love is a special way of feeling

i remember reading joan walsh anglund's books as a kid. i think she is the first illustrator that i really enjoyed, recognized and followed. she is also the origin of my love for hand drawn type. i loved (and still do) how everything is hand done and that there were tiny imperfections in each illustration. an overdrawn line here, shaky lines, uneven lines there...this is what makes her books special to me. also her dedications were hand written with a little drawing meant for just that person. on top of that, they are also super cute and warm and fuzzy and all that.

love is a special way of feeling by joan walsh anglund
1960, harcourt, brace and world, inc., new york

leafy rivers

leafy rivers: a novel by jessamyn west

first edition, 1967, harcourt, brace & world, new york

jacket design by james and ruth mccrea

another book chosen for its cover. i love the graphics of this cover. true genius. apparently the book is of the adventure/suspense category. which i would not have surmised by the cover alone. the cover makes me think heart of darkness or the island of dr. moreau (on second thought i suppose these are adventure/suspense.) i'm also reminded of gauguin, although more for the tahitian vibe rather than a likeness of style. i'm definitely keeping this one around for inspiration. james and ruth mccrea have illustrated tons. see more here, here, and here.