There’s just something about vintage children’s books that brighten my day. The innocence of the children in the drawings and the bright colors used in the books make me smile.
Here are a few of the children’s books in my collection.
Not Quite Three written by Helen Wolf and illustrated by Martha Castagnoli. Copyright 1954 Whitman Publishing Company.
Sorry to say there is no real story here, but is basically a bunch of one or two page stories about some kids that are almost three years old.
They talk about having a picnic,
going to Grandma’s and Grandpa’s,
playing dress up at a tea party
and what their third birthday party will be like.
This book is Christopher John’s Fuzzy Blanket written by Dorothy Haas and illustrated by Florence Sarah Winship. Copyright 1959 Whitman Publishing Company.
It is a story about a boy that has lots and lots of toys,
but his favorite thing to play with is his blanket.
The thing that fascinated me about this book as a kid was that his blanket was fuzzy. The book actually had fuzzy stuff on the drawing of the blanket! How cool is that!
Peter Pat and The Policeman written by Catherine Stahlmann and illustrated by Dorothy Grider. Copyright 1958 Rand McNally & Company.
It is the story about a five year old boy who thinks since he is old enough to go to Kindergarten that he is old enough to explore his neighborhood all by himself.
And of course, that doesn’t end up well and he eventually gets lost.
But Mr. Policeman helps Peter Pat get back home.
Don’t you wish we still lived in the innocent world depicted in these books? Then again, maybe it never really was that way.
I guess during the 50’s and 60’s you had to deal with the threat of nuclear war, bomb shelters and duck and cover drills.
And then in the 30’s and 40’s you had Hitler and WWII, so yeah, maybe it wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be.
But I so love the illustrations!
If you like this type of thing, I have a few other vintage illustration printables for you – Vintage Dog Illustrations and Vintage Animal Illustrations
Coloradolady
Pam, I agree with you…children’s books are so sweet, especially vintage ones. The books today just do not have the charm as the older ones. Have a great VTT!
* French Farmhouse 425 *
~*Books back then had the sweetest most charming images! Thanks for sharing..:)Rachle~*
Maureen
I love old books, especially the illustrations in children’s books. The blanket brought back memories of making ‘forts’ with my sister when we were kids. It would keep us amused for hours.
La
Hi Pam!
I think I remember reading Fuzzy Blanket as a child. It was definitely a simpler, more naive time.
Jordan and I are off to that state up north tomorrow. Have a great weekend! La
GardenofDaisies
Love these vintage childrens illustrations! I had a rocking horse on springs just like that! And I do have to say that my childhood was pretty idyllic! Not a care or a worry in the world. I guess my parents did a pretty good job of protecting me from anything scary out there.
Cat Nap Inn Primitives
I have one of those Rand McNalley books..it is Mailman Mike..my husbands name is Mike..:)
[email protected]
You know what I like best about them? All the stories have dogs. Who doesn’t like dogs, and children and simpler times? Thanks for sharing Pam!
Mrs. Cozy Home
These are spectacular!! Love the colors and wholesome images…
Janet,
I love vintage children’s books! I used to collect Little Golden Books and I have so many. I love yours, the illustrations are so cute. At Christmas, I get out my Christmas ones and display them.
Okie Chic
I love all the colors in vintage childrens books they are so vivid.
AshTreeCottage
I love those sweet illustrations! Thank you for sharing them with us.
Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
Debbie
I think they made childrens books so much nicer back then too. It really encouraged reading with all the colorful pictures and happy little faces.
Postcardy
I love the illustrations in those books. They remind me of my early school books.
I actually had a blanket that I called “Fuzzy,” but it was actually a baby blanket.
The Blackwood Cottage
Thanks for sharing…I love the colors of yesterday!
Machelle
Jeanne
Hi Pam, I dearly love the books you have shared. I think if there was a time to be innocent and happy was in the fifties. I was a teen then and I can tell you life was a picnic and a beach. The fun times were without stress and worry. Maybe my own memory was a reflection of the happy childhood we had. Parents who loved us and a life of no worries. Your books are treasures. Thank you for sharing them today and in such a wonderful way.
Hugs, Jeanne
Country Dreaming
Your speaking my language here. i love, love,
love children’s books. Teaching doesn’t help either because I HAVE to have certain books you know.
Great pictures of times gone bye.
Melinda
Betsy
I love the books. The Fuzzy Blanket immediately brought back memories of when I would play for hours with my brother making “forts” out of chairs and blankets. Climing up on the chairs was like a second story. What happened to old fashioned fun? Now it’s all video games;-)
Crafty Housewife
Such wonderful books you have! That’s something I have been trying to collect for my children, and you definitely have quite the collection! Thanks for stopping by Crafty Housewife =)
NanaDiana
Hi Pam- Oh~those are so sweet. I have some of the older ones too. And I still dearly love the old Dick & Jane series…those are the ones I learned to read when I started school. I think they developed a life long love of reading for me.
I think I have a copy of the Not Quite Three book too….so cute and the times were so innocent then.
BTW-I have a free magazine give away on my blog if you are interested…Hugs- Diana
Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions
What wonderful books! Makes me think back to a simpler, happy time when I was a child in school. I remember first learning to read with the Dick and Jane books. These remind me of that time.
trash talk
Pam, I adore your books. I think it’s the colors that make them so wonderful…bright without being garish!
It was a simpler time…maybe not perfect, but slower paced. Having been a child in the ’50s, I can say for me I was allowed to be a little girl…nothing more.
Debbie
Chrissie
Beautiful post.Vintage childrens books are so sweet!
Anna
I love these books and the illustrations are fantastic. Thank you so much for sharing these. I just love the first one, such a great reminder that you don’t need a Wii to have fun!
Blessedmom's Simple Home
I love vintage childrens books. The graphics are wonderful!
Blessings,
Marcia
[email protected] Ground
HI Pam, these really are sweet! Love children’s books because they’ve always been a ritual for bedtime where they teach a great lesson and bring a bonding. I’ve always enjoyed them, no matter what the decade…or century, thanks so much for linking up with VIF!
xo,
Debra
Sue
I wish I had kept all of my books from eons ago. I loved reading and still do, but those Little Golden Books of mine were so special to me. Dang, why don’t we think to keep things? I’ve seen them for sale, but at such a pretty price~ I guess I will just hold my memories in my heart…
~ Sue
mary beth
Pam what a delight to find your blog and spend some time looking at these sweet images from a time when things were much simpler! Ah the good old days! Thanks for sharing them with us…I will be back for more vintage fun!
Kathleen
I liked that! Reminded me of the illustrations in the old readers. I think it was a simpler time. Even though the threats existed, ( I remember air raid drills in school) we weren’t bombarded with the news 24/7!
Barbara Jean
How do you get such great pics of your book pages? I would like to share some of mine, but cannot figure out how.
thanks and blessings
barbara jean
Cheryl
How fun to find others who enjoy old children’s books and to stumble upon your blog. Soon I will share some of mine on a nestonfeatherlane.com. Please stop by. Cheryl
She Uses Her Words
What great books! I have a small collection from when I was little, 50+ years ago and a children’s book given to my mother in 1934 called ‘The Little Would-Nots.’ It’s my favorite! Just found your blog thru Common Ground and love it! I’m becoming a follower.
xo, Karen
Heather - New House New Home
Boy that brings back memories of Kindergarten and Grade 1!!
Koren
I remember seeing a version of the Dick and Jane books with black children in it instead of white children. I remember thinking why couldn’t they put ALL the children in one book instead of using separate books, one for blacks one for whites.
Becky
love these books. Times may not have been as simple as they appeard but, for a moment we can at least pretend.
Mickey Barcalow
My grandson bought me a vintage copy of Frosty the Snowman and I felt like he gave me a million dollars !!