Old Fashion Girl Reading

"I love old books. They tell you stories about their use. You can see where the fingerprints touched the pages as they held the book open. You can see how long they lingered on each page by the finger stains." Jack Bowman quote See how this book's first stamp is showing as November 1959. That was nine years before I was born. Now, on the back cover is a scanning stamp for readers of the present to use and check out. Wonder how many times a year this classic is picked up in this small town?

My kids and I visit the local small town library nearly every week. Last week my daughter, Savannah Rose, brought the book above to me and said, "Mom, you would love reading this book. It is old. It is by a wonderful author. I know you will love it." So on my 12 hour shift last night after everyone in personal care was sleeping, I opened and did not put it down except when completing my duties and morning preparations before leaving work. I tried to read it before going to sleep but my eyes would not let me. So after a sleep of 5 hours, I told the kids I was finishing it before feeding them. They kept asking are you at the end (page 328) yet? My son, Wynston, even took it upon himself to prepare lunch for us.

I did finish this wonderful book by such a well known author, Louisa May Alcott. Recently, I also discovered a DVD on Youtube and could not stop watching it till finished. Come to find out it was based on a book she wrote that was not published till 1997 but originally written in 1849 called The Inheritance. I love the movie and ended up finding it on Ebay and purchasing. It is now one of my favorites to sit and listen to while doing embroidery during my overnight work shifts. So, if you want a good read, check out Louisa May Alcott's works. Girls and women of all ages will enjoy them.

Vintage Book Illustrations

I have been working on listing some old vintage reading books on Etsy the past couple of days and have determined that I simply love the illustrations in them.


In the newer books you just don't see these types of illustrations anymore. As a matter of fact, you almost see more photographs than drawings or colored pictures.



I don't know about you, but I think it a fun thing to walk down memory lane with books from our past. Also, to read them to our children and grandchildren when we get a chance. I just finished reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary to my youngest, Avery Z. He loved it. The book I read was printed in 1965 (actually before I was even born.) I can remember my school teacher reading it aloud to my class when I was in elementary school. Now days in checking the local library, you can not find a current printing of this book.



My son also loved the fact that his dad was in the room typing on the computer while I was reading. Avery noticed his dad laughed some at what I was reading. This is a sweet memory, cultivating imagination, and helping with communication skills -- as we talk about what we like and what we understood in reading.



I visited the library today and picked up two more chapter books. These are more on Avery's level and we will begin them tomorrow. The illustrations are not as wonderful as the vintage books or as many, but hopefully the author will be vivid in his words and the pictures will form in our heads.



Hope you like these illustrations from my vintage books!