dolls: the wide world over

left: a funerary doll of the marques of normandy, 1715 | right: russian wood dolls (19th century)

a lapp couple (20th century)

left: german wooden old woman doll | right: german wood dolls with glass eyes (18th century)

left: doll by sasha morgenthaler (c. 1955) | right: doll by else hoffman (c. 1968)

another doll book...i got this one for research. i love the german dolls in the 4th picture (rh). they remind me of old pretenders, and the midcentury dolls (last picture) are really lovely! oh, never mind the mysterious light action in the photos, i hope it doesn't detract too much from your viewing pleasure.
this book is a pretty good comprehensive guide of dolls through the ages (and around the globe) from primitive and archaic to current and elaborate. there is a focus on the handmade, or limited production dolls. i wish more of the pictures were in color (there are only a few), but all in all it's been a good resource and source of inspiration for me.

dolls: the wide world over by manfred bachmann
translated by ruth michaelis-jena
first u.s. edition, 1973, crown publishers, new york
photographed and designed by claus hausmann

pippa mouse

speaking of memories from my childhood (isn't that most of this blog anyway?)...pippa mouse was a beloved memory of mine. i was lucky to find a copy on abe books. i highly recommend this book for parents to give their children! the stories are meant to be read aloud, and the illustrations are so cute. hours of fun were inspired by pippa mouse. i made pippa mouse houses, pippa mouse clothes, pippa mouse furniture...all acted out with those mice from the '70s...remember them?

pippa mouse by betty boegehold
1973, alfred a. knopf, new york
illustrated by cyndy szekeres

the historic county of burlington

i found this pamphlet and actually find it quite interesting. among information gleaned from this mini book i learned that 'cinnaminson' means "sweet water", 'pennsauken' means "crooked river" and 'rancocas' means "many kinsmen". these are all new jersey cities with native american place names!

the historic county of burlington
text by lloyd e. griscom
1973, the burlington county cultural and heritage commission, mount holly
artwork by marguerita shinn farmer & richard c. moore

paddington's garden

i'm fairly certain that paddington is the cutest bear ever. i remember this girl who lived down the street from me growing up...i have nothing nice to say about her so i won't say anything...anyways, she had a paddington bear doll with hat, raincoat, wellies and suitcase. it was my first dealings with serious stuffed animal envy.

i was lucky to find 2 paddington books...they aren't illustrated by peggy fortnum...but i do think the illustrations by fred banberry have the spirit of paddington that is essential and i remember these illustrations most from my childhood. they make me melt. if i could stuff little paddington into my pocket and keep him forever, i would.

paddington's garden by michael bond
first american edition, 1973, random house, new york
illustrated by fred banbery

tell-a-tale

i wanted to post the other two tell-a-tale books in my library.

slowpoke at the circus by kay richardson
a tell-a-tale book, 1973, western publishing, wisconsin
illustrations by ruth ruhman

two stories about wags by betty biesterveld
a tell-a-tale book, 1960(?), western publishing, wisconsin
illustrated by dan and norma garris

**edit: i actually just realized that i have one more tell-a-tale book (a big one), but i'm saving it for a special post next week!**