"Supergran Rules OK" Forrest Wilson, Illustrated By David McKee (Published by Puffin Books, Penguin Books Ltd, UK, 1981)

 

 

This is, I think, one of the lesser known David McKee books (people will be more familiar with Elmer the elephant and the unforgettable Mr Benn characters). Published around the time when the mighty Superman films would have been at the peak of their popularity, this book would come as humorous alternative! I love all of McKee's work but I find his line drawings a bit more special - they are fresher, funnier and more experimental. Here's a brief biography and further links:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_McKee

 

 

 

 

"Woman's Day Magazine, January 1973" Illustrations by Richard Rosenblume, Fawcett Publications, Inc, New York - Part 2

 

Three more mouth-watering illustrations from Richard Rosenblume. The "appetiser recipes and tips" from the article don't sound too appetising though - just like most cook book recipes that came out of that era - so I would stay away from them!

 

 

"Woman's Day Magazine, January 1973, Appetizer Tips", Illustrations by Richard Rosenblume, Fawcett Publications, Inc, New York

 

Found these gorgeous illustrations in this 1970's women's lifestyle magazine - why couldn't we have such witty decorations in modern cook books instead of the staged,fanciful boring photographs?

 

 

 

"In The Steps Of The Master" By H. V. Morton (published by Rich & Cowan Ltd, London 1935) Part - 2

 

 

 

Henry Vollam Morton (1892-1979) was an English journalist and a pioneering travel writer - this book being his first major success selling half a million copies according to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Vollam_Morton 

 

 I thought the pictures of Palestine from the 1930's (when it was still part of the British Empire) where really interesting and moving, capturing people in their every day lives in harmony with the landscape. The author is primarily concerned with the landmarks in relation to the text of the New Testament but the photographs, together with his detailed account of people, customs, local economy etc, provide a unique insight to a peaceful Palestine our generation never knew existed.

 

Most of the photographs are credited to the author but some were taken by his wife, Mary Morton (one being the striking picture of the Bethlehem Mother from my previous post). Morton went on to publish a series of travel books on Syria, Egypt, Iraq and Turkey leaving a precious record of a region that has completely changed after World War Two.

 

 

 

"In The Steps Of The Master" By H. V. Morton (Published by Rich & Cowan Ltd, London 1935)

 

"Hoot" by Jane Hissey, Published by Red Fox, Random House Children's Books, London 1998 - Part 2

 

This book takes me back to the uncomplicated times when my kids were young and eager to hear me reading these lovely Old Bear stories... All Jane Hissey's books have a kind of retro feel about them (which reminds me a bit of Beatrix Potter or A.A. Milne). The characters are a bunch of old-fashioned soft toys and their adventures around the house. The first book in the series came out in 1986 (titled "Old Bear"). There were also several videos with the real teddies being animated which were so good to watch!

 

What attracted me straight away was the excellence of the illustrations - these were done in coloured pencils (there was no Photoshop in those days, thank God!), achieving such richness and depth as well as a dream-like quality. Here's the author's own website: http://janehissey.co.uk/