The Little Book by Eloise Wilkin

I wanted this book for a long while, but it is a little hard to find. I discovered it at our local book warehouse--all books for $1. 95% of the books are self help books from the 1990's, but there are a few good ones mixed in. 

This is a Little Golden Book I had to see after seeing an illustration in Everything I needed to Know I Learned from a Little Golden Book. I love that book. Well mostly, I love the illustrations, but it is a good book. I really thought I have written about that book but apparently I haven't. Keep tuned, folks!

Eloise Wilkin is just such a... well she just IS Little Golden Books to me. 

And this book is all about little things. 

I adore little things. So I am pre-disposed to love this book!

I love this kid sitting there waiting for something, ANYthing to happen.

No one draws 1960's kids better than Eloise Wilkin. Feel free to prove me wrong. Because anyone who does it better is really worth seeing! 

Raincoats and hats. Those dogs!

Wilkins was keen on nature and kids. I am particularly keen on that combination myself. 

This picture is what elevated this book to a must see! I can totally picture all of the little two or three year old girls I have known in my life absolutely loving the privilige of eating a cookie in a 55 gallon drum. Because who wouldn't? 

Me. But never mind that. 

(Because what if someone came and pushed it and I had to roll over and over and..... I would be seasick-ish. And out of control. I really hate both of those things.)

Did I ever mention I am a fuddy dud?

Hollyhocks! Cute sun suits! Chubby hands waving Adieu! Shaggy, adoring puppies! 

EEP!

So much cuteness!

My Big Book of the Outdoors by Eloise Wilkin

 

I just noticed on the front cover that it only says illustrated by Eloise Wilkin. Clearly someone else wrote this. Apparently they don't get a shout out on the front cover though. 

Which is understandable. I don't even really care who wrote this book (probably an editor at Golden Books), because Eloise Wilkin illustrated it and that is enough to make me buy it, read it, and treasure it always. 

I have a bit of an Eloise Wilkin obsession. And I happen to love nature and botany, so I adore this book.  

Look at those cheeks, though! How could I not love her pictures? Sweet, fat little kids, and almost always, a lot of nature. Even in her books that aren't overtly about nature, there are often little bits of nature thrown in. 

 

The front cover illustration again. Ponytail and overalls (or jumper). Happy-making!

Fat toes and sea things

 

Desert baby and Kangaroo rat

Amazingly, animals are not shy in Eloise Wilkin's world. Or aggressive. That boy is completely oblivious to the potential threat of a charging bull moose.

The Arctic in summer and winter.

 

Sweet cheeks and birds. Eloise Wilkin often has little birds with her little kids.

Fat knees and fingers and daisies.

 

Frog life cycle.

 

Butterflies

Endpapers. 

Happy sigh.

The Bunny Book by Richard Scarry

This is another nostalgic sort of book. The illustrations are sweet, the story line simple, and the entire effect is charming. 

Little bunny baby is clearly an adored member of the family and everyone expresses their hopes and dreams for his future. 

A policeman, a clown

Even Great Uncle Bunny weighs in on the question. I love the involvement of this family.

Grandpa and Grandma's thoughts--A lion tamer and a mailman.

Cousin bunny hopes he will own a candy shop.

I love these pictures!  

For some reason, these pictures were the epitome of New England fall when I was a kid. Burning leaves, hunting coats, deep colors, stormy skies...

But baby bunny knows that he won't be any of those things--he plans on being a daddy rabbit. (Somehow, being a daddy excludes all other activities.) 

And he has lovely intentions. Chasing his kids when they want to be chased. Feeding them when they are hungry. 

He plans on being a model daddy. 

 

I also loved these stacked bunk beds when I was little. Despite the claustrophobic feelings I would probably get if anyone ever tried to put me in one of these....