The Art of Book Design: When Molly was Six

Eliza Orne White. When Molly was Six. Boston, New York, Houghton, Mifflin and company, 1894.

This week’s children’s book isn’t a fairy tale, but it is full of charming stories about a young girl named Molly, whose birthday falls on New Years Day. There are 12 stories in all, one for each month, but there are only 2 illustrations, which is a shame because I rather like the loose simplicity of them.

page 58, Molly feeding the chickens, When Molly was Six.

page 82, Digging down to China, When Molly was Six.

 

via: The Library of Congress

The Art of Book Design: The Old House, and Other Stories.

Blanche Sellers Ortman. The Old House, and other stories. Chicago, The author, 1910.

The notes for this book state that only 500 copies of the book were privately printed for the author by Rand McNally Press. This makes the book rare, but probably not worth anything. If the stories were good, it wouldn’t have needed a “private” publication. It has a lovely and tasteful cover picture, though. I also like the gold font, but perhaps the family crest with Latin is a bit much.

 

via: The Library of Congress

The Art of Book Design: The Story of Jack; A Tale of the North

J. Horace Lytle. The Story of Jack: A Tale of the North. Dayton, O., Miami publishing co., 1917.

The Jack of the story is a terrier, but today’s book is in honour of my Jack, who is having a birthday today. Jack is a leap year baby, so this is only the fourth official birthday he’s ever had. In reality, my baby is twelve today and I don’t know where the years have gone. I haven’t had a chance to read the story yet, but the book is delightfully illustrated.

 

via: The Library of Congress  

The Art of Book Design: The Renewal of Life, How and When to Tell the Story to the Young

Margaret Warner Morley, The Renewal of Life, How and When to Tell the Story to the Young, Chicago, A.C. McClurg & co., 1906.

This book notes in its introduction that any child old enough to ask a question is old enough to know the answer, the real answer, which I find enlightened for the period. Ms. Morley notes that parents only do their children harm by withholding truthful information and that it is best to give geared to age responses that the parent may elaborate on as the child matures.

via: The Internet Archive

The Art of Book Design: The Birthday Party

Various Authors. The Birthday Party and Other Stories, A Book for Girls. Boston, T. B. Noonan, 1885.

February is my busy month for birthdays. Today’s birthday belongs to my friend Janet with whom I travelled to Mexico. Today is also the day she closes the sale of her house here. Double congratulations, Janet, dinner’s on me tonight, kiddo. Oh wait, you’re older than me again. Ahem, dinner’s on me tonight, Grandma.

via: The Library of Congress