Bunny Business

I came across Du Bose Heyward's "The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes" (1939) while thrifting in Utah over Christmas. I'm used to finding vintage books with beautiful illustrations, but this one was especially delightful because of its unexpectedly feminist message.

The story follows the life of a little country bunny with the big ambition of someday being an Easter Bunny-- in this story there are five Easter Bunnies, and "they must be the five kindest, and swiftest, and wisest bunnies in the whole wide world" (and they are all also dudes). Although the Country Bunny puts her dream on the back burner as she grows up and raises a family, she eventually gets her chance to show that pesky patriarchal cunicular society what she's made of. 

One day a little country girl bunny with a brown skin and a little cotton-ball of a tail said, "Some day I shall grow up to be the Easter Bunny: you wait and see!" Then all of the big white bunnies who lived in fine houses, and the Jack Rabbits with long legs who can run fast, laughed at the little Cottontail and told her to go back to the country and eat a carrot. But she said, "Wait and see!"

See more about this book at Vintage Kid's Books My Kid Loves

Arm in Arm in Arm in Arm in Arm

Here are some mediocre scans of a strange and beautiful book I found in Draper, Utah over Christmas. I had saved a picture from this book that I had seen on a blog a few years ago, but had no idea where it was from. Such a nice surprise to flip to that page and see it again. 

From Arm in Arm by Remy Charlip, 1969

Frownton Crabbey

From How to Be a Grouch by Carroll E. Spinney (1981)

via Vintage Kids' Books My Kid Loves

The Wizard of Op

Since I first borrowed it from my school library over twenty years ago I have had the images from Ed Emberley's The Wizard of Op (1975) stuck in my head. Part comic book, part Op art, what's not to love? I think it also paved the way for my eventual Magic Eye obsession. It's also maybe why I love other books full of psychedelic black and white illustration, like the Frank Asch book I shared previously. As far as I know The Wizard of Op is out of print, so if anyone reading this ever comes across a copy, please let me know! For the time being, at least I found some of the images through the magic of the Internet.

All images via The Stopping Off Place

Tales Of Beatrix Potter - The Royal Ballet Film

(via windwrinkle)

Book Art: Pepe, das Eichhörnchen (1974)

These illustrations (by Yannik) are the sweetest. I wish I could get this printed on fabric to make a blanket for Mads.

A Whittle Bit

With the help of "Whittlin' Bill" Higginbotham, I'm going to learn this stuff.

The Third Dimension

Another weird crafting book found in Utah. This one's so psychedelic!