I have been very much out of commission on this blog for months--blame the baby--but I'm trying to get back to this and other writing. I wanted to start with this treasure because it's the vintage Golden Book that I use the most, partly because it works for both the big kid and the baby (and me!). There's something about the illustrations and the layout of this book that just lures in the reader, and it's given me a new appreciation for poetry in general and children's poetry in particular. Some scans of the Gertrude Elliott illustrations are posted below.
The Golden Book of Poetry
Edited by Jane Werner
Illustrated by Gertrude Elliott
(c) 1947 Golden Press
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| "Moon Song" by Mildred Plew Meigs: "Zoon, zoon, cuddle and croon--over the crinkling sea..." |
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| "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" by Eugene Field: "Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes, And Nod is a little head..." |
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| "General Store" by Rachel Field |
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| "The Sugar-Plum Tree" by Eugene Field |
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| "Custard the Dragon" by Odgen Nash: "Belinda lived in a little white house, With a little black kitten and a little gray mouse, and A little yellow dog and a little red wagon, And a realio, trulio, little pet dragon." |
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| "The Duel" by Eugene Field |
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| "Little Orphant Annie" by James Whitcomb Riley: "An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you Ef you Don't Watch Out!" |
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| "If I Were a One-Legged Pirate" by Mildred Plew Meigs: "Plying the lane Of the Spanish Main for Gold! Gold! Gold!" |
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| "Jill Came From the Fair" by Eleanor Farjeon |
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| "Jill Came From the Fair" by Eleanor Farjeon |
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| "The Owl and the Pussycat" by Edward Lear |
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| "The Owl and the Pussycat" by Edward Lear |
This looks fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI was born in 1963, at 3-4 years old, my Mother read these to us until the book fell apart! I just found this page and 40-50 years later, I see the pictures and read the poems like I saw them last night at bed time!! My mom has been gone almost 18 years, but this still resonates in my every day life!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to have brought back some good memories. This is one of our all-time faves.
DeleteI nabbed this book from my family. As the youngest of six I knew it would disappear if I did not steal it for my own. It now has a duct-taped back, old-book smell, and has held the interest of my daughter and her unsuspecting sleep-over friends. The Sugar Plum Tree never fails to leave the audience wanting to fall to sleep... in hopes of causing enough mayhem for all the candies to fall...
ReplyDeleteI nabbed this book from my family. As the youngest of six I knew it would disappear if I did not steal it for my own. It now has a duct-taped back, old-book smell, and has held the interest of my daughter and her unsuspecting sleep-over friends. The Sugar Plum Tree never fails to leave the audience wanting to fall to sleep... in hopes of causing enough mayhem for all the candies to fall...
ReplyDeletemy dad and mom used to read this book, i just loved custard the dragon the most and little orphan annie and the wind people blowing the air
ReplyDeleteCould you provide the name of the illustrator of the "Custard the Cowardly Dragon" picture? I've been searching for this edition almost forever. I believe the book has half-tone (black and white) drawings as well. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI loved this as a child too. The title page indicates the book was illustrated by a Gertrude Elliott. She must have done all of them.
DeleteI loved this as a child too. The title page indicates the book was illustrated by a Gertrude Elliott. She must have done all of them.
ReplyDeleteOh my heart is beating so fast, seeing these illustrations again!!!! How I've looked for this book for years, but didn't know the title - this was one of my favorite books as a child, especially because of the beautiful pictures, and drew me towards poetry. My copy had a different, blue cover though. Oh thank you for posting these, you've made my day.
ReplyDeleteJengod, I just had the same experience as Shelby207, but with an even longer span of time! I was born in 1949, and remember many pages of the book vividly, but as the eldest of 5, I had no chance of my claiming the book as my own! Somehow prior Google searches for "Jill came from the fair with her pennies all spent" couldn't find anything, not even Eleanor Farjeon's name. Those are only words I recalled, but the rhythm and feeling always delighted me.
ReplyDeleteLike Michael Franklin, I recall black and white line drawings for "Custard the Dragon". Perhaps some of the pictures were changed in various editions. I found the poem again in another book, but no pictures. "New Shoes" made me laugh and feel happy, and 60 years later I still recite "There Once Was a Puffin" to friends.
Many thanks for sharing this. I can hardly wait to see what else you've collected! (from the beginning of email, I've always been KBooklover@wherever. No other name will do.)
I have been searching for years and years to find this book I had as a child. Mainly for the poem " LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE " by James Whitcomb Riley. I never forgot that poem. It is one that sticks in your mind throughout your life. The drawing of the Goblins is an unforgettable image!
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