The Crocodile in the Bedroom

Moral of the Fable: 

Without a doubt, there is such a thing as too much order.

Three pages from one of my books.

FABLES

Written and Illustrated by

ARNOLD LOBEL

1980

My plan is to post one fable until I have shown you the entire book.

xo

Rabbit Rabbit -- Hello February

The phrase rabbit rabbit is a long-held superstition thought to bring about good luck. But it's not to be uttered just any old random day. If you say it on the first day of the month, before any other words come out of your mouth, then luck will be coming your way.

I have always loved this rabbit pattern in navy blue designed by William Morris in 1882.  I have seen the wallpaper but never the fabric. The pattern was a tribute to the Uncle Remus books, first published in 1881, and a favourite of the Morris family.

Earliest Published Nursery Rhymes Book c.1744

Mary Cooper, whose two-volume Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song Book (1744) is the first known nursery rhyme collection, featuring early versions of well-known classics like ‘Bah, bah, a black sheep’, ‘Hickory dickory dock’, ‘London Bridge is falling down’ and ‘Sing a song of sixpence’.

The History of Little Goody Two-Shoes (1765) has a good claim to be called the first children’s novel. It tells the story of a poor orphan, Margery, who makes a career for herself as a teacher before, like a less glamorous Cinderella (with no fairy godmother, balls to attend, or glass slipper), she marries the local landowner whom she has impressed by her honesty, hard work and good sense.

Isn't this a much better story than Cinderella?

Click to enlarge the images found in a great article 

ORIGINS OF CHILDREN'S LITERATURE 

in the archives of The British Library

Enjoy.

xo

Carrots and Turnips are Fine

From the Jane Johnson's personal Manuscript Nursery Library

(c. 1740-1759) at Indiana University. All 438 items are hand drawn and colored for her son as teaching items. I love this one and wish I could see all the others.

click to enlarge

Photo Source

Bookshelves / Library in My Spare Room

These are all of my reference books in my dressing room. That's what I call my extra bedroom because it has a closet. I sleep in the back room that has an identical custom bookcase scaled down for the smaller space. I added both when renovating my cottage. On these shelves I have reference books on antiques, architectural reference books, gardening, birds, New Jersey. Many are broken down into categories like antique furniture, antique silver, antique houses, antique prints, etc. and many DIY books. I need to get in this room and rearrange a bit and return some books I pulled out so the remaining ones are currently leaning. You can never have too many books, can you? Have a great Sunday. xo