Oh the things you can find if you just keep your eyes peeled! The inside of this old library book was stamped DISCARD! Which was probably how it found its way into the book bin at our local thrift store. The cover was well worn, but often these are the books that contain the greatest treasures.

One peek inside the well-worn cover reveals a treasure trove of beautiful illustrations by the infamous Alice & Martin Provensen. (You can read a little more about them here!) Let’s take a look!

Hmmm….don’t those leaves look familiar???

Here, lets take a better look at those beautiful drawings:

Aw, that little curley-haired boy reminds me of Wolfie….

Yay for well loved library books!

A Child’s Garden of Verses – by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Alice & Martin Provensen (1951).

My friend Laura brought this book over for me to look at the other day….and I was HOOKED! I have several vintage kiddo cook books (I shared the fabulous 1964 edition Fun to Cook children’s cookbook with you earlier this year!) but I’d never seen this one before—and you know I love new discoveries. This one was published by Golden Books in 1974 and the illustrations are fantastic. Very psychedelic and colorful. They remind me so much of School House Rock. Let’s take a lil look!

haha, remember it WAS made in the 70s….I’m not sure that poem would fly today! The book is filled with all kinds of fun little puzzles in addition to easy recipes.

LOVE this so much! I poked around online and you can still get your own {used/vintage} copy of The Lip-Smackin’ Joke-Crackin’ Cookbook for Kids, here and here!

In honor of Dottie’s new lil chickadees, I wanted to share this sweet little book. Three Baby Chicks by Ruth Jaynes (1967). It’s part of the Bowmar Early Childhood Series published in the late 60s/early 70s. I just love seeing these three cute kiddos so intrigued by the hatching of the lil chickens!

Aw, they’re so cute aren’t they? One of my favorite things is seeing my friend Jenny’s beautiful chicken’s on Instagram. She’s the ultimate chicken mama and her birdies are gorgeous and quirky and lay such amazing eggs (pastel colors even!). I can’t wait to see Dottie’s chickadees grow too….I just know it’s going to be so much fun for the Peach to have them in her own backyard!

I got the call yesterday. Same time every year.

“Could you send me a list of what you think the Peach would like for Christmas?” my mom asks.

My parents try hard to find presents that the Peach really and truly loves.  Nothing makes a grandparent feel so loved and special when they see their present turn into his or her grandchild’s favorite toy or book.  The Peach still enjoys playing with that hardworking toy shopping cart she got for Christmas two years ago from my parents, much to their delight.

That’s why the first thing on the list I’m sending to my parents will be a myChronicle personalized book. With the Peach’s current princess phase, this one will be at the top of the list.

I’m personally crushing on this Petit Collage baby book. What new mama wouldn’t shed a little tear of this one?

I’m particularly charmed by this book about being a big sister.  I think this would be particularly nice since big sisters can get a bit proprietary, so having a book with her name on it might help her relate even more to the travails of being the big sister. Kinda genius, really.  And yes,they do have a big brother book too!

I’m personally eyeing the princess personalized place mat for the Peach.  She’s really really into place mats right now… And this lunch box… LOVE!

There is something about incorporating your child’s name into the book that makes them want to read even more, which is always a good idea in my mind.

Are you a fan of personalization? What items have you had personalized with your kiddos name on them?

Oh happy Friday! I wanted to share this cute lil book with you guys. SPECTACLES by Ellen Raskin. Ellen also illustrated the book. It’s about a super cute little girl who realizes that she sees the world slightly differently than other people!

Before she wears glasses, Iris has is seeing things strangely. What she thinks is a dragon, is really her Great Aunt Fanny:

And a giant bird? Oh that’s just her friend Chester.

And the chestnut mare? Well, that’s her babysitter.

Her mama decides Iris needs a snazzy pair of glasses!

And so little Iris gets her spectacles!

And everything looks like it’s supposed to look….well, except for that rhino with a tulip in his ear!

It’s not just the illustrations of old books, it’s the details…like how all the cars and clothing are of the era. Just check out this little gem!

This is CARS by Bob Ottum, illustrated by William Dugan (Little Golden Book, 1973)

I just love that station wagon paneling!

How about the grooviest house everrrr? (sorry some of these photos are not as crisp as they could be. Kind of a no-no….but I wanted to share and didn’t have time to retake!)