Thursday, February 27, 2014

Vintage Children's Books



I know that many of you like vintage books. There seems to be something comforting about the look and feel of those old hardcovers  with their color plates and quality binding.



Having homeschooled for many years, I managed to acquire quite a collection of old children's readers, history books, storybooks, science books, and many books that have titles like, 'Stories Far and Near' or 'Tales of Long Ago.'

Looks just like my husband, doesn't it!
(see THIS POST)



Isn't this a sweet illustration for the cover!




With enough books of England thrown in
and some chocolates to sustain me as I read

Does this mean that I wouldn't tolerate the newfangled Kindle? Not a bit.
I keep my Kindle at my bedside.

So how about you? Are you a book collector? Do you have a hard time understanding why anyone would want to cut up a book to make some craft out of it?


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Happy Birthday to Angela. :-)



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36 comments:

Susie said...

I Like those old school books. I have always loved books. Some times I'll read a children's book for my own pleasure. Nellie at Berries and More, has a great collection of books also. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

Elizabeth Edwards said...

my mom has many of them. i enjoyed looking at them as a kid. not lately. i guess the problem or the tough part is - how do you keep them living like that? without getting in worse condition? because with time, being on the shelf & what will folks do with them in the future is the ??! because they will continue to age no matter what. unless you have a water tight, air tight kind of chamber? say like where they keep the constitution? ( :

Unknown said...

Those books are fantastic! I adore old books and have even collected some for my own shelves... as you said, there is truly something comforting about them. And yes, I think anyone that cuts them up for art projects is insane!! Books are so precious, I don't understand that at all. But, I'm also digging my heals in and not buying a kindle either.. lol.. I love holding books and smelling them and you just don't get that with a kindle!!!

Nancy's Notes said...

I love books and especially love old ones! Your books are just awesome. I don't have a kindle...yet! Have a great day!
Nancy

Diane said...

Very nice books! I am guilty of using old ones for paper crafting, but usually it's damaged books.

MadSnapper said...

i love the pictures in the ones you showed here, even though i am not a collector.. it is good there are people like you who will collect and save them for the future to see what used to be. if the world were like me, we would be in big trouble on the what used to be...God bless collectors..
i got an F on a book report when I was in grade school, because the pictures in it were not from old magazine but from an old children encyclopedia my mother gave me...teacher failed me because i cut up the book, mother and i were shocked...

Cranberry Morning said...

Beth, if I had any amount of moisture in this house, I wouldn't dare try to keep old books. But as long as they're kept dry, they're just fine. I have some books from the late 1800s and although they're a bit yellowed and brittle, they're surviving nicely. Now if I had a copy of the Constitution, I'd probably take better care of it. :-)

And here's the deal with the Kindle: I resisted for a long time. But when I found out that the Kindle gives me control over line spacing, that was a huge motivator to purchase one. Also, with the backlight, I can read it anywhere, anytime. It's perfect for travel because you can have several books, guidebooks, maps, etc. in that one slim volume that doesn't require WiFi. When I can't sleep at night, I pick up my Kindle (and don't have to turn on the bedroom light to read!)

TexWisGirl said...

those illustrations are precious!

Heide at ApronHistory said...

Oh goodness yes! Books are so easy to collect. We were just talking about this with a friend. Growing up we had the most wonderful library that was stocked in the 1950s. We have been collecting our favorites when we find them. A recent find was three of the Five Little Peppers books.

Debbie said...

Love love love old vintage books (or books of any kind really!) You have such a great collection! Don't have a kindle yet, but hopefully soon! Enjoy your day!

Leslie Anne Tarabella said...

I love old books - especially children's books. I collect the "Childhood of Famous Americans" books and have written about them. Whenever you spot a book you had as a child, you immediately recognize it!
Your books are beautiful.

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

I love those old children's books. Have you noticed that children were expected to read at a much higher level?

Most of our books are used.

I have not cut up a book, but my daughter has so many copies of Alice in Wonderland. Her annotated one had so much use that it fell apart. So when I bought her a new one, we put the pages around the room.

I don't like e readers, except for free classics that are in the public domain. My spouse liked my Kindle so much that it his now. It travels well. My daughter has and i-pad, and I'm sorry I bought it, because it is a distraction. The Kindle is better in that respect, because it does less.

Primitive Stars said...

Oh I love old books, your children's books are adorable. I always pick them up when I see them at sales, adore the pictures.....Happy Birthday wishes to Angela, sweet picture, Blessings Francine.

Suzan said...

I can't believe it - school books from before MY time!! You have a wonderful collection of "vintage" Readers!!

Anonymous said...

I love old books and illustrations. I only have a few. Thanks for sharing yours today. I also enjoy the kindle. Great idea to keep chocolates handy, too!!!
Happy Birthday to Angela. She's beautiful.
Have a great day.

Suzan said...

BTW- A very Happy Birthday to Angela. Love the picture with the horse!! With many, many more Happy birthdays!

Vee said...

Depends on the book...I've chopped up quite a few discarded, ratty old books....not children's readers, though! Heaven forbid.

And I can not get used to reading a book on the Kindle or iPad. I think it's because I can not gauge my progress through the physically held book.

podso said...

Funny thing, we have a house guest right now and as he looked at our old books he just went on and on of his love for old books. He said he likes how they look, how they smell, how they feel to the touch. Yes we love old books in this house and have (too) many.

Trace4J said...

I love my kindle..
But no way could it ever replace those beautiful old books.
Love old children books.
Not to mention chocolates.
Woolie Hugs

NanaNor's said...

Hi there, I love vintage books and have a number of children's ones-someday, after our move, I'll have to post of them. I too love holding a book in my hand but also will use my Ipad when I need to. Hubby isn't a reader so he doesn't understand my passion.
O.k. so here's a question for you-I went to the store today to get McCormick Perfect Pinch Mediterranean seasoning and couldn't find it-so came home and googled it but it isn't on McCormick's site. Then on Amazon it said it has been discontinued. So is it possible for you to email me the specific ingredients so I can duplicate it tonight, as I'm making the chicken pesto. I could just add Italian seasonings but sure it must have more than that in it. Thanks so much!!!!
Hugs,Noreen

The Cranky said...

I, too, have a number of old children's books around...some from my childhood, others from my homeschooling days. Some are early Amish readers gifted to me by Amish friends, and others are from my great-uncle who was a teacher and elementary school principal. I cherish them and think cutting up old books in good condition is a travesty.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I collect old children's books too and I'm always amazed at the beautiful illustrations! Readers are my favorite find at the thrift store. I've never cut up an old book...but never say never! lol Love your new profile pic on your sidebar! Now I can see you! Hugs!

Terri D said...

I used to be a book hoarder, and when I just HAD to thin out my collection, I took them to local senior living places, for their libraries. I fought getting a Kindle for a long time. Now the book shelves have other collectibles on them and my Nexus7 (Joe now has my Kindle) has over 800 books on it. I keep the Bible by my bed and the Nexus goes with me in my purse, and rests next to the Bible on my bedside table.

Times, they do keep changing!!

Pamela Gordon said...

I love old children's books for their wonderful photos and graphics. They are so interesting. I have quite a few that were my mother's so it's not like I've collected them but rather, inherited them. The photos you shared of your books are wonderful.

Angela said...

Thank you for the birthday wishes! That picture was taken...oh, nearly 30 years ago! :-o

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Well you have struck a chord with fellow book lovers! You have a very nice collection. I have the fondest memory of my old grade school readers although I have never come across any. I think they were my first inspiration to travel. I still don't quite warm up to my Kindle.

Cheryl said...

Judy, I just read through several of your recent posts (and enjoyed them all!), but I chose this one as the place to leave my comment because I, too, love children's books! Love.

You have a lovely blog! Your pictures of England are amazing. I love the stone, too, but I love the sheep more. I adore sheep.

Thank you for your sweet, encouraging comment on my blog this morning.

Michelle said...

I bought a whole box of old children's books at a barn sale, intending to use them for craft projects. The covers and bindings so badly damaged that it seemed like an okay idea at the time, but now I can't bring myself to separate the pages. Maybe someday, for the right project...

I love reading the old, old children's series on my Kindle. It makes me feel much less guilty than carting around an 80 year old book and hoping I don't accidentally hurt it.

As for the crafts, I'm wishing I'd kept the Harry Potter books my son managed to destroy while reading them. Those would've been perfect pages to cut up and use for Christmas ornaments and the books were already a lost cause.

Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse said...

I love old children books. I buy some every onw and then when I find them at yard sales.

Donna said...

Such precious old books! I love the vintage illustrations and bindings too. I have a few, but wish I had more! I do like the book crafts and it is a neat way to recycle those that are destined for a landfill.

Donna said...

P.S. I love my Kindle and now read more than ever!

Sweet Woodruff said...

I love collecting old children's books. I'll have to share a blog post about them someday too. Is that a Springer Spaniel I see as you grandson? :) We rescue and foster Springers. Just curious. Take care. Nice to meet you.

Cranberry Morning said...

Michal, I visited your blog, but Google+ won't let me leave a comment unless I join Google+, which, on principle, because of things exactly like that, I won't do. BUT, in answer to your question, the grandpup is a Border Collie/Springer Spaniel. She's a wonderful dog. How fun that you foster Springer Spaniels! Thank you so much for stopping in at Cranberry Morning.

Eileen said...

Looks like there are many of us that enjoy old books. I love the drawings and pictures.
Blessings!

Kathryn Ferguson Griffin said...

Judy, I love your children's book collection! They just don't make them like that anymore. Thank you for sharing. You will be one of the features today at the Anything Blue Friday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see you again at the little blue soiree. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

J_on_tour said...

A reformed book collector ... What's a kindle ?! Lol

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