Good children's literature appeals not only to the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child. Anonymous

Little Wide-Awake
Leonard De Vries
Arthur Barker 1967

Amongst the finest treasures of the Victorian era are the children's books with their wonderful stories, poems and illustrations. From one of the larger private collections of Victorian children's books and periodicals in England, owned by Mr F. G. and Mrs Anne Renier, Leonard de Vries has compiled an anthology which is as attractive for adults as for children, and which is of value to teachers, historians and all others who are interested in children and history, because the ideals and ideas of the period are reflected in this book.
Little Wide-Awake, as the anthology is called after the name of one of the most popular children's periodicals of the 19th century, reveals many details of life in the Victorian world with astonishing frankness and great vivacity, especially in the field of social welfare. The religious ideas of the day are expressed in a selection from hundreds of publications by the Religious Tract Society. The anthology contains stories of unexpected horror and of sweetness, more realistic than anything published for children today. In it are fine examples of books of instruction, alphabets and forerunners of the comic strips. Towards the end of the chronological arrangements there are superb examples of poetry and early `art nouveau' illustrations.
Little Wide-Awake, designed in a Victorian typographical style, contains about 60 stories, 150 poems, more than 300 black and white pictures and about 40 pictures in full colour, all reproduced with the greatest care from the original wood engravings, woodcuts and lithographs. Its emotions range from horror to wonder-a variety which combines to delight the public of today.
Illustrated throughout

4to. VG++ condition in a VG+ wrapper. 1028 gms £20.00

The Puffin Treasury of Childen's Stories
Puffin 1st 1996

The Puffin Treasury of Children's Stories is packed with the very best authors and illustrators.

Some stories are complete in themselves, others are extracts guaranteed to send children rushing to read the originals. From perennial favourites such as Winnie-the-Pooh, The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Wind in the Willows to modern classics like The Once and Future King, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Worst Witch, the Treasury has something for everyone. Also included is a rare treat: a lost chapter from Roald Dahl's children's bestseller Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, wonderfully illustrated by Quentin Blake.

Most of the stories in this collection have been lavishly re-illustrated in full colour. Quentin Blake, Pauline Baynes and Shirley Hughes are just some of the major artists -who have contributed brand new illustrations. The diverse mix of glowing colours and individual styles adds to the Treasury's vibrant appeal.

This compact library of classic tales, extracts and pictures is a perfect introduction to quality children's writing. It is a must for every family bookshelf.

4to. Minor creasing to the dustwrapper, otherwise the book is in VG++ condition in a VG+ wrapper. 1190 gms £12.00

The Adventures of Tim
Edward Adizzone
Chancellor Press 1985

Here for the first time are six of the famous `TIM' stories together in one volume. These delightful tales of one little boy's adventures have given many children pleasure over the years and ensured Edward Ardizzone's position as one of the great children's illustrators.

Tim and Ginger
Tim and Ginger love to sit with the old boatman, who tells them tales about the sea, ships and dangerous tides. Ginger, however pays no attention to the old man's warnings, and, one day he is trapped by the tide. Tim has to come to the rescue.

Tim and Charlotte
Charlotte is washed ashore near Tim's home one day and Tim, resourceful as ever, comes to her rescue. Charlotte eventually becomes one of the family. However, trouble begins when Charlotte's true identity is discovered.

Tim's Friend Towser
Tim and Ginger are cabin boys on the S.S. Royal Fusilier: One day they find a strange stowaway — a tiny puppy. Tim and Ginger love their new friend, but they have one enormous problem —Captain Piper hates dogs!

Tim to the Lighthouse
One dark stormy night little Tim wakes up to find that there is no light shining from the lighthouse near his home. Ships passing in the night might be wrecked on the treacherous rocks. Brave Tim sets out with his old friend Captain McFee to solve the mystery of the lighthouse.

Tim in Danger
When Ginger tires of being a land lubber and runs away to sea, Tim and Charlotte set out in search of their friend.

Tim All Alone
One day Tim arrives back at his home by the sea. He has been on a long holiday. Imagine his surprise when he finds his house locked and shuttered and no sign of his parents! Tim sets out to solve this mystery and has some hair raising adventures along the way.

4to. Glazed pictorial boards in a similar dustwrapper; very, very slight wear to the wrapper, otherwise the book is in VG++ condition in a VG++ wrapper. 1170 gms £35.00

The Trokeville Way
Russell Hoban
Jonathan Cape 1st 1996

When Nick Hartley loses his third fight with bully Harry Buncher, he comes out of it with a lump on his head and all his senses strangely heightened. On his way home he meets sometime magician Moe Nagic who has an unusual jigsaw puzzle to sell.
Moe shows Nick a technique for getting into the picture but he warns him, "You get into that picture and you'll wish you were out of it." Nick, however, can't resist the challenge of exploring the old bridge and the little wood on the track that leads to Trokeville.
Suffering the pangs of first love for the beautiful Cynthia Jeffreys and full of confusion about everything, Nick is trying hard to stop losing and start winning. In the weirdness of the puzzle world he encounters Harry Buncher and Cynthia, gets entangled in Moe Nagic's past, and struggles desperately to find his way back to everyday life.
The strange reality of The Trokeville Way will stay with the reader long after the book is finished.

8vo. Minor creasing to the dustwrapper, otherwise Fine in a VG++ wrapper. 280 gms £15.00

Munro, the mole who couldn't sleep
Connie Womersley, Illustrations by Shirley Felts
Pimlico Publishing 1st 1991

Munro learns what friendship means; Fergus instigates a surprise; Wesley puts himself and the twins in danger and finally they and the rest of the animals come together in a celebration.
A yesteryear tale, exquisitely illustrated, this story will appeal to the most discerning reader— child and adult alike.
Connie Womersley has written a gentle, sometimes humorous, imaginative tale and the inspired watercolours by Shirley Felts have been beautifully reproduced.

Connie Womersley has taught many age-groups from Nursery to Technical College. For a long time she has been interested in writing stories for children, containing ideas and language to encourage expansion of their mental and linguistic abilities,
Shirley Felts was born in West Virginia, U.S.A. As a painter, her watercolours have sold internationally and may also be found in both private and public collections. She has illustrated over forty books, some of which beautifully portray her specialist subject; natural history.

8vo. Gold titling to front board + spine, otherwise Fine in a Fine wrapper. 255 gms £22.00

Beyond the Looking Glass - Extraordinary Works of Fairy Tale and Fantasy - Novels, Stories and Poetry from the Victorian Era
Jonathan Cott, (editor + introduction) special introductory essay by Leslie Fiedler
Hart-Davis, MacGibbon 1st 1974

Those who imagine Alice in Wonderland to be the one golden flower of Victorian children's literature will be enlightened and delighted by the works contained in this collection. In BEYOND THE LOOKING GLASS Jonathan Cott has brought together the most extraordinary examples of fantasy novels, stories and poetry from the richest and most cultivated period of children's literature, almost all of which have been out of print for many years. And, like Alice in Wonderland, it should appeal more to adults than children.
Much more than pleasureful escape, these works illustrate, in all their myriad and fantastic dimensions, projections of our innermost fears and desires. A timeless form rooted in folklore, supernatural and popular literature, the limitless realm of fairy tales and fantasy fiction (as brilliantly exemplified by the works in this collection) penetrates the deepest reaches of man's subconscious and provides some of literature's most strikingly imaginative and profoundly moving experiences.
The texts by Jonathan Cott and Leslie Fiedler place these works in their historical and literary perspectives, exploring the remarkably sophisticated spiritual, psychological and even political ideas given life in these stories under the guise of fanciful romance.

4to. Dustwrapper slightly grubby but undamaged. Book in VG++ condition in a VG wrapper. 1400 gms £15.00