(photo courtesy of Jenny Harris of Allsorts)
Vintage childens books have become such a huge inspiration to me and my artwork. Over the years I find myself collecting more and more of these darling nostalgic page worn books that were once read and admired from children years and years ago. Im so drawn to them, and their adorable illustrations.
I own two very old children's books copyrighted back in the early 30's, that use to belong to my grandmother. When I was little girl, and would stay the night with her, she read them to me before bedtime.
This is my all time favorite vintage childrens book. "Yip & Yap"
My grandmothers book from when she was a child.
I loved how the "real life" animals were dressed up.
Tee! Hee! So cute!!! Notice the green colored in areas? That was the very beginning of my artistic endeavours. hee! hee!
The other book I feel so incredibly lucky to have had passed down is "Ferdinand the Bull".
Whenever my yorkie pups are outside on a beautiful sunny day and are lying around soaking in the sun, and sniffing the air I start to call them both "Ferdinand".
I've displayed a few sweet vintage books in my son's room.
Animals at the Seashore. Beyond precious!
My most recent LOVE and slightly growing collection is the little Lollipop books and A Little book.
These little 15-17 page books are just filled with the sweetest illustrations.
Ring around the Rosie…..
My heart melts over this daring illustration.
I think I have "pinpointed" as to why I adore these type illustrations, and those of vintage greeting cards as well. All the animals have BIG FURRY ROUND HEADS, round button like eyes, and cute whiskers!
I wish more than anything they created childrens book like these today. Old fashion illustrations with sweet simple stories.
Im sure many of you might have noticed my new banner. :) Thank you super talented Kris Hurst!!!! I adore how it has a vintage storybook "feel" to it. I wanted to change my banner to temporarily reflect my new artistic and creative endeavours.
Since my early twenties I have always wanted to write and publish a childrens book. I know it's ALOT of research, work, time, editing, re-editing, and a rejection or two, three, four… but I know this is a goal I want to accomplish one day. I've taken "Writing Children's Book" continuing education at Emory University several years ago. I have stacks of books on writing childrens books, and I created a delightful character named "Dottie" in my early twenties, and illustrated her. Dottie is bit of a mischievous and adventurous little girl.
This is a photo of me (taken awhile ago) holding my Dottie doll, and embroidered baseball hat my dear friend Sonya made for me. This is a sample of my illustrations. (my illustrations are NOT the best! LOL!!!)
I have a small creative art project that I have been working on and really believe in. I can't spill the beans, but it is my DREAM to hopefully see it made into a children's book one day.
Like many artist over time you evolve and grow, and perhaps new opportunities knock at your door. Writing a children's book that is inspired by the children's books of years and years ago is my long term goal, and I hope sweet friends in years to come…. it will be a dream come true!
THE END.
XOXOXO,
P.S. DONT FORGET…..Ice Cream Social on Monday July 13th!
Jenn~
I love the new look of your blog!!! And what a treasure trove of vintage children’s books you have. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
I too collect vintage children’s books and am working towards my goal of illustrating a book. Although I have no talent in writing or story telling. Best of luck to you!!
Hugs~
Chelsea Ann
I Agree Jenn, old children’s books are Wonderful. You know, there is a Vendor at the Rose Bowl Flea Market that has the most Amazing very old cloth Children’s books. She also takes the pages of these cloth books and puts them on pillows, so so Gorgeous. I drool over them each time I go, they are Extremely pricey but so Beautiful. She is the only person I have ever seen with them. Love your New Banner, such a Beautiful change. Jamie
I love the yip and yap book! So darling! I know you can accomplish you dream, you are so hard working and talented, and I have complete faith in the fact that it will happen soon!
xoxo, Tiffany
Oh wow Jen, it all sounds so very exciting and I just know it will all fall into place for you! The bluebird book makes me want to reach into my computer screen and grab it out…too sweet.
I am taking great delight in my children reading to themselves now and they are reading my collection of ‘old’ childrens stories when there were michievious elves instead of wizards and skulls and the like. I adore the fact my 7 year old sneaks a few minutes ( well as many as she can get) every morning cuddled up in bed with ‘The adventures of Toyland’. I knew reading them all my favourite childrens books would pay off, now I get to hear them again!
Kiss Noises Linda
hi Jenn, what a precious book collection. when my kids were little I bought a lot of books at their book sales at school. I would always buy the ones with the sweetest illustrations. but nothing beats those sweet old books. Id love to see you write and illustrate a childs book! I’m sure you would do an awesome job!
have a sweet day.
vivian
Jenn, your collection of children’s books is wonderful…i LOVE that page of the kitties dressed up, those are my favorites…they crack me up…i know you will have your book published and it will be just as sweet as you:)
Jenn- Good for you for having a dream and going for it.
I know you will be able to achieve your dream!
Karla
Hmmmm…Miss Jenn, I wonder what you will create! I want an autographed copy! We have stacks and stacks of our old children’s books in our son’s room. We love to read them and they bring back memories too. I thank my Mom for holding on to them for me ~ some with scribbles, some with torn pages and dust covers, and some with dusty mildew that needs to be brushed off regularly. I treasure them all!
Ciao bella,
Suzanne
PS
Count me in on the ice cream party.
How stinkin cute is your Dottie and your illistrations..keep at it I am sure one day soon we will be buying those books! Grace
I am SO in love with Yip and Yap! Cutest book ever! Good luck with your book, I’m sure you will create something wonderful, I adore everything you make!
xo
Hi Jenn!
I loved this post!!! I too love vintage children’s books and have quite a few! I am always looking at children’s books, even the newer ones! I often order books for myself from my kids book orders, just because looking at them makes me happy, lol! Yip and Yak is soooo cute!!! I love that it has real animals too!
Dottie is just adorable Jenn! I cannot wait to see what you are up to! I know it will be wonderful! 🙂
Love ya,
Amy
Jenn, I am so excited for you, that you are endeavoring into your dream of publishing a children’s book. I am looking forward to seeing this happen!! My favorite books from childhood are still fresh in my memory. My mom did not save my books but I am saving all of my son’s in our attic. I always look for vintage copies of my old books when I am out antiquing.
I sure do love your collection, I will keep a look out for those little
Lolly Pop Books sweetest graphics. You know me, we both love those whimsical characters. Good luck with your dream!
Hugs, Diane
Hi Jenn,
I’m so glad I found your blog. You have some really great old books there that bring up alot of fond memories for me. If only my Dad hadn’t let the Boy Scouts clean out his attic when I was in college!! I wanted those old books!! oh well..
I think you could do VERY well with your children’s book and illustrations. You just have to persevere, but get started now because the whole process takes a LONG time!
All the best!
Gina C. Browning (children’s book author)
What a great collection of old children’s books you have.. I have always love “Ferdinand the bull” I have great memories of my Mother reading to us and taking us to the library. I have a collection too.. I believe you have a dream so, go for it.. You are talented and can make it happen. I also love the illustrations in the older children’s books.. Just not the same anymore.. 🙂
Sweet! I will go see the post about the ice cream social! Sounds lovely. We have one every year in our little town. Delights abound.
Jenn! I love those sweet images! You know I used to sit and write short stories when I was little knowing one day I would illustrate them–Mom threw them out when we moved from NY! I would love to write one too. Hope you are doing well,
xo Kris
Jenn, I just love old children’s books too and even recognize some that I have found in the last year or two. I buy them thinking I will make some sort of “art” with them and then can’t bear to tear them apart. I can’t wait for DOTTIE to hit the big time and maybe you can work in a boyfriend for her so my hubby won’t think I am nuts when I read a little girl’s book to Brady, haha. I used to write little stories abt. troublesome little brothers but who knows where those are now…
Sweet Jenn, I know that you will have that childrens book published. I love that you enjoy those books so much. I have that love as well and I always long for books nowadays to have the same illustrations as the vintage books did back then. They just don’t make them like that anymore so it’s up to us to try and rescue those lost books. Your illustrations are just darling!
See you at the Ice Cream Social!
Deanna 😀
You will make a superstar author of children’s books Jenn, follow your dream because you are incredibly talented and have what it takes!
What a sweet post, Jenn. I adore children’s books too. And I am so grateful that my wonderful mom saved mine. She even wrote notes in them about how I learned to read at a such-in-such age and which ones were my most treasured. My absolute favorite was “The Surprise Doll” – I have it displayed in my studio. I also like to pick up various ones on EBay and I use the images (or copies) in my art journaling. It’s all just so sweet and nostalgic, isn’t it?
Have a wonderful day!!
Holly
PS – WE KNOW dreams do come true!
Oh, those vintage children’s books are just so dreamy, aren’t they? I love to collect them. You look really sweet posing with your artwork!! Yes, it IS very cute!
Happy day!
Christina! 🙂
Hi Jenn,
I can’t wait to read your book one day : ) I also love children’s books, vintage and newer. Reading to my children was always one of my favorite things to do, and then them reading to me. I have been collecting some vintage books with bunny images in them for a special bunny journal I want to make, they do have the cutest illustrations. I hope all your dreams come true!
Hugs,
Kathy
Hi Sweetie! So cute!
OO! PS love the ‘Animals by the Seashore’ children’s book so unique! I did not have any toys or children’s books as a child so my ‘inner princess’ is always delighted by your pretties! LOL Denise Hull,Mass.
Jenn,
that banner is so “you”!
it really captures your sweetness.
I believe that your dream will come because you believe in it, and that is all that counts.
you go for it girl! we’ll all be here cheering for you all the way.
xoxo
Suze
Hi sweet girl!
I can see why you love these books, oh my goodness! They are darling beyond words! Incurable CUTENESS!! Yip and Yap is super, duper darling! What a treasure!!!
What an awesome goal to write a children’s book Jenn!! Could there be anything more natural for you? Of course, you must do it!
And I LOVE, LOVE Dottie already!! She sounds like so much fun, kids will LOVE her!
So, hang onto those dreams and as they say “just do it”!! ~~*~*~*~*~*~
HUGS *****
your friend ~ Madai
ps thank you for stopping by my humble little journal, such an honor to see you there 🙂 XOX XOX
wow Jenn, your Dottie illustrations are SO SO cute… I love that picture of you with your Dottie doll.
I always think you have the most amazing imagination so for you to write childrens books would be sooo perfect. Keep on striving… one day I know you will get there.
xoxo Heather
Ferdinand was my little sister’s favorite book and I loved growing up with it! Aren’t vintage children’s books wonderful? I so love them. Thanks for sharing your collection. Keep on with your dream.
~Marilee
what a great site you have here. Love the style and your music dhoices. I just adore Yip and Yap! Wish it was still in print. My kids would’ve loved it. Thanks for sharing.