Do you just love "little books?"
One of the cookbooks I mentioned a few days ago as being one of my favorites is the
Pound Cake Cookbook. Besides being a terrific cookbook, I'm attracted to it, I think, because of its size. I have a fondness for "little books."I have a small collection of these little books and they seem to seek me out. One of the first ones I fell in love with was a gift from a friend. It was the first in the Griffin and Sabine trilogy by Nick Bantock. I fell head over heals in love with it, and of course, couldn't wait for the rest of the story.
If you're a fan of collages, you will adore these books. In addition to the lovely art work, they're full of fun little "pull-outs." Letters are tucked into envelopes, and give a sense of secretiveness to it all. There's also a mystery. And the mystery that each ends with carries into the next.
Similar to the Griffin and Sabine trilogy are the lovely Pistoulet books by Jana Kolpen.
and there's Mary Emmeling's Hearts,and Hart and Calvert's The Love of Lace
and Roberta B. Etter's Tokens of Love.
But my very, very favorite is Merchant of Marvels and the Peddler of Dreams by Frederic Clement. It's a wonderful little book full of whimsy and magic.
This is the story of Frederic Knick-Knack, the Peddler of Dreams, who is hunting for the perfect gift for a very special, very dear friend. Here's a sampling - - -
Delightful!!!!
Looking back at what my very favorite childhood books were, it makes it pretty easy to figure out where my fascination with these artsy little books must come from.
Big books.
but beautifully illustrated.
Like a lot of little girls, I fell in love with Kay Thompson's Eloise, and never quite outgrew it. Oh my - the allure of living at The Plaza, shouting "Oh, my Lord!" as I skibble, skidder, slomp, scamper and sklonk up and down those glorious halls. Me, and Weenie and Skipperdee while Nanny relaxes in our suite watching the fights and enjoying a cold pilsner.
In addition to the never-ending adventures of Eloise, there were the perfect illustrations by Hilary Knight. The Eloise books just would not have had quite the appeal, I don't think, without Mr. Knight's contribution.
A kind of grown up version of Eloise is Lulu Guinness' Put on Your Pearls, Girls. It even has pop-ups!
And one more favorite - -
The Library by Sarah Stewart. "Elizabeth Brown's obsession begins in childhood: "She didn't like to play with dolls,/ She didn't like to skate./ She learned to read quite early/ And at an incredible rate."
Sound like anyone you might know? Like perhaps your very own self, just maybe?
