More dinosaur rambles...

Even as a child I read science fiction and fantasy over any other genre. I've always been attracted to the the sheer adventure of stories of space flight, parallel universes and worlds where magic instead of physics ruled. It's seems a contradiction then, that I ended up being a geologist by training and an environmentalist by choice. Pondering this ( I find I do a lot of pondering since I turned 50) leads me back to one author and one book in particular that was responsible for keeping me rooted to the earth.

The author was Jean Craighead George and the book was My Side of the Mountain. Long before I read Rachel Carson's SILENT SPRING or took a science course there was this story of a boy named Sam who ran away from New York City to live in a tree in the Catskills. And though I've read and enjoyed many of George's books it was this one story, read to me by my 3rd grade teacher, that sparked a life long passion for this earth, our environment and our need to find an equitable balance within it.

Phooey, told you I've been doing a lot of pondering, I should just leave the words to the experts, like Jean Craighead George or.... JONI MITCHELL! (Covered well by Sarah Mclachlan and friends.)

A dinosaur rambles....

The three books that I remember the most: Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg were all read to me in different grades in elementary school.

It's been 40 years since I've been in elementary school and over 10 years since my own kids would let me read to them. Even though that's a lot of literature under the bridge, I hope these books are still being read to, and read by children today.

Condition report

Weather Conditions: 26 degrees and mostly cloudy
Bookseller Condition: Happy

Orders are invoiced, pulled and packed.
Database uploads are done.
I've made a good start on the Jean Craighead George biblio check list.
Life is good.....

Jean Craighead George

Jean Craighead George has been a writer of children's books with a naturalist theme since 1948 and has written well over 100 books. The following is a biblio checklist of the author's work to date. The listed book are the first appearances of each title, and while I've tried to list all revised or re-illustrated books, later printings and paperbacks are not listed. Sources for this list are my own inventory and the Library of Congress Card Catalog.

VULPES THE RED FOX. George, John Lothar and George, Jean Craighead. New York, E.P. Dutton, 1948. [1st ed.] 184 p.

VISION, THE MINK, by John L. George and Jean George ; Illustrated by Jean George. New York : Junior Literary Guild : E.P. Dutton, 1949. 1st ed. 184 p. : ill. ; 21 cm.

MASKED PROWLER, THE STORY OF A RACCOON, by John L. George and Jean George. Illustrated by Jean George. New York, Dutton, 1950. [1st ed.] 183 p. illus. 21 cm.

BUBO, THE GREAT HORNED OWL, by John L. George and Jean George; illustrated by Jean George. New York: Dutton [1954]. [1st ed.] 184 p. illus. 21 cm.

DIPPER OF COPPER CREEK, by John George and Jean George. Illustrated by Jean George. New York: Dutton [1956]. [1st ed] 183 p. illus. 21 cm.

THE HOLE IN THE TREE, story and pictures by Jean George. New York : Dutton, [1957]. [1st. ed. [57] p. : ill. ; 23 cm.

SNOW TRACKS, story and pictures by Jean George. New York : Dutton, 1958. 61 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.

MY SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN, written and illustrated by Jean George. New York: Dutton, 1959. [1st ed.] 178 p. illus. 21 cm.

THE SUMMER OF THE FALCON. New York, Crowell [1962]. 153 p.

GULL NUMBER 737. New York : Crowell, c1964. 198 p. : ill.; 21 cm.

MARVELS & MYSTERIES OF OUR ANIMAL WORLD With introductions and a special supplement, "Animals from A to Z," Pleasantville, N.Y., Reader’s Digest Association [1964] 320 p. illus. (part col.) col. maps. 32 cm.

GULL NUMBER 737. NY: Crowell, C.1964. 198p.:ill.; 21cm.

SPRING COMES TO THE OCEAN. Illus. by John Wilson. New York : Crowell, [1966], c1965. 109 p. : ill. ; 21 cm.

HOLD ZERO! New York, T. Y. Crowell co. [1966]. 161 p. 21 cm.

THE MOON OF THE BEARS. Illus. by Mac Shepard. NY: Crowell (1967). 38p. illus. 22cm.

THE MOON OF THE OWLS. Illus. by Jean Zallinger. NY: Crowell (1967). 40p. illus. 22cm.

THE MOON OF THE SALAMANDERS. Illus. by John Kaufmann. (New York) Crowell 1967.

COYOTE IN MANHATTEN. Illus. by John Kaufmann. New York: T. Y. Crowell Co. [1968]. 203 p. illus. 21 cm.

THE MOON OF THE CHICKAREES. Illus. by John Schoenherr. NY: Crowell, (1968). 40p illus 22cm.

THE MOON OF THE FOX PUPS. Illus. by Kiyoaki Komoda. NY: Crowell, (1968). 39p. illus. 22cm.

THE MOON OF THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES. Illus. by Murray Tinkelman. NY: Crowell, (1968). 40p. ullus. 23cm.

THE MOON OF THE MOUNTAIN LIONS. Illus. by Winifred Lubell. NY: Crowell (1968). 39p. illus. 23cm.

THE MOON OF THE WILD PIGS. Illus. by Peter Parnall. NY: Crowell (1968). 39p. illus 23cm.

THE MOON OF THE ALLIGATORS. Illus. by Adrina Zanazanian. NY: Crowell, (1969). 40p. illus. 23cm.

THE MOON OF THE DEER. Illus. by Jean Zallinger. NY: Crowell, (1969). 40p. illus 23cm.

THE MOON OF THE GRAY WOLVES. Illus. by Lorence Bjorklund. NY: Crowell (1969). 37p. illus. 22cm.

THE MOON OF THE MOLES. Illus. by Robert Levering. NY: Crowell (1969). 37p. illus. 22cm.

THE MOON OF THE WINTER BIRD. Illus. by Kazue Mizumura. NY: Crowell (1969). 38p. illus. 22cm.

BEASTLY INVENTIONS: A Surprising Investigation Into How Smart Animals Really Are. Illus. by the author. New York, D. McKay [1970]. 216 p. illus. 22 cm.

ALL UPON A STONE. Illus. by Don Bolognese. New York, Crowell [1971]. [48] p. col. illus. 19 cm. ISBN: 0690055331(lib.ed.)

WHO REALLY KILLED COCK ROBIN? An Ecological Mystery. NY: Dutton (1971). 149p. illus. 22cm. ISBN: 0525427007.

EVERGLADES WILDGUIDE. Basic text and concept by Jean Craighead George. Drawings by Betty Fraser. [Washington, D.C.] National Park Service; [for sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off.] 1972. 105 p. illus. (part col.) 22 cm.

JULIE OF THE WOLVES. Illus. by John Schoenherr. [1st ed.] New York, Harper & Row [1972]. 170p. illus. 22cm. ISBN: 0060219432 and 0060219440 (lib bdg.)

JULIE OF THE WOLVES. Illus. by John Schoenherr. [1st ed.] London: Hamilton, 1973. 170p. illus. 23cm. ISBN: 0241024749.

ALL UPON A SIDEWALK. Illus. by Don Bolognese. [1st ed.] New York, Dutton [1974] [48] p. col. illus. 22 cm. ISBN: 0525254625 (lib. bdg.)

HOOK A FISH, CATCH A MOUNTAIN. 1st. ed. New York: Dutton, 1975. 129p; 22cm. ISBN: 0525321551.

GOING TO THE SUN. New York : Harper & Row, c1976. 132 p. ; 22 cm. ISBN: 0060219416 and 0060219424 (lib. bdg.)

THE AMERICAN WALK BOOKS : an Illustrated Guide to the Country’s Major Historic and Natural Walking Trails From New England to the Pacific Coast. New York : Dutton, c1978 1st ed. xv, 301 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. ISBN: 0876903154.

THE WENTLETRAP TRAP. Illus. by Symeon Shimin. 1st ed. New York: Dutton, 1978. [32] p. illu; 25cm. ISBN: 0525423109.

THE WOUNDED WOLF. Illus by John Schoenherr. 1st ed. New York: Harper & Row, 1978. 32p.: illu; 18 x 23cm. ISBN: 0060219491 and 0060219505.

RIVER RATS, INC. 1st ed. New York: Dutton, 1979. 136p.; 22cm. ISBN: 0525384553.

THE CRY OF THE CROW : a novel. New York : Harper & Row, c1980. 1st ed. 149 p. ; 21 cm. ISBN: 0060219564 and 0060219572 (lib. bdg.)

THE GRIZZLY BEAR WITH THE GOLDEN EARS. Pictures by Tom Catania. New York : Harper & Row, c1982. 31 p. : ill. ; 18 x 23 cm. ISBN: 0060219653 and 0060219661 (lib. bdg.)

JOURNEY INWARD. 1st ed. New York: Dutton, 1982. x, 244p; 22cm. ISBN: 0525241086.

THE WILD, WILD COOKBOOK: A Guide for Young Wild-Food Foragers. Illus by Walter Kessell. 1st ed. New York: Crowell, 1982. 182p: ill.; 22cm. ISBN: 0690043147 and 0690043155 (lib. bdg).

EXPLORING THE OUT-OF-DOORS. Chicago, IL : American Library Association, c1983. ISBN: 0838956211.

ONE DAY IN THE DESERT. Illus by Fred Brenner. 1st ed. New York: Crowell, 1983. 48p.: ill,; 21cm. ISBN: 0690043406 and 0690043414 (lib. bdg.)

THE TALKING EARTH. 1st ed. New York: Harper & Row, 1983. 151p.; 21 cm. ISBN: 0060219750 and 0060219769 (lib. bdg.)

ONE DAY IN THE ALPINE TUNDRA. Illus by Walter Gaffney-Kessell. 1st ed. New York: Crowell, 1984. 44p: ill.; 22cm. ISBN: 0690043252 and 0690043260 (lib. bdg.)

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR ANIMALS. Illus by author. 1st ed. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1986. 286p: ill.; 22cm. ISBN: 0151422001.

ONE DAY IN THE PRAIRIE. Illus by Bob Marstall. 1st. ed. New York: Crowell, 1986. 42p. ill.; 21 cm. ISBN: 0690045646 and 0690045662 (lib. bdg.)

WATER SKY. 1st. ed. [New York]: Harper & Row, 1987. xi, 212p.: ill. ; 22cm. ISBN: 0060221984 abd 0060221992 (lib. bdg.)

ONE DAY IN THE WOODS. Illus by Gary Allen. 1st ed. New York: Crowell, 1988. 42, [1] p. of plates: ill.; 21cm. ISBN: 0690047223 and 069004724x (lib bsg.)

SHARK BENEATH THE REEF. 1st ed. New York: Harper & Row, 1989. vii, 182p.; 22 cm. ISBN: 0060219920 and 0060219939 (lib bdg. )

ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. Illus by author. 1st ed. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 1990. 170 p.: ill; 21 cm. ISBN: 0525445633.

ONE DAY IN THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST. Illus by Gary Allen. 1st ed. New York: Crowell, 1990. 56p.: ill.; 21 cm. ISBN: 0690047673 and 069004769x (lib. bdg).

THE MOON OF THE ALLIGATORS. Illus by Michael Rothman. Newly illustrated edition. New York: HarperCollings, 1991. 48p.:col. ill.; 24 cm. ISBN: 0060224274 and 0060224282 (lib bdg.)

THE MOON OF THE GRAY WOLVES. Illus by Sal Catalano. Newly illustrated edition. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. 48p.: col. ill.; 24 cm. ISBN: 0060224428 and 0060224436 (lib bdg.)

THE MOON OF THE MOUNTAIN LIONS. Illus by Ron Parker. Newly illustrated edition. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. 48p.: col. ill.; 24 cm. ISBN: 0060224290 and 006024438x (lib bdg.)

WHO REALLY KILLED COCK ROBIN?: An Ecological Mystery. New edition. New York: HarperCollins, 1991. xiii, 160 p., [2] leaves of plates: map; 22 cm. ISBN: 0060219807 and 0060219815 (lib bdg.)

THE MISSING 'GATOR OF GUMBO LIMBO: An Ecological Mystery. 1st ed. New York: HarperCollings, 1992. 148p. : ill.; 22cm. ISBN: 006020396x and 0060203978 (lib bdg.)

THE MOON OF THE CHICKAREES. Illus by Don Rodell. Newly illustrated edition. New York: HarperCollins, 1992. 48 p.: col. ill.; 24 cm. ISBN: 0060225076 and 0060225084 (lib. bdg.)

THE MOON OF THE DEER. Illus. by Sal Catalano. Newly illustrated edition. New York: HarperCollins, 1992. 47 p.: col. ill. ; 24cm. ISBN: 0060202610 and 0060202629 (lib bdg.)

THE MOON OF THE FOX PUPS. Illus by Norman Adams. Newly illustrated edition. New York: HarperCollins, 1992. 48p. : col. ill. ; 24cm. ISBN: 0060228598 and 0060228601 (lib bdg.)

THE MOON OF THE MOLES. Illus by Michael Rothman. Newly illustrated edition. New York: HarperCollins, 1992. 48p. : col. ill.; 24cm. ISBN: 0060202580.

THE MOON OF THE SALAMANDERS. Illus by Marlene Hill Werner. Newly illustrated edition. New York, HarperCollins, 1992. 47 p. : col. ill.; 24 cm. ISBN: 0060226099 and 0060226943 (lib bdg.)

THE MOON OF THE WILD PIGS. Illustrated by Paul Mirocha. Newly illustrated edition. New York: HarperCollins, 1992. 48p. : col ill.; 24cm. ISBN: 0060202637 and 0060202645 (lib bdg.)

DEAR REBECCA, WINTER IS HERE. Pictures by Loretta Krupinski. New York : HarperCollinsPublishers, c1993. 1st ed. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 23 x 26 cm. ISBN: 0060211393 and 0060211407 (lib. bdg.)

THE FIRE BUG CONNECTION : An Ecological Mystery. New York : HarperCollinsPublishers, c1993. 1st ed. 148 p. ; 22 cm. ISBN: 0060214902 and 0060214910 (lib. bdg.)

THE FIRST THANKSGIVING. Illus. by Thomas Locker. New York : Philomel Books, c1993. 1st Impression. ISBN: 0399219919.

THE MOON OF THE BEARS. Illus by Ron Parker. Newly illustrated edition. New York: HarperCollins, 1993. 48p. : col. ill; 24 cm. ISBN: 0060227915 and 0060227923 (lib bdg.)

THE MOON OF THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES. Illus by Kam Mak. Newly illustrated edition. New York: HarperCollins, 1993. 48p. : col ill.; 24 cm. ISBN: 0060208163 and 0060208171 (lib bdg.)

THE MOON OF THE OWLS. Illus by Wendell Minor. Newly illustrated edition. New York: HarperCollins, 1993. 47p. : col ill.; 24cm. ISBN: 0060201924 and 0060201932 (lib bdg.)

ANIMALS WHO HAVE WON OUR HEARTS. Illus. by Christine Herman Merrill. 1st ed. New York, NY : HarperCollins, c1994. vii, 56 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 19 cm. ISBN: 0060215437 and 0060215445 (lib. bdg.)

JULIE. Illus by Wendell Minor. 1st ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. 226p. : ill.; 22cm. ISBN: 0060235284 and 0060235292 (lib bdg.)

ACORN PANCAKES, DANDELION SALAD, and 38 other Wild Recipes. Illus. by Paul Mirocha. New ed. New York : HarperCollins Publishers, c1995. 63 p. : col. ill. ; 19 cm. ISBN: 0060215496 and 006021550X (lib. bdg.)

EVERGLADES. Paintings by Wendell Minor. [New York] : HarperCollinsPublishers, c1995. 1st ed. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 29 cm. ISBN: 0060212284 and 0060212292 (lib. bdg.)

THERE'S AN OWL IN THE SHOWER. Illus by Christine Herman Merrill. 1st ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1995. 133p.: ill. ; 21 cim. ISBN: 0060248912 and 0060248920 (lib bdg.)

TO CLIMB A WATERFALL. Illus by Thomas Locker. New York: Philomel Books, 1995. 1v. (unpaged) : col. ill.; 26cm. ISBN: 0399336737.

THE CASE OF THE MISSING CUTTHROATS : An Ecological Mystery. New York : HarperCollinsPublishers, 1996. 1st ed. 145 p. ; 22 cm. ISBN: 0060254653 and 0060254661 (lib. bdg.)

THE TARANTULA IN MY PURSE: and 172 Other Wild Pets. Illus by author. 1st ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1996. 134p. : ill.; 22cm. ISNB: 0060236264 and 0060236272 (lib bdg.)

ARCTIC SON. Paintings by Wendell Minor. New York : Hyperion Books for Children, c1997. 1st ed. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 26 cm. ISBN: 0786803150 and 0786822554 (lib.)

JULIE'S WOLF PACK. Illus by Wendell Minor. 1st ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1997. 191 p.: ill.,map; 22 cm. ISNB: 0060274069 and 0060274077 (lib bdg.)

LOOK TO THE NORTH: A Wolf Pup Diary. Illus by Lucia Washburn. 1st ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1997. 1v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 23 x 26cm. ISBN: 0060236418 and 006023640X.

DEAR KATIE, The Volcano is a Girl. Illus. by Daniel Powers. New York : Hyperion Books for Children, c1998. 1st ed. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 21 x 26 cm. ISBN: 0786803142 (trade) and 0786822546 (lib. bdg.)

ELEPHANT WALK. Illus. by Anna Vojtech. New York, NY : Disney Press, c1998. 1st ed. [32] p. : col. ill., map ; 23 cm. ISBN: 0786831634.

GIRAFFE TROUBLE. Illus. by Anna Vojtech. New York : Disney Press, c1998. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 22 cm. ISBN: 0786831677.

GORILLA GANG. Illus. by Stacey Schuett. New York : Disney Press, c1998. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 23 cm. ISBN: 0786831669.

RHINO ROMP. Illus by Stacey Schuett. 1st ed. New York: Disney Press, 1998. 1v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 23cm. ISBN: 0786831642 and 078685068x (lib bdg.)

FRIGHTFUL'S MOUNTAIN. Illus. by author. New York : Dutton Children’s Books, c1999. xii, 258 p. : ill. ; 21 cm. ISBN: 0525461663.

MORNING, NOON AND NIGHT. Illus by Wendell Minor. 1st ed. New York: HarperCollins, 1999. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. Ill. ; 21 x 26 cm. ISBN: 0060236280.

SNOW BEAR. Illus by Wendell Minor. 1st ed. New York: Hyperion Books, 1999. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 26 cm. ISBN: 07786804564.

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR CAT. Illus by Paul Meisel. 1st ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2000. 28p.L col. ill. ; 23 cm. ISBN: 0060279680 and 0060279699 (lib bdg.)

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR DOG. Illus by Sue Truesdell. 1st ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2000. 26 p. : col. ill. ; 23 cm. ISBN: 0060270926 and 0060270934 (lib bdg.)

NUTIK, THE WOLF PUP. Illus by Ted Rand. 1st ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2001 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 23 x 28 cm. ISBN: 0060281642 and 0060281650 (lib bdg.)

CLIFF HANGER. [illustrations by] Wendell Minor. New York : HarperCollins, 2002. 1st ed. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 26 cm. ISBN: 0060002603 and 0060002611 (lib bdg).

FRIGHTFUL'S DAUGHTER. Illus. by Daniel San Souci. New York, N.Y. : Dutton Children’s Books, 2002. 1st ed. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 30 cm. ISBN: 0525469079.

FIRE STORM. Illus. by Wendell Minor. New York : Katherine Tegen Books, c2003. 1st ed. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 26 cm. ISBN: 0060002638 and 0060002646 (lib. bdg.)

CHARLIE'S RAVEN. illus. by Jean Craighead George. New York : Dutton Children’s Books, c2004. 1st ed. 190 p. : ill. ; 22 cm. ISBN: 0525472193.

SNOWBOARD TWIST. Illus byWenell Minor. 1st ed. [New York]: Katherine Tegen Books, 2004. 1v. (unpaged) : col, ill. ; 27 cm. ISBN: 0060505958 and 0060505966 (lib bdg.)

LUCK. Illus by Wendell Minor. 1st ed. New York: Laura Geringer Books, 2006. 1 v. : col. ill. ; 26 cm. ISBN: 9780060082017 and 9780060082024.

FRIGHTFUL'S DAUGHTER MEETS THE BARON WEASEL. Illus. by Daniel San Souci. New York : Dutton Children’s Books, 2007. ISBN: 9780525472025 (hardcover).

Fred Gwynne: So Much More Than a Munster

Fred Gwynne died from cancer in 1993, he was 66 years old. He was an actor, an artist, a musician an author and an illustrator. His film and TV roles are discussed in detail on many different TV and movie websites. The focus here (of course) is on the books he wrote and illustrated. The following is a biblio checklist of his books, the books listed are the first appearance of each title, later printings and paperback editions are not listed. The main reference source for this list is The Library of Congress Card Catalog.

BEST IN SHOW. NY: Dutton 1958. [1st ed.] unpaged (chiefly illus.) 26 cm. Note: I was lucky enough to have a copy of this book in the early 90's. The black and white illustrations were brilliant and quite different from the cartoon quality of his later color illustrations. However, his love for jokes and visual humor was already very apparent.

WHAT'S NUDE? Illus. by Fred Gwynne; photos, by Peter Basch. With an introduction by Nathaniel Benchley. New York, I. Obolensky [1960]. unpaged (chiefly illus.) 24 cm. (I'm guessing this probably wasn't a children's book :-)

THE BATTLE OF THE FROGS AND THE MICE A Homeric Tale by George W. Martin. New York, Dodd, Mead [1962]. 55 p. illus. 22 cm. A sample of this book showing an example of some of Gwynne's stunning black and white illustrations is available courtesy of the author.

GOD'S FIRST WORLD. New York, Harper & Row [1970]. [1st ed.] [45] p. illus. 21 x 26 cm. I have no plot or illustration information on this title.

THE KING WHO RAINED. New York, Windmill Books [1970] [40] p. col. illus. 32 cm. ISBN: 0878070087.

THE STORY OF ICK. New York, Windmill Books [1971] [48] p. illus. 22 x 27 cm. ISBN: 0878070133.

ICK'S ABC. New York, Windmill Books [1971] [48] p. illus. 22 x 27 cm. ISBN: 0878070133.

A CHOCOLATE MOOSE FOR DINNER. New York : Windmill Books, 1976. [47] p. : col. ill. ; 29 cm. 1st ed. ISBN: 0525615458.

SIXTEEN HAND HORSE. New York : Windmill/Wanderer Books, c1980. [47] p. : col. ill. ; 29 cm. ISBN: 0671961004.

THE KING'S TROUSERS by Robert Kraus. Illustrated by Fred Gwynne. New York : Windmill Books, c1981. [32] p. : col. ill. ; 31 cm. (no isbn listed in LOC).

A LITTLE PIGEON TOAD. New York : Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, c1988. [47] p. : all col. ill. ; 29 cm. ISBN: 0671666592.

PONDLARKER. New York : Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, c1990. [32] p. : col. ill. ; 21 x 25 cm. ISBN: 0671708465.

EASY TO SEE WHY. New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1993. 1 v. (unpaged) : col. ill. ; 21 x 25 cm. This book was a reformatted (rectangular instead of square) and color version of his first book BEST IN SHOW. Neither the copyright page or the Library of Congress entry acknowledges this fact. The original edition was illustrated in black and white, printed on high quality, slightly glossy paper and was a very nicely bound flatback book. The reprint was rectangular, the color illustrations muddy and had a wrap around pictorial dust jacket that gave away the punchline of the story before you even opened the book.

Any corrections or additional information on Fred Gwynne's books or artwork would be greatly appreciated. Also, I welcome any information regarding his black and white illustrations or original art. Clarification as to whether WHAT'S NUDE and GOD'S NEW WORLD were illustrated in black and white and also whether or not GOD'S NEW WORLD was a children's book would help complete this list.

As always, thanks for reading,

Dana

condition report

Weather Conditions: 32 degress and flurries
Bookseller Condition: still sulky (see Murphy Strikes again)

even as x-libris

Over the years I have had numerous requests for this book but I have never even seen a copy!

THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE SPRINKLE SNITCHER by Robert Kraus. Illustrated by VIP. New York: Windmill Books 1969.

Condition, It's all about Condition

As a general rule, for a collectible modern children's book, the least acceptable condition for books I buy or sell, is Very Good in a Good dust jacket. Of course there are always books that are exceptions to the rule, see even as x-libris .

This is not so much elitist as practical, by the time all the faults in a book and dj are described, (bumped corners, foxing, dj tears, names or scribbles by previous owners etc.) only the most hard to find of titles are going to be attractive to the book buyer, especially for an internet sale where the buyer can't examine the book until after purchase.

My book conditions in descending order are:

AS NEW: I very rarely use this, I've had books new from the publisher that I won't call As New. ( The term Mint is for coins and chocolates, not books).

Fine: Is in unread or very lightly read condition. Dj is unmarred and not clipped.

Near Fine: I know a lot of dealers don't use this term, but dang it, a book with lightly bumped corners or a small crimp to the boards is not good enough to be Fine but too good to be Very Good. For a dust jacket to be Near Fine it may be slightly shelf rubbed, be price clipped or have a very small closed tear. (NOT all at the same time).

Very Good: May have previous owners inscription, light foxing (yellowing) bumped corners etc. But all major detractions should be listed in the description. Dj may be sun faded or lightly to moderately soiled. I've been known to use a plus and minus sign, IE Very Good+ for a book that is in better condition than Very Good, but not quite near fine. This also is not common practice for all booksellers.

Good: For collectible modern children's books Good is not good. Examples of books that fall into this category are, X-libris, (library discard), books that are foxed, have shaken bindings or are heavily marked and soiled; the book is intact and readable but it better be pretty darned desirable to make it worth having in this condition. A Good condition dust jacket may have tears or chips missing, be heavily soiled or sun faded. As with the Very Good category the major defects should be described.

I won't buy or sell books in Poor or Fair condition. I don't have the room to store them or the sales technique to describe them well enough that someone would want to buy them.

even as x-libris

Another title I would buy at a library sale even if it were a library discard:

THE CITY UNDER THE BACK STEPS by Evelyn Sibley Lampman. Garden City: Doubleday, 1962. ( This is a classic fantasy which should have gone on my dream book list.) Very difficult to find in any condition.

Pahhgg! Murphy strikes again...

Yesterday the American Library Association announced the 2006 winners of the major children's books awards in their meeting in Seattle. They did a web cast of the awards ceremony itself insuring that the news was equally disseminated. (The broadcast was at 12:00 eastern.)

For a dealer specializing in modern children's books this is always a busy day. After the awards are announced we check to see which of the titles we have and scramble to pick up the ones we don't have. Then we start fielding calls both from other dealers and our collectors on what they have and what they are looking for. If the winner of the Newbery, Caldecott or Printz is already in later printing in the stores or sold primarily to libraries and is not in the stores at all, the price of the book can climb just like a hot stock does on the stock exchange.

Award day is usually hectic, lucrative and most of all it's fun. You get to deal, horse trade and talk books with people who are extremely passionate about their collections.

So where does Murphy come in you ask? At about 10:25am eastern on Monday a Verizon Fiber Optic Tech working on service in the area misread a port and literally pulled the plug on me. I not only lost my internet access but also both my phone lines. (The analogy of eggs and a basket comes to mind.) It took Verizon 29 hours to get a tech back out and about 5 minutes for him to fix the problem once he got here. Excuse me, I have to go sulk some more....

condition report

Weather condition: 25 degrees and light snow
Bookseller's condition: distracted

...focus, Focus, FOCUS! Oh look, a flutterby!

My Dream Collection- Fantasy & Science Fiction

I've decided since sports fans can have fantasy sports teams I can have a fantasy collection of juvenile Fantasy and Science Fiction books. All would be First Editions, Fine in Fine dust jackets of course! These are some of my dream books, very collectible and VERY hard to find as firsts in any condition.

• MR. WICKER'S WINDOW by Carley Dawson (wouldn't say no to THE SIGN OF THE SEVEN SEAS or DRAGON RUN either)
  
• A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeliene L'Engle
• CAT'S EYE by Andre Norton
• BEASTMASTER by Andre Norton
• StAR MAN'S SON 2250 AD
  
• HALF MAGIC by Edgar Eager
• THE GIVER by Lois Lowry
• THE FORGOTTEN BEASTS OF ELD by Patricia McKillip
• TOM'S MIDNIGHT GARDEN by Philippa Pearce
• TARZAN OF THE APES by Edgar Rice Burroughs (is too a fantasy!)
• HAVE SPACE SUIT, WILL TRAVEL by Robert Heinlein
• CHILDHOOD'S END by Arthur C. Clarke
  
• BEAUTY by Robin McKinley
• ELLA ENCHANTED by Gail Carson Levine
• PERILOUS GARD by Elizabeth Marie Pope
• THE SHERWOOD RING by Elizabeth Marie Pope (so sue me, I like revolutionary war-romance-ghost stories)
  

and to atone for my very plebeian taste:

• THE INVISIBLE MAN by H.G. WELLS
• THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE by C.S. Lewis (British first, what the heck throw in the whole set)
• LORD OF THE RINGS by J.R.R. Tolkien (British first)

Newbery, King, Caldecott & Printz

The Newbery, King, Caldecott and Printz Awards are going to be announced at noon Eastern on Monday. ALA is going to do a webcast of the award ceremony at: http://www.unikron.com/ala-webcast .

I've got my favorites and my finger's crossed, but I've given up trying to predict. It's so much more fun to sit on the sidelines and throw peanuts!

Book day today!

I had a great day today, slipped the chain that shackles me to this computer and spent ALL DAY in the bookstores. I deal so much with the out of print titles it's nice every so often to get out and see what's been newly published.

I picked up a few interesting juvenile and young adult titles to read. Markus Zusak's THE BOOK THIEF is already in third printing, but actually found a first edition, first printing of John Green's LOOKING FOR ALASKA, which was last years Prinz award winner. I really like Zusak's writing and I'm going to find the time to read Green. (One the best perks of being a bookseller is getting to read your inventory.) I also picked up another copy of Louis Sachar's SMALL STEPS. Even though it had a large first run, First edition, first printings are getting harder to find and that die cut dj is going to drop quite a few out of collectible condition. Great story too!

I also looked a bit at picture books, picked up a few copies of Flotsom by Wiesner and a few other titles. Nothing really knocked my socks off but that is my fault, while illustrated books are a great portion of what I sell it's not really what I gravitate to, for me the "word's the thing" (to misquote Shakespeare).

even as x-libris

There are very few modern children's books that have any monetary value once it has been processed and subsequently discarded from a library. One exception to this rule is:

SINBAD and ME by Kin Platt. Phila: Chilton Books, 1966. Great juvenile mystery about a boy and his bulldog Sinbad. Won the Edgar for best juvenile mystery. I loved this book as a kid and enjoyed re-reading it as an adult.

Not only collectible as a library discard, the last time I checked the Tempo paperback was going for $80 dollars or so in Very Good condition. It's also very difficult to find.

4:22 am

....one of the joys of being self-employed is that you are free to work any 20 hours of the day that you want....

An open letter....

I am really enjoying having my own little corner of the net where I can talk about what books I like and dislike and all the reasons why. I've already mentioned quite a few books and authors in other postings that are favorites of mine and plan to write about quite a few more in future postings. What I hope for is that my discussions (diatribes?) will trigger conversations with others who have their own significant books they'd like to discuss.

At worst I'm talking to myself here, but hey I'm used to that!

What I don't plan to do here is review books; remember, relate, recommend yes, but not any in depth deconstruction of what an author has so painstaking put together. I'm never been all that fond of analyzing themes, plot elements and symbolism. I'm still holding a grudge against my English Lit teacher for ruining "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by making me dissect the symbolism of the book and thereby ruining one of my childhood favorites for all time. I did not, and still don't, need to know how an engine works to appreciate a classy car, nor did I need to know all about the foreshadowing and symbolism to really enjoy, and learn from, a classic story.

I also plan on typing quite a bit about the realities of being an out of print and collectible bookseller; everything from stories about the "ones that got away", the occasional exciting discoveries and probably more than a few rants about some of my least favorite aspects of being a bookseller. I hope you find the blog interesting enough to visit and comment often.

As always, thanks for reading!

Dana

More book lists

Meandering on about the books and authors that had a strong impact on me as a child got me thinking about the books that were important to my own children when they were growing up. (Background: one boy, one girl 4 years difference in age, now 23 and 19 years old respectively).

The following are the ones read to them and read on their own, again in no particular order:

• Watty Piper The Little Engine That Could (daughter, over & over & over again!)
• M. Sendak Where the Wild Things Are (both, but son more the daughter)
• E.B. White Charlotte's Web (Trophy Newbery) (daughter, also on my list of childhood favorites)
• Dr. SEUSS How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (I've still got this one memorized!)
• Louis Sachar Holes (Yearling Newbery) (both loved)
• J.K. Rowling Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-6) (both)
• F.H. Burnett The Secret Garden (The Illus Children's Library) (both, this one is a surprise, the dialect in the original edition makes this a tough read aloud for an American!)

It will be interesting to see what books the current and next generation of children will remember as significant from their childhood.

Ramble

I ranted in the last post so I thought I'd ramble in this one. A quick disclaimer though: I have been a reader and a book collector all my life and a bookseller for the last 14 years or so. While I love books I am strictly plebeian, I don't have any training as and Educator or in the Literary fields. What I write on are my own observations, experiences and opinions, (and boy do I have a lot of opinions!)

When I first became a bookseller I gravitated very naturally to the children's books. My rationalization was that the books I loved as a child would be books and authors that other people would remember also. Instant market research yes?

Well the following is a quick list of the authors and books the love of which made me what I am today: a fifty year old woman with 22,000 children's books in her house, who's commute to work takes 30 seconds and is accomplished in jammies, robe and fuzzy slippers.

In no order, chronological or otherwise:

• E.B. White CHARLOTTE'S WEB (Thanks to my 3rd grade teacher for reading this out loud)
• Claire Hutchet Bishop TWENTY AND TEN
• Marie McSwigan SNOW TREASURE
• Andre Norton CAT'S EYE
• Edward Eager HALF MAGIC
• Philippa Pearce TOM'S MIDNIGHT GARDEN
• Joan Phipson THE BOUNDARY RIDERS
• Francis H. Burnett THE LITTLE PRINCESS and THE SECRET GARDEN
• Norman Juster THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH
• Carley Dawson MR. WICKER'S WINDOW
• Scott O'Dell ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS
• Hugh Lofting DR. DOOLITTLE
• Madeliene L'Engle A WRINKLE IN TIME
• Elizabeth Pope THE PERILOUS GARD
  

Odd that I never can remember what day it is or even at times what decade I'm in, but I remember vividly reading, and re-reading each of these books. And 0f all the books listed, the only one that I still have not been able to find as a dealer ( first edition in collectible condition) is MR. WICKER'S WINDOW. Still looking though!

ARRGGG.... RANT, RANT, RANT, RANT, RANT!

....if i have to read ONE MORE book description, by so called booksellers that list their precious gems as a "Fine condition, x-library copies", "Fine, for it's age" or even worse the listings that don't list ANY condition, edition or description.... i am going to go beserk!

Business plan?

Ya know since I've been a bookseller full-time since 1993, I probably should have a better business plan than: "when times are good, buy books, when times are bad buy better books...."

a dinosaur grumbles

I love selling books online in the internet age, if only for the shear diversity of the books I sell and the locations I ship them. Since the advent of online selling I've shipped to every state in the U.S., almost every Province in Canada and a good many countries around the world.

In today's mailing alone I shipped books to Washington D.C. and Washington State, Virginia, Oregon, New Jersey, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Spain and also right here in Maryland. Quick and easy, upload the book description to the online mega database sites, get the email notification of order, pull, process 'n pack and out the door. And totally, totally boring.

As tedious as pre-internet catalog sales were to compile, publish and send, I really miss the personnel contact I had with my collectors. Each group of collectors had their high spots, the books or the authors than "made" a collection: Primrose Cummings and Walter Farley for the horse collectors, Sally Watson and Rosemary Sutcliff for historical fiction, Dare Wright for dolls etc. With catalog sales and a toll free phone number, I was able to find books and help build collections, and also enjoyed many a long conversation "talking books".

Ironic really, but I feel I had more real interaction with my collectors, was more "in tune" with the hot spots of the different genres when I lived on a rural property in Iowa (pre and early internet) than I do now 20 minutes from Baltimore.

An oldie but a goodie....

"Do you know how a bookseller retires with a million dollars?"

.......they start with two million....

January 15, 2007

One of my favorite children's poetry books is by Arnold Adoff called ALL THE COLORS OF THE RACE. (Illustrated by John Steptoe and first published in 1982 and unfortunately out of print now.) The main character is a young bi-racial girl and instead of trying to give you my long winded opinions of the writing, below is the title poem:

"All the colors of the race
are
in my face, and just behind my face:
behind my eyes:
inside my head.

And inside my head, I give myself a place
at the end of a long
line forming
itself into a
circle.

And I am holding out my hands."