Over the course of the next week, I have asked some fellow bloggers (and others!) to stop by with a few of their favorite classics, in whatever genre tickles their fancy. First up, two fabulous ladies and the books that first inspired them...1) My good friend Anne (of the brand new Stichette):
* The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes, by DuBose Heyward, illustrated by Marjorie Flack
* The Little House, written and illustrated by Virginia Lee Burton, 1942
* Madeleine, by Ludwig Bemelmans, 1939
* Bread and Jam for Frances, by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Lillian Hoban
* How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss, 1957
...and as she grew older:
* Little Women, written by Louisa May Alcott, 1868-1869
* Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery, 1908
* Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, illustrated by Garth Williams, 1935
* The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew Mysteries), by Carolyn Keene, 1930
* Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams, 1952
2) And the divine Miss EEE:* The Practical Princess and other Liberating Fairy Tales, by Jay Williams, 1975 ~ in which princesses rescue themselves
* The Lonely Doll by Dare Wright, 1957
* D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths by Ingrid and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire, 1967
* the books of Frances Hodgson Burnett, with the gorgeous illustrations of Tasha Tudor ~ who can forget the transformation of the Little Princess' garret into an Aladdin's cave by her next door neighbor?
* "In two straight lines they break their bread, brush their teeth and went to bed..." ~ Ludwig Bemelman's Madeline series
* Andrew Lang's Fairy Books, in every color of the rainbow (from Blue, Yellow, Red to Violet, Grey, and Olive), 1889-1910, republished by Dover, 1965 ~ stories from the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault, and others (many of which are rather terrifying!)
(top: cover of the 1908 edition of Anne of Green Gables, and Lucy Maud Montgomery, 1900; center: the Violet, Grey and Olive Fairy Books; bottom: Frances Hodgson Burnett, courtesy of New York Public Library, and Tasha Tudor, original watercolor for The Little Princess, 1963)
I have to admit that as a child, the anne of green gables series was my favorite which I reread and reread. I also have to admit to crying after each and every one - strange behavior for a young boy perhaps, but I never claimed to be ordinary!
ReplyDeleteI grew up in a family of four sisters so, of course, loved Little Women. Still have my "Meg" doll by Madame Alexander from the 1950s. What a great list of titles and memories this brings. And who knew the great Dubose Heyward wrote a book for kids!
ReplyDeleteJanet, you found such glimmering images to accompany this post! I also loved the many-hued fairy books, but my copies were not as beautiful as the ones here.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED the Frances series and look forward to sharing them with Petite Napoleon. ~MIR
ReplyDeleteI always loved fairy tales, in any form. Also, Mary Poppins and Mr. Popper's Penguins.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up in India, I loved the books of Enid Blyton; the Noddy series early on, and "The Adventures of Mr. Pinkwhistle." Rebecca
ReplyDeleteI love all the memories this post is bringing back for everyone...thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete"It's so easy to be wicked without knowing it, isn't it?" - Anne
ReplyDeleteI love this post - and the Anne series. KDM