Tag Archives: Children’s literature

The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I was today years old when I discovered that America’s greatest living short story writer George Saunders published a children’s book more than 20 years ago. Issued in 2000 by Villard Books, an imprint of Random House, The Very Persistent … Continue reading →

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We’re All Mad Here

Posted on November 13, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

I maintain the firm belief that we can never have enough new editions of Alice in Wonderland, especially illustrated versions. So, I was happy to see the Pushkin Press has issued a very special Alice that features the marvelous artwork of the brilliant Dutch … Continue reading →

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Million Cat Caturday

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Brian D. Butler

“Millions of Cats” is a picture book written and illustrated by artist Wanda Gag in 1928. The book won a Newberry award in 1929 and is the oldest American picture book still in print.            

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Under the Martians

Posted on September 5, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

As a child, I was a big science fiction fan. I particularly enjoyed illustrated editions such as this great version from the short lived Looking Glass Library imprint. In 1960 artist Edward Gorey created the cover and pen and ink … Continue reading →

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This is the month

Posted on September 4, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries nationwide join together to remind parents, caregivers and students that signing up for a library card is the first step towards academic achievement and … Continue reading →

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Children’s Literature Reimagined

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Since we have a new crop of kids in our family, I’ve been spending more time in the children’s section of bookstores, but there aren’t many titles like these. This series of reimagined kid’s books come from the pen of … Continue reading →

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What’s so funny about peace and understanding

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

The 1964 World’s Fair was a two-year event centered on peace, understanding, and apparently, pop-up books. Released in 1963, Peter and Wendy See the New York World’s Fair shows two children, Peter and Wendy, – no relation to Peter Pan or Wendy … Continue reading →

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Take Your Child To A Bookstore

Posted on December 1, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

The ninth annual Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day, a project developed to “instill a love of bookstores in children so that they will value and support this most precious of resources as they go on to enter and create … Continue reading →

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Scale the Stacks

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

Another wonderful cartoon by Grant Snider for the NY Times.

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Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not on Oz anymore

Posted on June 2, 2018 by Brian D. Butler

We all know L.Frank Baum from the famous Oz series, but did you know that he wrote other children’s fantasy novels? In 1903 he published The Enchanted Island of Yew, with wonderful illustrations by Fanny Cory. Along with imaginative book illustrations, Cory … Continue reading →

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