Happy May Day!

Dear Readers,

Happy May Day!  

Isn't this Tasha Tudor illustration so fitting?!

~ Emily

from A Time To Keep: the Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays by Tasha Tudor (c. 1977, reprint 1996)

February

from Take Joy! by Tasha Tudor (c. 1966)

February

by Christina Rossetti

Bread and milk for breakfast

And woolen frocks to wear,

And a crumb for robin redbreast

On the cold days of the year.

a Pumpkin Moonshine update:

Even though Halloween has passed.  I just have to share this sweet little book by Tasha Tudor with you once again.  You know, we all need our memories refreshed from time to time.  And this little book remains an old friend.  Just as good friends don't neglect each other, the dust jacket of Pumpkin Moonshine (c. 1938, renewed 1966) evidences love worn as its story becomes a familiar one.  I don't think of it so much as a Halloween story as a late fall, November story. AND it's still in print!

So begins Tudor's charm: 

Sylvie Ann was visiting her Grandmummy in Connecticut.  It was Hallowe'en and Sylvie wanted to make a Pumpkin Moonshine, so she put on her bonnet and started out for the cornfield to find the very finest and largest pumpkin.

When they reached the field, Sylvie looked among the shocks of corn for the very fattest pumpkin.  Way across the field she found such a fine one!

Be sure to check out this delightful tale to discover what happens between the previous illustration and the following illustration.  Of course, you'll want to read the ending too!

But worst of all it bumped right into Mr. Hemmelskamp who was carrying a pail full of whitewash!

'Twas the Night before Christmas

Hello, readers!  You know my affinity for collecting particular books, and 'Twas the Night Before Christmas is yet another title that I just love rediscovering in varying illustrators' interpretations!  And let me let you in on a little secret: I have yet to explain any particulars about Santa Claus to the children.  This poem has done all the work for me! Isn't the language perfectly beautiful?!

Oh, this dear copy by Holly Hobbie (c. 1970) brings back so many memories.  It was the first Holly Hobbie book I ever saw and the only copy of The Night before Christmas that I remember.  To say that I'm quite attached to Holly Hobbie's interpretation is putting it mildly.  She alone has recreated the Santa of my childhood imagination.  I mean, honestly, can you find a better rendition of The children were nestled all snug in their beds, / While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads?  No one can compete with Holly Hobbie's illustration of this stanza!

And then, in a twinkling I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

My husband discovered Niroot Puttapipat's (c. 2007) interpretation a few years ago.  This book boldly declares itself: "a magical cut-paper edition."  Well, it's quite right -- it provides quite a magical experience.  I love the effect Puttapipat's silhouettes and cutouts contribute, leaving room for the imagination to envision it's own particulars.  Look for Puttapipat's intricate details: hidden Nutcracker soldiers and mice and a tree decorated to the tune of the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Truly this is a beautiful edition!

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky . . .

I also love this dear little 2 X 3 copy illustrated by Tasha Tudor and printed by Joh. Enshede en Zonen, Haarlem, Holland, given to me by my Aunt Teresa.  Tudor presents an enchanting, elfin Santa in this edition.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; 
 

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!'

Yep, it's another book that every parent should own!  The best edition of this beloved poem is the one with which you most identify.  So readers, tell us, what's your favorite edition of The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore?


Background info.: 
 ~ Clement Clarke Moore penned this renowned Christmas poem in 1825. 
 ~ It was originally published as an "Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas" in the newspaper Troy Sentinel.  
 ~ Tradition holds that Moore wrote the poem for his children on Christmas Eve in 1822.  
 ~ Our modern image of Santa Claus as "pump . . . jolly" figure traces back to Moore's detailed depiction.

Take Joy!

Take Joy! (1966) is an anthology of "songs, stories, poems, and things to do for a family Christmas" by acclaimed illustrator Tasha Tudor.  I found this treasure at our county library last Christmas, and I so fell in love with it that I won one for myself off ebay!  Now if that isn't a recommendation, I don't know what is!  Tudor's homespun delight in Christmas evidences itself in her rich, warm illustrations and quality selections.  I could go on and on about this book!  However, Tasha Tudor's art speaks for itself.  So in Tudor's words, "Take Joy!"

Unfortunately, Tudor's beautiful book is out of print, so depending on where you live, it may be difficult for you to access, which is why I wanted to share some of her wonderful illustrations with you!

Illustration for an excerpt of Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Illustration for The Boar's Head carol

a few of Tudor's children bringing home their tree

Seasons

Okay, how many of you out there enjoy reading about the changing seasons as much as we do?  It's so much fun to identify spring, summer, fall, and winter by the different clothing we wear, alterations in nature, traditions we take part in, specific songs or poetry we sing, the food we eat, and the seasonable rhythms we fall into.  The first three books pictured below are our most loved "reads" on the seasons.  The kids select them several times each month.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

A Book of Seasons by Alice and Martin Provensen ~ This is our very favorite book about the changing of the seasons!

The Year at Maple Hill Farm by Alice and Martin Provensen ~ Not only does this book guide you through the seasons, it guides you through each month through the perspective of a farmer evaluating his family's annual duties.  I recommend this for the older young children.

Mama Loves by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and illustrated by Kathryn Brown ~ a nostalgic book that subtly chronicles different seasons of the year through a child's point-of-view, written in blank verse, of what his/her mother loves to do with him/her.  Another one of the kids' very favorites. Note: makes a wonderful Mother's Day gift to mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers.  My own mother gave this to me for my very first Mother's Day.

Out and About by Shirley Hughes ~ contains several individual poems to identify each season of the year with delightful illustrations from the English born Shirley Hughes.  Ask: what season does this poem remind you of?

Colors by Shirley Hughes ~ poetic word lists for each color, with Hughes' lovely illustrations.  I recommend this for the tots.

Around the Year by Tasha Tudor ~ With her noted illustrations from yesteryear, Tudor chronicles each month with nineteenth century tasks.

A Child's Year by Joan Walsh Anglund ~ Anglund's Hallmalk card like illustrations feature each month.  I suggest this for the youngest children.

My Favorite Time of Year by Susan Pearson ~ one family's story of experiencing the changing seasons.  It's a little wordy for the young ones to sit through.

Pumpkins!

How many books have you read that have instantly drawn you in by the dedication?  Personally, I can think of only one.  Pumpkin Moonshine's charm begins with Tasha Tudor's dedication: A Wee Story for A Very Sweet Wee Person.  Tudor writes and illustrates this winsome and subtly humorous story about Sylvie Ann's visit to her grandparents' farm, complete with pumpkin hunt, runaway pumpkin, and jack-o-lantern carving.  This is one of my all time favorite stories because it begs to be read aloud, attributable to its alliterative and onomatopoeic words.  The kids listen to it mesmerized by the quaint and lively narrative.  Make sure to look for Wiggy the dog throughout the illustrations!

Here are a few more pumpkin books to check out:

• It's Pumpkin Time! by Zoe Hall ~ explains the growth cycle of a "jack-o-lantern patch" in story format from two siblings' point of view.  You'll remember this author also penning The Apple Pie Tree.   Note: also available in Spanish.

• From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer ~ excellently explains the life cycle of a pumpkin in easily understood language.

• The Pumpkin Patch by Elizabeth Kind ~ a photographic narrative a farmer's year in the pumpkin patch.

• A Day at the Pumpkin Patch by Megan Faulkner & Adam Krawesky ~ photographically chronicles a day at the pumpkin patch and the life cycle of pumpkins.  Note: a Scholastic book.

Nursery Rhymes

And now we come to nursery rhymes.  This is probably where I should have started from the very beginning since rhymes are where the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to start reading aloud to your infants.  According to the professionals, rhymes help develop a young child's "ear for language," "stimulate brain development," and encourage "Phonological awareness" by identifying and connecting different sounds with written words.  In fact, leave out last words on a line while you read a rhyme and encourage your child to fill in the missing word.  Many rhymes are set to music, making it fun to sing the rhymes too.

My children repeat their favorite rhymes throughout the week:
~ One misty, moisty morning . . .
~ Sing a song of sixpence . . .
~ Three little kittens . . .
~ Wee Willie Winkie . . .
~ Blow wind blow! And go mill go! . . .
~ Good night! Sleep tight . . .
~ Baa, baa, black sheep . . .
~ Diddle, diddle dumpling, my son John . . .
Which lines can you complete?

"One misty, moisty morning" is especially applicable for today's weather; it also remains one of my children's favorites.  There are different versions of it, but here's our favorite:

One misty, moisty morning,

When cloudy was the weather,

I chanced to meet an old man,

Dressed all in leather.
He began to compliment,

And I began to grin

How do you do?  And how do you do?

And how do you do again?

And then there's "Diddle, diddle dumpling, my son John."  You know, he's the one who went to bed with "one shoe off and one shoe on."  I attribute this rhyme to my daughter's (who at the time was only three) unwavering resolve to put only one sock on each day, no matter where we were going.  I insisted that she had to at least wear both shoes.  It was late fall and winter, and I had stake in my image as her caring mother after all!  Otherwise, I allowed the quirky behavior.  And did we receive some memorable comments and stares!  But, oh the laughs we indulged!

Needless to say, I strongly recommend owning a collection of nursery rhymes!  I'm the nerd who likes to collect different volumes.  So here are my top recommendations:

1st prize: Richard Scarry's Best Mother Goose Ever (not to be confused with his much smaller Mother Goose).  The kids adore this version.  We ALL pull it out several times weekly!

1st runners up, coming in oh so closely behind: Tomie dePaola's My First Mother Goose or his board book Tomie's Little Mother Goose and Scott Gustafson's Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose.  Once again, Gustafson "Wows!" us with his beautiful illustrations.

Honorable mentions: I hold a special place in my heart for the iconic black and white checkerboard covered The Real Mother Goose, which was my very first childhood volume.  It's arguably the most recognized volume.  For some reason, my children didn't attach themselves to this one as readily.  My eldest wanted illustrations for each rhyme.  However, I would recommend this most thorough collection illustrated by Blanche Fisher Wright in 1916.  The publishers have also issued friendlier versions for young children in board books and "touch and feel" books and cards.  You can't go wrong with this classic.

For you Beatrix Potter book lovers out there, I would strongly recommend her charmingly illustrated and original Cecily Parsley's Nursery Rhymes and Appley Dapply's Nursery Rhymes.  These sweet little volumes make excellent gifts.

Also, for you researchers, Michael Montgomery does an excellent, and humorous, job of exploring the stories behind nursery rhymes in his book Over the Candlestick: Classic Nursery Rhymes and the Real Stories Behind Them.

In conclusion, there are many amazing artists with very good illustrated editions of nursery rhymes out there.  I encourage you to find your favorite and read them enough to laugh over your own kids quirky ways of applying rhyme to their everyday lives.