Friday Giveaway: A Book of Seasons

 

Alice and Martin Provensen's

A Book of Seasons

 

1976

 

The winner of last Friday's Giveaway is Sarah P.  Sarah, if you'll shoot me a message with your address, I'll get your copy of The Color Kittens in the mail.  Congratulations.

 

Today's give is a lovely little book about the seasons, written and illustrated by the Provensen's (as is The Color Kittens).

 

To qualify for the Friday Giveaway, you must be a resident of the USA (sorry, overseas shipping is a little pricey for a freebie), you must be human (please do not toss your pet's name into the hat), and only one entry per household. I will draw one name next Friday morning, and announce the winner of A Book of Seasons here at Books For Breakfast.

 

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

 



Henry Explores the Mountains

 

Henry Explores the Mountains

by Mark Taylor

illustrations by Graham Booth

 

My son adores Henry.  Which is why I am thankful that Henry and his dog Laird Angus McAngus adventure through three other books.  I chose one at random to share with you today.

 

 

Henry and Angus set out one day to explore the mountains before winter sets in.  He brings a long rope and his ever read set of flags which he uses to claim his conquered land.  These little flags come into play in every Henry book.

 

 

They forge over the foothills, through the valley, and into the mountain canyon. They encounter

 

a fox,

 

and a wolf.

 

 

But Henry and Angus are brave, intrepid explorers.  Thankfully, they are rescued just in time by an old mountain man who happens upon them.  After thanking him, Henry and Angus take their leave, and soon come to the top of the mountain.

 

And from the peak of Mount Henry, they spy . . .

 

 

a forest fire!

 

 

Angus is so excited he forgets to be careful.  Suddenly there is an avalanche, and Angus is carried away!  Poor Angus is knocked out cold, lying still on the ledge below.  Angus runs to the mountain man's cabin for help.

 

 

Will the fire be contained?  And what about our dear and loyal Angus?  Who will save the day? 

 

I'll give you a little clue to the ending.  Remember those flags?

 

 

They're mighty important.

 

Friday Giveaway: The Color Kittens

 

The Color Kittens

by Margaret Wise Brown

illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen

 

Yes, dear folks, I do realize that today is Saturday and not Friday, but I in keeping with the Friday Giveaway, I choose to pretend for the moment that I didn't miss my deadline. So without further ado, I give to you The Color Kittens, one of the best little books on color mixing.

 

To qualify for the Friday Giveaway, you must be a resident of the USA (sorry, overseas shipping is a little pricey for a freebie), you must be human (please do not toss your pet's name into the hat), and only one entry per household.  I will draw one name at next Friday morning, and announce the winner of The Color Kittens here at Books For Breakfast.

 

That's all for now, folks.  Have a good weekend.

 

 

 

 



The Sugar Mouse Cake

 

The Sugar Mouse Cake

by Gene Zion

pictures by Margaret Bloy Graham

 

1964

 

I adore the Harry the Dirty Dog books.  Have since I was a kid.  And who doesn't love Be Nice To Spiders.  And Benji? Cute little scamp.  But have you ever feasted your eyes on this darling book?  I hunted for over a year before finally snagging this one.  And let me just tell you, it was worth the wait.

 

There was once a poor pastry cook named Tom

who worked in the Royal Kitchen of the King.

No one in the Court knew what a fine pastry cook he was

because he was never allowed to bake anything.

Tom was the ninth assistant to the Chief Pastry Cook

and was just permitted to wash the bowls and spoons.

The only one who knew how well he could bake was Tina.

 

 

So begins this sweet tale of friendship, a fat queen, fondant, and a black cat. (This book is pre-political correctness, when the word fat could be used in a childrens' book.)

 

One day Tom reads a Royal Proclamation, proclaiming the imminent retirement of the Chief Pastry Cook . . . which can only mean one thing in story book land.  A bake off.  To determine who shall become the new Chief Pastry Cook, of course.

 

 

Tom sets right to work, sifting, measuring, pouring, and mixing.  So fast does he move, he does not notice when his elbow knocks from the shelf a music box, which promptly plops into the bowl.  By the dawn of the following morning, Tom's cake stands ready . . .

 

 

A work of art from top too bottom.

 

But just as the king and queen are about to enter the main hall filled with cakes and bakers from every corner of the Kingdom . . .

 

 

the Queen Mouse breaks off and crumbles to pieces.  But not to worry.  Tina, who has been sleeping in Tom's pocket, deftly skips to the top of the cake and takes the empty throne.  But poor Tina can't fool everyone.

 

 

The palace cat is shooed from the hall, and disaster is averted.  For now.  The king and queen take the sugar mouse cake to the Royal Chamber and retire for the night.

 

Tom, in a frightful state over the safety of dear Tina, climbs to the window, and peers through the window. 

 

 

And spies . . .

 

 

Will Tina become a savory morsel for the Palace Cat?  Does Tom receive the tasty post as Chief Pastry Cook?  Well, to find out, you'll have to get your hands on a copy. 

 

And dear, me.  Whatever becomes of that lost music box?

 

I do wonder.



The Fabulous Firework Family

 

The Fabulous Firework Family

by James Flora

1955

 

 

My friend, Silvia, is getting into the book business as well.  Her great love is hunting down beat up but beautiful vintage books and giving them new life as book marks, note cards, and whatever else her mind can conceive.  She passes on to me any books she finds of significant value or any book she can't bear to deconstruct.  This is one such book.

 

For years, I've seen hints of James Flora in the book blogs, his crazy illustrations showing up to tease me, hinting that for a pretty price tag, I too could own one of his creations.  And if it wasn't for the fact that someone other than me has a stake in the sale of this book, it would be ours.  And ours alone.  So good is this book.

 

Enough ado.  Meet Pepito and his family.  For weeks he and his family work on a masterful firework display for a village celebration.  This book gives such a wonderful description of the art of firework making.  Not the cheap factory junk, but handcrafted sculptures.

 

 

All the while, Boca Grande, the family's parrot screeching, "Don't forget the red.  Don't forget the red."

 

 

Soon arrives the day of the fiesta.  Pepito and Amelia watch a lot of men and boys try to climb a greased pole.  A chicken tied to the top of the pole is their prize.

 

 

The descriptions of the fiesta, complete with a mock bull fight, are delightful.

 

 

As is the description of the precarious installment of the completed fireworks castle.

 

 

One by one, the fuses are lit, setting off rocket wheels, flip-flopping clowns, and an ogre eating a kingfish.

 

 

I've been to many a Fourth of July celebrations, many New Years festivals, but never have I seen a fireworks display so fantastically glorious, so rich with pageantry.  And I'd have to agree with Flora:

 

Viva Santiago.

 

 

Viva the Fabulous Firework Family!

The Winter Child

 

The Winter Child

by Lee Wyndham

illustrated by Yaroslava

Parents' Magazine Press

 

1970

 

The theme of the childless couple pining for a child is as old as literature and history.  Sarah laughed at the idea that her ninety year old womb would carry a babe.  Hannah wept over her barrenness on the temple steps.  A childless Japanese couple plucked a giant peach from the river and found a child inside.  Gepetto crafts a wooden puppet who is given life by the Blue Fairy.  The little old woman and the little old man baked a gingerbread boy - to eat or to love, depending on the retellers whim.

 

 

Then there's The Winter Child, a variation on this theme, born of the snow of the endless Russian steppe. 

 

 

Maria Nikolaivna and Sergei Petrovitch have everything they need or could ever want.  They live on a fine, small farm in a fine, small house.  There is always the smell of "newly baked bread, crusty round bublichki cookies, hearty stews, thick soups, fragrant jams and other good foods."  The cat, Vaska, purrs "like a samovar" in which his mistress boils the water for the tea.  And the dog, Belka, is sleek and happy, "since along with kind words and good treatment," there is plenty for him to eat.

 

 

The barnyard is full of ducks and pigs and the finest of roosters.  The big brown cow gives the richest milk - "thick with yellow cream."

 

All that is missing is a child.  And although Maria and and Sergei are godparents to most of the village children (so much does everyone love them), at the end of the day, those children always go home, and Maria and Sergei are again left alone.

 

But one morning, the couple awake to find "a great Russian snow" has fallen during the night.  The crisp, morning air is filled with the voices of children.  At first, Maria and Sergei are filled with joy at that sound, but gradually they grow "quiet and wistful.

 

 

Later, the poor couple go out of doors and wander through the snow village left behind by the children, a village peopled with snow men, women and children.  And this quiet, icy tableau inspires old Maria and Sergei. 

 

 

And here is where I hear echoes of Frosty the Snowman.  Because just like that snowy sculpture of Christmas legend,

 

 

Snegurochka (which means Little Snow Child) comes to life.  And for the whole winter long, Maria and Sergei bask in the warmth of their own, little daughter.

 

 

Until the snow begins to melt.  And just as suddenly as she came,

 

 

Snegurochka is gone,

 

until . . .

 

 

 

again falls the snow.



How Joe the Bear and Sam the Mouse Got Together

How Joe the Bear and Sam the Mouse Got Together

story by Beatrice Schenk De Regniers

illustrated by Brinton Turkle

Parents Magazine Press

1965

Sorry about the blurriness of the pictures on the edges.  I'm longing for a wand scanner, but for now I must putter away with my dinosaur that eats the edges off every two page spread.  But this post must go on.  So . . .

Meet Sam.  And Joe.  They are two very different fellas who live in two very different worlds, but both long to find some commonality on which to base a friendship.  The book opens when they meet, and soon discover that they both are seeking new places to live.

"Let's live together!"  They both exclaim.

But Joe likes a big house - Sam likes a small.  No small surprise there for the reader, but a surprise indeed for our characters.  They spend a page or two honking their noses and wiping away tears.

Well, if they can't live together, maybe they can play ball!  That's it! 

But Joe likes football - Sam likes baseball.

That umbrella is a nice touch, don't you think? 

How about cycling?

Nah.  Not that either.

Poor guys.  I'm afraid those hankies are going to need a good wringing out before this story is over.  But the story does have a happy ending.  For once, I'll break my own no spoilers rule, because I'd hate for you to worry about poor ol' Sam and Joe. 

They will always live in separate houses.

They will always play at different games.

 

Some things never change. 

And I will never, ever give away an ending.