greater abundance of food, said, "How shamefully you are treated: at one time grinding in the mill, and at another carrying heavy burdens"; and he further advised him that he should pretend to be epileptic and fall into a ditch and so obtain rest. The Ass gave credence to his words, and falling into a ditch, was very much bruised. His master, sending for a leech, asked his advice. He bade him pour upon the wounds the lights of a Goat. They at once killed the Goat, and so healed the Ass.


Aesop's Fables E. J. Detmold

Aesop's Fables E. J. Detmold

The Fables of Aesop is now sold, thank you for your interest.

Number 238 of a limited edition of only 750 copies signed and numbered by Edward J. Detmold. 
Published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1909.



Update July 2016: March House books closed on my retirement in 2015, but I am still happily blogging here at March of Time Books. Your visits are always appreciated.

Sunday 10 February 2013

An award and a fairy tale website

A big thank you to Marilyn and Elaineyross over at Guernsey Writer for awarding my blog the Very Inspiring Blogger Award.

I’m not sure the term ‘inspiring’ really applies to my blog, but I'm delighted to accept it nonetheless.

So, here are the rules;

Display the award logo on your blog.
Link back to the person who nominated you.
State 7 things about yourself.
Nominate other bloggers for this award and link to them.
Notify those bloggers of the nomination.

I’ve already talked far too much about myself so instead I’m going to include a quote from each of my nominated blogs. 

DM Yates Believe in Yourself  To be successful we all must ever move on, step by step. It's a New Year and time to let the past go. Set down your last year's baggage and march forward, ready to greet the new year.

The Desert Rocks The possibilities, the potential to change — everything begins with that first step in the right direction. Before your feet touch your slippers, carpet or cold floor, that’s when it begins. You have the power.

The Children's War And of course, the biggest and best Christmas present of all that year was the end of the war.

The Little Reader Library As for me, my dog Daisy is certainly my best friend. I had no idea what sort of special relationship an owner could have with a dog until she came into our lives. She is a constant companion, there for me as much as I am there for her.

Vintage Cobweb I think by now everyone knows I can't pass up the chance to pop inside an oppy, if I don't get inside one for a while I start to feel like something's missing.

These are all wonderful people with interesting things to say. Call in if you can you won’t be disappointed.

A Fairy Tale Website;

A friend of mine in Italy has just launched a brand-new website showcasing his ever growing collection of illustrated books.  The site is written in Italian, but with the help of Google translate it’s possible to understand everything, and of course, the illustrations need no translation. Please call in if you have the time http://www.favolefavole.com/index.html



Thanks for your visit.  x

Wednesday 6 February 2013

Graeff; postcards from my collection


Four comic postcards published by Valentines between 1910 -1913, three of the four signed "Graeff" 
Each features a little dog, although on the unsigned card, it's a toy dog on wheels.

Mixed bathing, posted in July 1913. 
Dear Tommy, I hope you are doing all you can for dad. It is lovely here but very rough (presumable referring to the sea not the place!) Give my love to Mr. L and others. Your loving mother.

Designer clothing for dogs is obviously nothing new! I love the way the trunks worn by the dog match the swimming costume worn by the girl, and her shoes wouldn't look out of place on a catwalk.  I had no idea you could buy swim trunks for dogs until I looked on the web Bahamas Swim Trunks for Dogsnotice the handy cut-outs!


What every woman knows - "That it is her privilege to have the last word." 

Sent to a Mrs. J Bonwick on December the 23rd 1910 with the message to wish you a merry Xmas and a Happy New Year, Yours, Rags.

"The Limit"
Artist unsigned postcard (I assume by Graeff) posted September 1910. 

Dear Agnes, I suppose you are sorry your holiday is at an end, but really the weather has been so awful that it is not a nice time to be away from home. With much love to both M.Clifton.  

I bet Agnes was delighted to receive that cheery message!

The Comet at last! Posted July 11th 1912.

Message reads Dear G, thanks for P.C. jolly ripping that hedge. I should like to see it. We have just arrived home, worse luck. Sedbergh is the worst place. I will give your love to Miss D. Mather. How will you have it given to her, in small pieces or one big lump? You seem to be having a ripping time, love Phyl.

Sedbergh is one of three official Book towns in the United Kingdom. Hay-on-Wye in Wales and Wigtown in Scotland being the other two. I’ve visited Hay and Wigtown, and Sedbergh is next on the list. It's within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, so I'm pretty sure it's not the worst place - I bet it's lovely.


I assume the comet reference is because Haley's comet passed very close to the earth in 1910 but as the card wasn't posted until 1912, I can't be sure. Any better ideas anyone?


Monday 4 February 2013

The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton, Illustrations by Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone

Book of the week The Enchanted wood by Enid Blyton
The timeless classic that introduces Moon-Face, Silky the Fairy, the Saucepan Man and the magical world of the Faraway Tree. Originally published in 1939 this is a later edition with illustrations by

Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone

"I feel as if there are adventures about," said Jo. "Come on! Over the ditch we go - and into the Enchanted Wood!" One by one the children jumped over the narrow ditch. They stood beneath the trees and peered about. Small freckles of sunshine lay here and there on the ground, but not very many, for the trees were so thick. 

"What's happening over there?" said Fanny. All three watched in silence. And then they saw what it was. Six big toadstools were growing quickly up from the ground, pushing their way through, and rising up steadily! "I've never seen that happen before!" said Jo, in astonishment. "Sh!" said Bessie. "Don't make a noise. I can hear footsteps." The others listened. Sure enough they heard the sound of pattering feet and little high voices. "Let's get quickly behind a bush," said Bessie suddenly.
 "There's magic happening here, and we want to see it!"

I have to agree with Bessie - this is a magical story with enchanting illustrations.
These are a few of my favourites
They climbed up again, and soon had another surprise. They came to a broad branch that led to a yellow door set neatly in the big trunk of the Faraway Tree. It had a little knocker and a brightly polished bell. "I wonder who lives there?" said Fanny.

Mother and the children stared at the queer Old Saucepan Man as he came in at the gate. He wore an extra-large-sized saucepan for a hat, and, as he came, he knocked two pans together, and sang a queer nonsense song that went like this;

Two beans for a pudding,
Two cherries for a pie,
Two legs for a table,
with a hi-tiddle-hi!

Jo waited. Then they all three slipped down the creaky stairs and out into the moonlit garden. The shadows were very black indeed, just like ink. There was no colour anywhere, only just the pale, cold moonlight. They were soon in the Enchanted Wood. But, dear me, it was quite, quite different now! It was simply alive with people and animals! In the very dark parts of the wood little lanterns were hung in rows.


Enid Blyton's The enchanted wood deluxe edition illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone


I'm a big fan of Janet and Anne and judging from comments left on previous posts I'm not alone! Please feel free to leave a comment - and pop back to read the replies.

Previous Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone post here

This book is now sold, thank you for your interest.

Saturday 2 February 2013

Shine On Award

Joleene over at the Amaranthine Night blog, was kind enough to award my blog the Shine On Award. Thank you Joleene, I’m delighted. If you haven’t checked out the Amaranthine blog, you really should.

This is a super award because it comes without rules. The only thing I am required to do is share the award with five other blogs. Because my blog is primarily about images, I decided to choose five blogs with pretty pictures, so without further ado –




The art of children's picture books

The Nostalgia Exchange

Be sure to check out these lovely blogs.

PS. I've 'borrowed' an image from each of the nominated blogs if you want your image removed, please let me know, and I will do so immediately. Barbara x