“You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children.” ― Madeleine L’Engle Kids often wonder how their favorite authors create the stories they read. The answers are about as varied as the authors. We’ve probably all heard […]
As the owner of a bookstore, I occasionally come across rare and expensive books. There is a large worldwide industry for rare and old books, or antiquarian books (as collectors say it). The value of a book is a calculation of its desirability, rarity and condition. A book that is both extremely rare and appears […]
Have you ever read a book where the words and the illustrations were not in harmony? Where the dialogue was mediocre but the illustrations were magnificent or the illustrations were less than splendid and the dialogue was witty? Illustrations can either make or break a book. Obviously the book that is harmonious in word and […]
When teaching young children to read, it is important to find interactive books that are engaging. These days there are myriad electronic options, from Play-a-Sound books to e-books on tablets and smart phones. These are great to motivate a young reader, especially if it is a story they want to hear over and over again […]
Nister’s Panorama Pictures A Novel Colour Book for Children Copyright 1894 Ernest Nister, London E.P. Dutton & Co. New York 10 in x 12 1/2 in. 25.8 cm x 31 cm. 27 Pages This beautiful book is a fine example of the pop up books produced by Ernest Nister (1842-1909) at the end of the […]
Daily Express Children’s Annual No. 3 Copyright 1931 Edited by S. Louis Giraud The Lane Publications Daily Express Book Department, London 6 3/4 in. x 8 3/4 in. 17.2 cm x 22.4 cm 95 pages, 7 pop-up “self-erecting models” Geopolitics touches everything, including the world of pop up books. It was German artists and technology […]
Copyright 1897 Ernest Nister, London E.P. Dutton & Co. New York 9 1/4 in. x 11 1/2 in. 23.7 cm x 28.3 cm 25 pages This beautiful book is a fine example of the pop up books produced by Ernest Nister (1842-1909) at the end of the 19th century. Nister was a German who succeeded […]
Blue Beard Pantomime Toybooks Copyright McLoughlin Bros. N.Y. cs. 1875 7 1/2 in. 10 in. 19 cm x 26 cm. 10 Pages By the time this wonderful book was published, the market for moveable books in Europe and the United States was well established. There were several types of moveable books—each with its own […]
Bunty A “Magic Action” Book Copyright 1935, Whitman Publishing Co. Racine, Wisconsin 7 14 in. x 7 3/4 in 18.7 cm x 20 cm 25 pages Whitman Publishing was a subsidiary of the Western Publishing Company. The company existed from 1910 to 2001. Western Publishing is best known for creating Little Golden Books. However, the […]
In social behavior, choosing favorites isn’t always an acceptable practice. No one wants to be the least favorite or last chosen. However, choosing favorites doesn’t have to be a negative thing. Take for example choosing a favorite food or article of clothing. Now, this article isn’t about favorite foods, toys, or clothing; after all, this […]