Tag Archives: book illustration

Fables for the Frivolous

Posted on December 7, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

One of the earliest works by the American parodist Guy Wetmore Carryl, this collection of fables are adapted from Jean de La Fontaine’s Aesop-style originals from more than 200 years earlier. Carryl’s light-hearted re-tellings are rendered in verse, each ending … Continue reading →

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Goodnight Moon IRL

Posted on November 24, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Would you like to sleep in one of the most iconic rooms in children’s literature? To do so just visit the Sheraton Boston Hotel and check out its new Goodnight Moon suite. The charming suite recreates Margaret Wise Brown’s classic … Continue reading →

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Spooky reading

Posted on October 30, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

And, oh, my God, my God, pity me! He placed his reeking lips upon my throat! … How long this horrible thing lasted I know not; but it seemed that a long time must have passed before he took his foul, awful, … Continue reading →

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Ghosts, Goblins and Samurai

Posted on August 31, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

Here he goes again blathering on about Japan. Anyway, I ran across this marvelous title that is resplendent with a series of wonderful illustrations by the British artist Evelyn Paul . The impressive  Myths & Legends of Japan, a guide … Continue reading →

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East of the Sun and West of the Moon

Posted on August 20, 2025 by Brian D. Butler

“You have traveled far, but the hardest part of a journey is always the next step.” ― Jackie Morris I grew up reading battered old copies of the fabulous early twentieth century collections of children’s stories, some of my flea market … Continue reading →

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Of myths and legends

Posted on May 5, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I always experience a frisson of nostalgia whenever I stumble upon a memorable book from my childhood library. It’s been a long, long time, but I still remember my battered copy of of The Wonder Book of Myths and Legends that I … Continue reading →

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The Dwindleberry Zoo

Posted on April 26, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I was today years old when I discovered THE DWINDLEBERRY ZOO by G.E. Farrow (London/Glasgow/Dublin/Bombay: Blackie, 1909) Illustrated by Gordon Browne.  It seems that G.E. Farrow was one of the masters of the Victorian fantasy genre. In this tale a boy eats a … Continue reading →

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On the Edge of Alchemy

Posted on March 1, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

I was intrigued by the wonderful collage animation (below) created by Stacey Steers. The 20 minute film presents a unique approach to collage animation by combining backgrounds, objects and creatures taken from engraved illustrations with characters lifted from early cinema. … Continue reading →

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Petit Livre d’Amour

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Your Valentine’s Day gift will have to be extraordinary to top  the Petit Livre d’Amour (Little Book of Love). This very elaborate handmade book was given by the 16th-century French poet Pierre Salas to his then lover and future wife … Continue reading →

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Morality tales and semiotics in space

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Brian D. Butler

Lately, I have been binge watching a fascinating alternate history sci-fi TV series on the space race. If you get the chance, check out For All Mankind . The first season takes a bit long in establishing the characters and premise, … Continue reading →

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