Oh, The Places You'll Go

There is a very active group of collectors for all Dr. Seuss material, both books and ephemera, but Oh, The Places You'll Go is the single title that I have the most requests for from the non-collectors market. The number of requests increases each spring with the school graduation season.

even as x-libris

With a nod both to the legion of series collectors and my own childhood memories:

Robert Arthur's Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators and the Secret of Terror Castle. NY: Random House, 1964. Issued without a dust jacket. This is the first book written in The Three Investigator's juvenile mystery series.

(I loved this series as a kid and judging from the large number of fan sites I'm not the only one who remembers it fondly.)

The bookseller is out...of her mind

Well I finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, enjoyed it so much that I decided I would re-read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

After a few days in immersed in Rowling's fantasy world I was not ready to give up fantasy for reality yet so I decided to read Patricia Brigg's Raven Shadow and Raven Strike (which I enjoyed) and then re-read her Dragon Bones and Dragon Blood, (which are still two of my favorite of her books. I'm hoping someday the author will write a third in this series but she is currently writing a series of modern werewolf books.) Then I finished off my 5 day book binge with a re-read of Bujold's Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls.

I tend to do this type of binge reading any time I'm stressed; I guess it is healthier than over-eating or drinking but boy do I have a lot of work to catch up on. I wonder if there is a 12 step program for fantasy addiction....

Other than Harry Potter

Like many, many people I'm anxiously waiting for the July 21st and the publication of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. But either pre or post Harry these fantasy authors also deserve to be read:

Diana Wynne Jones (my favorites; Howl's Moving Castle and it's sequel Castle in the Air, there are rumors of a third book but I've not seen anything definite).

Megan Whalen Turner (I loved all three books The Thief, Queen of Attolia and King of Attolia and I will be crushed if there is not another book telling Sophos's story).

David Almond (My favorite is Kit's Wilderness, definitely a young adult title, dark, layered and complex).

Markus Zusak (I'm more partial to The Messenger, than The Book Thief, both young adult titles and both well worth reading.)

Harry Potter Mania

From the publication of the first Harry Potter I have continuously underestimated the market for all things Harry. The hype surrounding the publication of the last book in the series Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows only seems to be gaining momentum, and as a result I'm selling a surprising number of the earlier books. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in particular. (I thought that every one who wanted a first edition would have purchased them long before now).

Favorite themes- Juvenile Fairy Tales Retold

Fairy Tales, whether they are familiar or obscure, have always been a staple of children's picture books, but more rarely are addressed by writers of children's juvenile or young adult titles. Three of my favorite juvenile "rewrites" all collectible as fine first editions and worth reading and rereading in any edition are:

Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted. (A Cinderella variation which finally has a logical explanation for why Cinderella was such a wimp. DO NOT watch the movie, read the book!)*

Robin McKinley, Robin. Beauty. (Absolutely the best retelling of this fairy tale, and pretty darn impressive for an author's first book.)

Elizabeth Marie Pope's The Perilous Gard. (Based on Tam Lin, a folksong I was only vaguely aware of before reading the book, even though I've always love stories of fairy folk under the hill.)

Ella Enchanted and Perilous Gard were both Newbery Honor titles and all three books were written in first person, a writing style I'm not usually fond of but one that really works for these stories.

(*as always I'm at my most opinionated when I'm in italics.)

even as x-libris

Another title that I'd pick up even as a library discard:

Have Space Suit Will Travel by Robert Heinlein. Published by Scribners in 1961.

(For that matter, I'd pick up any any early hard cover Heinlein juvenile, this one just is a personal favorite.)

More Dream Collection- Fantasy & Science Fiction

I can't believe I forgot to list Louis Sachar's HOLES on my original dream collection list or for that matter HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE.

even as x-libris

Another title that I'm always looking for at library sales is:

MR. WICKER'S WINDOW by Carley Dawson. Illustrated by Lynd Ward. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1952.

This was a very well written time-slip fantasy as were the sequels THE SIGN of THE SEVEN SEAS and DRAGON RUN. All three were well written, very collectible, and well worth picking up even as a library discard.

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.

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).

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.

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)

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.

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!